Day 10 - Basel, Paris, Atlanta, Marietta

While some I knew had to put their luggage out at 4:00 AM and get ready to go to the airport at 4:30 AM, I had the luxury of putting my luggage out at 7:30 AM and departing at 8:30 for an 11:30 AM flight on some Air France cheap called "HOP".

As one would expect, people can't read or understand basic instructions, so the bus leaving with the people continuing with an extension in Lucerne couldn't find their luggage that was on the bus, and weren't sure it was their bus. So, we were delayed, but we had so much time it did not matter.

Viking was wonderful in getting us to the counter, and since I have Sky Priority, I was the only one in my line. I had already purchased a smaller carry-on suitcase since my US one in 1 inch too big, and they did measure it. Then they weighed it, and my computer bag, together, Apparently you can have a briefcase and a carry-on, but they can only weigh a total of 12kg. I was at 17kg, so off my bag went. I was thankful to be a Gold Sky Priority Delta member because the 2nd bag cost me nothing (as opposed to $100-$285 depending on the website you look at).

The plane coming in was late, but, I can only guess that there is a metric that says that when you call for boarding is more important than when you get on the plane. So they called for boarding, we went onto a jet-way, that had a full flight of stairs to the ground and waited 20 minutes, Standing, in the glass enclosed hot-house. Finally we waked across the tarmac, up the stairs to the plane and got on the flight. Happily I had the aisle seat an no one next to me.

I got to see the Eiffel Tower from the air as we were set to land in Paris. There was quite a lot of guessing from myself and others on my flight as we tried to head to our connecting flight in another terminal.

I continue to believe that no one who designs airports, uses the airports. There were 3 lines for passports: Sky Priority (me), EU passports, everyone else. My line merged with the EU line at the guards gate. First we had to wait for a woman to get all her paperwork for her and her family, because, why be prepared. Then we alternated, until, the line was cut by 3 pieces of garbage. As I called them out, the look from the Customs officer pretty much said don't make a scene, and he was VERY quick to get me through the process (under a minute).

Total walk to my gate was over 3/4 mile from one plane to the other. The duty free area is big, and I didn't realize how many products claim to be from France as far as watches, fragrances, alcohol and clothes. I stopped at one store, but chose not to pick up any souvenirs.

The flight was delayed coming into Paris, then there was a fuel line issue so they had to swap planes and then they figured out they forgot to get the catering off the original plane. It was surreal to watch the French open in Paris, but that's all there was to do at the gate as I really didn't want to walk around the airport.

As they started boarding you walked down a double ramp, like at sporting events (halfway down, turn a corner and go the direction you came on a lower ramp) there was a delay and the woman I was talking to leaned against the wall and her thick plastic water bottle, filled with wine slipped from its holster to the ground below. The reactions were amusing. There was the "I could have been killed" response from the guy it fell next to (well you lived, oops). There was the woman who was concerned about what had splashed on her, both kept complaining loudly to no one in particular even after the woman apologized multiple times. Thankfully, neither did anything more than let everone know how annoyed and special they were.

I had a Delta Premium Select seat. I just want to say, same seat on KLM to Amsterdam, The food though, was not as good as the KLM flight. I watched a movie and slept for 6 of the 9 hours.

Then ATL, 1 mile walk to customs, but I had a secret weapon, Global Entry. Weight time for the unwashed masses 30-45 minutes. Wait time for me, the time it took to scan my card. I actually had to wait for my luggage, and since I was Sky Priority it came out in the first batch for our plane.

And because the Airport was designed by people who don't use it, I waited for a 20 passenger luggage bus to take me to the Rental Car Center to pick up my car in the Budget Employee lot.

Easy drive home and my trip was complete.