That’s our route for the next twenty hours of traveling. After sitting in Phoenix for almost two days, US Airlines found cheaper options for the fifty-one BYU Jerusalem Center students and the stranded Israelis employed by Intel. We have been broken up into 11 different flight plans with as many as four connections, leaving today through Saturday.
All 87 of the students traveling from Salt Lake City made it to their first connections just fine. We were all so excited to meet each other, and we were getting closer to the Holy Land!! Our large group was first split up onto two airlines, Delta and US Airways. Then split up into smaller groups that would meet in different locations in the US before flying to Tel Aviv. My group was flying from SLC at 10:45 to Phoenix where we would meet two other groups, one that had left before us, and one that would leave just after us. These flights were uneventful and everyone arrived safely, where we quickly scurried across the Phoenix airport to find our gate for the next leg of our journey. When we got to the gate, the flight was delayed. Many people were sprawled out on the floor, as there were few seats. Grateful for the added minutes I grabbed a delicious $10 wilted salad from the nearest food source, while juggling my carryon bags and then sat down. We were “delayed” for unknown reasons about an hour and a half. We were told that many would not make their connections and that accommodations would be taken care of in Philadelphia. We all discussed this possibility and determined that we would be okay, as our layover in Philly would compensate for the time stolen. Then the “delay” was determined irresolvable. There was a mechanical issue with the plane. I’m unaware with how serious the issue was, but grateful that it was realized while we were grounded. However, that feeling was not the first one that was felt by many. This complication messed with many people’s tight travel plans, including ours!
BYU had a prepared us for such a situation. They had asked a student in each flight group to be “group leaders”. They were the ones to deal with Costumer Service. Our group leaders braced themselves and hurried over to deal with the nightmare that was unfolding. Other disgruntled travelers stacked their baggage, grabbed their children, and grappled their way to the two service lines. The gate cleared out, and soon our massive group of fifty-one took over. Students lounged about as they continued to get to know one another and call home about the issue at hand.
Time moved slowly and little progress was made. Our fearless representatives were at that desk like a honey badger on a Cobra. They camped out at the front desk and would send someone to relate to us what progress had been made. We were in the Phoenix airport from 11:30 am to 7:00 pm. At first we were told that there were no immediate flight that could accommodate us. Later we were given $10 food vouchers, and told that the earliest flight plans that we had were for the Tuesday next week. After much negotiating by BYU travel and our leaders we were told that we would be put up in hotels near the airport. We all assembled and walked passed security. We picked up our checked luggage; I was so happy that it had not been sent ahead of us. Wearily we boarded the hotel shuttle in shifts as it could only take 9 of us at a time.
After about two hours, we all arrived at the hotel. Several of us made our way to the pool. It was 9:00 pm but it felt like a hot bath. Later we had of several meetings that would help to unify our group and keep us all updated on our situation. I don’t remember much after that, as I was so tired I passed out. The next day was lazy! We had breakfast, worked out, played name games, and went to the mall! It was a busy day, capped off with a lovely float on the Salt River. Over all it was a day of rest where we got to know each other a little better. That night we had a brief meeting and I learned that I would be on one of the first flights out of Phoenix! YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so excited!
My group of four left Phoenix at 7:00 am, while a group of sixteen people left at 4:00 am. They had three different connections in the US and met up with us after our two in Frankfurt, Germany. After that we were Tel Aviv bound. FINALLY! I’ve lost track of how long we were traveling for, but I think we were airborne for about 15 hours? Too long!!
The entire time we were in the Tel Aviv airport I think each of said, “We’re in Israel!” like five different times. After months of preparation, years of saving, and days of traveling we were finally in the Holy Land. I felt like I could understand a small piece of what many have felt as they made pilgrimage here. Millions have come in just this year alone to pay homage to their religion. Those roads are not easy and they do not have an end. I’ll keep that cemented into my mind as I study here at The Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies.
"WE'RE IN JERUSALEM!!!!"
oh my goodness what a pilgrimage indeed! so glad u all made it there safely. <3
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