Traveling to Maui (Aug 2, 2007)

We're flying standby and we knew that it'd be tough getting on a flight as it's high-season. Though G resigned from her position at United, a friend was so kind to give us passes to fly stand-by and help get us listed on the various flights. In our predicament, all options are considered hence stand-by flights to another island and then buying a cheap one-way inter-island flight to get to Maui is in the cards. The rest of the family was to arrive today, Saturday August 4, but we knew it would be near impossible getting on via stand-by today so we decided to leave S.F. a day or two earlier. The weeks and days leading up to the trip we lifted it to God's providence in our daily family prayers.

Thursday morning, bright and early, we hustled our way to SFO to try to get on the 1st flight to OGG. Unfortunately, "the system" flagged our entire family for the Security checkpoint Special Search. (On the lower-right corner of our check-in pass was "SSSSS" which meant we were in the special security line.) That meant that the TSA had to inspect every single carry-on item and we had to go through the special scanner. By the time we finished we'd already missed the 9:15AM UAL flight, but the it was packed full anyways, so we had no prayer of getting on. Same for the 10:40AM flight- packed.

The rest of the day looked dire but we decided to go to lunch in San Bruno then rest at a friend's home nearby before trying the 4:45PM flight.

3:30PM we were back at the gate to try the 4:45PM, the last direct flight of the day to Maui. As we waited at the gate, the check-in agents called many other people who were also on stand-by. Stand-by priority goes to revenue passengers, then employees in order of their seniority, then friends of employees using their "companion passes." G's no longer w/ United, hence we were in the lowest priority. Plus the plane is a 737(?) which is pretty small. Needless to say, of little faith, I was prepared to come back again Friday for a do-over.

Then we noticed that many of the names they called had not showed up! Hope! G turns to me and says, "What if they only have space for two of us?" I didn't want to think about it, but it made sense that I travel w/ M first, and she would try to get on another flight w/ little G.

"Leung, party of four- Please come to the check-in desk." we heard! "WOW! We're on! WooHoo! Thanks be to God!"

"There's only room for two of you!" the agent said. My heart sunk. M and I got our boarding passes, hugged+kissed G and little G and made our way down the jetway to board. That walk was one of the most bittersweet walks I've ever had to make.

Being among the last to be assigned seats, ours were not together so the flight attendants kindly went to see if some passengers would switch seats so I could sit w/ M. While I was waiting, G and little G turned the corner of the jetway- they got on the flight!

By now, they attendant had found seats for M and me towards the back so we made our down the aisle. Now they had to find seats together for G and little G together!

In the row in front of mine, there turned out to be an empty seats between two guys (aisle and window seats). The attendant asked if Aisle would move up to a middle seat in front so the two G's could sit together. He was pretty belligerent repeating over and over, "This is my rightful assigned seat. I asked for an aisle." This was right in front of my family! The attendant offered to buy him a $5 drink if he'd agree to move and then he did w/ out a peep. Incredible. So, now we got to sit all together across two rows!

The flight was pretty smooth and the kids were really good. They ate their snacks and M watched part of "The Incredibles" on the portable DVD player.

Through out the flight, I chatted off and on w/ the the guy to my right, in the window seat. He's a Canadian who moved to Maui for a teaching position there and was returning after a couple months traveling in the States and in Canada to see family and friends. He was returning a few days ahead of his wife and kids as his school needed him to teach at a week long summer program the coming week after the original teacher had to pull out.

I shared with him our incredible story of getting on this flight and how the rest of my family was to arrive on Saturday for our vacation. Flying stand-by in high season, I mentioned that upon arrival I had to rent a car and a place to stay through Saturday since I hadn't booked anything since we didn't know when we'd arrive.

Next: Arriving in Maui