Cutting it too close- short layover
I debated whether to post this since we only made one or two good decisions, one of which was run like heck, others were bad!
We returned from the Blue Danube last week. It was a great trip but our air experience could have put a real damper on it at the start!
I booked our flights many months ago. A few months before departure Delta changed flight times for our Raleigh-Durham (RDU) to Boston (BOS) leg. Instead of a 1 hour layover, which would have been perfect, we now had only 34 minutes! I debated about changing flights but since we rarely have delays at RDU, BOS is comparatively small, and domestic arrival and international departure gates at BOS are in the same terminal, my first and potentially most serious mistake was to leave things as they were.
Just a few minutes before boarding at RDU they announced there would be a 30 min. delay due to Air Traffic Control(???) I leaped up and was the first to the desk. After I informed the agent about my situation she attempted to get alternative flights but couldn't find anything that would get us to Prague anywhere near our original scheduled time! In fact, in addition to missing our BOS to Amsterdam (AMS) flight, it was looking like we woukd arrive a day later than planned- we would miss the tour of the Jewish Quarter I booked for our arrival day, AND the all day excursion to Cesky Krumlov I booked for the next day (tour Day 1). In fact, it was even looking like it might be tough to make the Welcome Dinner! I was feeling really depressed as I started the re-booking process by phone with Delta, when my wife informed me they were going to board the plane now- only about 15 min. late- so I said lets go for it. The pilot got us there quickly, making up most of the lost time, but another plane occupied our gate and it took precious minutes to get reassigned and taxi to the new one- our 34 min. which had been whittled to 15 - 20 min. was now only about 10 min.!!! We were the first off and literally ran to the next gate and were the last to board- the door closed and push-back occurred before we were even settled in our seats! The RDU crew had alerted the BOS - AMS flight we and two other passengers were on the way, so they kept the gate and aircraft door open. The reason for the delay- the VP in AirForce #2 was flying into/out of(?) BOS so ATC cleared out all flights!! I've never heard of such a thing!?!? Once aboard, I used Delta's app to confirm my suspicion that our bags had not made the flight. I wasn't worried because there are multiple flights daily from AMS to PRG and we had emergency clothes in our small carry-on. It didn't take long to recover and chill out- thank goodness for lay-flat business class seats!
The remainder of this half of the trip was uneventful. As I suspected our next short layover, 1 hr. in AMS, would be longer - our flight arrived 30 min. early, which they often do this time of year due to Jet Stream tail winds. We arrived in PRG on time and our bags showed up at the hotel about an hour after we returned from our walking tour. All's well that ends well, for now.
Our return flight connections were just as stressful. The scheduled layover in AMS was 55 min., short to start with, but our (KLM) plane was 30 min. late departing Budapest (BUD.) Again, we were first off in AMS, but had almost no time and a longer distance to get to the next gate. We were going from Schengen to Schengen and didn't need to pass through immigration, though evidently had to go through a "transfer Interview" process. At AMS it is something you must do now, sometime before you board your next flight. The interview area was just off to the side of the main concourse, there is no physical barrier, and you don't need to "pass through it" to reach your gate! This was all new to us- we were in a flat out sprint, so in our haste, we just blew by it!!! We were told our next plane was leaving from Gate 1, it wasn't! An agent there quickly pointed us to Gate 2, which was nearby, but partially hidden. Again, luckily the people at the gate had been alerted we were coming and were waiting for us. But, when our boarding passes were checked by a security person, he said with annoyance, "you did not answer the questions, you can not board!" He was about to deny us boarding until one of the gate agents suggested he ask us the questions now. Luckily, he begrudgingly complied, "Did you pack your own bags, are you transporting anything for someone else?" etc., then allowed us board. This time the plane was slower pushing back. We were headed home so it wasn't critical that we make the flight and as our flight attendant said, "it never killed anyone to spend a night in Amsterdam."
We made it, but just barely. It was nerve wracking, and at the same time exciting, but I think I will leave more time in the future! Again, what a wonderful trip!!
