Ok, so what a day. I am going to tell you about UGH…[travel], Really? [Excuse, rude, much?] and Kudos…[GREAT customer service]
So, where to start? I started my day off by going to the DMV because I lost my license [I can now no longer say I have never lost my license] easy enough, $5 and 20 minutes later, walked out with a temporary. [Little did I know that I would need to take another picture, so you can imagine what I looked like, but they said I could go back and take another picture, for another $5].
Home in time to start work, normal, no surprises there except for being super busy.
Next, it was time to leave for the airport [As I mentioned last night, I packed last night and I am not a night before packer, but if I am going out of the country or on a long trip, I try, note, I said try to pack the night before] and I’m so glad I did pack last night because I had just enough time to take a shower and leave between all my calls.
There was bad weather expected in Toronto [guess where I am!] and the meetings I am going to be participating in tomorrow and Thursday might possibly not happen in person if everyone can’t get to Toronto [my boss emailed at 1:30 pm to say he was still in Connecticut and was supposed to leave at 11, haven’t heard any updates]. I got to the airport 2 hours early as instructed, flight showing leaving on time [3:15pm]. After an hour of sitting there waiting, the departure time jumps to 5:00pm, the flight from Bloomington, IL hadn’t left yet and was scheduled to leave about 4 something. Ok… time to grab something to eat. [By the way, went to the Fresh Market [i don’t remember the name] for Vegetable Soup and a Garden Salad – Y U M!]
A little while later, there was an announcement, “we are looking for anyone willing to volunteer their seat, $600 cash voucher on any Delta flight” what? Hello! Over here! So up to the counter I went because… the next flight was scheduled to depart at 5:30, so what’s 30 minutes for $600? not much! I get to the counter at the same time as another gentleman and we both volunteered…we flipped a coin and Queen Elizabeth was on my side [it was a $2 Canadian coin, pronounced two-ney]. So, off to the other gate I went.
Now, they had to “bust my bag” from the flight it was originally on for this flight because “bags must go with the passenger on international flights” ok… can you see where this might lead?
Now, it’s time to board and when I go up to the new gate counter, the people who had done the original “bump” hadn’t completed the process or given me my voucher. So, this very nice, but stressed woman in a red vest [with a NYY badge holder] helped me get my voucher, a seat and on the plane.
Ok, first UGH… There were several nasty people who were just not pleasant, trying to get on the flight and causing a stink. “I’m first class, I fly all over the world, I have over 125K miles, etc etc…” whatever! “You run the worst airport ever” ok, yeah, the guy who is helping you get on the plane and listening to you b**ch runs the airport… Then there was the guy who volunteered to get bumped like I did, who had gotten to the original gate after me, but thumbed his nose at me telling me I hadn’t been there as long as he had and didn’t know what he had gone through, ok, whatever. Then the guy who couldn’t find his baggage claim ticket, who’s fault is that? It’s generally on the back of your ticket. One thing I always hang on to… the baggage claim, especially when I travel internationally.
Ok, next UGH… I get on the plane and a family gets on and Preston, their very cute toddler, and his mom get on. As I am getting kicked in the back, I turn around and say something to mom, she gets Preston to stop, for about a minute… you can imagine what the rest of my flight is like. It gets better, we see her again [she gets a “really?!”]
Flight is mostly uneventful, we land, takes forever to get off the plane, but we did and off to get my luggage, or so I thought…
I get to the carousel, past the baggage and people coming in from Punta Cana [awe, SDL and Miss A and DJL, brings back memories]. And I see the original flight has come in about the same time as my new flight, but… Not my bag, I know you have already figured that out. Oh look, there is someone else who had gotten bumped looking for their luggage.
I give it the appropriate amount of time, when there are maybe 3 bags left on the carousel and head to the Lost Luggage Help Desk. Oh joy…
Guess who’s there too? Yup, Preston and his family. “Preston, get off the floor, Preston, Get off the floor. Preston, pick up your bag, Preston…”
We are all waiting on line, I get the form to fill out [you have to give one half to customs so that when the bag comes in, they can match it up]. The man behind the counter looks at me finally and says Ok, please come up, I go up and Preston’s mom pitches a fit… She had just finished filling out the form [she was actually at the counter for about 3 more minutes than i was] “I was here first”, “sorry ma’am, she was here and I’m going to help her” “I was here first, waiting longer than you” giving me looks of death as if I had just stepped on her foot. Then started complaining to the guy behind the counter. I said it’s fine, he kept objecting and trying to help me, I said it’s fine, it’s not worth it and stepped back out of line. She still had a sour look on her face, maybe she had stepped in something… Ah… the life of the privileged. [BIG REALLY?]
Then it was my turn and I handed my form to the woman at the other counter and she was incredibly pleasant and nice and i made her laugh a few times [she did tell me to stop because she was laughing too hard to concentrate!] but she was smiling, so that’s all that matters. I did tell her she was going to be up against some unpleasant people, like the guy who had been bumped, so she looked directly at him and offered him a form, smooth the way. She asked me if the bag was a rush and I did tell her that there were birthday presents for my niece in there! which were more important than anything else, but also my jammies and my clothes for work and if I don’t get my bag, I will have to wear the same things I had on to work [sorry guys!] she said ewweee… so yes, it needs to be a rush [score and hope for the best!].
Then she did the nicest thing [here’s the Kudos] she got a special key and then gave me a Delta Skyteam kit [has a t-shirt [A TSHIRT! wink wink, stop rolling your eyes CKM and DCM!] and toiletries, all the essentials!] BIG SCORE!!! I was trying to find her name on her badge, but she was incredibly busy and I knew she needed to help the next person.
I go outside, get a taxi and finally get to the hotel. I really like Hilton properties, I am at gold level, next is platinum..I’m getting there… At gold level, there is always a bottle of water and a snack either in the room or at check in. I get to the room and there is a bag of pretzels [yeah, no cookies or chocolate] and a bottle of water. But the coolest part… the bottle has my name on it! “Thank you for staying at the Hampton Inn… We Love Having You Here” and my name, how cool is that? I’m still tickled when i see my name on stuff!
So, as you can see, dear friends, it has been one heck of a day and no, as of 11:56pm EST, I do not have my luggage, but I have all my electronics and I can brush my teeth in the morning, lucky for my co-workers.
As they always say, there’s always tomorrow.
Peaches Prattlings 