rmorris posted on October 09, 2008 09:08
Forgive me if I rant a bit, but the frustration with the airlines are now at an all time high. How many times have they been bailed out by the government only to continue to make the same mistakes? I had a rather frustrating trip to Charleston. There was a weather system that delayed my flight from Birmingham to Atlanta. I had a 2 hour layover in Atlanta, so I was not worried. When we landed 5 minutes before my connection flight, I was worried! I asked the gate agent when I departed to let the other flight know that I was on my way. She told me not to worry because all flights were delayed. Of course by the time I made it from the A concourse to the B concourse, my flight was one of only two that left on time.
I was then told to go to the agent counter to be rebooked. That was a trip from my gate at A10 to gate A18. I waited for an hour to be booked on a flight that left in 4 hours. Knowing that it was only a three hour journey by car, I asked to get my luggage back so that I could drive. I was told that "we do not have the manpower to go ALL the way over there and get your bag and come ALL the way back." I asked what my options were and she told me that I could be on standby for the next flight and that I would be #1. That sounded fine. She told me to check in at the gate when I arrived. We were to leave out of gate A4.
I went to gate A4. As soon as I arrived, the gate agent made an announcement that my flight had a gate change and was now at B31. I rode the train to the B concourse and arrived at B31. When I arrived, I did not see the flight. I asked the gate agent and was told that the gate had been changed to B24. When I went to B24, I was told the new gate was T3. I started looking for cameras and a reality TV show!
I got to gate T3 and finally saw the flght. I checked in at the gate to find out that I was not on the standby list. When I was put back on the list, I was now number 13. After 10 minutes, the gate was changed to, believe it or not, B31. I made it to B31 and waited for the flight. Of course there were 10 seats, and now I was number 18 on the standby list. Realizing my defeat, I looked for the gate that my flight that I was booked on was leaving from. T1. Unbelievable. I thought I would cry. But, I was getting plenty of exercise!
I made it to T1. Waited for the flight, which was delayed for the pilots, then delayed because of the flight attendants, then finally boarded, at midnight. I arrived 8 hours after I was supposed to!
People always ask me why I drive so much! You now know why I have a 6 hour rule. If I can drive it in 6 hours or less, I will zip right by the airport!
Safe travels.
Rick