Layover in New York City

I arrived at CPT around 4:30pm (local time) and checked in. It was a bit of a madhouse, but all airports are. After I checked in my bags and got my boarding passes, I headed to security, which was significantly more relaxed than in the US. I took my laptop out of my bag and went to go take off my watch and my shoes when the guard waived me off, said I didn't have to do that. I walk through wearing a metal watch, my shoes on, and a sweatshirt with a metal zipper around my waist and the metal detector did not even go off. It was the quickest security checkpoint I'd ever been through. After that I went through passport control where they stamped my passport to leave the country. After that I meandered towards my gate and waited about 40 minutes before boarding the bus to shuttle us to the plane far away on the tarmac.

I left Cape Town International around 7pm and then flew for about 5 hours and landed in Dakar. I watched some movie with Luke Wilson called Henry Poole (?) that was rather boring and a bit eccentric. I then watched Mamma Mia, which I loved. I munched on some food and then tried to sleep. The plane was only half full so I had two seats on the Boeing 767 to myself. We landed in Dakar at 1am local time (about 11pm in CPT) and then stayed on the runway for about 2 hours while security came on board, the plane refueled, and food was delivered. Finally around 3am local time we took off, headed for Kennedy Airport in New York. Slept on and off and arrived in New York at local time of 6:30am.

I disembarked the plane and headed to the passport office to have my passport stamped. That queue took about half an hour to get through. Then I waited at the carousel for another 15 minutes before my luggage came off the plane. I collected all of it and headed for the last security checkpoint. I handed over my customs form (I did not have to pay duty on my wine because it's under 80 proof) and off I went to the Delta counter to check back in. That is where the issue arose. I could not check in to get a boarding pass because I was too early. I can only check in up to 6 hours before flight time to get a boarding pass. I asked the ticket lady what was I supposed to do for the next 6 hours until I could get the boarding pass, she said to go upstairs and sit in the lobby. I did that once before at the Sydney domestic airport in Australia and I wasn't about to do it again. I wanted to go into the Delta lounge so I asked if I can somehow get a clearance and go to Delta's lounge. She said I might, but I have to go talk the people upstairs, but I could check my luggage for my flight. The bags are bulky so I checked the two bags and went upstairs to talk my way into the lounge. The first person said I couldn't. When I persisted, she said I could talk to a supervisor. Sure, I wasn't going anywhere and I had plenty of time. So I was directed to another counter and asked for Phyllis. Eventually she said yes and printed a security clearance form for me. I could have my boarding pass printed in the lounge. I went through security just fine and am now sitting in the lounge just passing the time away on the internet.

Will update again after I land and arrive home in Michigan. Cheers.