Carolyn in Chiapas : AIRPORT MAYHEM

February 24 2017

Sent from Carolyn's I Pad

Well.....I really need to share this journey...   I am safe. The flights from wheels up to wheels down were very nice. ALL ground activity was awful...
The weather wasn't bad when Jill dropped me off, cloudy, but dry. Checked in nice, early, and waited at the gate with the other 150 people or so. We waited and waited. The crew finally came, and we waited some more. They finally announced that they were inspecting the plane (never good) and that we would leave in 30 min, or so. Flight time was 12:40 am. It was now 1 am and we hadn't even boarded yet. Tuxtla flight already looking iffy. We boarded and waited some more. It started to rain, and presumably the temp was dropping, because now the plane was being de-iced (never good). We took off at 1:30 am, nearly an hour late. I only had 2 hours as it was.   Tuxtla flight looking even more dubious.
There was a LONG haul to the immigration area, and my heart sunk when we got off the escalator and found the Whole Room, COMPLETELY FULL in those zig zag lines. I know there were 700 people or more. The end of the line snaked up the escalator. Tuxtla flight really dubious now. Not sure what to do, I began to look for a legitimate out, another line, a place where people who were connecting (late) to other flights could go. A senior line, anything. I got out of line and passed to,the front several times asking any official looking person (there were few..) how I could pass through. ALL told me, NoGo, back in the long line. I asked the agents (2 different ones ) and was rejected. I then decided to stand in the short wheelchair line and plead again. I tried another agent, who said no and told me get back in at the back of the line. I pleaded my case and she finally relented and asked if I was alone. She grumped and stamped my passport. It was now 6:30. Tuxtla flight would leave at 7.
So....NOW, it was RUN to my suitcase which was at the complete other end of the baggage area. I got the bag and had to come back to the same exact area where I got the green light and put it on the connection belt. Now I RACED thru the main terminal past 3 large gate areas, asking all the way exactly where the Internet to Tuxtla gate was.   I had to undress and pass thru security again...   it was now 10 minutes to 7, which was take off time. I picked up my armful of hoodies, scarfs, fanny pack, carry on, back pack, and again RAN down a LONG hallway, past 5 gates til I waved and called the guy at the .Tuxtla gate. He said, "are you Caroline?" I think they might have been paging me.   By this time I was completely out of breath, my legs were shaking. But I made it! The doors were about to close, I was the last person to board the big plane.
But then of course, when I arrived at Tuxtla, I became aware that my fully loaded duffel did not join me on the flight....    We spent 4 hours in the airport waiting for my bag to arrive on the next flight. Whew.... next time I will book the later flight for sure!
Jan and Sebastian were really glad to see me! Not aware of any of the above!

HUGE, really nice, new Interjet