Our Long-Haul Adventure from Dulles to Rome

This is the first post in our “Greek Isles Cruise and Rome Adventure” series — a two-week journey filled with new places, new flavors, and a lot of unforgettable moments. My wife (Demi) and I begin with our long-haul adventure from Dulles to Rome aboard a United Airlines 777, seated side-by-side in Economy Plus on the two-seat side — a small comfort on a long-haul flight filled with anticipation (and an unexpected delay). Stay tuned for more entries as we make our way from the skies to the sea — and eventually, to the streets of Rome.

Long-Haul Departure Day from Dulles International

We knew this leg of the trip was going to be a long-haul adventure. A first for us. We kicked off our trip to Rome by flying out of Dulles Airport in Virginia, headed for Fiumicino (FCO). Our plane was supposed to take off at 5:10 p.m., and we boarded around 4:40, thinking we were in good shape. What we didn’t know? A weather system was quietly rolling in and had other plans.

A Surprise Weather Delay on the Tarmac

Next thing we know, we’re stuck on the plane at the gate… for three hours. Thankfully, we had sprung for Economy Plus, which gave us a little more breathing room, about six extra inches of leg space. The best part, though, the seats on our side of the 777 were just two across, so it was just Demi and me. Honestly, it could’ve been worse, but sitting still for three hours before even taking off?  Yeah, that was rough, especially knowing we still had a 9.5-hour flight ahead of us.

Turbulence, Sleeplessness, Neck Pillows, and a Nap

The delay caused a chain reaction of takeoff backups, but we finally got off the ground around 8:05 p.m. The flight itself was uneventful, minus a bit of expected turbulence over Canada as we crossed into the Atlantic. I had my go-to aisle seat (always my pick), while Demi had the window.

This was the longest non-stop flight I’ve ever been on, and no matter what I tried, I just couldn’t get comfy enough to sleep for any length of time. Usually I have no problem catching some shut-eye on much shorter flights. Perhaps it was the delay, or perhaps I was too wound up with anticipation. I don’t know. I even had my trusty Cabeau neck pillow, which usually works wonders, but not this time. I kept glancing over at Demi, peacefully snoozing with her head against the plane wall. That was the missing piece—I needed something to lean on, too.

Eventually, about 90 minutes before we landed, she got up to use the restroom. I didn’t waste the opportunity, slid over to her seat, leaned my head against the wall, and finally crashed for a solid hour. It wasn’t much, but I’ll take it!

Thanks for following along. That long travel day was just the start — next up, we touch down in Rome and do our best to figure out Fiumicino (with a little help and a lot of jet lag). Read about it here.

Don’t miss what’s next! Subscribe below or check back soon to keep exploring with us!