We took the walking tour, then my wife took the short bike ride to Weissenkirchen and back while I toured the monastery and climbed up to the castle in the neat little town of Durnstein:
We returned from the Blue Danube last week. It was a great trip but our air experience could have put a real damper on it at the start!
I booked our flights many months ago. A few months before departure Delta changed flight times for our Raleigh-Durham (RDU) to Boston (BOS) leg. Instead of a 1 hour layover, which would have been perfect, we now had only 34 minutes! I debated about changing flights but since we rarely have delays at RDU, BOS is comparatively small, and domestic arrival and international departure gates at BOS are in the same terminal, my first and potentially most serious mistake was to leave things as they were.
Just a few minutes before boarding at RDU they announced there would be a 30 min. delay due to Air Traffic Control(???) I leaped up and was the first to the desk. After I informed the agent about my situation she attempted to get alternative flights but couldn't find anything that would get us to Prague anywhere near our original scheduled time! In fact, in addition to missing our BOS to Amsterdam (AMS) flight, it was looking like we woukd arrive a day later than planned- we would miss the tour of the Jewish Quarter I booked for our arrival day, AND the all day excursion to Cesky Krumlov I booked for the next day (tour Day 1). In fact, it was even looking like it might be tough to make the Welcome Dinner! I was feeling really depressed as I started the re-booking process by phone with Delta, when my wife informed me they were going to board the plane now- only about 15 min. late- so I said lets go for it. The pilot got us there quickly, making up most of the lost time, but another plane occupied our gate and it took precious minutes to get reassigned and taxi to the new one- our 34 min. which had been whittled to 15 - 20 min. was now only about 10 min.!!! We were the first off and literally ran to the next gate and were the last to board- the door closed and push-back occurred before we were even settled in our seats! The RDU crew had alerted the BOS - AMS flight we and two other passengers were on the way, so they kept the gate and aircraft door open. The reason for the delay- the VP in AirForce #2 was flying into/out of(?) BOS so ATC cleared out all flights!! I've never heard of such a thing!?!? Once aboard, I used Delta's app to confirm my suspicion that our bags had not made the flight. I wasn't worried because there are multiple flights daily from AMS to PRG and we had emergency clothes in our small carry-on. It didn't take long to recover and chill out- thank goodness for lay-flat business class seats!
The remainder of this half of the trip was uneventful. As I suspected our next short layover, 1 hr. in AMS, would be longer - our flight arrived 30 min. early, which they often do this time of year due to Jet Stream tail winds. We arrived in PRG on time and our bags showed up at the hotel about an hour after we returned from our walking tour. All's well that ends well, for now.
Our return flight connections were just as stressful. The scheduled layover in AMS was 55 min., short to start with, but our (KLM) plane was 30 min. late departing Budapest (BUD.) Again, we were first off in AMS, but had almost no time and a longer distance to get to the next gate. We were going from Schengen to Schengen and didn't need to pass through immigration, though evidently had to go through a "transfer Interview" process. At AMS it is something you must do now, sometime before you board your next flight. The interview area was just off to the side of the main concourse, there is no physical barrier, and you don't need to "pass through it" to reach your gate! This was all new to us- we were in a flat out sprint, so in our haste, we just blew by it!!! We were told our next plane was leaving from Gate 1, it wasn't! An agent there quickly pointed us to Gate 2, which was nearby, but partially hidden. Again, luckily the people at the gate had been alerted we were coming and were waiting for us. But, when our boarding passes were checked by a security person, he said with annoyance, "you did not answer the questions, you can not board!" He was about to deny us boarding until one of the gate agents suggested he ask us the questions now. Luckily, he begrudgingly complied, "Did you pack your own bags, are you transporting anything for someone else?" etc., then allowed us board. This time the plane was slower pushing back. We were headed home so it wasn't critical that we make the flight and as our flight attendant said, "it never killed anyone to spend a night in Amsterdam."
We made it, but just barely. It was nerve wracking, and at the same time exciting, but I think I will leave more time in the future! Again, what a wonderful trip!!
