The flight to from Shanghai to Chicago should take about 11 hours. If you get to go non-stop. If you take the route less traveled, like I did, it takes about 72 hours. I was lucky enough to fly use a friend's buddy pass (a highly discounted ticket from a friend that worked at the airline that basically means you're flying standby) to get to Shanghai, it was no problem. I even got a seat with no one next to me, free wine and tv shows to take my mind off the time. The way home wasn't as easy. I got to the airport early Saturday morning. But, even if I got there at 2 in the morning I wouldn't have made it on the plane. You see, there was a typhon headed towards Shanghai. And, the airport preemptively canceled all of Sunday's flights. This meant that customers who paid full price were on the same list, way ahead of me. It was chaos at the counter, and when I finally talked to someone they suggested I would be stranded in Shanghai for a week if I didn't get out that day. There was no way I could be in China for another week.
I ran around the airport, trying and trying to find an open seat to Narita, Japan. If I could get there, the chances for getting to the US on a buddy pass were much greater. This airline only flies once a day from Shanghai to the US mainland, but from Narita they have a handful of flights. I bought a ticket to Narita (let's just say buying same-day tickets aren't cheap). I get in after dark, and decided to spend the night in the airport. I'd never done that before. I was herded with other travelers to a part of the airport they designated for overnighters. It was nothing like sleepover camp. They took my passport info and left me to stretch out across a couple seats cuddling my luggage. Morning took forever, it was as if the sun was hoping for a lazy Sunday. I started talking with reservations bright and early (and they were shockingly nice to me). I tried three flights that went back to the US, but others were ahead of me and I didn't make it on a flight until 8 p.m. And that was to Hawaii. I wish I had a photo of how relieved my face looked when I made it to my seat and they offered me champagne. Business class is awesome! Here is where you say, "Oh, poor thing. You had to go to Hawaii. And had to fly business class" But, the bad part of getting to Hawaii is that no one ever gets out of Hawaii on a buddy pass considering how many people are going there in the summer. So, when we landed I booked a flight to Seattle, took my swimsuit from my luggage, checked my bag and took the bus to the beach.
From the Honolulu airport you can take the city bus (unless you have luggage) to Waikiki beach for $2.50. I had the entire day on the beach. It was my saving grace. For two days I had been confined in airports or airplanes breathing stale recycled air. I have no idea how anyone leaves this island. The air and water are intoxicating.
I saw myself having a life there, it looked a lot like like Mila Kunis' life in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." I stumbled upon a hula dance recital, had a Hawaiian shaved ice, napped in the sun and swam in the clear blue water.
I didn't want to leave, but about two hours before my flight left, I packed up, dried off with my souvenir towel and caught the bus back to the airport. I got on the plane longing to return to the beach.
Seattle welcomed me with the Pacific Northwest charm that is forever calling me. But, I didn't have time to leave the airport. I tried and tried for a buddy pass seat, but failed and failed. And after a near melt down I bought a ticket for later that afternoon to Chicago. I got home at about 8 p.m. (which would have been Tuesday morning in China). I'm not sure I've ever been happier to land in ORD.
