Monday, November 19, 2007

The blog could look something like this...

Title: The Travel Nightmare

And here is our first entry, by our own Debi Lee Winterhalder

Got up at 4:15 am to catch a 6:20 am flight from San Diego to Great Fall MT. (Of course I got in from a flight at 10:50 pm and actually toyed with the idea of sleeping in my car at the airport) Get to Airport at 5:15 am and find out the flight is canceled due to mechanical issues. Stand in long line to get another flight. On hold with Alaskan Airlines the whole time but never get an agent. Able to book a flight on American Eagle leaving at 8:30 am to San Jose and then United flights to Denver and Great Falls. Take bus to commuter terminal. Find out I am on Stand By for all segments of the trip . Able to get on flight to San Jose. Plane moves on down the runway, but then pulls over. Announcement that the plane need more fuel because of fog??????? Stay at fuel area for 35 minutes....I have hour connection. I bravely go up to flight attendant and pilots and say "if you not think I will make my 10:20 connection - GET ME OFF THIS FLIGHT, I do not want to be stuck in San Jose" I did not say it . The pilot said it is quite irregular but when they took one look at my face they decided to call the gate agent to lead me off plane, get my carry on from the storage area and lead me across the tarmac. I got on the Terminal Bus to Terminal 1 and realize....I don't have my laptop!! I had taken it out of the carrying case so another passenger could put his junk in the overhead bin and put it under the seat in front of me. I grab another bus back and plead with agent to see if plane has left. He looked at me as if I was nuts. They "don't do THAT" Here come the waterworks (Doug you may not relate) Another agent said he will try. He leaves for 10 minutes and actually returns with my laptop . Imagine that American Eagle flight was still on the ground after all that time.

Well, I am now at home waiting to leave for a 4:00 pm flight that get me into Great Falls MT at 11:00 pm. I know once I get my rental car and drive through the predicted "snow flurries" I will not arrive at the school location until 1:30 pm. Another day in the life of a Road Warrior, and to think I don't even get paid for my travel time.

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