Sometimes The Sequel Is Better Than The Original

Do you remember Meet the Parents? Ben Stiller's character couldn't catch a break. A baby threw up on him before his flight, the airlines lost his luggage, the car rental dealership screwed up his reservation, he fought with hostile flight attendants and when the airline finally sent him luggage, it was that of a fan of Sadomasochism (S&M for you kids at home):

[On the phone]
Yeah, you gave me the wrong suitcase.
Uh-huh.
Yes, it's a black Samsonite.
Uh-huh.
Ok, well don't you think that the Samsonite people, in some crazy scheme in order to make a profit, MADE MORE THAN ONE BLACK SUITCASE?

I was Greg Focker flying Delta from San Diego to New York.

Well, do you remember Meet the Fockers? The beginning of the film has a virtual identical set-up to its prequel. Greg and his wife Pam are flying to spend the weekend with each other's parents. On the way to the airport, that ominous feeling from Meet the Parents looms large. We assume the worst is going to home. But it doesn't. They are able to immediately hail a cab, are upgraded free of charge from coach to first class, and Greg even gets his bag stored in the captain's closet of the plane.

THAT WAS ME FLYING FROM NEW YORK TO IRELAND!! No, I didn't get the bump to first class, and no, my bags didn't receive preferential treatment, but things could not have gone any more smoothly. I arrived mere seconds before my subway train did, had zero problems when checking in (not only did I did not run into any problems, but I was told I no longer have to have layovers in both DC and Atlanta on the way back to San Diego in July), received an emergency Exit Row aisle seat, encountered no lines in security and arrived at my gate with plenty of time to spare. Fearing that I would not be able to eat anything until I landed in Dublin six hours later, I asked the Delta ticket-checker if a meal was to be served on the flight. He looked at me, giggled, and said, "Of course, sir. All international flights serve meals. In fact, you will be receiving two meals on your flight."

Ding Ding. Ching CHING!!!

My flight was full of smooth skies and devoid of contentious flight attendants. Needless to say, I was not the least bit surprised when I turned towards the baggage claim carousel in Dublin only to see BOTH of my bags sitting next to each other (fully zipped, I might add) coming my direction on the conveyor belt.

The extravaganza was off to a good start.