My pandemic travel saga starts with notification last night from @united that my flight had been cancelled due to “unexpected operational issues” (my translation: “Crap! We have no crew!”).

Jun 19, 2022 · 8:08 AM UTC

1
1
4
No flights at all from any DC airport to Orlando. Finally found a flight into Tampa on @AmericanAir.
1
We had rented from @Thriftycars at IAD and were told it would be a $500 charge to drop off at DCA. Pre-COVID, that surcharge didn’t exist—free drop-offs at any DC area airport.
1
So here I am at 4:15am in a @Lyft shuttling between IAD and DCA. Our itinerary today takes us to four airports (IAD, DCA, TPA, MCO) with only one leg in the air. Good times!
1
And our DCA to TPA flight has been canceled. Awesome.
1
Rebooked to JAX — so now that’s IAD, DCA, JAX, MCO with only one air leg. whee
1
Our American Eagle flight needs to be jump-started from ground power and has no A/C until the main engines get going. Could be a little warm in this buggy, but at least we have an aircraft.
2
2
Hello JAX — where’s that rental car?
1
In the car — MCO here we come!
2
5
Hello MCO. Hello family car.
1
11 hours, four airports, two canceled flights, two rental cars, one @lyft, one trip in the family minivan and we are home! Easy!
4
5
Special mention for @AmericanAir for flying the oldest, rattle-iest CRJ-700 in the skies. But at least it got us to Florida. Step up the maintenance though, OK?
2