I didn’t get much sleep the night before I left for home,
and what sleep I did get it wasn’t a very deep sleep. I was really nervous
about flying by myself, in particularly my ride to the airport would arrive at
the airport around 6:10, and my flight was scheduled to leave at 7:25. I was
concerned that I would not have enough time to check my bags and go through
security so I was anxious all night about missing my first flight to
Dusseldorf. I woke up, got everything ready and got my ride, arriving at the
airport around 6:05 (early!) and I walked in to find the Air Berlin desk to
check my bags. It was a desert. This place was bare, and that was really
exciting for me because I figured I’d have plenty of time and will most
certainly catch my flight.
I checked my bags and the lady was very nice and helpful,
then moved on over towards security. Once again I was very impressed with the
British service, they were just all so nice. Very much Unlike the TSA in the
States, who I feel, are just a bunch of individuals on a power trip. They all
just had a smile on their face and we’re very accommodating. Unfortunately I
went through the metal detector and it went off meaning I had to get a really
inappropriate pat down, but whatever I was excited to officially be starting my
journey home. I walked to the gate and didn’t have to wait very long before
boarding. Even the plane was bare, with very few people on it. I was sitting in
the second row from the front and there was no one sitting next to me or in the
2 seats in front of me, and to my left, there was only one person in each row.
It was awesome. That flight was very quick, and I noticed for some reason that
the Head Steward kept going in to the cockpit. I had never seen that before.
The guy went in there at least 4 times during our short hour long flight.
Curious. As we landed, and pulled up to the gate, before any one was allowed
off, 2 paramedics came on the plane and into the cockpit. I couldn’t see much,
but they were taking the pulse of one of the pilots, and (from the back of him)
it looked like maybe he was unconscious or just waking up. I think one of our
pilots had fainted! That was crazy to think about, but heck, we were in
Dusseldorf safely, and there was no panic or anything. So if that was the
situation Air Berlin handled it very well.
I got off the plane in Dusseldorf, and had about 3 hours
before my next flight, so I slowly walked through the passport control booth
(twice-there were 2 that I had to go through) found my gate, and basically hung
out for a while. I used one of the internet booths to check in with Ben really
quickly and got myself a little sandwich, but otherwise I just hung out in the
airport for a while.
They started calling our names and I was one of the last to board
the plane, so I found my seat, an aisle seat. Yes! It was an aisle seat on the
edge of the middle cluster of 4 seats. I looked over, and there was no one in
the other 3 seats. I was one of the last people on the plane, does that mean
what I think it means? Heck yes! Whole row of 4 seats all to myself for this 12
hour flight. That will make it much more bearable. I even moved over one so I
could stretch my legs longer (plus there was a guy sitting behind my aisle
seat, so I didn’t want to recline into him).
I had a fairly comfortable flight, well as comfortable as a
12 hour flight could be. I landed in San Francisco, and fairly quickly went
through customs, got my bags and met up with my parents. It was so nice to see
them and to officially be home.
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