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The Epic Adventures of Andy Bright
Technical difficulties, the trip that was almost off and the mile high club (well almost)
John F Kennedy Airport, New York
So after 5 hours kip I left at 6am and headed off back to London.
Shattered was not even close. After the learnings from the day before I had swapped my headphones with my brother so I could make all my calls on the way back up. I stopped off at Exeter services for a coffee and plugged them in for a test run, and also plugged in the USB to charge as my phone was almost dead.....
The USB would only show as a data transfer and cut out after a few seconds, and the headphones said not compatible -again!!
I was using the F word alot as I threw everything around the car.
Problem was I had told everyone I would call, so I started to get lots of calls (popular kind of guy you know)..
If I just ignored them they would wonder what was up, and I knew if I answered I would get hammered by the cops and would end up with some points and a fine.
But the biggest problem was I needed the phone as a sat nav as I had forgot how to get back to the rental office and the battery was about to go.
Bloody typical.
So I had no choice but to just switch it off and listen to the radio.
Anyhow I made it back to Heathrow OK and it was the same lad from the day before at the rental office that I had had a laugh with so he kindly got one of his staff to give me a lift to the terminal.
I went to check in and they asked where my ESTA visa was after I had passed the security questions grilling.
Its ok I am only in transit In New York I said.
You still need an ESTA.
No, you dont understand, I am not leaving the airport.
You still need an ESTA.
Yes but I wont be going through immigration as I wont be leaving the airport
Yes you will, you need an ESTA.
And then he gave me that look to say that was the last time he was going to tell me.
It appeared he knew alot more than I did.
s***.
Typical arrogant me had not even looked in to it.
Was the trip off?
How could I have been so stupid...
Dont worry he said, just go online and it takes ten minutes, there is an internet cafe upstairs.
I did not have much time so ran upstairs to find the internet cafe took pound coins, but I did not have any UK money on me.
I was not going to a cash machine just for a quid, so I used the data on my phone praying the battery and the connection would hold while I tethered it to my tablet.
Success!
I ran back down and checked in again, and she did not even ask me for my ESTA details. Oh well, all that mattered was my bag had gone down the belt and I had a boarding card in my hand.
Trip was back on.
I had planned to buy another Sony camera despite my bad luck with the waterproof one, guess I just can not leave the old job, but surprise surprise when I got to Dixons they had hardly any stock.
Now I remember why I left the job.
But then I remembered I was flying to New York.
Well not that I forgot where I was going what I meant was that I had not considered buying the camera there.
Obviously they will have tons of cameras I thought, plus the stopover there is a few hours, so it would give me something to do.
Decision made so off I went to the VIP lounge for some free beer.
After checking in I got to the boarding Gate which was packed. As I handed in my boarding card the lady repeated my name and then went to speak to a colleague.
Oh no, what now I thought. Did I fill in the ESTA wrong? Is the flight full and they have over booked?
Have they found drugs in my bag? Loads of crazy scenarios went through my mind.
She came back.
Mr Bright we have had to put you in Business Class, is that OK?
A combination of fatigue and shock caused an even longer than usual delay as the cogs in my head slowly whirred around.
How Terrible, I am disappointed I said smiling at her.
She gave me a wink that half made me think she wanted to join the mile high club with me later on, but I was happy enough with the ticket for now.
Now was time to get smug I thought as I jumped up when they announced priority passengers. As soon as i found my seat I made sure I whacked it right back and tried to look cool at all the economy passengers as they walked past giving me that look....
The stewardess asked if I wanted champagne or juice. She knew damn well I had been upgraded so I just said to her, what do the free upgrades usually ask for and laughed as I grabbed the champers making sure the remaining economy passengers got a good look.
I had never been business class before so I was like a kid at disney world for the first time as I played with all the gadgets and looked at the wine list.
Well all I can say is was a great experience and a fantastic start after all the hassle of this leg of the journey.
As we landed in JFK I could not believe I had to go through immigration. A man stopped me at a checkpoint and asked me where my luggage was.
Halfway to Rio I said.
Nope.
Apparently not.
Apparently it was on conveyor number 4.
I had to go get my luggage, carry it around the corner and then put in on another conveyor to go to Rio.
Blooming good job he stopped me I thought.
It was all a bit weird.
Oh well so off I went in search of the massive duty free camera shop that I was sure was around the corner.....
I did a few laps of the terminal and found coffee shops and clothes shops and perfume shops but no electrical shops.
Clearly there was another part of the terminal I just could not see I thought as I asked at the information desk.
You mean a cell phone? she asked in a heavy accent.
No. A camera.
Gee......she said as she looked up
I was not feeling very confident by now.
I think there may be a small store around that corner she said.
So around the corner I went to find more of an accesory store that had a massive range of 2 sony cameras, and actually more expensive than the UK.
