July 31st (Friday), 2009
I left the airplane with my two bags. At the gate, there was one representative from Northwest and she didn't provide any further information.
Because the aircraft was using a gate that was not scheduled to in service, there was no any staff there. I and other passengers just walked through a series of closed doors and pushed open many alarm doors. Then we were welcomed by TSA, who were alarmed by these doors. One police officer came and let us go.
In the baggage claim area, most of the passengers gathered and didn't know exactly where to go. Then one agent from Princess Cruises came to pick up tourists. It turned out he was very helpful. He told us that there were several other Northwest flights due to Fairbanks diverted to Anchorage too because of the heavy smoke at Fairbanks. Those Northwest flights were landed at south terminal. Northwest offered them free coach to Fairbanks. He suggested us to take the free coach if the airline would allow us to do so (it turned out there was no any checking when passengers boarded the buses). After he talked to his colleagues at south terminal and told us that we were OK to take the bus at the first-come-first-serve base, passengers started to rush to the south terminal. I was the first one to reach there.
There was a crowd of passengers waiting for the coach at the south terminal. Soon one bus came and I got onto it. I asked several passengers to make sure it was heading to Fairbanks. One old Chinese couples were sitting next to my seat. It turned out that they were both from Taiwan. The husband got his PhD degree in mathematics from Cornell University and now is a professor at Orkland University, an institution at Michigan. They told me that their daughter is studying at American University because I mentioned to them that I am studying at The George Washington University. Their flight, NW403, had been waiting at Anchorage for more than 3 hours and the airline eventually gave them $25 check and a food stamp. Later I found several passengers from NW405 at the same bus.
There were three buses and one truck to load luggages. It took a long time before the fleet started moving. There was some argument whether the fleet should stop at Denali National Park so that some passengers can get off the bus and avoid the unnecessary trip to Fairbanks. However, some passengers were eager to reach Fairbanks as early as possible because they needed to catch the cruise at Fairbanks. Other passengers basically just took the train over there.
The fleet finally started to move at 11:45PM. It was pretty dark at midnight. I got into the sleep very quickly and was waken up by the light. The fleet stopped at a gas station at 1:00AM and the driver, Steve, told us to take a break since there would be a long drive after that. Since the lavatory in the coach was in very bad shape, all the passengers tried to use the bathroom in the snack shop. So quickly, there was a long line forming inside the shop. I didn't want to wait and tried to find some alternatives. The FredMayer next to the gas station was closed and I was not sure the Safeway cross the street is 24-hour or not. However, I found there were other gentlemen who had the same idea. So I urinated behind a big metal bin. Before I took the spot, the guy who was using it previously said to me, "It's a good spot".
The fleet started moving again at 1:45AM and moved very slowly. It stopped twice briefly on the road. Eventually, the three buses arrived at Denali National Park at 6:00AM. Half passengers got off the bus happily. I had a nice talk with the Chinese couple outside the bus before I stepped onto the bus heading for Fairbanks.
This time, the third bus went first and the bus I was with followed the first bus. We stopped again at one motel to drop off one couple with a kid.
The weather was pretty good at Denali National Park. I saw a double-rainbow on the road. Quickly we found the first bus had some engine problem and it rided extremely slow when it climbed a up slope. Eventually, it stopped before the peak of a steep slope. All the passengers with the first bus got off and waited at the road side when the empty bus rode to Fairbanks, followed by our bus.
Eventually around 10:00AM, the bus arrived at Fairbanks airport. I got off the bus, wished good luck to these poor tourists and rode the bike back to University of Alaska Fairbanks.
The whole trip took around 30 hours, way beyond the expection.
Today, the smoke becomes even heavier. NW405 was not able to land at Fairbanks due to the low visibility and diverted to Anchorage again.
Friday, July 31, 2009
The Heavy Smoke
Thursday July 30th, 2009
Today is my return flight back to Fairbanks, Alaska. The flight from Dullus airport is on 2:17PM. Because Yujuan is afraid of driving on the highway, I decide to use the 5A metrobus, just like the way I got back to DC one week ago. There is one bus at 11:09AM leaving the Rossyln metro station.
After eating some spring rolls Yujuan prepared for the breakfast, we drived to the bus station at around 10:30AM. The traffic was good and it only took us around 10 minutes to arrive at the Rossyln metro station.
Several people already waited there with a lot of luggages. It was pretty hot. So most people were standing in the shadow instead of sitting in the Sun light. After saying goodbye to Yujuan and Lisa, I joined the group waiting for the bus.
