Back From Puerto Rico

There must being a famous saying floating around in the quote world that says that it is not the beginning nor the end that defines the in between. If there isn't one, I just created it. I do this because that is the key line that will inevitably describe and paint my journey to Puerto Rico this past week. It began as any other; my family and I packed our luggage, got in the car and headed towards Miami International Airport on Sunday, September 28th at approximately 1:30pm to catch our booked 4:15pm flight to San Juan, PR. We arrived at the airport on time; checked in and even managed to procure exit row seats which would provide more than adequate leg room on the plane. Going through the mayhem that is security proved to be no challenge. Arriving at the Terminal we were pleased to see that the flight was "ON TIME". So we sat. We sat for 1 hour and 23 minutes before hearing this announcement over the airport intercom system from a voice all too rehearsed, "Passengers on the 4:15 PM Flight to Luis Munoz Airport, San Juan Puerto Rico Gate E11. Please be advised that boarding time will be delayed by approximately 15 minutes as the flight containing the crew for this flight has been delayed from New York. As soon as that flight arrives, crew members disembark and board the Flight to San Juan, we will begin boarding Executive and Business class Passengers. Thank you."
Looking at eachother, my family and I shrugged it off and simply sat in patience for yet another 20 minutes awaiting our herd call. The voice greeted us again, "Ladies and Gentlemen waiting to board Flight XXXX to San Juan Puerto Rico, our crew is aboard but we are waiting for one Stewardess to arrive before we can begin boarding. Thank you." Thank you for what I thought but sat quietly none-the-less.
15 minutes after the last announcement, the time now being 4:10PM, we boarded the plane. Luggage safely stowed above; seats comfortable accommodated and blankets spread, we sat waiting patiently for take off.
4:55PM the Captain Greets his passengers, "Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for choosing AMERICAN AIRLINES for your journey. We are now ready to leave terminal so if anyone still standing in the isles could please take your seats we will be ready to begin our take off to San Juan Puerto Rico. Flight Attendents, please cross check and prepare for departure. ::CLICK::"
The rush of anticipation set in to all passengers as we stared at the slow build of clouds from our windows. Circirling the tarmac, the Boeing 757 made it's way towards the take off strip. We sat, engines rumbling, cargo rattling and a slight hum from the trickling rain outside.

5:15 PM. Captain: "Ladies and gentlemen, as I am sure you can see, there seems to be some inclement weather outside. We are not cleared for take off and are going to sit it out for it to blow over. I expect that we will be here for another 25-30 minutes but will let you know of any changes. Thank you :: CLICK:: " Thank you for what?
6:15PM. Captain: "Ladies and Gentlemen, the storm does not seem to be passing over as quickly as anticipated. We are going to taxi to the west side of the terminal and attempt to depart from there as the storm has cleared. Thank you. ::CLICK::" For what?
6:45PM. Captain: "Ladies and Gentlemen, the storm has found us. We are going to wait a little longer to see if it clears. Thank you. ::CLICK::" my mind rapes with the words "Thank you" going back and forth back and forth.
7:25 PM. Captain: "Ladies and Gentlemen, we seem to have run out of fuel. We are heading back towards the terminal to refuel. As soon as we have, we are cleared for take off. Thank you ::CLICK::" ENOUGH WITH THE THANK YOU'S!!!
8:00 PM. Captain: "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now preparing for take off. Attendents, please prepare for cross check and take off. Thank you. ::CLICK::" No, Thank you!!
8:09 PM. Flight Attendents: "A9 prepared and crosschecked. C9 prepared and cross checked. D9 prepared and cr....."
8:09.55. PM. Passenger: "WE NEEED HELP. SHE'S DIABETIC AND SHE'S PASSED OUT!"
8:10.02. PM. Flight Attendent from D9 "CAPTAIN. WE CAN NOT TAKE OFF. NEED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE."
8:10.20. PM. Captain: "Ladies and gentlemen, please sit in your seats. If there are any doctors or paramedics, please find your way towards row 12D for assistance."

8:45PM. Captain: "Ladies and gentlemen, now that this matter has been resolved, we are prepared for take off."
9:15 PM TAKE OFF!!!!!!

Tickets to and from Puerto Rico: $250+
Hotel Room at Caribe Hilton: Free
Getting to Puerto Rico 8 hours late: Priceless.
There are somethings money can't buy. For everything else, there's American Airlines.

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In any concern, we arrived safely and in one piece. That was all that really mattered. The rest of the week was completely wonderful. The Caribe Hilton has beautiful pools, a beach and a great view where ever you go. It was mainly my mother and I most of the days because my father was actually working :) We really just tried to enjoy the hotel and do things we hadn't done before. We explored different parts of Old San Juan and even gave people directions!
In all, it was a very relaxing week aside from stresses happening back at the ranch (here in Florida).

But our adventures would not end in regards to American Airlines. Nay Nay!

Saturday our flight was scheduled to DEPART at 10:55AM. Being only 10 minutes from the airport, we left at about 8:30. Returned the car to Hertz and we through security and waiting in the terminal by 9:15AM. The plane arrived on time. All crew members were on board. We got our exit row seats. We sat.

10:49AM Captain: "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for choosing American Airlines for your travel provider. We are ready to depart. Please make sure your seatbelts are fastened and all carry on luggage is safely stowed away. Flight Attendents, please cross check and prepare for departure. Thank you. ::CLICK::"
10:51AM Rolling away from gate. Stop not 10 yards from gate.
Captain: "Ladies and gentlemen, We are not going to be able to leave just yet. In my 20 something years of being a pilot, it seems there is a first for everything. No fuel is not going into our left engine for start. We are having some technicians come out and see if we can solve this problem. Just sit tight and i'll update you as to what happens." What? no THANK YOU!?
11:30AM Captain: "Ladies and Gentlemen. It seems that the technicians were not able to resolve the issue as quickly as they would have liked. I'm afraid to say that this flight is cancelled. Please gather all carry on and personal items. We will be returning to the gate. Please go to the service desk and we will try to re-assign you. I apologize and Thank you."
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We returned to the terminal, found an empty service desk. Got standby on the 2:00PM flight to Miami and confirmed seats on the 3:55PM flight just in case. After waiting for 2 hours we were not able to get on the 2:00 flight. They gave us $10 meal vouchers. We had lunch and worked our way back to the terminal to wait for the 3:55 flight. One of the attendents proposed that, because there were so many passengers on standby, if we wanted to give them our seats and get on the 8:00 flight they would give us each $300 ticket vouchers for our future flights. So we said, ok. Why not. $900 and just wait 5 more hours, why not!? But as all would have it, they didn't need our seats. We landed safely back at home by 6:25PM.

Tickets to and from Puerto Rico: $250+
Lunch at Airport Cafe: $5.00
Realizing that perhaps flying is not the best decision all the time: PRICELESS.