Return to Manila, Snow in Seoul, and Las Vegas

My two-day journey home began today. Shortly after breakfast, well after some coffee, I caught a boat to Tayaty. It was a slower boat and took around two hours. Next was a van ride to the airport clocking in around another hour and half. El Nido airport is just a hut, so security is a manual process. They manually search your luggage, wand you, and then weigh you, yes, you have to stand on a scale. They raised some concerns with my drone but when I showed them the batteries were in approved LIOP bags in my carry-on I was allowed to proceed. I looked around and when I did not see any great big fat people so I figured it was safe to boarded the Jeepney to the plane. The flight to Manila was a little over an hour. It was then a 45 minute ride to travel the few blocks back to the Hotel Jen where I could get some sleep before my flight back to Seattle in the morning.

I got up this morning and enjoyed a great breakfast at the Hotel Jen and then got a ride to the airport. While I was standing in line I noticed a hand written sign that appeared to say my flight was two and a half hours late. When I got to the check-in counter I asked what was going on. Apparently, it snows in South Korea. I had no idea. Korean Air typically has connections of less than an hour making things extremely tight when you have to go through transfers and they should really adjust their schedules. I asked if I had any chance of making my connection in Incheon. She told me that most flights were delayed and there were actually 13 other people on this flight connecting in Seoul to go to Seattle. But she had no idea and I would have to talk to someone in Incheon. Great, thanks.... With two extra hours to kill in addition to my three hour early arrival at the airport I had plenty of time to explore. During that time I did some research on my phone and if I miss the Seattle flight there is not another one on Korean Air for two days, and thought oh boy this is going to be interesting. But glad it was happening on the way home instead of the way there.

I had access to Korean Air’s lounge and enjoyed some finger sandwiches and two beers. Korean Air only has flights to Incheon from Manila so their lounge is pretty minimal. I recently got a Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card which includes a Priority Pass, giving me access to airport lounges around the world, two of which are in terminal one. They had a third lounge in terminal three but I didn’t feel like catching a cab to go check that one out. I left the Korean Air lounge and first stopped at the Pagstop Lounge and enjoyed some finger sandwiches and two beers. The lounge was much nicer then Korean Air’s with much better wi-fi. Next, I went to Miascor Lounge and enjoyed some finger sandwiches and two beers. This was the nicest lounge so far so I decided to stay for a third beer until my flight was ready to board.

During the five hour flight to Incheon I enjoyed another four course meal and some wine. As we were getting ready to land a flight attendant came by and said I would miss my Seattle connection but a Korean Air agent would be waiting for me when I got off the plane with an updated route. I would be flying to Las Vegas and then catch an Alaskan Air flight to Seattle. The lady across the aisle from me was also going to Seattle. Once we landed one of the flight attendants got me and the lady next to me and walked us to the transfer counter. The lady said shouldn’t we wait for the other 11 people going to Seattle? The flight attendant said they were in economy and someone else will be holding a sign with the Seattle flight number for them to gather around once they deplane. At the transfer counter we were issued new tickets and a new baggage claim tag, we went through transfers just in time to board the flight to Las Vegas. Boy, Korean air has some tight schedules. I was happy to be in business class and even more happy that I was getting home on the same day as I was scheduled, just ten hours later. I had a lovely dinner with some wine and pressed the button to convert my seat in to a bed, sleeping until breakfast.

After the 11 hour flight I had a few hours in Las Vegas, so I pulled up my Priority Pass app and located another lounge. Even though I didn’t have a change of clothes I went and took a shower to feel a little refreshed. I then enjoyed a few beers before boarding my flight to Seattle. I was in coach, oh well, I was just happy to get home. But to my surprise when the drink lady came by she confirmed my name and then said I was welcome to beer or wine at no cost, so it was kind of a hybrid-class. In two hours I was in Seattle and happy to see my bag was as well. I got an Uber home and opened my door to find my dog waiting for me. And just like that, as it has happened so many times before, the adventure was over. But that’s not really true, the adventure goes on, this was just one chapter of it….