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Khersonbill

5/28/2016 09:37 EST

What a story to tell--- My wife and I left San Antonio, Texas airport evening of the 24 th. Flew to Chicago airport-- then flew to Warsaw-- heres where we had problems. We are sitting in the designated gate of departure, with many others-- and the gate was changed-- we missed our last flight 1 1/2 hours to Odessa. Next four days all flights were booked solid because of summer. Lost the ticket, because it was non-refundable. Wife was an emotional mess! After all the crying stopped-- we purchased a flight to Kiev, BUT it left the next day! There was hotel across the way (Marriott) They wanted 400. American Dollars for a one night stay--- My Polina was not having it! At 74 years old--- we slept (if one can call it sleeping) on the metal benches at the airport!! UGHHH ! Every bone hurts! :-) We get to Kiev--- Train is booked-- we hurried to the bus station-- There was a 1960's looking bus leaving to Kherson in 20 minutes!! We took it--- The highway from Kiev-- to Mikolaiev was un imaginable to ANY American!!! From Mykolaiv to Kherson the roads are ok. 9 1/2 hours on a dilapidated bus was a TRIP TO HELL ! I'M HOME! So good to be back. I am absolutely looking forward to meet as many American Ex Patriots as possible. I'm from San Antonio, Texas-- 30 years in Houston--Will be great to talk to someone that can be understood fully. Ya'll take care-- Stay optimistic, and BE HAPPY! Kherson Bill

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NA67

5/28/2016 09:49 EST

Welcome home KBill. Sounds like a typical Ukraine adventure to me )))). Because Ukraine is always an adventure !!

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kkmail

5/28/2016 12:40 EST

Wow,, welcome Bill !! I haven't had that such luck but have missed a few flights in my life, and stayed a few nights on the metal benches,.. My wife, her Mom and our 3 year old spent the night on the benches in Mexico City was/is about my worst memory ! I'm 500 miles from her at the time ! Needless to stay I didn't even bother sleeping until she was within my sights at the Puerto Vallerta airport !! Happy for you and your family...

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kkmail

6/3/2016 08:03 EST

I hr layovers are not enough !! So my route takes me Odesa = Istanbul = Los Angeles, 1 hr layover in IST. Cant get much better, right ? So the bus in Odesa to the plane waiting on the tarmac is 5 minutes late, ok.. Load the plane and go 10 minutes. Land in Istanbul, fine, but no bus to take us to the terminal, 10 minutes later, ok. Load the bus drive to terminal go to customs 15 minutes..Next go through customs to be able to transfer, 20 minutes = and hour !! So now I'm looking for gate 229b ( gate change ) and it is as far as it possibly could be ! So I'm moving now, literally running people over, excuse me, sorry, excuse me, sorry, sorry, get 100 mtrs from the gate and I see a cop on a Skagway, and ask him LA down here right, he says ya but the plane left !! So another night in Istanbul ! They pay for everything, meals, transfers, hotel (Ramada) but still....Here's the kicker, over 10 years this is the 4th time !!! I know everyone along the way and know the routine and make friends with the first timers and help them through the process and generally make the best of it for everyone but still !! And you would think, well K.K. take another airline ! Here's the deal.. The total time with the one I take is 15.5 hrs.. when I make it and the next best route through Europe is like 22 hrs plus $500 more, plus the one I take upgrades me with miles 50 percent of the time !! So whatta ya do,, NEVER COME BACK to this god forbidding place !!! Sorry guys, just felt like spoutin and spewin a little !!

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smmoravec

6/3/2016 11:42 EST

i missed a flight when I was working in Afghanistan once. Plane goes from Bagram to Kandahar to Dubai. Only one commercial airline to use, no other options. We land in Kandahar and some idiot checked in a bag but never boarded the plane. They had to pull off his bag and go through it. Two hour delay. Got to Dubai and had to buy another flight since they didn't care my flight was late. I will never fly Emirates again. Or fly to Dubai....I hate that place with a passion.

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