Pedro's first

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 Along with Pedro's parents, we dropped him off at the airport over two hours ago and his flight doesn't leave for another hour.  Oh well, better early then too late.  He called to tell me he was at his gate before we even paid for our parking.  

We went inside with him to make sure everything was good with his tickets and baggage.  With visas and COVID, the paperwork alone is a nightmare.  Before his flight, he had to fill out the passenger locator form, before that he needed to book his arrival test, and for that he needed his arrival airport terminal which did not update until this morning.  Complicated.  So it took two hours this morning, but we got it all done, confirmation numbers printed out and packed together.  Pro tip: passport wallets. Absolutely worth it, only $10 on Amazon. We ended up not using them for money, but for all the paperwork and cards they require at check in.  In that one wallet, he fit his passport, social security card, vaccination card, negative COVID test, passenger locator form, and visa paperwork. All of which they asked for up front.  Glad we got there early!  Once all his paperwork was checked, the gentleman helping asked if he had any bags to check.  

Pedro's Mom- oh yes, we have bags! And we know that they are overweight as well.

Delta man- Hope you have lots of money to pay for those bags...(yeah yeah, dude)

Pedro lifts them onto the scale and they both clock in at 70.0 lbs.  Whew! The total was $300, which is exactly what we planned for.  The woman next to us checking in was doing the same, only she was over the free domestic allowance by 6lbs.  She lays down her suitcase right there in the line (exactly what we were avoiding) and unzips her bag.  She starts searching for heavy items under all her clothes.  

She grabs a gallon bag full of shampoos and soaps and tells her friend, "Put that on the scale"

"3lbs," he says.  

"Ugh," she grabs a hair dryer, "that too, put it on the scale."

But it still wasn't enough.  Her friend tries to help, but she's not willing to part with anything else.  They end up paying $100 for 6lbs! On a domestic flight! Pedro and I are leaving leaving, so anything we take at this point is worth it because that's all we'll have.  Weigh your bags at home, people.

Anyway, we all watched Pedro go through security after that, like the little stalkers we are.  Honestly, we just wanted to make sure he made it through smoothly.  He waved goodbye on the other side, and we left.  Now as I type this, I am also signed in on my delta app to check his progress.  His flight is boarding now, and he texts me,

P: Boarding now

S: I know. I'm watching you on my app

P: Oh jeeze.  Where did you put the GPS chip?

S: In your shoe.

P: Haha

S: Yes..laugh.  I shall be watching...

He'll land in Atlanta at 5pm, then Amsterdam by 2am, and finally Glasgow by 5am, my time.  Hopefully. Did I mention this is his first time flying alone? No sleeping tonight!

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