20090131 Saturday
No Pictures
Up at 3:45 a.m. CST, dress, go to the airport. Board & depart at 5:40 am, arrive ATL 7:40 EST.
Had a big breakfast at the TGI Fridays in the E concourse, went to E6 for our 10:10 departure.
About 9:45 Delta reported the plane is "broken" and has us wait for more word on alternatives. First word was that a suitable 767-400ER would be into ATL around 1:30 pm and we'd depart at 3:00 pm. Big groans from a batch of 30 who are going to join a cruise ship much earlier in the day than we'd arrive.
Next it was decided a different aircraft would be made available and it would depart from gate A12. We were given meal vouchers and asked to go there for more advice. We'd just eaten, so we wandered over to A12, five concourses away.
It didn't take too long there to get the word that the aircraft would depart from that gate at 3:00 pm, shortly followed by word it would depart at 1:30, followed immediately by the word that our original aircraft was repaired and that we must scurry back to E6. We scurried.
A little later we boarded only to find out that the co-pilot could not perform this trip now, because he would exceed his maximum allowed time for the month by the time we arrive. A replacement co-pilot had been found and was en route. He showed up at 1:00 pm and we got underway a few minutes later.
The route was straight west to LA, then the usual route to Honolulu. I looked down at LAX as we went by at 38,000 feet. Nice trip, some nine hours by schedule but we found light headwinds and got in at 5:00 pm local time vice the scheduled 3:23 pm. Not too bad after all the earlier confusion. Good ride. Drinks cost $7, which I think is a bit much.
Fran found us in the baggage area, draped leis onto us, and chatted while the bags got to the carousel. We went to the curb, Fran called Duane on his cell phone and he zipped up from the cell phone waiting lot. Away we went to the Waikiki Yacht Club.
The WYC is much improved over 15 years ago, much nicer, more deck space, better docks & piers. Duane had much to do with designing the new arrangement. We had wine and then ordered several dishes and passed them around so everyone had some of each. Very good food and wine.
Then they dropped us at the Hale Koa, where we checked in and went to our room.
We're now trying to stay awake till 9:00 pm so we don't wake up too early.
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