(Just to let you know - you are coming in in the middle of a story and to understand what follows, you really need to first read the previous blog publication.)
Standby!
From tourist class to first class and now to standby!
But that was the option, the only option that Pan Am was giving us. We could sit tight and wait and hope and see if standby seats were available for the next flight to Rome.
However, there was another issue.
We were traveling as a group and so what if some standby seats did become available but not enough for our entire group? What happens to those left behind? Would they get on a different flight? Perhaps two or even three different flights? And should that be the case, how do we connect in the hours and maybe even days ahead some six thousand miles away?
And then someone in that very impressive Pan Am office made another suggestion.
Would it help to speak with someone from Alitalia?
Well, since that is where this whole saga began, it certainly seemed like a rather logical move. And so the call was placed to Alitalia and the conversation began.
First a significant door was slammed shut.
The Alitalia representative verified that no authorization could possibly have been given to exchange our tourist tickets for first class. Did anyone recall the name of the agent who gave us that information? Of course, no-one did. The culprit would go scott free!
But yes, Alitalia would cover any standby arrangements. No problem there.
And then came the clincher.
But why were we even dealing with Pan Am?
Alitalia was flying!
In fact the evening flights to Italy were getting set to go right now. How many seats did we need? Yes, there were enough (possibly even our up to then abandoned seats?) on the flight that had just boarded. That flight was scheduled to depart in fifteen minutes.
Get back to the Alitalia terminal ASAP and we would be on our way to Italy almost as scheduled.
Now the Alitalia terminal was right next to the Pan Am terminal. However, unless we walked (and have you ever tried to get a travel group walking briskly? Almost running?) we would need to take the airport shuttle and because the airport road is one way, we would have to patiently sit tight on the vehicle as it made its way all around the airport terminals.
But at this point more help came from those agents in those fancy offices.
Alitalia would hold the flight until we got there.
And so off we went, onto the shuttle and around the airport.
We finally arrived at the Alitalia terminal and agents were standing ready, waiting our arrival.
They whisked us off the shuttle and through the airport, skipping any formalities like passport checks and such. Right through the terminal and onto the plane where, sure enough, seats were waiting for us, just the right number.
And once we were safely on our way, up there five miles above the good earth, there would be beverages (and did we want something like that!) and there would be dinner finally.
And so off we went.
And up we went.
And at last we were on our way. Roma, here we come!
And then the pilot spoke his words of welcome, the usual stuff about how glad they were that we were flying with Alitalia and how, when we had reached that certain altitude, drinks would be served, the seat belt sign would be turned off and we would enjoy dinner.
And then "it" came.
Welcome to Alitalia Flight number --, direct from New York to Milan!
Only we were supposed to be headed to Rome!
But Milan!
Well, when you are 30,000 feet in the air, you do not just get out and board a different vehicle.
We were on our way but . . .
And, of course, there is more to this saga so check back soon!
Meantime,
Keep Praying
. . . and Stay Safe!
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