Thursday, 23 April 2026

Phoenix, Arizona

After a busy morning finishing packing, then deciding to re-arrange everything, I am finally ready for my friend Anita to pick me up just before noon. She is driving me to the Groome Shuttle station, where I will wait for my 12:45pm van to arrive for the 90-minute ride to the Phoenix airport (PHX). I’m early and the van is about 15 minutes late, so I’m happy that Anita and her French poodle puppy, Brigitte, decide to wait with me.

The van finally arrives and leaves with only three passengers. Traffic is light—at least until we reach the Phoenix area—and the driver has a heavy foot so we arrive at PHX pretty much on time. Of course I’m not here for a flight, so I catch the free shuttle to the Hilton Garden Inn PHX North, a short ride away, where I will be spending a free night, thanks to American Airlines frequent flyer miles.

The room is adequate and has all the things I need for the night, including free wifi. I even manage to get a tasty hamburger dinner--along with a cold Heineken--in the small hotel restaurant. 

Tomorrow morning I will catch the 7am shuttle back to the airport for my flight to Miami. But more about that tomorrow.

Friday, 24 April 2026

Phoenix to Miami

This morning I head back to the airport on the hotel shuttle. I get through check-in quickly and even the wait for a wheelchair to take me through security and on to the gate is unusually short. I arrive at the gate in plenty of time to watch all the hubbub on this very busy day at PHX. My first-class flight to Miami, free courtesy of American Airlines miles, is smooth and uneventful. I enjoy a nicely served lunch of chicken enchiladas with salad, bread and fruit. There is free alcohol on offer, but I decide to wait until I'm on board the Quest, before I really start indulging.

We arrive in Miami about 45 minutes early, due to strong tail winds pushing along. Then the problems start: the wheelchair staff is totally incompetent and make me wait 45 minutes just to start getting me to language. If I'm not outside to meet my pre-paid ride to the hotel, the driver will leave and I will lose my money as well as have to pay for another way to get where I am going. But nobody in the airport seems to care as I sit and wait and fume. Finally after changing from a wheelchair to an electric cart that takes me close to luggage, I am told I have to exit the cart and wait on line for another wheelchair to take me down the elevator. At this point I just get up and walk. By the time I get to luggage pickup all the bags from the flight have been off-loaded and I have to get help just finding my bag. Fortunately, I have been messaging my driver, who is kind enough to wait until I am ready. Of course he gets an extra nice tip.

The Hilton Downtown Miami is a large full-service hotel, very close to many of the sights of the central city. I have two free nights, including buffet breakfasts, again thanks to American Airlines. But I have had a long frustrating day and am ready for a goo night's sleep. I'll be back again on Sunday, after I board the Quest.