Canada/China Trip - Day 1

• up at 4 AM. ready by 5:30. forgot food! left at 5:45. at airport at 6:30.
• check-in took long. reservations were separate, so only 2 free checked bags, not 3! 3rd waived. checked in w/ assistance.
• security took almost 1 hour!
• at gate at 7:40. ate breakfast.
• boarding at 8:05. last group 5. no room, so checked in hand-carry luggage w/ food, coats, pads, & meds.
• prepared for 8:40 take-off, but 8:30 announcement said 2 co-pilots are expected at 9:30!
• wait til 10 til they came. check-list, waiting. another announcement: need to go back to gate for troubleshooting!
• didn't take off til 11 AM!
• drinks. cards. nap. 2.5-hour flight. land at 1:25 PM (12:25 PM local), instead of 10:35 AM (local).
• so missed connecting flight. need to get agent at service center to re-book.
• took awhile to find new seats for 3 to YVR. no non-stop, so Chicago to Seattle to YVR. (but last ones, so mom + 2 little crying kids didn't get seats. =( in front of us, but no supervisor to help their agent like us. alas! sorry.)
• ~2:10 PM. got new tix for 3:50 PM departure.
• going to arrive YVR ~8PM, 4.5 hours late!
• no free wifi. :P text M to get picked up 1st, then we'll call when we're there & ready.
• eating lunch.
• boarding at 3:05 PM delayed. no plane til 3:15 PM. boarding at 3:40-4:15 (4 PM for us).
• take-off at 4:35 PM.
• ~4.5-hour flight. bumpy turbulence. drinks. Oz the Great and Powerful.
• arrive 6:25 PM (instead of 6:45). but plane stuck at gate without personnel to connect hallway (from plane to gate), 10-15 min.
• pilot: we've texted and called HQ, sorry.
• left gate at 6:50 PM. late for connecting flight. but another late arrival. time to find bathroom. just made boarding in time. outdoor boarding. light rain.
• small express Air Canada jet. not full. switched seats. ate dinner. only 1/2-hour flight.
• arrive in Vancouver 8 PM. customs. baggage claim. no luggage. lost luggage! still in Chicago? fill out forms. delivery to Aunt N's house tomorrow. XP
• can't contact cousin G. finally leave at 9:10 PM.
• wait outside 9:15-9:30.
• arrive at cousins' house at 9:45 PM.