An American Expat in China

My return flight to China consisted of two segments.  The first leg was from Philadelphia to Doha, Qatar.  With a layover of 8 hours and 45 minutes I was able to secure a free, 4-star, hotel for free through Qatar Airways.  They provide this service free of charge on flight with layovers exceeding 8hrs.  It took me two hours to get out of the airport because I had to find the transfer desk, go through immigration, and then wait for the free airport shuttle service provided by the hotel.  Once I got there it was well worth it to have a place to eat, shower, and rest.  I can also say that Doha International Airport is by far one of the best airports I have ever transferred through. I stayed in the Safir Hotel and it was very nice.  The first leg of my journey was 12hrs long.  The next, which would take me to Hong Kong, was a little over 8hrs long. So this chance for rest and relaxation during my short stay in Doha was a welcome respite from the cram...

My landing in Philadelphia was earlier than expected, but the plane was delayed nonetheless when it took a full hour for the pilot to be given permission to taxi to the gate.  Further disappointment followed when the entire flight found that their luggage would not be appearing on the baggage carousel and would likely be delayed.  It is not that the baggage did not arrive with the flight, it was that the airport was full of incompetent morons who could not handle the logistics of an airport. FIVE FLIGHTS worth of baggage had been delayed, they had been unloaded from the aircraft haphazardly and therefore they were lost in the bowels of the airport for an indeterminant amount of time.  I waited for three hours before deciding to come back the next day. I will never fly through Philadelphia Airport again.  I picked up my car rental and then went to my sister's where I crashed for the night.   The next morning she took me to get my bags and brought my nephews ...