I had to make a quick business trip to Toronto this week, what a difference a day makes...
Sometimes, it seems that everything that can go wrong does, and then some. Other times, it seems that everything that can go wrong, doesn't or even comes out better.
I headed "up" on Tuesday. Weather in Raleigh was clear for my 6:55 AM flight, so things should go smoothly... HA!
The first delay was encountered before we even left the ground. The crew had arrived late the night before, and so departure was delayed for "crew rest." Okay, I don't want a bleary eyed pilot driving the bus I'm riding in anyway.
That put us behind about thirty minutes. Considering my connection was only about an hour, that would make things tight, but, I should still be able to make my 2:00 PM meeting.
After about a half hour aloft, our pilot informs us that we will be flying "racetrack patterns" for a while due to weather delays in New York. Okay, not much I can do about it at this point, and besides, usually, if there are weather delays, that impacts departing flights too, so maybe I'll still make my connection... HA!
I arrive in LaGuardia to find out that I am in concourse "C" and my next flight is departing concourse "D." Not only do I have to switch concourses, but there is no way to go directly from the gates in "C" to the gates in "D." I must exit the concourse and go back through security. Considering I only have four minutes to accomplish this, things are starting to look sketchy...
When I finally arrive at my departure gate, I discover that the Toronto flight did in fact leave on time - without me. The gate agent is nice enough to inform me that I have been placed on the waiting list for the noon flight, and have a reservation on the 2:00 PM flight. Thanks, but that isn't going to do much for my 2:00 PM meeting. Arrg!
Since I have over two hours to kill, I wander over to the Admiral's Club. As I am checking in, I share my travel woes with the helpful person at the desk. Once again, I am reminded of just how good an investment that annual membership is. Patti the desk agent makes a call, schmoozes whoever is on the other end of the conversation, and all of a sudden, I have a confirmed seat on the noon flight. Hey, could be worse... the noon flight arrives at 1:45 PM, so I should only be about 15 minutes late to the meeting. Ah, but fate is not finished playing with me yet.
Around 11:20, I wander back to the gate to board the plane. Hmmm, what plane? I see no plane at the gate... Upon inquiry with the friendly gate agent, I learn that the plane which was supposed to be at the gate is still sitting in Boston. Uh oh! After waiting a few minutes wondering "what now?" the agent informs the huddled masses that we will instead be using a plane which is coming in from Detroit - and should be here in an hour or so. Back to the Admiral's club I go. Patti doesn't even ask to see my card this time...
Back to the gate I go at 12:30 - guess what? The incoming flight is once again delayed. "But really Mr. Sanders, it will be here at 1:45 PM, see you around quarter past." This time, when I return to the Admirals Club, Patti just gives me one of those "one of those days?" smiles.
The good news was that the third time was the charm, and I did actually end up getting on a plane, that did take off, and did arrive in Toronto. Of course, I was about an hour and a half late for me meeting, but, such is life some days.
I wish I could say that this was the end of my travel woes, but, the hotel had one more little zinger to offer. When I went to check in, the desk clerk did the normal check-in routine, but at the end, at the point at which he was supposed to hand me my room key, he gets this pained look on his face and asks me to hold on just a moment. This is followed by him making a call during which he offers more pained expressions. After hanging up, he informs me that he is terribly sorry, but my room is not ready - mind you, it is after 6:00 PM - and would I mind having a seat in the lobby while he tries to work things out. Well, long story short, after fifteen minutes or so, he gets things worked out, and I get my key - to a very nice room on one of the executive floors.
Fast forward to the next day, and my trip home.
I end up getting to the airport a little earlier than usual, and invite one of my business associates to join me in the Admiral's Club. After checking in, the desk agent inquires about my destination. When I tell her that I am going to Raleigh via New York, she pauses... Uh oh! But, much to my delight, she says "the flight that you are booked on is showing that it will be delayed, which will cause you to miss your connection, but, there is an earlier flight that I can get you on if you'd like." "Uh, yeah, thanks," I say. She tap tap taps on the keyboard, and out spits a new boarding pass. Once again, I think "Membership has its privileges;" okay, that's some other company's slogan, but, when the foo sh*ts... "When will the flight start boarding I ask," figuring I'll have to rush the beer I had planned to have with my associate. "Right now," she replies. So much for the beer... At least my associate got to stay in the club until his flight departed.
Cool, I think. Now, rather than stressing out about missing my flight, I'll have plenty of time to make my connection in New York, I think. But, it gets even better. We end up arriving a little early in New York. I look on the board to see which gate my connection will depart from. Guess what? There are two flights scheduled for Raleigh, the one I'm on, and another that is leaving from the same gate - which is only four gates away - boarding in five minutes. So, I rush up to the gate, and ask the nice gate agent if there is any way I can sneak on to this flight, rather than having to wait. "Sure," she says. Tap tap tap, and out spits a new boarding pass. As soon as she hands the pass to me, the door agent announces the boarding call, and on I walk, turning what could have been another ugly trip with another late arrival, into a smooth trip that resulted in me getting home over an hour early!
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Posted by David at April 01, 2005 03:53 PM