Entries this day: made_my_flight missed_my_flight

made my flight

(transcribed from my diary)

11:15am Saturday 24 July 1999

Oh my gosh.

Packed last night and finished up this morning and Wende drove me to the airport. Dropped me off in plenty of time and I went in and the line for American was suuper long!! Stood there for a minute but it wasn't moving so I decided to go straight to the gate. Found the monitor for departures and could not find my flight. Check my flight coupon.

Oh god. Wrong airport. I was at Intercontinental (IAH), and had to be at Hobby (HOU) in like 40 minutes. It's way further than that away.

Thought about just getting a cab but I really wanted to cry and didn't feel comfortable doing that in front (or behind) of a stranger. Called Wende. Bless her heart she drove back and got me and drove over the curb to the next lane to get out of the airport faster. I cried for a second then I could think more straightly. Wende did most of the good thinking though. First off, we were low on gas. She offered to just try to drive all the way, but I encouraged her to get a little bit so we could for sure make it.

I called American Airlines and it took forever to get to talk to a person. Finally someone answered and I was all, "I'm about to miss my flight; can you help?" I explained the situation: My goal was to get from Houston to Des Moines today. I had a connecting flight out of Dallas at 1:30pm. AA had another flight out of IAH, but it was delayed until 12:45; no way to make it to Dallas on time. They had nothing out of HOU, but encouraged me to go there since my original flight was from HOU.

Called Southwest Airlines. A person picked up on the first ring. They had a flight out of HOU into Dallas Love at 11:30 for $89. Fully refundable if I make my other flight. Great. I gave her my name and she began to make the reservation. Then suddenly click My phone disconnected. Aw crap.

Called back. A different person picked up on the first ring. "Hi I just called but got disconnected," "what were you trying to do?" I gave my name and she found my reservation. I was about to give my credit card information when, click.

Grrrrr. Called back. A different person answered on the first ring. Explained everything and this time we did it. Got a reservation for flight 22 leave HOU 11:30 to LUV at 12:20 and was on standby for flight 20 11:00 to 11:50.

Once I had the ticket, Wende and I pondered my luggage situation. I had 3 bags and usually can only carry-on 2. I trusted that they would just let me do it. Wende suggested that if not, I could maybe ask American to check my bag all the way through to Des Moines so it would just get there the next day. Hmmm.

Got to the airport and walked toward terminal A. Going through the security check thing the lady was polite but said, "you'll need to check that bag." Oh please no. My bag wouldn't fit in the "your bag must be checked if it won't fit in this box" slot, so I unzipped one end of the bag and put it inside my other bag. She said that should work. I was all, "see I can't check my bags because I'm trying to make a connecting flight in Dallas. If I check them, I won't make it."

"Oh, you're going to Dallas? You're in the wrong terminal."

Oh no.

Her thought was confirmed, so I headed toward terminal C.

I did not look forward to going through another security thing. They didn't stop me though, so I zipped straight to the gate for flight 20. Explained that I was on standby for the flight and the woman was all, "oh yes there is plenty of room on this flight." I began to explain my luggage situation but she interrupted, "don't worry; just get on; we're leaving in 3 minutes."

Down the jetway I ran and the guy took my boarding pass. (Number 61 for those keeping track; it was a small flight.) He was all, "would you like to check that?" "I don't really want to, but I can" "Oh, you're trying to catch a flight? No problem." (I didn't mind in this case; since I made the earlier flight, I'd have plenty of time in Dallas to get my bags.) Got on and the stewardess helped me stuff my bags in the overhead bin. Made it. Called Wende on my cell phone during the several seconds before they shut the door and we left. Thank you thank you.

That is how I made my flight. permalink

missed my flight

(transcribed from my diary)

1:46 pm Saturday 24 July 1999

Got to Dallas Love and ran, following the signs to American Airlines. Walked down a tunnel thing, up a ramp thing, back down a thing and suddenly didn't see any more signs for American. Crap. Back up the thing and back down and asked someone. Turns out I had been going the correct way in the first place. This sure wasn't well marked.

Around a corner, through a security gate, up a small escalator, finally to the American counter. Presented my ticket, "I'm trying to get to Des Moines."

"Oh, I'm sorry; you're at the wrong airport. We only have flights to Austin."

Fuck.

I slumped. Okay, where do I need to go?

The guy was pretty pessimistic about me making the flight; I only had 30 minutes to get there. But I had to go for it. Back down the little escalator, where the security guys were all, "? huh ?" and I told them the situation.

"You might be able to make it if you grab a cab," they offered, plus, "good luck!"

Trudged back up the hill, down the hill and let me promise you my bags weighed a million pounds. No wheels, no shoulder straps.

Out toward Passenger Pick Up and found the cabs were not availble there, but somewhat further down the sidewalk. A baggage handler offered to drive me there in his cart. So very appreciative I was and tipped him a dollar once my bags were in the trunk of the cab.

Told the cabbie my plight and he drove 75 or 80 miles per hour toward the other airport.

Unfortunately I didn't know what gate, and my bags were inaccessible in the trunk. I considered calling American on the phone, but they hadn't been able to give me gate information previously, so I didn't try this time. I knew the second flight to Des Moines left from Gate C 26; the guy at Dallas Love had told me that. So I assumed Gate C for the earlier flight I was trying to catch.

Tipped the cabbie 5 bucks for a total of $30. Hauled my bags back out of the trunk, and hauled up to the monitors. Found an American Airlines desk before I found a monitor. Wrong terminal. My flight was leaving in several minutes from gate A18.

My shoulders and hands were killing me, but I ran, hoping to find someone driving an electric cart. I couldn't run more than 50 yards, and had to settle for a fast walk. Fortunately they had moving sidewalks which helped some, but my arms were still burning. Finally I found an electric cart willing to go my direction. He was on break eating fries and a shake, but said, "let's go."

I had made it to A26 from C26 in DFW. I'm not sure how far that is, but it's pretty far. To A18 we drove, zipping around people and stuff. Got to the gate. Missed my flight.

Now I really wanted to cry. Instead, I payed the electric cart guy 2 bucks and he drove me to gate C34, from which the later flight would leave. I couldn't believe how far I had walked! I confirmed the flight information and called the Youth Council emergency number to let them know.

In review: verify flight information before leaving.

That is how I missed my flight. permalink