What a Journey!!!!

Well, we are finally here and what a journey!! We left about 5am for Heathrow, just before the M25 Lel informed us she had forgotten their driving licences. So back to theirs to pick them up and off we went. Got to Heathrow, parked the car, checked in, went through security, all very easy. Little did we know!!!!!

Had breakfast and a few beers before boarding the plane. When we got to our seats, Sarnie was a row behind, had the same row number but due to the layout of the plane it was effectively a row behind.
There were no individual entertainment screens, only central tv screens down the middle of the plane. The nearest to Sarnie was about 20 feet away.
The hostesses were all in their 50's and 60's, looked as if they had seen better days as did the plane. we requested to be moved to better seats but as the plane was full we were told that wasn't possible. However,  there were 6 seats at the rear, but we were told these were allocated. We later found out that this was where the staff sat!

The service was atrocious, we had attitude from the staff. I was told to "zip it" by a senior crew member as the others needed to get the drinks out. We had to pay for our drinks, a couple of JD's and cokes, a "voddie "and coke and a couple of beers. We gave her some dollars but were told they didn't take cash, so we paid by card. Amazingly, we didn't get a receipt and were told to go online and print one out!
When we went to order some more drinks wet were informed that they had "run out"
The staff member who told me to "zip it" also said no thank you to Sandra when she tried to give her some rubbish to take away!

As you can imagine we were not happy.

Things didn't improve with lunch, we had no earphones to listen to the radio or watch the film but then we could hardly see the screen anyway!!!
When Sandra asked what were we supposed to do for the remaining 7 hours of the flight, she was told read a book or have a sleep.
Things continued in this vein for the remainder of the flight. As we were landing people were getting up and going to the toilet, crew members weren't checking on tray tables, seats and seat belts being in the right position, all the basic safety stuff that happens on take off and landing.
We sat there open mouthed and shaking our heads.
We eventually got off the flight from hell and joined the queues for Immigration. Some 1 hour and a half later we eventually got through It was so hot and we were met by a really happy Immigration officer,(not). We grabbed our bags, eventually found where our shuttle bus was due to pick us up, waited or another 30 mins and eventually got picked up.
We proceeded to visit every terminal in O'Hare airport and at each stop our driver had to have a cigarette.
Sarnie had got chatting to an old couple from South Africa who were also doing Route 66, but an organized coach tour. The husband did not shut up! I know Sarnie can chat but this guy was Olympic Gold Medal class, with that lovely dulcet South African accent.
Traffic from the airport was a nightmare and to cap it all on the way to the hotel it started to rain. Thought this was the 'Windy" City, no wind just rain.

Arrived at the hotel, were greeted by Candice who immediately restored our faith in customer service! She was a real pleasure to talk to, efficient, friendly, helpful and genuinely made us feel welcome. Think she should get a job in customer service training for crew members at American Airlines.
Our room was great, on the 22nd floor, massive bed. As we were starving by this time it was a quick change and off for something to eat.
A couple of blocks away we found a TGI's, practically empty, so in we went. Found out the the "Bulls'' were in the playoffs that night and ass TGI's only had 1 screen working, it was very, very quiet. We had a few drinks, beers, cocktails and Prosecco, great food, steaks, burgers and ribs, what else would we have, we're in the USA!, and went back to the hotel suitably stuffed saying that our evening had rescued our nightmare of a day.

Not for me, it didn't. Got back to our room to discover that I had left our iPad in the seat pocket on the plane. Frantic phone calls to American Airlines Lost and Found dept. Hit the internet to change passwords etc on the apps. tried to locate it with find my iPad but no luck. Have locked it  and taken it off my Apple account, just hope it has been found and is in lost property at the airport!!!!!
Don't hold out much hope though.
Eventually went to sleep, but woke up at 2am, wide awake and haven't been to sleep since. Am going to see the Cubs play baseball tomorrow and take in some Blues tomorrow night. Guess after B.B.King dying they"ll all be packed. Should make for a good experience as they all pay tribute to the great man.

So, not an ideal start to our road trip, but it can only get better. Mind you, if I don't get the iPad back, that'll be $400 spent to get a new one!!!!!!!!

Further updates tomorrow.