Off to Germany, finally, maybe, maybe not

Finally the day arrived, 5/23, and we are starting our European journey.  We left Pittsburgh  heading Philadelphia during some very very heavy thunder storms which delayed our flight by an hour.  Upon getting to Philadelphia we learned our flight to Frankfurt had just left!  Boo!  I must say U.S. Air was ready for this.  When we departed and spoke to a representative, they had already rebooked us on a flight thru London and then on to Frankfurt.  We were pleased as punch.  The flight to London was great.  No turbulence, good food and sleep.  We arrived into London to learn our flight to Frankfurt had been cancelled along with over 200 other flights!  We learned that a British Air flight may have had a bird strike and the engine caught on fire  shortly before we landed. No injuries on the landing, this is the good news.   As a result the airport closed all runways.  All flights were cancelled for the next four hours!  We then had to get into a queue to be rebooked.  Lufthansa had three people only handling rebookings!  The airport was in pandemonium and totally unprepared to handle so many people.  We were in a line for at least three hours.  They announced over the P.A system that all flights for the rest of the day were full and recommended people go home and rebook from their computers!   Then a phone number was distributed with Lufthsana phone number.  We were able to get a flight out the next night at 7pm.  Next challenge was a place to put our weary heads.  We used the tourist information hotel booking service as the airport and finally were able to secure a place about two miles from the airport, a Comfort Inn and bed #6.  

As I write this we are again at Heathrow airport waiting for our flight.  Next entry better be from Germany.:)