STRANDED ON A BEACHED BUOY, LONG BEFORE BEING STRANDED IN MEXICO
My son is stranded in Mexico City tonight, due to an Aeromar flight from Manzanillo that departed almost two hours late, causing him to miss a connection back to the U.S. Remember being 20 years old and out in the world? It's the best. Stranding, under the right circumstances, is an adventure. At least back in my day. I hope it's the same for him.
There were so many times in my life when I was "stranded," in one form or another, out in the world, in various countries and cities, at airports, at train stations, at boat docks, whatever, not sure what was next or how I'd get there, but figuring it out, and here I am.
Maybe I'm envious, missing my vagabond days, but I'll also be happy when he texts to report he's home in Texas.
UPDATE SATURDAY MORNING: My son's group, four of them, hung at the Aeromar counter for three hours last night to try to set things right. Aeromar said they had booked them on the United flight to Houston this morning. The kids were at United just after dawn, but there's no such reservations.
UPDATE: They are being told by United that they can't fly out until Sunday evening, but I see open seats online!
UPDATE: Just spent the last hour on the phone, actually two phones. On one phone I had an agent at United, on the other my son at the airport with a United ticket agent. Both ends of United had different information. United on the phone showed available seats for 3 different flights today, United at the gate did not. Back and forth, back and forth. At one moment they were offered free seats, the next the same seats were $898 each. Chaos.
UPDATE: My son just said, "we'll fly to anywhere in the U.S. Just get us out of this airport." Ha.
UPDATE NOON: Three of the four of them have made it onto a scheduled flight that departs in two hours; one is on standby but at the top of the list. They were given access to a club lounge and provided with breakfast.
UPDATE: Thanks to phone calls to United, getting (politely) up in their grills at the Mexico City ticket counter, and patience, my son and his three friends got on a flight late this afternoon. They have arrived in Houston. Back in the USSA.