Left MNL - POE Chicago

wizardfitz · August 19, 2008

my flight is 18Aug2008 via JAL. i got to the airport at 430am and was 2nd in line for the JAL queue. when i initially got into the airport, one of my boxes was opened for inspection. i had 3 clear cases for my accessories and the xray tech wanted to see what they were as they looked suspicious on the monitor. i took out the cases and showed it to them and put everthing back and they resealed mybox.

the counter doesnt open til 6am. come 6am. i got my 5 balikbayan boxes checked in, 2@ 50lbs each and 3 @ 70lbs each. i only had to pay $160 per excess box (which saved me a lot as i was expecting the price to be @ $200 each for excess baggage). went back outside to say gbye to my nephew, niece and sister who took me to the airport.

when i got back in, i had to go through the xray machine again and this time they checked my computer case which holds all our wedding favors as it looked dark on the monitor, i opened it and showed her the boxes and opened one of the boxes to show the crystal.

went to the visa exit fee line, paid my fee. went to the immigration line and then to another xray check, this time you had to remove your shoes and any metal objects on you. you also go through a pat down. after that i went to one of the food shops to grab a bottle of water and a turkey sandwich. proceeded to my gate where i went through another xray check before i can enter the waiting area.

flight to narita was uneventful except after i disembarked and walked through a significant portion to get to the AA check in counter, i realized that i left my cellphone on the plane. i had to walk back to the plane (which seemed further as i was carrying a heavy computer case which holds 50 crystal wedding favors as well as a carry-on). after retrieving my cellphone, i went to the AA check-in counter. had to go through another xray check.

after getting checked in i had to ride the shuttle to get to my gate. i sat down in the gate waiting area and after about an hours wait, i saw on the marquee that my flight has been delayed.

the flight to chicago was on a boeing 777 which i liked coz they had more leg room and each seat has its own video monitor, i ended up watching about 4 movies on the trip. the thing i dont like is the seat was very uncomfortable. i must say the good was very good on both JAL and AA flights.

upon reaching chicago, i was one of the last ones to disembark as i was seated almost at the end of the plane and i didnt want to be rushed in getting my bags. when i reached the line to get into immigration it was a mad house. there must have been thousands of people in the hall before you can get into the proper line (USC, reidents, visitors, etc.)

i proceeded to follow a group of people led by a stewardess who prompty told me to stay back and not to follow them. i told her i need to ask if i shd be in the immigrant line. she said its not fair to the other people, i told i am not cutting the line, i just need to ask which line i need to be in and if i am not in the immigrant line, then i will go back to the end of the hallway. she started to yell at me and told me mam this is the 2nd time i told you to stay back!

i finally let her go on and when she was gone i went ahead to the officer in front and asked and sure enough i SHOULD be in the immigrant line. i saw the stewardess in another line and proceeded to continuously glare at her and pointed to the line mouthing SEE?!?!?!?! STUPID !

anyway upon having my passport checked, i was told to get into window 48. the immigration officer looked at my passport, asked for the delbros packet and then proceeded to check my packet. he had a trainee in the booth with him. i was leaning on the counter looking at what they were looking at and he told me to step back. he took my photograph as well as fingerprints. then he asked the trainee to take my packet to some office to ask something - i dont know what. asked me to step the the side until the issue is checked out.

when the trainee came back, he called me and told the trainee to advise me. i had to call Indiana Dept of Health to schedule an appt coz of the xray issue i had with my medical. then the immigration officer took my right hand fingerprints again as well as my pix.

i went to the baggage carousel, found 1 of my boxes and no sight of the others. looked through the place around the carousel and nothing, i asked the guys there and a woman in the back said everything on my flight is on the floor. i told her my boxes are not there, she then told me to look against the wall as thats where the oversize baggages are. sure enough all 4 of the remaining boxes are there.

i called a skycap to help me with the boxes. we went to the customs, the customs guy asked me how long i was planning to stay in the US, i told him forever that i was holding a K1 visa. he said 1st time immigrant i said yes. he asked if i had any plants, food etc. i said no only personal effects - clothes shoes women stuff. he took my customs declaration form and waved us through.

got outside, mike was there waiting, skycap and i waited on the curb while mike went to get the truck. got my boxes loaded and headed home to Indiana - Thank Q God!