I want to be on an airplane right now…so let’s take a trip down memory lane to my first international flight. I had just paid for my 5-week-long study abroad trip in Kiel, Germany, and needed to figure out how in the world I was going to get to Germany. I had never been out of the country, so booking an international flight was a first for me. But before I actually booked the flight, I had a few things to consider.
- I wanted to do some solo-travel before and after, so I needed to figure out where I was flying in and out of.
- Salt Lake International Airport is expensive to fly in and out of. Did I want to try and fly out of a different airport? Las Vegas, Denver, and LAX were all doable locations.
- I decided that I was going to move out of my current home before I left, so I needed to find a place to park my car for almost 2 months.
Once I figured out how much time I could take off of work, I realized that a world of possibilities opened up to me. I decided to drive my car down to my parent’s house in Southern California and fly out of LAX. I had a buyer for my car in their area, so that made the most sense. I’d also have a ride to the airport and LAX is a major hub, so…yay for me!
Since I was moving out of my current home and didn’t have anything lined up for when I got back to Utah, returning to my parent’s house was the most appealing choice. Returning from Europe to a homeless situation my first time out didn’t sound fun to me. I also wasn’t sure how jet-lagged I was going to be and wanted to make sure I would return to a comfortable bed. I had some friends in Salt Lake City that were willing to let me crash on their couches while I looked for a place upon my return, so no pressure there.
I started scouring the usual websites, looking for deals, ideas, and trying to figure all of this out. When I flew domestically, I would only book direct flights, not wanting to waste precious time on a layover in a city where I’d probably never leave the airport.
This was different.
Not only would a layover be necessary, but I imagined that I’d need to stretch my legs and walk a bit between long flights.
My program recommended flying into the Hamburg International Airport (HAM) and then taking the Kielius bus to the main bus terminal in Kiel. Not only was HAM super pricey to fly into, I was still trying to figure out where I wanted to explore before and after.
I finally decided that I wanted to go to Poland and visit the Auschwitz Camp before I went to Germany. In the end, history wins out, I guess. Using that as a catalyst, I ended up booking a flight in and out of Prague. I felt that even if I didn’t spend substantial time in the Czech Republic, I would at least be pseudo-centralized in Europe (well, Eastern Europe. I wasn’t interested in trying to get over to Western Europe during this trip). The best flight I was able to find was LAX – Detroit – Amsterdam – Prague. Not my ideal flight, but it worked with the timing and price-range I had available.
And for the rest of the journey, I present a series of vignettes for your reading pleasure…and a whole bunch of selfie, where you can see the progression of deterioration in my face and hair:
LAX – DET
Sitting at LAX in the wee hours of the morning, my eyes are drawn to a dark corner of my terminal where a family had apparently set up camp for the night. I’d heard about teenagers and early-20-somethings doing this, but never thought I’d actually see a family. Strollers, car seats, and luggage provided a barricade and light-blocker so they could sleep. While I’m trying not to stare, I cast my eyes around at the terminal, alive with activity. No matter what time of day, LAX is always busy.
My eyes reach an ATM and I start to think about landing in Prague and pulling money out of the ATM at the airport.
Gaspp!!
I didn’t call the bank to tell them I was leaving the country! Good thing I have a lot of time before my flight and can make that call…
2 hours later I’m sitting on the first leg of my flight, fortunately in the bulkhead. I can’t believe my luck! I can fully stretch out my feet…and that’s about it. I can’t recline, I don’t have a TV directly in front of me, and get to watch everyone use the restroom in the middle of the plane. Maybe I’ll ask the flight attendant for a blanket because I’m cold for some reason. I never get cold on airplanes. This is a first.
Hmm…my neck pillow makes me feel like a chipmunk. I must figure this out. Good thing I have tons of time!
DET – AMS
What luck! I deplane in a gate right next to where I will be boarding my next flight! Is this real life? I have about 90 minutes to kill, so I’ll have a look around the airport.
10 minutes later, I’m back at my gate. This airport isn’t my favorite and I’d rather people watch while I can still understand what they’re saying. Is that bad? Is it time to go international yet?
For some reason I’m in the back corner of the plane in the window seat, squished. Completely. I can’t move my arms and the 2 guys sitting next to me think that sharing the arm rest is a thing of the past. I get a shove in and finally he concedes to share the front part of the armrest.
Ooo! Fun movies in front of me? I guess sleep is out of the question. Let’s start with the Lego Movie…
Dinner? Breakfast? I’ve never been on a flight before where they serve meals before…guess I’ll have to fly international from now on to score this “free” “food” stuff.
Wait, am I going to get food poisoning? Is this going to be like “Airplane?” I know the restroom is right behind me, but how embarrassing will be to keep asking my neighbors to move? Or I could just hang out by the restroom? That’s not creepy, right?
About an hour left…maybe I should use the restroom for the first time.
Big mistake. My legs don’t want to bend back into the sitting position again. Ugh.
AMS – PRG
Whelp…I’m an idiot. I have 40 minutes to get through customs and make it to my other flight. Why did I think that I only had to go through customs in Prague? As I take off running, I’m tugging on my backpack straps to hopefully make it somewhat lighter? Is that even a thing?
Customs! There it is! Now what do I do? Get in line. Okay. I can do that.
My heart is pounding and I’m starting to sweat. Am I going to make it to my next flight? Why won’t these people hurry up?
Okay my turn. I gave him my passport and it’s clearly the real thing. Why is he taking so long?
Questions. Tons of questions. Sir, I have to go, can I please have my passport (in my head, of course)?
THANK YOU!
Sprinting now. I’m sure I look funny. I’ve got a grey backpack and a Dickies messenger bag bouncing around. I’m not the smallest person in the world, but I can sprint if I need to. Even in flip flops!
I hear my flight boarding. Whew! I get in line to board and get an apple out at the same time. MAN am I starving!
Ugh. The flight is a little 2×2 seater from KLM. By the time I sit down, I realize that not only am I still panting, but my face is flushed and I’m literally dripping with sweat. EW!
I’ve finally become THAT PERSON. You know, the one that nobody wants to sit by because they think they’ll catch whatever I have?
Sweet, there’s the drink cart. I need some water!
Time to deplane already? Awesome, now I can put on some more deodorant, brush my teeth, and do something about my hair!
Wide-eyed Moment: never again will I book a connection so close, especially on an international flight!
Needless to say, my first international flight to Prague was kind of an adventure. Fortunately, the return trip was much easier, comfortable, but so much more emotional (I wasn’t ready to leave).
PIN ME