11:09AM passed, however, no bus showed up. People started being anxious. Eventually, one 5A bus came. It was an east bound bus. The driver told us there was a big accident on the I-66 and caused a huge traffic jam. After a while, another 5A bus arrived. It was east bound again. People started to losing patience and were afraid of missing their flights. One family left the bus station with a taxi. Another two young people, a man and a woman, left with a same taxi moments later.
Although I had enough margin, I started to worry about the bus as well. The next bus is due 11:49AM.
I called Yujuan and told her to drive the car to the bus stop in case the bus didn't show up. I told her to drive back home if she would not see me at bus stop when she arrived.
Around 12:00PM, the west-bound bus showed up. People started to food into the bus. The boarding took another 7 minutes because most people used cash and had to insert the bills into the money reader slowly. The bus was already half occupied even before we boarded. I was in the first several people who got on and was lucky to get a seat. The phone rang and it was Yujuan. She was just outside the bus and waving to me. Since I had enough margin, I let her drive back directly.
After all passengers got on the bus, the driver started driving to the airport. It took another 50 minutes to reach Dullus airport. I quickly got off the bus and rushed to the front deck to check in. There was no line and I spent only minute to get the boarding pass. The security line was short too. Therefore, I was at the gate around 1:15PM.
The flight was on time and I moved into my seat. One old lady was already sitting on the aisle seat. My seat was in the middle. After a while, one lady came and brought a dog case with her. There was no enough room underneath the window seat to put her dog, so the lady moved to the seat at the back and gave the seat to me.
The old lady at the aisle seat was pretty happy because both of us had pretty space now. We talked a lot during the flight. She told me she was going to attend a wedding of a relative at Minneapolis, which would take place on Saturday. She told me she was working for South Bell just next to Dullus airport for 30 years and now she lives near Ranoke.
The flight arrived at Minneapolis on time and I said goodbye to the old lady and wished her good luck. The flight to Fairbanks took off on time too. Because I got the seat next to the emergency door, I got onto the airplane quite early. The couple sat next to me were quite funny. I read the C++ book for a moment and then started sleeping.
During the flight, the captain indicated one large smoke, which looks like clouds, to us due to wild fire. I saw another one later. I didn't expect the smoke would give us some trouble at that time. Time quickly approached 8:00PM and then bad news arrived.
The captain told us that there was heavy smoke at Fairbanks and visibility was half mile at the airport. Because the Fairbanks was under developement, it was required to have at least three-mile visibility. So, the airplane had to be diverted to Anchorage airport.
It was very cloudy at Anchorage. But the landing was quite smooth. At first, the passengers were ready to get off the airplane. Yet the captain kept everyone on the airplane to wait for the final plane. At first, the captain told us that the airplane would head to Fairbanks soon and everyone applaued. Yet 20 minutes later, he told us that the original plan was not working because the condition at Fairbanks was not improving. Northwest airline cancelled the plan to fly to Fairbanks the same night and offered to fly to Fairbanks on second day moring at 11:00AM. However, the airline didn't provide any accomodations and food because they considered the cancellation was due to weather. Now, all passengers had to figure out the hotel and food on their own. (to be continued)
Today is my return flight back to Fairbanks, Alaska. The flight from Dullus airport is on 2:17PM. Because Yujuan is afraid of driving on the highway, I decide to use the 5A metrobus, just like the way I got back to DC one week ago. There is one bus at 11:09AM leaving the Rossyln metro station.
After eating some spring rolls Yujuan prepared for the breakfast, we drived to the bus station at around 10:30AM. The traffic was good and it only took us around 10 minutes to arrive at the Rossyln metro station.
Several people already waited there with a lot of luggages. It was pretty hot. So most people were standing in the shadow instead of sitting in the Sun light. After saying goodbye to Yujuan and Lisa, I joined the group waiting for the bus.
11:09AM passed, however, no bus showed up. People started being anxious. Eventually, one 5A bus came. It was an east bound bus. The driver told us there was a big accident on the I-66 and caused a huge traffic jam. After a while, another 5A bus arrived. It was east bound again. People started to losing patience and were afraid of missing their flights. One family left the bus station with a taxi. Another two young people, a man and a woman, left with a same taxi moments later.
Although I had enough margin, I started to worry about the bus as well. The next bus is due 11:49AM.
I called Yujuan and told her to drive the car to the bus stop in case the bus didn't show up. I told her to drive back home if she would not see me at bus stop when she arrived.
