What a good thing that I REALLY LOVE MY FAMILY. What started as an easy trip across North America has not played out as expected.

My reservation was the usual – non-stop Vancouver to Newark return. I have taken these flights many times. Here’s proof of my plan.

The first sign that my plans might go awry was an email from Air Canada advising that my direct flight to Newark now stops in Toronto, leaving me one hour and 25 minutes to get from a D gate to an F gate clearing security and US Customs along the way. In a crowded airport this would prove difficult. With checked luggage impossible.

The second sign was the announcement that my flight out of Vancouver would be delayed for half an hour due to a mechanical issue. While I’m always happy they can fix the issue, I find it unsettling that my aircraft can develop mechanical problems in the first place! Fortunately I brought only carry-on luggage with me. I would be free to bolt for my next gate unimpeded by the baggage carousel.

And bolt I did – I made it to my next gate in 23 minutes (thank you Apple watch) with five minutes to spare which is when the dreaded third sign occurred. A pre-boarding announcement added that boarding would be delayed for five or ten minutes while the extent of bad weather en route was investigated. The next announcement told us the flight was cancelled. A check of my Air Canada phone app told me the only other flight to Newark out of Toronto that day was a red-eye with a 10 hour layover in Montreal!

A visit to the Air Canada Customer Service counter revealed that bad weather was not Air Canada’s fault (who knew?), so no hotel stay on their dime. The good news was that Air Canada had placed me on a 10:15 am flight the following day. But fate was not yet through with me. I was not free to just walk out of the airport. I was in the USA, having passed through US Customs and Immigration. I would now have to pass back through Canadian Customs before being set loose on the Canadian public.

Choosing the right answers at the arrivals kiosk proved a challenge. Name and citizenship was simple, as was did I have anything to declare. But how long had I been in the USA – an hour? – and where had I come from? Vancouver of course – wrong! The right answer was the USA for less than 24 hours even though I had not physically left Canada. Mercifully the line at Customs was short, the Customs officer understanding. I finally emerged into the late Toronto afternoon.

I am once again sitting at a gate in Pearson Airport – the third gate assignment for this flight – and hoping these gate changes are not the fourth sign. Seating for this latest gate is somewhat limited. The flight crew has camped out on the floor behind the desk, the rest of us as below.

But I’m happy that my new flight is scheduled for 10:15 as there are three more non-stop flights to Newark before the day is done. Fingers and toes crossed one of them will make it to Newark with me on it!

Til next time!