The long journey
It’s a big day today as we embark on our long journey home. We travel from Isla Mujeres (by boat) to Cancun to take our 1210 Continental Airlines flight to Houston then Los Angeles, then finally to Auckland. That’s about 24h from the first flight to the last.
Connection hassles
Arriving at Houston at 1433 for our international-to-domestic transfer, we took about an hour to clear immigration. We still had some time in the lounge for quick drinks and snacks before continuing to Los Angeles at 1700, because I had forced United’s website to book me on a longer connection of 2h27 (by searching for it as a multi-city booking). If we had taken the fast connection that’s normally suggested, we would have missed my flight to Los Angeles.
At the lounge, I asked the attendant the airline’s policy when people miss connections as a result of immigration queues. She explained that they would attempt to rebook (for free) on the next available flight (subject to availability). But if an overnight stay becomes necessary, it would be at the passenger’s expense. Good to know!
Arriving at Los Angeles at 1819, we collected our luggage and walked to Terminal 2 where Air New Zealand operates from. We had comfortably sufficient time to check-in for our final leg to Auckland departing at 2130.
Interesting fact
Then an interesting fact about flying in the US … on both Continental Airlines flights, people had their window shades down for take-off and landing. Unlike in other parts of the world, it is normally a requirement to have them open so that passengers are oriented should an accident happen. Here, practicality rules … it certainly keeps the cabin cooler by shutting the sun out.