Peru2018 - Day 1- Attempted Travel Day

Greetings one and all. 

Today was our travel day to Peru.  

HOWEVER, it was not to be. 

Arrived at Ottawa Airport at noon and things didn't seem right. Kiosks to check in were not working.  We entered a long line so we could check in manually. 

About 1 hour into the line we discovered that Air Canada was experiencing a world wide computer malfunction.  

Nothing was moving, nor were people being processed. 

We then discovered that our 2 pm flight was cancelled  

AND that there was pretty much nothing Air Canada could do for us because they couldn't re-book us either.  

On the advice of Dru, a manager, I decided we would wait it out for a couple of hours, in case the system came back online and we could be re-booked to make our 5 pm flight to Peru from Toronto. 

We walked to the food area, ordered food, and voila, the system was up again. 

So I rallied the troops and we got back in a special line in order to be re-booked. 

Dianne was the first person I took a picture of before all this happened.  Here we are just standing in line before we heard all this news.  

And I took some more general pictures of the group as we waited. 

Ella is all smiles.   

We fellowshipped well.   

And we weren't the only ones waiting in line either. : ) 

Katrina and her "I don't want a picture Dad" pose. : ) 

Just before we got our wonderful news.  

Ok, back to the story. 

So, we got in another line and I talked to Dru again.  He advised the group to actually get out of the line and he and I would work on contacting group bookings to see if we could get our entire group re-booked on one flight instead of 4 different flights. 

We already figured out by then we wouldn't be making our connection in Toronto, (and our travel agent couldn't do much for us at the moment either) so it was up to Dru to get the job done.  :)  

So, the group settled in while I and  Annette hung out with Dru to see what we could figure out.  

Steve and Dianne getting acquainted.  

 Oh, and a game of PIGS broke out as well.  

Go Figure.  

The group chillin.   

And the PIGS doin their thing.  : ) 

Annette was praying the whole time I was talking with Dru. Here she is with Joycegina.   

And here is Dru (picture by permission). 

He went above and beyond the call. 

Was up since 2 a.m. today, and should have gone home, but stayed to help us.  

He spent the next 1.5 hours getting us all re-booked for tomorrow morning. 

Lord willing, we will fly out of Ottawa to Montreal at 7:20 Tuesday morning. Then we will spend the day in Montreal Airport until our departure at 5 pm.   

Air Canada gave us food vouchers for lunch in Montreal.   

Everyone chillin and being very patient.  Whoot.   

And weird as well.   

Kendra and Katrina and Ella played...

Snakes and Ladders?   

They were VERY BORED apparently.  : )  

Brenda getting a massage from Andrea.  

Might as well make the best of things. 

Sooooo, once we were re-booked, and our boarding passes redone for the trip, I asked Air Canada if our Cornwall group of 7 could be put up in hotels for the night, saving them lots of driving time. 

 

And they agreed.  

Whoot. 

So here they are having dinner at the Ramada Inn, courtesy of Air Canada.  Go visit them tonight if you want.  : ) 

I don't think Air Canada covered THIS part of their meal. 

We dispersed, Ottawa people heading home for the night. We will regather at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning and try again. 

Joycegina and Chris and I went out for dinner too, but NOT on Air Canada's dime.  : ) 

Had some coupons for Montana's and tonight seemed a good night to use them. 

Food was good. 

And now it's time to head off to bed early and rise early and next blog entry will probably be Wednesday evening.   

Always an adventure when travelling.  : )