I had arranged for us to fly out Thursday afternoon of the 17th. Wednesday was a beautiful clear day, but I knew there was a storm due Friday. I said we would take any plane that came. I had given out all my presents Tuesday because two students were leaving for doctor appointments on Wednesday. Therefore, not much would be taking place on Thursday. In fact, the students were released after lunch. Jessica and I had plane reservations for Friday evening to fly from Bethel to Anchorage. Thursday turned out to be another beautiful day. All packed and ready to go, we sat and waited and waited. I called and was told there was a fog bank just south of Quinhagak and Yute's pilots were unable to fly through it. We found out Goodnews had chartered a plane. I called Grant and they were to call me back to see if they had a plane available.
Hindsight--I should have told them right then and there that I would take anything they had available. It was the cost that had me hesitant. A charter to Goodnews is $1160 and to Platinum is $1220 = $60 dollars more to go less mileage. The planes come down the coast and have to turn and fly over the bay to get to Goodnews. Whereas, they have to just drop down and land in Platinum. Anyway, I waited an hour and called Grant back only to be told that because I did not call immediately back there are no planes available.
That evening I hear on the radio that a Ryan Air plane was landing in Goodnews. I called Ryan because they told me they owed me for loosing my Christmas presents. They are mostly freight and are responsible for non-first class, oversized, and FedEx/UPS mail. They store it in their warehouse until they have a plane load and then they bring it out. Mail can sit in their warehouse for months. I called the manager and he contacted the pilot, who refused to fly over and pick us up. He said it was foggy over the bag and he did not feel it was safe. "What?! I can clearly see every single light in Goodnews. It is crystal clear down here." "Sorry, but it is the pilots call." Autumn went crazy and started begging him over my shoulder. As upset as I was, I was forced to remain calm because she was losing it. Ryan said they would do what they could to get a plane out and pick us up. Thursday was a bust.
Very early Friday morning the storm hit Platinum. The wind woke me up from a sound sleep. As soon as their offices opened, I called Grant and Ryan. Neither of them was flying due to the storm. I called off and on throughout the day. Had long talks with the dispatcher. All to no avail. Ryan had no planes available but was going to see if they could get a plane to come out Saturday. Grant had us down for a charter and would send a plane when the weather cleared. The storm raged on and I was stuck in Platinum. By 5 pm, I knew I was not going to make my Bethel flight to Anchorage. I cried and prayed for a plane tomorrow.
Saturday morning I woke up early, said a prayer, and called Grant when they opened at 8 am. They were sending our plane out at 8:30. I called Autumn. They would meet at my house because their luggage was at the school. I called Ravn, in Bethel, to see if I could get on the afternoon plane. It was full, but Shannon offered to transfer my ticket to Alaska Air's 1 pm flight. I then called Ryan Air and thanked them for their efforts, but Grant has a plane on its way. I called Grant to make sure the plane took off at 8:30 and there was a bit of confusion because of her very heavy Asian accent. I thought she said it would leave at 9:15. When Jessica came over I offered to have her call and change her reservation. She refused saying she and Autumn decided to wait until they got into Bethel. Autumn was taking their rented Honda to Mark for storage and he was going to give us a ride to the airport. That storm had caused some very deep snow drifts. I had asked John and Mary, but they said they couldn't. Mark has a large 4X4.
John called and suggested I get a hold of Frank because he has been stranded in Bethel for most of the last three days and may be willing to pay for part of the charter to get home. I called Grant to see if Frank and Freida could get on the 9:15 flight. That is when I learned the plane had left at 8:30 and she had said the plane would land at 9:50. We arrived at the airport shortly after the plane landed and were in the air moments later.
We arrived in Bethel and hour before my flight was to take off. Autumn was once again very upset. She had called Ravn and Alaska Air only to be told there were no available seats. Upon questioning, I discovered she was calling their 800# in Anchorage and Seattle. I called Shannon and she was able to get them the last two seats on Alaska Air. Turns out two standby passengers were bumped, but we had purchased tickets. When we were on Alaska Air and the plane took off, I finally felt like I could breathe easy and relax.
Saturday morning I woke up early, said a prayer, and called Grant when they opened at 8 am. They were sending our plane out at 8:30. I called Autumn. They would meet at my house because their luggage was at the school. I called Ravn, in Bethel, to see if I could get on the afternoon plane. It was full, but Shannon offered to transfer my ticket to Alaska Air's 1 pm flight. I then called Ryan Air and thanked them for their efforts, but Grant has a plane on its way. I called Grant to make sure the plane took off at 8:30 and there was a bit of confusion because of her very heavy Asian accent. I thought she said it would leave at 9:15. When Jessica came over I offered to have her call and change her reservation. She refused saying she and Autumn decided to wait until they got into Bethel. Autumn was taking their rented Honda to Mark for storage and he was going to give us a ride to the airport. That storm had caused some very deep snow drifts. I had asked John and Mary, but they said they couldn't. Mark has a large 4X4.
John called and suggested I get a hold of Frank because he has been stranded in Bethel for most of the last three days and may be willing to pay for part of the charter to get home. I called Grant to see if Frank and Freida could get on the 9:15 flight. That is when I learned the plane had left at 8:30 and she had said the plane would land at 9:50. We arrived at the airport shortly after the plane landed and were in the air moments later.
We arrived in Bethel and hour before my flight was to take off. Autumn was once again very upset. She had called Ravn and Alaska Air only to be told there were no available seats. Upon questioning, I discovered she was calling their 800# in Anchorage and Seattle. I called Shannon and she was able to get them the last two seats on Alaska Air. Turns out two standby passengers were bumped, but we had purchased tickets. When we were on Alaska Air and the plane took off, I finally felt like I could breathe easy and relax.
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| Grant's shiny new plane. |
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