We took the walking tour, then my wife took the short bike ride to Weissenkirchen and back while I toured the monastery and climbed up to the castle in the neat little town of Durnstein:
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Thanks for the tips about the Amsterdam airport. We are going through there next week.
Traveling with you sure sounds exciting!!
Yes, they do close air space when POTUS ( and, now I see the VP), is arriving or departing. We had that happen when returning to San Francisco from a long international flight. Obama was leaving and we had to circle for 45 minutes! I am pretty sure that’s not gonna happen in the next 3 years, however! California is not too high on the popularity list...maybe 53 out of 52!!??????
One of the reasons I always wear shoes that I can run in and a backpack instead of a wheeeled carry on is because I can gain precious minutes if we have to hussle to get a flight.
When you have had time to decompress, I would love you to write a general overview of a riverboat trip, I think this might be your first. We take our first river cruise next year and I would love to get your pros and cons and general observations compared to a Tauck land tour. Thank you ????
Darn VP's. I almost got run over by Al Gore's motorcade in DC once when our command was supporting a charity fun run. Secret service driver in a huge black SUV. Arg.
Glad you made it back safely in spite of the extra drama. Hope the cruise was enjoyable.
British, yes this was our first river cruise. Here is the short version of why I liked this trip:
Tauck
Less than full (2/3?) boat (I'm still a small group kinda guy)
Good CD & TDs
Generally fantastic local guides everywhere, especially Tereza, the one from PragueWalker we booked on our own for Cesky Krumlov and Prague Jewish Town
Amazing crew- friendly, accommodating, attentive, hard-working, and often funny
Not having to pack every two days. Only wish we could have stayed aboard instead of moving ashore in Budapest
Nearly-new (2 years old), well-maintained boat (Ms Joy)
Can't beat a Cat 3 loft cabin for size and bang for the buck
Very good (and convenient*) food on the ship, and choices. *We are not foodies and hate searching for and having to select places to eat- real time killer (typical so-so welcome and farewell dinner fare, however, but at gorgeous venues + entertainment)
My sometimes-reluctant, but eventually game-for-almost-anything, and overall wonderful traveling companion.
Great old and new friends (3 from K&T, 2 of them also did P&G with us, + 2 who were friends of our friends). p.s. 4 of us are are headed to Botswana in 2019!
Outstanding and varied itinerary (I still have mixed feelings about having to choose options- I want to do everything)
People and places of the visited countries- can't beat an itinerary that includes killer cities of Prague, Salzburg, Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest, plus the smaller towns of Regensburg, Cesky Krumlov, and Durnstein
Did I say Tauck?
There were rumors before that came true during the trip. Friends got caught in the mess. Delta came through, however, with changes that were actually better than their original flights! It could have gone the other way!
Alan, the cruise sounds great~ we'll take a look for next year.
I had reservations about a cruise- too many people and choices to make, but as I said above- it was great and far surpassed my expectations. It didn't hurt, that for so early in the season, the weather was fantastic! I just wish I had taken a few short sleeved shirts! : ) So, go for it!
Also, consider arriving early so you can have your cake and eat it too by visiting Cesky Krumlov on your own with a private guide (so you can go to Salzburg with Tauck later) and doing the same with a tour of the Jewish Quarter (so you can do the Old Town tour with Tauck). My only regret, was due to the driving time, we didn't have as much time in Cesky Krumlov as I would have liked. Arranging with the hotel for a to-go breakfast (actually it was more of a brunch/lunch, but free!) helped out, since we didn't waste time eating lunch there. Plan on a full day there- 10 hours, PragueWalker's (and likely other providers') standard CK tour duration. Also, I can't compare, but logically, I think Eastbound is best- while Prague was wonderful, the last 3 cities were at the end- building to a fantastic finish in Budapest. Also, I have no facts to support this, but the boat (which was already very quiet, even for those of us in steerage : ), might be quieter casually motoring downstream instead of powering upstream against the current. I'm sure Scylla would say it is quiet in both directions.