We finally boarded about 2:30, shortly after the plane arrived from Cleveland. Once we pushed away from the gate, we had to join the interminable queue for de-icing. I was starting to worry about making my connecting flight, but then I realized they had allowed an hour and 46 minutes for the flight to Newark, a flight that actually takes more like 50 minutes. With the slush built into the schedule, I realized I should have no trouble making the connection.
At Newark Airport, my arrival gate was nearly at the end of the wing. But the travel gods were with me because my departure gate was in the same terminal and, although in a different wing, it was the first gate once you turned the corner. So my transfer between gates was about as easy as I could hope for.
Naturally, my flight to Berlin was also delayed, but not by much. After boarding, however, was another story. First they delayed to fix a small glitch with the entertainment system. That was no problem because the flight was expected to be short, and they could not land before their scheduled arrival slot. Then... when they closed the cabin door, it wouldn't seal. Add another maintenance delay.
Since my arrival it had started to snow quite heavily, so before we pushed away from the gate, the plane needed de-icing. Then take off was delayed further because they were plowing one runway, leaving only the parallel runway for both takeoffs and landings. During all the delays I watched an entire 90-minute movie before we left the ground. The credits had finished rolling just as the plane went wheels up.
Once we were off the ground the flight was uneventful... just the way you want a flight to be. Unfortunately, the multiple delays caused us to be an hour late on arrival in Berlin... a fact dear daughter failed to observe before leaving for the airport. Sorry P.
Passport control was quick, my luggage arrived intact and relatively fast , and I arrived to daughter hugs and this brilliant sunshine.
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