Around 12:00PM, the west-bound bus showed up. People started to food into the bus. The boarding took another 7 minutes because most people used cash and had to insert the bills into the money reader slowly. The bus was already half occupied even before we boarded. I was in the first several people who got on and was lucky to get a seat. The phone rang and it was Yujuan. She was just outside the bus and waving to me. Since I had enough margin, I let her drive back directly.
After all passengers got on the bus, the driver started driving to the airport. It took another 50 minutes to reach Dullus airport. I quickly got off the bus and rushed to the front deck to check in. There was no line and I spent only minute to get the boarding pass. The security line was short too. Therefore, I was at the gate around 1:15PM.
The flight was on time and I moved into my seat. One old lady was already sitting on the aisle seat. My seat was in the middle. After a while, one lady came and brought a dog case with her. There was no enough room underneath the window seat to put her dog, so the lady moved to the seat at the back and gave the seat to me.
The old lady at the aisle seat was pretty happy because both of us had pretty space now. We talked a lot during the flight. She told me she was going to attend a wedding of a relative at Minneapolis, which would take place on Saturday. She told me she was working for South Bell just next to Dullus airport for 30 years and now she lives near Ranoke.
The flight arrived at Minneapolis on time and I said goodbye to the old lady and wished her good luck. The flight to Fairbanks took off on time too. Because I got the seat next to the emergency door, I got onto the airplane quite early. The couple sat next to me were quite funny. I read the C++ book for a moment and then started sleeping.
During the flight, the captain indicated one large smoke, which looks like clouds, to us due to wild fire. I saw another one later. I didn't expect the smoke would give us some trouble at that time. Time quickly approached 8:00PM and then bad news arrived.
The captain told us that there was heavy smoke at Fairbanks and visibility was half mile at the airport. Because the Fairbanks was under developement, it was required to have at least three-mile visibility. So, the airplane had to be diverted to Anchorage airport.
It was very cloudy at Anchorage. But the landing was quite smooth. At first, the passengers were ready to get off the airplane. Yet the captain kept everyone on the airplane to wait for the final plane. At first, the captain told us that the airplane would head to Fairbanks soon and everyone applaued. Yet 20 minutes later, he told us that the original plan was not working because the condition at Fairbanks was not improving. Northwest airline cancelled the plan to fly to Fairbanks the same night and offered to fly to Fairbanks on second day moring at 11:00AM. However, the airline didn't provide any accomodations and food because they considered the cancellation was due to weather. Now, all passengers had to figure out the hotel and food on their own. (to be continued)
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
What a relief!
Eventually, I defended my PhD dissertation on July 27th, 2009.
However, I felt I didn't do a good job during the presentation because I almost read the slides during the first half. Sometimes, I was not able to understand the question and just had to say something that I was not sure a good or correct answer.
Actually, there was a very short break in the middle because the projector belonging to the ECE department failed. Fortunately, I had a backup projector from the HPCL, which I called Esam to bring on Friday night. Therefore the presentation was quickly resumed.
After I finished the presentation, I didn't find my wife and the food. Then I called her and found she just started driving away from home. Later she told me that she was not able to cook the food quick enough because there is only one wok at home.
The food arrived a little bit late and all the faculties just tasted a bit and then headed to the restaurant for a more formal lunch. Because it is in the middle of the summer, there are not many people in the department. So more than half food was left and I brought some back with the big cake.
I arrived at home around 5:15PM and then brought Lisa to the Glen Echo park for a pony riding. However, it was figured out that the pony riding was closed on Monday. We decided to come back on Wednesday.
Finally, it is over.
However, I felt I didn't do a good job during the presentation because I almost read the slides during the first half. Sometimes, I was not able to understand the question and just had to say something that I was not sure a good or correct answer.
Actually, there was a very short break in the middle because the projector belonging to the ECE department failed. Fortunately, I had a backup projector from the HPCL, which I called Esam to bring on Friday night. Therefore the presentation was quickly resumed.
After I finished the presentation, I didn't find my wife and the food. Then I called her and found she just started driving away from home. Later she told me that she was not able to cook the food quick enough because there is only one wok at home.
The food arrived a little bit late and all the faculties just tasted a bit and then headed to the restaurant for a more formal lunch. Because it is in the middle of the summer, there are not many people in the department. So more than half food was left and I brought some back with the big cake.
I arrived at home around 5:15PM and then brought Lisa to the Glen Echo park for a pony riding. However, it was figured out that the pony riding was closed on Monday. We decided to come back on Wednesday.
Finally, it is over.
