The airport is only a few minutes away from Pearl Harbor so we were pulling up to the first airline drop off by 3:20PM. When they let us off at Delta's entry, we ended up walking all the way past their check in counters because Adam and Amy soon noticed that we all should have been directed a few doors down to a x-ray machine conveyer belt station that was required for everyone to run their luggage through regardless of airline choice. This was a requirement to have our bags checked for any contraband like fruit, plants, or nuts being taken out of Hawaii. The line looped around from the machine up to street level and back down to the door on the other side by the time we reached it. We had thought to grab a rolling cart for our bags but it was tough to move it up the incline as we progressed through the line. By the time we were a few people from the machine, the guy manning it announced that we only needed to send our checked luggage through. Not sure how that helps prevent contraband but alrighty then. Unfortunately it meant having to unstack the bulk of our luggage since our heaviest checked bags were on the bottom of the rack. They went through with no issue and the guy affixed a green sticky label around our luggage handles.
This was the first time we were trying the newer Delta One seats which were not only first class seats but individual pod style seats that lie flat and have all the entertainment gadgets and such. Amy and Adam reached the first class/priority check in line shortly before we did so they went up to an agent on their own. The agent was a little confused because we all have the same last name but here only two of the four on his manifest were checking in. They pointed us out now waiting in line for the next agent and he seemed satisfied enough to finish checking them in. Adam confirmed we too had TSA precheck and they headed off toward security. We ended up with a different agent and she made sure to check that we had our little green labels. She asked if our luggage locks were TSA approved locks and we assured her they were. Dad was surprised as she was the first agent to ever ask that and she remarked "Well I do my job!"
One of the things we had been concerned about is whether or not we'd have to deal with our luggage for the flight from Atlanta (where we'd leave Adam and Amy) and fly back on to Baltimore a couple hours later. We elected to book that second flight separately saving about $100-$200 rather than booking it as a connecting flight. This agent arranged it so that the bags would be taken care of for us and we'd only have to worry about getting to the right gate. The one thing she couldn't do was check us in for that 2nd flight since this flight got us into Atlanta in the morning of the next day. Apparently that would be out of their computer system's ability since it at the time was a whole calendar day's away.
We asked for directions to Delta's lounge since purchasing Delta One seats gives you access to the lounge. The agent tells us we don't have access to the lounge. We explain about having Delta One seats and she says "That's only for international flights." Opting to just double check at the lounge rather than fight with her, we asked about TSA pre-check directions. She sent us to the pre-check area that was halfway across the airport from the lounge. We had caught back up with Adam and Amy just before going through security. My luck with TSA continues and the metal detector announced that I was selected for random screening. Adam and Amy moved through without any issue so they waited for Dad and I outside security. The TSA agent held up the regular line passing through the full body scanner so I could go through it next and of course the scanner highlights various body parts to be checked. I have no medical devices inside my body and I made a point of carrying nothing in my pockets yet they always have something show on the scan. A female TSA agent treated me to a pat down and then we moved on to having my hands swabbed for any chemical or explosive residue. An older couple saw me getting pulled aside and stopped to ask "What could this young lady possibly have done?" I sent them along so none of us would get into any further issue. The TSA agent asked me if we were all traveling together and I thought at first that she meant Adam and Amy so I said yes. She accepted that answer in a way that a parent might accept an excuse your child gives for a misbehavior. Only occurred to me afterward that she meant the older couple so wherever you are sir and ma'am, enjoy not earning your own extra check by the TSA. The hand swab was of course deemed all clear and I was allowed to proceed on. We reunited with Adam and Amy just long enough for them to decide they wanted to browse the airport shops for souvenirs and would meet us at the lounge.
