Sneaks on a Plane.

I have decided that I will no longer fly through Miami International Airport if I can at all help it. On both occasions when I have flown through MIA I have gotten stuck there. Actually, this time I narrowly escaped sleeping at the airport due to a deus ex machina.

Our flight out of Marsh Harbour was delayed due to lightning storms in Miami. Our plane ended up leaving over an hour late. I was panicked since we would have to get through customs, collect our baggage, recheck our baggage, and then make our way to our gate in less than an hour. Somehow, we blazed through customs and got to the front of the baggage check line (P.S. Miami airport? MOST INEFFICIENT CUSTOMS EVER.) The guy asked when our flight left, then directed us to the American Airlines counter. Even though we had about 40 minutes until our flight left, we were being denied the opportunity to even try -- the line was to reschedule our flight. I understand that it would be nearly impossible for our baggage to go through checks and still make it to the plane in time, but STILL.

By the time we got to the front of the line our plane had departed. We were put on standby for the next flight, but were told our bags would go on that flight with or without us. Of course, we didn't make it onto that flight. Nor, did we make it on the next one. We had spent several hours in waiting rooms, watching people get more and more desperate. Every flight was overbooked according to the American Airlines people so it looked like we would have to spend the night at the airport.

While we were checking in for our third attempt, Jamie noticed a nearby gate for a flight to Baltimore. As it was leaving in five minutes, I did not have high hopes, but I ran over anyway and the most beautiful, incredible, wonderful American Airlines agent gave Jamie and me a seat on the plane. We were told to keep it quiet so that there wasn't a mad rush of other standbys which would cause the plane to delay. Then, this angel snuck us onto the plane and we were off.

I was slightly worried that we were being shipped off to some remote part of the world, but two hours later we landed in Baltimore, MD and came home to our demanding cat.