Iceland the Adventure
Connie Faas Aug 04, 2026
In case you wonder what we've been up to the last 3 days, enjoy:
The Great Iceland Flight: A Saga of WestJet Plot Twists
It all started so simply: buy tickets, fly to Iceland, see a solar eclipse, scuba dive, witness majestic sights, explore with our favourite travel group. Easy.
Phase 1: The Optimism Era
Long ago, we booked business class leaving Aug. 3. We felt fancy. We felt prepared. Then WestJet said, “What if we strike?” and on July 30 dropped a 72 hour strike notice. I chat with WestJet. They say, “Don’t worry!” I worry.
Phase 2: The Packing Olympics
On July 31, WestJet asks if we can leave tomorrow. We are not packed. Our gear is not packed. Our souls are not packed. But we say yes. We agree to Flight Booking #2, also known as “David in business class, Connie in economy — love is sacrifice.”
Phase 3: The Midnight Plot Twist
July 31, As we are packing at midnight, WestJet emails us new flights: Flight Booking #3 sends David to Winnipeg → Reykjavik and me to Saskatoon → Calgary → Reykjavik. I call WestJet. Hold time: three hours. At 4 am, a sympathetic agent fixes it. We reunite on Flight Booking #4. I celebrate by not sleeping and continuing to pack.
Phase 4: The Smug Hour
We arrive at the airport. We are proud. We are early. We are victorious. We have boarding passes in hand! We are through security! Then we get a text: Winnipeg → Reykjavik is cancelled. Smugness evaporates instantly.
Phase 5: The Airport Shuffle
Gate agent says, “Go to Winnipeg anyway.” Boarding scanner says, “No you won’t.” WestJet phone line says, “Busy… try again later.” We retreat to the lounge to strategize like two exhausted raccoons.
Phase 6: The Miracle Worker
A magical WestJet agent rebooks us on Flight Booking #5: Air Canada → Vancouver → Icelandair → Reykjavik. We rejoice. But wait — baggage claim reveals only one of our four bags. The other three went sightseeing in Winnipeg.
Phase 7: The Winnipeg Rescue Mission
Edmonton and Winnipeg baggage agents heroically coordinate a luggage extraction before the strike hits. Our bags escape Winnipeg. While we wait for them, we buy emergency clothes in Nisku. We collapse in a hotel at 8:30 pm like felled trees.
Phase 8: The Final Countdown
Aug 2–3: insurance claims, hotel juggling, app downloading, seat assignment begging, airport lineups, and 3 am wake ups. We make it to Vancouver. We wait 12 hours in the airport. We are tired, triumphant, and slightly feral.
All that’s left is one final flight — and a prayer to the travel gods.
