We left the Hyatt and headed out onto the interstate freeway to the airport. The sights were a bit more interesting this time. We past the massive Parkland Hospital complex that has 2 universities attached to it – UT Southwestern and Texas Women’s University. JFK died in the old hospital there so it’s now called the Parkland Memorial Hospital. For those of you who watched the Dr. Death TV documentary, his malpractices were at Baylor across the other side of town.
The first challenge when we arrived at Dallas Fort Worth airport was to find our departure Terminal and gate. Apparently American Airlines likes to move their gates around a-lot according to our Uber driver, it’s their global HQ now so they can do what they like he says. So luckily we didn’t get out at terminal D as it we needed to be at terminal A – crisis avoided, phew. Our second issue was that we need to get luggage carts or we stood no chance of getting our bags to the check-in desk. After a long walk, I found a helpful AA staff member and she pointed me to the arrivals baggage hall and said there were carts there. I paid $6, took one, headed back to the car only to find Agus in a bit of a panic as the Uber driver had left the doors locked so she and Alfie couldn’t get out. He was trying to find us a cart – nice guy. They started unloading and I managed to nab another cart from the sidewalk gratis. Into the terminal and to the check-in counter we headed.
We were no more than 2m through the doors when Alfie went into toddler meltdown mode. He didn’t want to be part of the rational human world anymore and let’s just say our check-in experience was not the easiest one I’ve experienced. Coupled with an AA staff member that either didn’t like kids, have kids of his own or just had no sympathy for parents travelling with kids, in hindsight this set the tone for the shittiest of service we were afforded by AA on this leg of our journey. (Why couldn’t they all have been like the first lady I met, she was lovely).
Again with all of the COVID protocols; our Aussie medical certificates & vaccine records, Argentinean affidavits were all logged into the computer system along with our passport numbers. Bags were then counted and weighed. My golf clubs were 3lbs (1kg) over weight so I was asked to remove weight from them…I asked if I can just pay the excess…after 10mins of stuffing around on his computer the answer was no. He proceeded to lecture me as to how I am was only meant pack golf clubs in my golf bag as I removed my shoes and some clothes. (I really wanted to tell him to get fucked at this stage, but didn’t). The bag was now 22.5kg (500g under the 23kg limit). If we had transited to the next flight, nobody would have questioned the weight of the bag…FFS! Anyway… We had our boarding passes now, I dropped off my clubs with the security guy at the oversize inspection area and we headed to security screening.
Alfie was now watching the iPad as it was the only thing to calm him and we were telling him to stand on the orange dots so he didn’t walk into the glass barriers. Now we just needed to remove all of our laptops, iPads, phones, wallets, shoes, belts, jackets, loose change, children (well maybe not children) and put them plus all of our bags into separate trays on the security scanner conveyor belt. This is another stupid system that the TSA in the USA has implemented entirely to piss people off and make everyones flight take off late. After what seemed like an eternity (probably 30mins – Alfie lost it when he had to give up the iPad) we passed though and headed to the American Airlines Admirals lounge.
The Admiral’s Lounge is the flagship lounge for American Airlines and you can only take one guest in said the AA staff member at the front desk. Right, ok, this is my wife and my son I replied. She had only checked my boarding pass; Agus’ Oneworld status also allows her access…Agus let her know. The AA staff member’s response – we’ll let you in this time as this lounge is still being upgraded. We went in. In short it’s nothing special, you have to pay for everything (drinks, food) except for the post-mix coke machine and the shitty coagulated snack food in the bain maries. $8 USD for a pot of cat’s piss (Miller / Budweiser)…get stuffed.
So it’s on to the plane – we have the middle 3 seats in the 2 – 3 – 2 seating configuration in Premium Economy…or so we thought. Nope AA has changed out the 787 dreamliner for a shittier 777 that has a 2 – 4 – 2 configuration. Luckily we were seated at the bulkhead so I had some legroom. Basically AA’s premium economy is not worth the upgrade cost from economy, the seats are not much better, there isn’t much more legroom and the service is as shitty as in economy. The staff on this flight, well they were not nice (I’m being polite here) none of them wanted to be there and I question there actual ability to help in any emergency situation if it was to arise. They is a budget airline trying to look like a premium one…I’m glad we won’t have to fly with them again anytime soon.
Anyway, enough with the AA rant. We now had to deal with an over tired toddler & even melatonin granted us little relief on this flight. We maybe got an hour of sleep out of him after administering it and enduring a lot of yelling and crying. Somehow I managed to clam the beast and he fell asleep on me for a few hours, the he was awake and we found ourselves counting down the hours. “I want to get out” – we all do buddy, we all do. Fast forward and we are about to land in Buenos Aires…Agus starts to let out all the emotions she has kept in check for the past few days. She audibly cheers when the plan lands – Argentines clapping when plans land is nothing new to me (though it has dropped off in recent years) but cheering is something new. She is suppressing tears now…”mama don’t cry”…no Alfie, these are happy tears.
Our exit from the plane was greeted with a hot and humid trompada (punch) in the face, which is not unexpected but also something you’re unable prepare for. Agus puts Alfie on his Trunki wheelie case and starts to walk at hyperspeed towards immigration, taking no prisoners – now is not the time to stop and check for directions, block the travellator, connect your phone to free wifi or tie your shoes people! We hit the queue in record time and after a short wait we are at the immigration official’s window. Agus explains that she is very emotional to be home after 3 years trapped by COVID across the other side of the globe, the kind offical takes our pictures and ushers us through. I guess I am considered Argentinian now; usually I am asked a bunch of questions, including one time if I was in the correct country when I told them I was staying in Florida. Baggage claim – always a shit show in BA..we now wait in the unconditioned place I call hell’s waiting room for near on eternity for our 9 checked bags to emerge. I had enough time to work out that I lost 2.7kg in sweat (i’ll share the formula later). Through to the bag scanning check point – it’s a red light / green light lottery system to see who gets checked & of course we get the red light and have to put 13 bags on a conveyor and re-stack them. Agus is crying again & not waiting for me (I guess she figures that they aren’t stopping the gringo now), she has Alfie on her shoulders and she’s off once her cart is stacked. I trail behind with my cart and my golf clubs.
We are greeted by tio Santi and tio Pato – hugs, tears, jumping…Aflie fears for his life when tia tia Silvi runs (she’s a bit late due to traffic) in and grabs him off Agus shoulders. It is great to see them all and I’m glad that journey is over. ¡Finalmente estamos en Buenos Aires!
It take all 3 of their cars to fit us and our luggage! We head to our new (albeit temporary) house in Florida that has been very graciously loaned to us by dear family friends the Millans. It’s across the road from their place and we will be seeing a lot more of them during our time here. As you can imaging there is lots to catch up on and Alfie finally gets to play with his tios in person. I am not sure they were ready for his level of energy! They are going to have to get used to it and quickly…
3 meses en Argentina 
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