Blog-TOWER OF BABELIt seemed like such an innocent trip. Commercial out to Van Nuys AC, crew rest for 16 hours then home.
My 3:55 p.m. Continental flight to Burbank was shockingly on time. I would fly to San Francisco, landing at 7:07 p.m., wait 1 hour, board another plane @ 8:10 p.m. to Burbank, then catch a cab to the Warmer Center Marriott, be there by 10 p.m., I boarded, got a window seat and the flight attendants seemed rested. The door shut, and we were on our way. I was still a bit suspect.
We were getting pulled out by a tug, and it felt like we went over a speed bump. The captain got on the pa and said the tug to the plane broke, ugh. 25 minutes later, we get another one, get on the runway and all traffic to the west (ATC) shut down due to weather. We had to get rerouted. 2 hours later, we finally took off. I know i missed my connection. Another aviation adventure, or mishap.
I get to San Francisco, at 9:30, there are no flights to Burbank till morning, 7:00 a.m. next day. I ask where the baggage claim was and when the carousel stopped with no bag. My heart dropped, I do not just want to put in my claim and leave? So I wait with 5 other people from my flight, yes, I know, never check a bag, 2 hours later I get my bag.
It is now 11:30 p.m.. The airlines gave me a pink voucher, with 12 hotel phone numbers on it. I call all of them. When they hear you have a voucher, they are booked. The oracle convention is in town as well. No hotel. I am looking at park benches, the floor, or some overhang. It is now 12:30 am.
I finally get a room at the Doubletree for $159.90, the guy in front on me, wants the extra free cookies, free internet, has AARP vouchers, green stamps, old lucky bottle caps, Hilton, Travel Lodge, VA coupons from WW II, and needs directions as to how and where to park his RV, which he also wants for free, the free breakfast, and who else knows what!
I glare at the 8 people behind me and we just want the mafia to come in and do a drive by shooting to this hayseed aptly named VERNON.
I get a 4:30 a.m. wake up call, get to my room, and the key does not work! How many people has this happened to, oh by the way my room was the last room down the hall. I walk/cry back to the front desk. Get another key, eat my cookie and pass out in my clothes. I get up at 4:30 a.m., to try again.
I get down to the lobby at 5:15 a.m. There are at least 30 southwest employees drinking coffee. I am thinking the airport shut down. My own fear made me jump to this conclusion. I get to Continental to check in and get vectored all over the place. They tell me I have to go to the "special arrangement" window. I am about to cry. The security line on a thursday morning, SFO airport, is out the door. I still have no ticket. I get in the special line and get my special ticket, and do not check my special bags. It takes me 42 minutes to go thru security. It is now 6:40am., my flight leaves at 7:00 a.m.
The gate is close, that is the only reason I made it. If it have been concourse E, and I was at concourse A, I would still be in SFO.
I board, and just hold my breath. The plane pulls out, taxis, and takes off. I arrive at BUR 8:20 a.m., get in a cab, the taxi driver does not want to take cc cards, I empty all my wallet into his wallet. I get to the Marriott, likes it is the gates of heaven. I want to kiss the ground. My key works, all is forgotten and forgiven.