All Our Bags Are Packed!: April 2025

Europe 2025 - Blog # 1 - Venice

Arrived At LAX - Happy!

Arlene Tries Out Her New "Go To" Chair

Air Tahiti Nui - Our Favorite Airline!

We almost missed flight! Our Global Pass and TSA certification information was deleted from airline computer. (Doge & Musk issue?) - This issue caused many delays - going through wheelchair area security. Then, Jerry's carry-on requiring several inspections (charging cables and other electronic devices).

Our situation got worse. Arlene was able to get to gate via a handicap tram. Jerry had to walk most of the way to the new Bradley terminal which took about twenty minutes. Air Tahiti Nui kept announcing last boarding call!

Jerry wasn't close to the gate. Typically we are the first to board a plane. Not this time. We barely got onto the plane before the doors were closed. The engine's were already turned on and by the time we sat down, the plane was ready to go.

Utah Desert and Colorado Rocky Mountains

Delicious meal

Left Photo: Paris Airport: Air France Ground Staff Was Excellent. Our plane was late arriving to Paris. We had less than two hours to make connecting flight. We were met at gate, escorted through immigration, helped with luggage, coordinated handicap shuttle that drove us to another terminal located 15 minutes away, called ahead to check-in to hold plane for us, helped with security and onto connecting flight.
Gave him one of our Frisbees - he has a six year old daughter.

Right Photo: (Venice) - Plane's back door opened for us to disembark. A large vehicle with a forklift-type device lifted an enclosed platform which could handle wheelchairs. We were driven to Venice terminal, helped with luggage and onto water taxi to hotel. Without help, we would have missed flight.

Tourists and locals enjoying dinner with a pretty view. We were on a waterbus heading back to our hotel --- problems with ticket machine. A local woman used her pass to pay for our fare. Police came onto bus next stop. We didn't have a ticket - got fined $132. Jerry will try to fight it/get a refund when we get back.