Grrr.
Right then, so it looks like I will buy my camera in Rio then I thought as I stormed off...............
Shattered was not even close. After the learnings from the day before I had swapped my headphones with my brother so I could make all my calls on the way back up. I stopped off at Exeter services for a coffee and plugged them in for a test run, and also plugged in the USB to charge as my phone was almost dead.....
The USB would only show as a data transfer and cut out after a few seconds, and the headphones said not compatible -again!!
I was using the F word alot as I threw everything around the car.
Problem was I had told everyone I would call, so I started to get lots of calls (popular kind of guy you know)..
If I just ignored them they would wonder what was up, and I knew if I answered I would get hammered by the cops and would end up with some points and a fine.
But the biggest problem was I needed the phone as a sat nav as I had forgot how to get back to the rental office and the battery was about to go.
Bloody typical.
So I had no choice but to just switch it off and listen to the radio.
Anyhow I made it back to Heathrow OK and it was the same lad from the day before at the rental office that I had had a laugh with so he kindly got one of his staff to give me a lift to the terminal.
I went to check in and they asked where my ESTA visa was after I had passed the security questions grilling.
Its ok I am only in transit In New York I said.
You still need an ESTA.
No, you dont understand, I am not leaving the airport.
You still need an ESTA.
Yes but I wont be going through immigration as I wont be leaving the airport
Yes you will, you need an ESTA.
And then he gave me that look to say that was the last time he was going to tell me.
It appeared he knew alot more than I did.
s***.
Typical arrogant me had not even looked in to it.
Was the trip off?
How could I have been so stupid...
Dont worry he said, just go online and it takes ten minutes, there is an internet cafe upstairs.
I did not have much time so ran upstairs to find the internet cafe took pound coins, but I did not have any UK money on me.
I was not going to a cash machine just for a quid, so I used the data on my phone praying the battery and the connection would hold while I tethered it to my tablet.
Success!
I ran back down and checked in again, and she did not even ask me for my ESTA details. Oh well, all that mattered was my bag had gone down the belt and I had a boarding card in my hand.
Trip was back on.
I had planned to buy another Sony camera despite my bad luck with the waterproof one, guess I just can not leave the old job, but surprise surprise when I got to Dixons they had hardly any stock.
Now I remember why I left the job.
But then I remembered I was flying to New York.
Well not that I forgot where I was going what I meant was that I had not considered buying the camera there.
Obviously they will have tons of cameras I thought, plus the stopover there is a few hours, so it would give me something to do.
Decision made so off I went to the VIP lounge for some free beer.
After checking in I got to the boarding Gate which was packed. As I handed in my boarding card the lady repeated my name and then went to speak to a colleague.
Oh no, what now I thought. Did I fill in the ESTA wrong? Is the flight full and they have over booked?
Have they found drugs in my bag? Loads of crazy scenarios went through my mind.
She came back.
Mr Bright we have had to put you in Business Class, is that OK?
A combination of fatigue and shock caused an even longer than usual delay as the cogs in my head slowly whirred around.
How Terrible, I am disappointed I said smiling at her.
She gave me a wink that half made me think she wanted to join the mile high club with me later on, but I was happy enough with the ticket for now.
Now was time to get smug I thought as I jumped up when they announced priority passengers. As soon as i found my seat I made sure I whacked it right back and tried to look cool at all the economy passengers as they walked past giving me that look....
The stewardess asked if I wanted champagne or juice. She knew damn well I had been upgraded so I just said to her, what do the free upgrades usually ask for and laughed as I grabbed the champers making sure the remaining economy passengers got a good look.
I had never been business class before so I was like a kid at disney world for the first time as I played with all the gadgets and looked at the wine list.
Well all I can say is was a great experience and a fantastic start after all the hassle of this leg of the journey.
As we landed in JFK I could not believe I had to go through immigration. A man stopped me at a checkpoint and asked me where my luggage was.
Halfway to Rio I said.
Nope.
Apparently not.
Apparently it was on conveyor number 4.
I had to go get my luggage, carry it around the corner and then put in on another conveyor to go to Rio.
Blooming good job he stopped me I thought.
It was all a bit weird.
Oh well so off I went in search of the massive duty free camera shop that I was sure was around the corner.....
I did a few laps of the terminal and found coffee shops and clothes shops and perfume shops but no electrical shops.
Clearly there was another part of the terminal I just could not see I thought as I asked at the information desk.
You mean a cell phone? she asked in a heavy accent.
No. A camera.
Gee......she said as she looked up
I was not feeling very confident by now.
I think there may be a small store around that corner she said.
So around the corner I went to find more of an accesory store that had a massive range of 2 sony cameras, and actually more expensive than the UK.
Grrr.
Right then, so it looks like I will buy my camera in Rio then I thought as I stormed off...............
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