Five years ago today I was wondering how I was going to get home - flights grounded - America at war! My experience then was but a trivial comma in the exchange of the events - a mere inconvienence - except for the great loss around us.
I again found myself on the road headed to the largest target Washington DC - this story isn't really about terrorism or politics, just another, well day on the road. Other road warriors know what I mean.
I arrive at PDX (not the city but really the airport folks - one of my pet peaves) to find that my federal contract carrier (American) had decided to cancel my flight - oh get this due to weather the day before - DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY - "Yes sir we experienced delays at Chicago yesterday due to weather". OK book me somewhere else, oh how does a redeye sound sir - NO, OK how does Alaska through LAX into DCA arriving at midnight sound - BAD. Oh OK how does Delta thought Cinci arriving at 9pm sound - BOOK IT!
Get my paper coupon and head to Delta, Delta issues me a new PAPER ticket (Road Warriors you know what that means - I'm golden).
15 minutes before boarding - "were oversold - any volunteers?" NONE.
American passengers Stickfish and others please see the Agent at gate D5.
Sir, American made a mistake - we are not going to honor your ticket - have a nice day
Several choice words and an explanation of the federal contract flowed from my mouth (oh for the non-governmentals - we are guaranteed the last seat on the plane for full fair tickets) - sorry sir you will need to see Ike at the Ticket Counter.
Trudge off to the ticket counter - American in one Ear my boss in the other who is calling our contract folks as I walk. I get to the ticket counter and ask for Ike - who has now left the building. I demand that they find him cause I want their excuse in writing why I was denied boarding because of our contract and my golden carrot - a paper ticket.
A few minutes go by and Ike is nowhere to be found - oh but now they have decided to honor my ticket - several more choice words and for those who know me - I can make a sailor blush.
The long and short of it was it was a very long day of a mere inconvience a day in the war against terrorism.
Oh in a parting comment - cause I changed airlines on the day of my flight I was treated as a "Special" passenger - meaning everything short of a cavity search. Now get this I got to do it twice - remember I had to return to the ticket counter - Delta holding the plane and all. The final piece of humility was the crud I got from the security folks - sir you should have planned ahead and gotten to the airport earlier. It is now 11:45am and I've been at PDX since 6:00am.
"Look here buddy, I've been here since 6am and this is the 2nd time through this special treatment of yours today - DO NOT START WITH ME!
For those who lost love ones 5 years ago and for those who have love ones in harms way today -
to you. My mere inconvience is just that a bad day one the road - nothing really compares to my trivility - I return you to your normally scheduled programming.
Traveling on 9/12
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