It took quite a walk and asking 3 employees before we finally found Delta's lounge. They scanned our tickets as being in their lounge and happily welcomed us in with no issue. So much for that check in agent's claims. We had a laugh at the absurdity of her "I do my job" comment only to not know the correct answer about the lounge. The lounge was pretty full but we were able to grab a table and enjoy their small selection of hot foods. It was while we sat here waiting that I randomly reached into the outside pouch of our carry on luggage for something and what caught my eye but the rainbow colored keychain we use for our luggage lock keys and spare house keys! Turns out it had been buried in the bottom of the pouch and only came up toward the top because we'd had all our bags upended to stack on the rolling luggage cart!
It turned out to be quite the trek to reach our gate and only afterwards did we notice Adam had texted to let us know that they chose to head straight to the gate. They were already on board when we reached the gate as we had to join the longest priority boarding line I've ever encountered. I appreciated that these pods were arranged in an angled single file configuration unlike British Airways who has pods that are connected by 2's so you face the back and the person next to you faces forward like the old sweetheart chairs. I love window seats but it was always annoying to have to squeeze out from the corner to reach the aisle. Now all of these seats open out into the aisle for easy in and out. Only two downsides is that there is no way to close your area off from everyone else like the privacy screen feature British Airways has and they were narrower than BA so I pinched my hip when putting my seat flat to fit under the drink holding rim running along the side of my seat. I'm pretty sure I was one of the few people in first class to not request an alcoholic drink with my meals because the flight attendant found it cute and funny when I asked for a soda. Most of the time we only get to catch up on movies when they are part of the flight entertainment so I spent the time fighting the urge to fall asleep during Book Club and Tag before finishing off my breakfast with an episode of Chopped. One of the things I found interesting that I don't recall happening when we last flew regular Delta business/first class, the flight attendants and even the captain came out to the first class cabin and thanked us personally for choosing to fly with them. Umm, and thank you Delta for making this 8 hour flight a lot more tolerable by taking tons of our money.
It turned out to be quite the trek to reach our gate and only afterwards did we notice Adam had texted to let us know that they chose to head straight to the gate. They were already on board when we reached the gate as we had to join the longest priority boarding line I've ever encountered. I appreciated that these pods were arranged in an angled single file configuration unlike British Airways who has pods that are connected by 2's so you face the back and the person next to you faces forward like the old sweetheart chairs. I love window seats but it was always annoying to have to squeeze out from the corner to reach the aisle. Now all of these seats open out into the aisle for easy in and out. Only two downsides is that there is no way to close your area off from everyone else like the privacy screen feature British Airways has and they were narrower than BA so I pinched my hip when putting my seat flat to fit under the drink holding rim running along the side of my seat. I'm pretty sure I was one of the few people in first class to not request an alcoholic drink with my meals because the flight attendant found it cute and funny when I asked for a soda. Most of the time we only get to catch up on movies when they are part of the flight entertainment so I spent the time fighting the urge to fall asleep during Book Club and Tag before finishing off my breakfast with an episode of Chopped. One of the things I found interesting that I don't recall happening when we last flew regular Delta business/first class, the flight attendants and even the captain came out to the first class cabin and thanked us personally for choosing to fly with them. Umm, and thank you Delta for making this 8 hour flight a lot more tolerable by taking tons of our money.
Once back on solid ground in Atlanta, we bid goodbye to Adam and Amy so they could head home and we took the tram to the gate my Delta app told us would be our flight. Once we stepped off the tram, my app updated and sent us back to another gate. Another tram ride later that thankfully ended before the young lady standing nearby lost her breakfast from motion sickness and we found Atlanta's Delta lounge. They happily checked us in from their computer and after a little breakfast we fought a much stronger urge to fall asleep in the lounge before our flight. I'm not sure how we stayed awake long enough to reach our gate because as soon as we were in our seats on the plane, we passed out for nearly the entire 1-2 hour long flight back to Baltimore. Thankfully our luggage came quickly and after a short cab ride we made it home safely almost 24 hours after we first left Hawaii.
Thank you all for visiting my little corner of the blog universe whether you are a first time visitor or a repeat customer. I appreciate each and every reader and I hope I have served to inform as well as entertain you through my travels. Please feel free to comment with any questions and/or thoughts you may have. Stay tuned for where the next trip takes us!
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