wait....what???why when I get back???????????why???????oh no!!!!!!!
no but for real...
A short, simple flight wound up taking 1+ days during which time most was spent sitting on the tarmac being repeatedly lied to. We boarded our flight in Mexico after an hour delay with a connection in Ft Lauderdale and a stop in Myrtle Beach. The plane sat on the tarmac for another hour while technicians on ladders opened and closed panels on the engine, started it and stopped the engine, and repeated.
We finally made it to Ft Lauderdale for our connection. Thankfully we were left with 15 minutes to go through customs and immigration to make the connection.
I explained our plight to one of the uniforms (I can't remember if it was Immigration, Customs, or TSA) and asked if we could move up the line. He gave that "I pity you" chuckle and tells me this is common with Spirit and that they will most likely hold the flight. We finally get through customs and immigration, security, and make it to our gate. Once there, we find out the flight is delayed for another 2 hours while other *ahem* passengers make their way to the gate.At around 10PM we finally board our 5PM connection. Supposedly the FAA wouldn't let the plane take off. Any of us could look out the window and see the left Engine completely disassembled on the tarmac in Ft Lauderdale. After 3 hours (and all vendors closed in the airport) they kicked us off the plane to wait sitting on the floor in an overcrowded terminal for another several hours.
So, nine hours to go from Ft Lauderdale to Myrtle Beach where we sat on the tarmac for another two hours while they told us we were waiting for the "paperwork" for the repair they did in Ft. Lauderdale to be properly filed with the FAA. Again, those pesky windows on planes. They must have transported the paperwork in the engine again, as it was again completely disassembled. So finally after 5 hours sitting in the plane in Myrtle Beach because the terminal was closed, we made our way to Boston.
It was on this leg of the journey (my family sound asleep, including my at the time three year old son) that we heard the very loud "clunk" and the entire plane shuttered. At this point the attendant (very nice young lady who was more than apologetic) gave me that thousand yard stare. The copilot came out of the cockpit and made his way all the way to the rear of the plane where I was seated. I whispered franticly in the flight attendants ears and the only part I overheard was "I think we will make it but we will be late." The attendant turned ashen, though I'm not sure if it was the thirty-six hour charade she was compelled to keep up, fear, or both. Yep, I kissed my sleeping family goodbye.
Luckily enough, we landed safely in Boston roughly 36 hours after our 10 hour flight began.
Now, I won't be completely negative, as I don't want you cancelling your flight and using a bus. The seats were extremely comfortable if you are a 4'1" or less contortionist, the clean and friendly air planes have that unique aroma of filthy men's locker room combined with boiling broccoli and cabbage, and the in flight coffee tastes of the previous flights blackwater tank cleanout. And for the mild inconveniences experienced we were given a voucher for $50 off of a future flight.
hmmmm...he must have been off duty...he was at the bar with us...he was pretty tipsy too...He was going to go in on the rent a convertable and drive with us too....hmmmm..glad we were wise enough to scrap that stupid plan !!!yikes!!!
