A Challenging Day - But We Made It!

Alluring Alentejo: Day 2

Monday, 7 October 2024

A little background about this adventure… Many colleges and university alumni associations offer unique group travel opportunities as part of a commitment to lifelong learning. Fortunately for us, the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation is among them.

Back in May, we looked over their upcoming trip options, and selected one offered by AHI called “Alluring Alentejo” — a tour of Portugal’s best-kept secret, the beautiful Alentejo region, that boasts sweeping landscapes of cork forests and whitewashed villages and a first-rate reputation for stellar cuisine and wines.

So that’s how we wound up on this particular trip!

When I provided you an update on Day 1, Frieda and I had no idea how frustrating the rest of our Sunday, or most of the rest of the day would be. You see, shortly after boarding started for our flight from Washington to Lisbon, the United Airlines flight crew discovered a fuel leak in one of the Boeing 767’s engines. Obviously a potentially significant and dangerous situation, they deplaned everyone who had already boarded and began to troubleshoot.

We had arrived at Dulles at a little after 4:00 pm and with a scheduled departure of 10:15 pm, we were already well into what had already been a six-hour layover.

After about an hour of troubleshooting, the Captain announced that the flight was a no-go. Then, a few minutes later, he announced that they actually had a spare aircraft — something that almost never occurs — and that it should only take about 30 minutes to get it ready. Being a different model 767, they would need 20 people to give up their seats however. Despite the ever-increasing offers of $1500, $2000, and $3000 — they were still short about five volunteers when at 12:30 am, it occurred to me a problem might be developing…

We had a long flight ahead and by my calculations, the crew had to be at least 3-4 hours into their shift. So I walked up to the gate agents and asked “When does the crew time out?”

Without even a pause, one of agents replied “1:30 am.”

Incredulously, I asked, “How long does it take to board 300+ passengers?

“About an hour,” she replied before adding, “but we can do it faster if we have to.”

I then marched over to the other gate where a third agent had been processing volunteers who agreed to give up their seats. “Are you still looking for volunteers?” I asked.

Hoping I was another, he cheerfully replied, “Yes we are! We need five more.”

“Do you realize that the crew times out 50 minutes from now?”

“No they don’t.”

“I believe you are incorrect. You should speak with the gate agents as that is what they just told me,” adding “They seem quite certain about it.”

“They are wrong,” he insisted.

I got more forceful with him, and pointed out that in his determination to get five more volunteers, they were likely going to end up cancelling an entire flight of more than 300, stressing that he at least go speak with them.

About five minutes after this conversation, a very rushed boarding began and shortly thereafter, five people were paged and instructed to go see the agent who was collecting volunteers.

While I could be completely wrong about all of this, it sure seemed like a classic case of folks not talking to one another. It’s a mystery why the Captain would not have asked the gate agents, “How’s it going out there?” And how was it that the gate agents knew the crew was about to time out and yet said nothing to the agent looking for volunteers? It was as though a slow motion train wreck — plane crash seems a bit too apt — was unfolding and yet nobody was willing to say anything.

Your humble correspondent believes it’s quite possible that by speaking up, I might have saved the flight for everyone.

Eight exhausting hours or so later, we arrived at Lisbon International Airport around 2 pm local time.

Lisbon on our landing approach.

A friendly AHI guide met us at baggage claim and helped get us on the bus for a two-hour drive to Vila Viçosa in the heart of the Alentejo region of Portugal.

A little after 5 pm, we arrived at the Alentejo Marmoris Hotel & Spa — a lovely boutique hotel located in the heart of Vila Viçosa. Having been up for most of the last 30+ hours, we would have preferred arriving in the morning as should have been the case, but at least we were finally here safe and sound.

A quick shower, change of clothes and freshen-up and we were off the the Welcome Reception and dinner at the hotel restaurant.

The five-course dinner with lots of wine was spectacular and exceeded all our expectations. We got to know some of the other folks joining us on this week-long adventure and we went to bed tired but excited about the venture ahead.

Tomorrow’s agenda is a full day of exploring the town we are staying in — Vila Viçosa.