The Return Flight

So, after a month in the US, visiting family and friends and getting things in order it was time to head back south...and out of the snow.
This time I decided to pack a little more so that I wouldn't be forced to buy so much once I was in Brazil... things like my printer, a fan and a lot of teaching materials. These are things that are actually very expensive in Brasil, but that I think I will be able to sell before leaving. Kelly convinced me that it would be cheaper to check them as an extra bag, then to ship them down later. So, I have never flewn with more than I could carry before, but I figured that I would figure it out. After an 8 hour drive from Pittsburgh to JFK I pulled up to curbside check-in... something that I am not completely familiar with. The very nice man helped me as much as possibly until we both figured out that the extra checked suitcase was not $25... but $200!!! I thought for a minute about how I could rearrange things... but I still had two bins, two suitcases a briefcase and a purse... Because I was here with plenty of time I decided to go back to a Target that I had passed along the way and try to buy a bigger bin. So I spent the next hour in the Target parking lot trying to fit the contents of a small bin and a small suitcase into a large bin without exceeding the weight limit of 50lbs.
This was not easy and when I returned to the airport I was only sad because I would have to leave my small empty suitcase behind. It was the perfect size for weekend trips. I checked both bins... they were both almost exactly 50lbs and then drove around to the long term parking, (a friend of mine was going to pick up the car in a few days). Once I was in the parking lot I got an idea... my briefcase fits nicely into the small suitcase...I know you are only allowed to bring one suitcase and a small personal item... but I wondered if they would notice... two suitcases and a purse? I still had plenty of time, so I could always bring it back to the car if need be. I made it though security without even a second glance, and to the gate, where surprisingly they were already starting to board. My zone was called and I got in line. Once I got past the passport check at the gate a man pulled me aside and said that I would have to check my bigger suitcase... I asked, gate check or check check? Of course I had no problem either way, but I was afriad if I had to really check it he would notice that I already checked two and then I would be changed.. dispite all my efforts... But he said gate check and took away my bag... ok, I thought to myself...what a stupid system. When I arrived in Sao Paulo I found that my bag was not gate checked, but really checked... Wow, I thought again... I really did get around this $200. How did that happen? I don't even know why I bothered with the re-packing at all. Anyway, I was still expecting some sort of fee at the next airline. I got in line at Gol to check in for my flight from Sao Paulo to Brasilia. The agent was very nice but told me that I would not be able to carry on my bigger suitcase... just what I feared... and the fee was R$180... which is around US $78... I figured that this was a small price to pay after all the trouble in New York... plus I was too tired to argue. She asked if I needed a reciept and I said no... and that I would be paying cash... so I got a special cash/no reciept/wink wink discount... which ended up being around US $60.
So, in the end, me and all my stuff made it safely to Brasilia where my friend Alex met me to take me home. I have since spent the last day and a half recovering from lack of sleep, and plan on starting the adverture part II tomorrow. :)
































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