Stumbled at the First Hurdle - Atlanta is not Realisable

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

Matthew kindly takes us to the airport. We're early because there is some confusion about seats following several emails from Delta Airlines. Check-in shouldn't open for another hour but RJ finds a very helpful counter clerk who checks us into both flights, to Amsterdam and onwards to Atlanta. However, she mentions an "Attestation Form" for entry into the US. She doesn't have any but we are to ask at the departure gate in Amsterdam. RJ asks at the Virgin check-in desk but they don't think that it is necessary, something that the internet confirms.

So, now we've got 2.5 hours to kill, or so we thought! With an hour to go, we start to get texts advising us of a delay. Eventually we are called to the departure gate. On the way we pass Andy and Sharon Whitworth from Meltham AC on their way to Krakow. Our flight finally leaves at 14:20!

On the approach to Schiphol, we hear the dreadful news that the connection to the Atlanta flight is "not realisable". The flight is still boarding when we disembark but, even if we made it, our bag would not.

Transfer staff are very helpful but there is no further flight to Atlanta today. We' re given vouchers for the airport, the shuttle bus and full board at a hotel. Here's a sight we didn't expect to see today!

Unfortunately, traffic is horrendous. We wait for almost an hour for the shuttle bus. The journey takes twice as long as expected. Check-in is slow, once we are overlooked in favour of a paying guest. The airline stopovers are directed to a dimly lit, soulless part of the restaurant opposite a well lit noisy, vibrant area. One Brit arriving in our area announced that he had been "thrown out" of there and sent to us. It felt like we were the poor relatives who had to be tolerated and no more. Choice was limited, service is slow (I was even given someone else's meal, fortunately I resisted starting it) and we were expected to pay for the drinks before the meal was finished.

To cap it all, RJ thinks that we not be able to visit any Gone With The Wind museums because they close at weekends!