Plan A had us spending Friday night in the luxury of Row 9 of American Airlines Flight 953, sipping an aperitif prior to settling in for the night in our dearly-paid-for comfy semi-enclosed reclining seats, waking up to a new morning on our descent into Buenos Aires. In contrast, this particular point in Plan B had us camped out in a sketchy hotel room in Rockaway, eating cold airline-voucher food out of plastic clamshell takeout containers. I kind of liked Plan A better.

We were taxiing in to the gate at JFK when Devon’s phone alerted us that the second flight of our SFO-JFK-EZE-USH itinerary had been delayed by…about 12 hours. The first emerging problem was that we’d miss our next flight, the one that would get us down to Ushuaia. The next emerging problem was that there were no obvious EZE-USH flights until Monday, which was when we were supposed to be getting on the actual boat.

Fortunately, Devon and I have learned a little about teamwork in our 36(!) years traveling together. I’ll spare you the details, but the best Plan B that emerged included six (yes, six) airports and two half nights at airport hotels on different continents. And we – Devon, actually – did manage to snag what may have been the last two seats on any series of flights to Ushuaia before our ship sails on Monday.

It’s now morning, and we’re finally sitting in those aforementioned comfy seats of the now three-time-delayed Flight 953. Still parked at the gate, though. Still looking out at the mid-morning snow falling at JFK. I may break into uncontrollable laughter if we get a weather hold – this past night and morning in/around JFK have reminded my of why I have no love for this city. Then again, another hour or so delay and we can just skip the half night of hotel in Buenos Aires – that would be a win, right? Miracles of air travel, I remind myself, miracles of air travel. Spanning the far corners of two continents in a couple of days is a miracle of air travel. But I am ready for that drink.

(p.s.: Just landed Buenos Aires; now in cab on the way to transit hotel. Next flight in seven hours.)