saturday suckage

[low_delta]

This was going to be such a nice day. It was a little sad leaving the friends behind, but it's been a long week. The weather was cool but pleasant, in Tucson. We left at eight. Shoo, Cyn and I would hang out at the airport. We'd have a quick hop to Las Vegas, where we'd say our goodbyes to Shoo, and then, in three and a half hours, we'd be pulling up to the gate in Milwaukee. We'd have all evening to rest, catch up on LJ a little bit, and just sit.

No such luck.

I got to the airport and realized I'd forgotten to fill up the tank of the rental car. They let me drive back out and fill it up. This blew twenty minutes. And it was at the gas station that I realized I'd left my credit card in my suitcase (I hope). Fortunately, I had enough cash in my pocket. It cost $53 to fill the tank (at $2.35 a gallon). We didn't have any decent windows to look out of on the first flight, but other than that it was fine.

Then we landed at McCarran, in Vegas. It probably took us ten minutes to get off the plane. That left us thirty to find our next flight. We had no idea where to go. We asked security where Midwest docked, and he told us D terminal. So we went out there. The line was long. We waited in it for nearly ten minutes before realizing we hadn't checked in and gotten our boarding passes. So we wandered around a while, before someone told us where the kiosks were, to check in (they're not very obvious when you don't know what you're looking for). They didn't work. We asked again for directions. And again. And finally found the ticket counter. At that point the plane was supposed to leave in two minutes.

The next flight was in five hours. Midwest doesn't have many flights out of Vegas.

And besides the horrendously long security line, there was a wait for the train to take us out to D terminal, which is on the exact opposite end of the airport for where we landed. So there was no possible way we could have made it in forty minutes. Even if we had known what we were doing.

We ate lunch. And I tried to sleep, and Cyn tried to read. And we walked around. And we sat. And stood. And the sun went down. We left Dave's house in Tucson at 8:00 AM, and the sun went down before we left Las Vegas. Finally we were able to board the plane.

The guy who sat next to me was so big that my tray table was up against his seat belt. You wouldn't think that's possible, would you?

I'd heard people talk about taking ear plugs along on flights, and never understood why, until now. Apparently, this is the first time I've ever ridden in the back by the engines.

The flight was good, otherwise. Fairly smooth, until we got into town. 25 to 35 mph winds, and when we circled around in the crosswinds, the plane bounced around quite a bit. I still don't feel like I'm on solid ground.

Since we missed the flight, our luggage was supposed to be waiting at the baggage office. I wasn't suprised to find that it wasn't. I figured that since we missed the flight, our luggage might too, and would have come over on our plane. It didn't. Fortunately, the temperature is very warm here, for mid-November, since my coat is in my suitcase.

And we did see a bit of downtown Las Vegas as we flew in and flew out, so that was kind of cool.

Comments

[serendipity.livejournal.com]

Argh, you experienced too many problems of flying in just one flight. The thing about the fat guy next to you is one of my (and my parents') pet peeves. It alone can make for great discomfort.

I think you should write a letter complaining to the management of Midwest. There were simply too many blunders there. One or two maybe you could forgive, but that was a pretty bad series of errors.

I hope you get your luggage back soon!

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

It wasn't Midwest's fault, since we bought the tickets through cheaptickets.com. So it was not only their fault, but our fault for (1) using them, and (2) OKing the tickets with only 40 minutes between flights. We should have known that wasn't enough time. And Midwest helped us out because the nice woman at the ticket counter booked us seats on the next flight, rather than sending us up there on standby. That flight ended up full.

[serendipity.livejournal.com]

Hm. They often schedule flights with only 40 minutes in between. I've been lucky to make many such connections, tricky as it sometimes is. The toughest was a 45-minute layover in Dallas, which is a ZOO of an airport, with a stroller and a little daughter who wanted to walk and who probably needed a diaper change too. Those were the good ol' days, lol!

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

But you made it, huh? Good for you!

[serendipity.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was pretty crazy though. I'm so glad she's older now!

[i.livejournal.com]

yuk. i hope you have a nice relaxed day today. did you ever get yout luggage?

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

They have it, but we don't know when they'll bring it to us.

[i.livejournal.com]

that used to happen to me almost every flight. i think it was a five year stretch where i would have to wait every time i flew to maine for them to drive my luggage up to my parents house. they usually get it to you the next day,

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

My card reader is in my suitcase (took it along, just in case), and we don't have Photoshop on Cyn's computer, so it's a hassle just to post pictures right now.

[serendipity.livejournal.com]

You need to keep on their (the airlines) case. Insist that they keep you apprised of when you're going to get your luggage.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I wasn't too worried about it. I think it was just a matter of having to do several deliveries, and could say in what order. If we had someplace to be, I might have made some demands. Or requests.

[penpusher.livejournal.com]

Ah, the problems of wearing a Red Sox cap... I hope you learned your lesson!

But seriously. Never wear that cap again.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Actually, yesterday was the first day that I didn't wear it. Hmm...

[shoo.livejournal.com]

I hope that doesn't deter you from further flying. We all have a bad experience. You had them all in one...*hugs*

I'm glad you are home...Your luggage will be there soon.

I woke up and had a sad ping...I want to go hiking and eat on 4th ave.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

This is my third trip in the air, and the second time they've lost our luggage. At least it was warm enough that I didn't need my coat.

I kept hearing your voice yesterday afternoon. :-)

[shoo.livejournal.com]

awwwww....poor guy...lmao!
Miss my burping doncha? ;)

[banana.livejournal.com]

I didn't think they'd let the plane take off unless the luggage matched the passengers on account of the bomb risk. I've heard of planes being delayed while they remove the bags for the passenger who isn't on board.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Hm. Seems like I've heard of that too, but don't they inspect the bags thoroughly beforehand? And the airlines also do parcel shipment.