This is probably the most messed up trip I’ve been on, except perhaps my trip to India in ‘98. Starting back home from a two week trip to DC (a trip I spent cooling my heels waiting for work that never started, but that is another story). It started off nice and easy too – I had dinner early, by 6pm, and headed in to the airport a couple of hours before departure at 9:45 pm. Ticketing and Security were a breeze – suspiciously so. The Gate I was at required two people-mover shuttles (take one to terminal D, and then go to the end and take another to terminal G) – I made both shuttles with almost no waiting. This is too good to be true. I sat down at the United Airlines terminal, and that’s when the fun started.
I noticed that Judy had called while I was in transit to the gate when I went to turn my cell phone off – I called back, to learn that Orbit had called home to say that the flight was cancelled. This was news to me. I checked in at the counter, and sure enough, the flight was cancelled – mechanical troubles. Went to the customer service, to learn that all flights on Friday were taken (not surprising, at 8 pm there are few options left). But so were all flights on Saturday. They said I could fly Independence Air, but I’d have to go to the customer service at gate C (this is after 30 minutes waiting in line).
So, I go to the other counter. Find a longer line – spend an hour standing in line. When I get to the counter, they balk at putting me on Independence Air – they have no agreements with them, they said. I asked what options did I have. They finally found me a flight out of Reagan on US Air in the morning. My luggage, they said would be at the baggage claim.
Arrive at baggage claim about 10pm. Wait for baggage, which is a no show. Wait until 11:15pm, and then decided to head out to the hotel sans luggage. The nice lady at the United baggage counter noticed that my US Air flight, on Saturday morning, was cancelled. Went to US Air baggage, and they confirmed that the flight was cancelled. They also said there was no other flight open Saturday either. Decided to just call it a night, go to the hotel anyway, and deal with things in the morning. I can’t believe they can not locate my luggage. I generally pack medicine and toiletries in carry on luggage on trips with more than one hop, but this was supposed to be a no hassle on shot flight – no way they could separate me and my luggage, right?
By this time, unlike other hotels that have shuttles till midnight, my hotel shuttle was no longer running. Had to take a cab to the hotel (no voucher). Talked to the cab driver, and arranged for him to pick me up at 6:00am, so that I make it into Reagan in time. Since I no longer have a charger, I decide to turn the cell phone off to conserve power.
Arrive at hotel Check in. Get toiletry kit. Nice hote, and Embassy suites, but this is now midnight, and I have to get up in 5 hours. Notice I no longer have cell phone.
This is the low point of the trip. No luggage, no flight in the morning, and now I have left the cell phone in the Taxi. The only saving grace is that the same guy is coming to get me in the morning, maybe the phone would still be there.
manoj