He slept for three hours, woke up early and went back down the refugee camp formerly known as Charles de Gaulle Airport, or Roissy, if you're a local. Despite the early hour, everyone else was up too. It must be hard to sleep in when people are stepping over you.
The airline personnel were back at their posts, schedules were displayed with flights officials thought might actually leave today. Announcements came over the PA system with calming regularity.
Lines were formed. Long lines. For miles.
He went to Air France International and saw that his line was a potential problem. As early as it was, there were literally hundreds of people ahead of him. Worse, the line was not moving. He texted me "moving an inch per hour."
He waited. And waited. (Insert here long periods of waiting while absolutely nothing happens except for the low moaning of muttered anxieties and whining children with mostly legitimate complaints.) Every now and then everyone would obediently move forward the space of one person. Then more periods of nothing.
He realized that at this rate he might actually miss his plane. He left the line and took his luggage forward to investigate. He found gaps in the line, groups of people who, while probably in line, were not keeping up. He kept going until he was almost at the front. Seeing an opening, he took his chances and ducked in. Not one to normally cut in line, he waited to see if someone might object. No one did. A couple of minutes later he was at the counter, checking in his bags. Freedom was within his reach, finally.
Boarding pass in hand, he sailed through security. Well, sailed is almost certainly an exaggeration. There was a security line and he waited in it. But compared to everything else, this was smooth sailing.
Of course, a deal is not a deal until you actually board the plane. And that really isn't a deal until the plane is "wheels up" in the sky. And when you remember that there were several planes halfway across the Atlantic who were turned around and sent back home, you understand that a deal isn't a deal until you hit the North American continent. Then, and only then, can you let your breath out.
According to FlightStats his plane just crossed the border of Wisconsin. The flight was delayed, but is now close enough to home for us all to breathe.
XAV 2, FRANCE (and the Volcano) 0
Game over.
[this is good] Yaaay Xav!
Posted by: Barry | 04/21/2010 at 12:12 PM
[this is good] Hooray!
Posted by: Ross | 04/21/2010 at 12:22 PM
[this is good] Fantastic!
Posted by: electric firefly | 04/21/2010 at 01:09 PM
what an awful experience!! But so glad he made it home!
Posted by: Kapolnek Family | 04/21/2010 at 03:01 PM
WIN!!!
Posted by: lauowolf | 04/21/2010 at 04:55 PM
[this is good] yaaay! I have been crossing my fingers! :)
I have another Voxer neighbour who is stuck in Scotland and her flights keep getting cancelled. Glad to know at least someone got home ok!
Posted by: foxsydee | 04/21/2010 at 05:06 PM
[this is good]
Posted by: Patty | 04/21/2010 at 08:32 PM
Go Xav!Here is a BBC page listing where to go to obtain compensation, make complaints, etc. Hope it helps.
Posted by: Bookmole | 04/22/2010 at 06:15 AM
I am inspired reading this to write my own "Jacobs vs. Volcano" tale. But in our story we are "stuck" in Nice's Le Meridien for four days. Glad Xav made it home!
Posted by: Adriana | 04/25/2010 at 06:23 PM