Flight to Fiji

Here is a timeline of our flight from Los Angeles to Nadi, Fiji. It was about a 10.5 hour flight. Thankfully, we were unconscious for most of it. 

8:30 PM- PST– We arrive at the airport 3 hours in advance in anticipation of long lines. Fortunately, check in line is not long.

8:35 – We begin the check in process: we each plan on checking one large bag and having two carry-on bags. Strangely, all of our bags match each other.

8:36 – The guy checking me in lacks normal human compassion. He forces me to check one of my carryon bags. I am too fearful of getting in trouble internationally to argue.

8:42 – Check in is over. I have obtained a boarding pass and lost a bag to the underbelly of the plane.

8:45 – Security. Cute old Japanese couple in front of us has about 30 carry on bags. I am jealous.

8:46  – I remember everything in my now checked carryon that I need for the flight. I am sad.

8:55 We wander through the giant terminals looking for our gate. We pass some attractive male athletes flying on Qantas. Estimated age: 16.

9:15  – Maria has gone to the bathroom and left me alone to charge my computer.

9:30  – She still hasn’t returned. It now becomes clear to me that she has been abducted and sold into the lucrative business of human trafficking. I would go check, but I don’t want our bags to be taken away and my computer isn’t done charging yet.

9:37 – She still hasn’t returned. I need to use the restroom.

9:41 - I’m back.  I didn’t get stolen.

9:42 - Kelley goes to the bathroom.

9:47 - Where are youuu?

9:50 - I’m thirsty.

9:51 – Return of Kelley.

9:55 - We have purchased drinks. Maria leaves again to go chug her bottle of water since the bottle she purchased isn't cold. She hopes to chug it, then refill it with cool water.

10:01 - Why does my friend keep getting stolen? :(

10:05 - Reunion. We check tickets to make sure we are sitting together. 

10:06 - Maria realizes that chugging water was a bad idea.

10:11 - Maria goes back to the bathroom.

10:14 - Maria returns with “great idea to make a song about this flight to the tune of 'O Christmas Tree'”

10:18 - We compare passport photos and laugh.

10:25 - Maria goes to the bathroom again.

10:27 - She returns. We get up to board.

10:45 - Our tickets are scanned and we board a scary looking bus

10:55 - We get off the bus, and watch as the cluster of people ahead of us stop and look around, confused and without direction. A headstrong man took the lead, and led the bewildered travelers up a ramp, hopefully towards the plane.

11:00 - We board the plane.

11:15 - Maria goes to the bathroom.

11:30 - Finally everyone has gotten on the plane.

11:40 - Safety briefing over, we begin taxiing to the runway

11:40:30 - Child starts screaming. Maria: “This isn’t starting well.”

11:50 - We are in the air!

12:30 - Dinner is served.

12:30:25 - Dinner is not edible by any stretch of the imagination. Believe us, we tried. 

Guess what two things Kelley consumed from this tray...

Water and the sugar packet.

1:48 - Top Gear.

2:34 - Passed out.

2:45 - Maria goes to the bathroom.

6:30 - Maria goes to the bathroom.

8:24 - Woken up to the delicious smell of breakfast. Otherwise we would have been woken up by a crying child 4 minutes later.

8:28 - Crying child.

8:35 - By some divine miracle, breakfast is edible and actually quite tasty.

Much better.

CROSSING THE DATE LINE

4:59 AM FJT – Landed in Fiji! Disembark the plane and go through customs.

5:15 - Waiting for bags in large throng of people also waiting for bags while simultaneously making it very difficult for us to retrieve our own bags. 

5:20 - Maria has her bag.

5:25 - Kelley is sans bags.

5:30 - The bags have not appeared; Kelley grows anxious.

5:34 - Bags are obtained. We drag them over to an open area to assess the situation. We need money and transportation. Maria goes and exchanges money.

5:40 - Maria returns, and Kelley goes to the bathroom for the first time since LA, while Maria bravely waits with the bags.

5:45 - Kelley returns with tidings of a cart to carry the combined 100 pounds of bags.

6:00 - We have survived the 10.5 hour flight, made it through the airport customs with our bags, and found our shuttle to the hotel before the sun rose over the Fijian mountains. Success.