11/14/2024

 

Up early, cleaned up and finished packing.  We were out of the room by 6:30. Downstairs we met our friends and staged our bags.  The Hotel had coffee and pastries available and we indulged. At 7 we were on the road to the Airport.

 

The mini-motor coach did not go to the departure area.  It drove to a gate where the driver said the magic words and we were whisked off to the Sala VIP. Inside we were ushered into a large seating area, provided with coffee and cookies and relaxed.  We surrendered our passports as requested and in an hour we were handed them back with our boarding passes all the way to Chattanooga!  Apparently this room has been used by the Rolling Stones and Richard Gere—we are definitely VIPs!

 

Close to 9:30 we boarded those same black Mercedes vans that picked us up.  We were driven to the VIP security desk and had our carry-ons scanned and walked through the metal detector. Shirley beeped and was given a cursory pat down. We then drove to the International Terminal across the tarmac and through the maze of tracks that make up the warren of lanes the airport workers negotiate doing their jobs.

 

We had to wait a bit while Delta fixed a First Class Seat that was stuck in recline mode. We walked up the outside staircase of the Jetway, had our boarding passes scanned and were in our seats before even the Business Class passengers were allowed in!  As before we had seats in Delta Premium Select section. Delta texted Paul indicating our bags are on board. We never really saw the airport!

 



 


We took off, wheels up at 11 AM.  What a way to travel!

 





 

We arrived in New York JFK on time then had to - walk the 5000 steps to passport control, wait for our bags at baggage claim, schlep the luggage to recheck area, walk to the (almost) farthest gate from where we were to await our plane.

 

Plane came, took off and we were in Atlanta – walking 4 gates down to await our plane to Chattanooga.  It came and we made it to the CHA airport, retrieved all everyone’s luggage and drove home.

 




 

We had been active for 24 hours.  All in all it was one of the best vacations to date.

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