flying

I am already back in NY after my short but nice Austrian vacation. It was the first time that I went back to Austria in summer since I have moved to the US. And it was kind of hard this time to go back because it really felt nice to enjoy the pool in the sun at my parents place and do BBQ in the garden. But the trip back was full of experiences this time: When I got to Vienna airport after I returned my rental car I had to go from arrivals to the departure section which is upstairs. There was an old lady in front of the elevator who asked me very rude to come with her into the lift. I didn’t get it the first time what she actually wanted so I asked her and then she explained (still the rude way) that she gets panic attacks if she is alone in an elevator. I was very happy to help her out by going with her but I was confused why she said it that rude and in a very harsh way. Checking in at the British Airways counter (I was flying American Airlines this time and they partner with BA) meant to check in at the self check-in machine but then stand in line again like everyone else to drop off the bags since they didn’t have a separate bag drop counter. What a waste of everyones time. I had only an hour to connect at Heathrow for my flight to JFK and was worried that either I wouldn’t catch the connection or my baggage wouldn’t make it. I actually made it right on time but concerning the luggage I am going to tell you in a second. The flight to JFK was quite alright but I do not understand why it is always me that gets wet because a flight attendant is pouring my drink all over me. I swear I did not do or say anything wrong but it was already the third time on an American Airlines flight where I got a undesirable shower. Now to the luggage: We arrived in JFK on time after 7 hours and also going through immigration was pretty quick but then it took 30 min until the first bags appeared on the line and it seemed those bags were only around 20 percent of the whole flight. After another 30 min there were more bags but I still could not see mine. After standing there for one and a half hours people where complaining and asking what’s going on and we finally got an announcement that there were more bags about to come. Finally, after 2 hours of waiting we all got our bags. I still don’t know what exactly happened but my gut feeling tells me that they didn’t make the connection in Heahtrow and came with the next flight from there but I was really surprised how bad the communication was at JFK. At the end I was just happy that I finally got my bags as it wouldn’t have been the first time where my bags got lost at “Thiefrow”.

EDIT:
I completely forgot one thing. The former Austrian soccer team trainer “Hicke von Flanke” was standing in line behind me at the passport control in Vienna. The fact that no one was taking notice of him or even ask him for his autograph tells you how bad the Austrian soccer team was and is

The flight from Toronto to new York would be short one. Just about an hour. Unless air control decides to put your flight on hold 50 miles north of the airport for another hour. Here is a picture for you from Toronto (more to come)

After spending 4 nice days with my gf, my sister and my parents in London, then spending one short night in NYC, I’m on my way to Toronto. I’m currently sitting at the airport, waiting to get boarded. Once I get some spare time, I will put stories and pics from London online. I promise

After a short weekend back home in the city I’m on my way to Europe again. Don’t ask…

Here is a picture for you out there, taken on my way to the airport.

I’m flying a lot but yesterday was the first time for me that I got pretty sick on a flight. I really don’t know what happened since I was fine when I got on the aircraft but around 3 hours after I had lunch which was pasta provided by Do&Co (the food provider on Austrian Airlines flights) I started feeling sick and had bad headache. It really felt like my cardiovascular system was messed up and I can tell you that this is one of the worst things that can happen to you on an airplane. I was feeling like I have to throw up every moment and my headache was killing me. I really have to make compliments to the crew of the AUA flight yesterday as there were so nice and taking blood pressure, providing medicine, making tee and really took care of me. At the end I was able to lie down on a free row in the back of the plane and after we landed and I got off the plane I was already feeling much better.

After arriving yesterday at 3pm at JFK I spent a couple of hours in my aptmt here in NYC just to get up at 4am again today and go to LGA where I’m sitting and waiting for my flight to Chicago at the moment. The first day after a long vacation is always the hardest but with that much flying involved its even harder. I’m really hoping that I can manage to stay awake somehow at the client site today.

 If someone ever plans to fly to JFK from Austria then I really recommend the Austrian Airlines flight from Vienna as it arrives at 3pm at JFK which means that the immigration counters are fully staffed and as there are not much other international flights arriving at this time there is also no waiting line for immigration. This was the first time yesterday that the waiting time for my baggage was longer than for immigration. The Do&Co food on the AUA flight is also much better than the Lufthansa crap and they have in-seat TV