The post should be posted on July 23rd regarding the second flight back to DC
The flight from Fairbanks to Minneappolis/Saint Paul arrived at MSP international airport on time at 5:40AM. Then I walked to Gate F2 for flight NW 1914, which is supposed to depart at 7:00AM.
Then a series of interesting things happened. First, the airline staff said there is some battery problem and it was supposed to depart at 7:30AM. After a while, the same lady announced that the battery problem could not solved and the maintence has to manually change the battery. The flight was further delayed to 8:41AM.
Well, you have nothing to do. And my luggage was with the airplane. I guess I made a mistake to check in the luggage because now I have to take the same plane. Otherwise, I may lose it.
Anyway, I waited until 8:00Am and then walked to the gate to check the status. The scene was not promising. When it was 8:20AM, the lady announced again that the battery problem was still not solved and the maintence guy were bringing in a new battery, which will further delay the flight to 10:00AM.
After a short while, the lady opened her mouth again and said the airline is going to change the aircraft for the flight and the gate is changed to C1. The good part is that the departure time is moved ahead to 9:30AM.
So I rushed to Gate C1 again. However, I didn't see the airplane at 9:15AM.
The whole day (Thursday) was completely scewed up because of a small booking mistake. I should be at DC now.
Then a series of interesting things happened. First, the airline staff said there is some battery problem and it was supposed to depart at 7:30AM. After a while, the same lady announced that the battery problem could not solved and the maintence has to manually change the battery. The flight was further delayed to 8:41AM.
Well, you have nothing to do. And my luggage was with the airplane. I guess I made a mistake to check in the luggage because now I have to take the same plane. Otherwise, I may lose it.
Anyway, I waited until 8:00Am and then walked to the gate to check the status. The scene was not promising. When it was 8:20AM, the lady announced again that the battery problem was still not solved and the maintence guy were bringing in a new battery, which will further delay the flight to 10:00AM.
After a short while, the lady opened her mouth again and said the airline is going to change the aircraft for the flight and the gate is changed to C1. The good part is that the departure time is moved ahead to 9:30AM.
So I rushed to Gate C1 again. However, I didn't see the airplane at 9:15AM.
The whole day (Thursday) was completely scewed up because of a small booking mistake. I should be at DC now.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
A mistake discovered at the last minute
Today is July 22nd (Wednesday). I am supposed to take the flight back to DC to defend my dissertation. I booked the flight two weeks ago. In my mind, I thought my destination airport is Reagon National Airport (DCA). Even I have checked the itinerary several times, I still believed that I was heading to DCA.
Then, I arrived at the Fairbanks airport by riding a bike. I checked in and got the boarding pass. The lady with Northwest airline was very nice and changed my seat to an asile seat. Then I walked into the security check point. Then I looked into the boarding pass and was shocked to find that the destination airport is Dulles.
I quickly brought out the itinerary copy I print out and checked again. Unfortunately, it is the same. The airport agent didn't make the mistake. It was me who booked the wrong flight in the first place.
I walked back to the check-in desk and wanted to find the possibility to change the flight to DCA. The same lady met me again. She felt sorry for me and told me she was not able to change the flight at the desk. I had to call the 800 number to change the flight. However, it may cost me a big amount of money. Anyway, it was not a big deal. There is a bus between Dulles airport and Roslyn. However, the lady was realy nice and offered me to check in my bag for free. Maybe she wanted to compensate a bit for my mistake and it costed her nothing anyway.
Of course, the return flight is from Dulles airport as well and I have to figure out how to go there now.
Then, I arrived at the Fairbanks airport by riding a bike. I checked in and got the boarding pass. The lady with Northwest airline was very nice and changed my seat to an asile seat. Then I walked into the security check point. Then I looked into the boarding pass and was shocked to find that the destination airport is Dulles.
I quickly brought out the itinerary copy I print out and checked again. Unfortunately, it is the same. The airport agent didn't make the mistake. It was me who booked the wrong flight in the first place.
I walked back to the check-in desk and wanted to find the possibility to change the flight to DCA. The same lady met me again. She felt sorry for me and told me she was not able to change the flight at the desk. I had to call the 800 number to change the flight. However, it may cost me a big amount of money. Anyway, it was not a big deal. There is a bus between Dulles airport and Roslyn. However, the lady was realy nice and offered me to check in my bag for free. Maybe she wanted to compensate a bit for my mistake and it costed her nothing anyway.
Of course, the return flight is from Dulles airport as well and I have to figure out how to go there now.
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