High Heel Airport Sprinting
As my first blog I would like to tell the tale stranger than fiction of my marathon run of terror through the Charlotte international airport. Let's start with arrival. I'm excited, pumped and thrilled to be going to Philly to see my sister. I enthusiastically give my ticket to the first available ticket agent. She looks confused and furiously taps at her keybord. (I think this is done as a nervous habit and not really for informational purposes but...whatever.) I stand ready to move on to security when I'm told that my ticket is for next week, I'm not in their system and my ticket says United. (I'm standing at the US Airways counter because my sister tells me to do so) I phone her...no answer. I leave a frantic messege and go to sit down and ponder my predicament. My husband calls and I fill him in. I'm now confused, angry and saddened I will not see my sister. I bypass the line and head for a counter that has someone who looks to be of authority standing behind the counter. I'm told (like I'm a four year old) that I purchased the tickets for next week and on a different airline. I point out that my sister bought the tickets and it's their airline who flies this route. She shakes her head and points in the direction of the United counter. I stare down the long row of counters and passengers in the general direction of the United ticket opperators. I feel the ache in my legs and wonder why I have chosen to wear these boots. I gather courage and feeling pressed for time I sprint, bag and all, down the long hall. I arrive winded and go to the only man in a tie behind the counter. He explains to me that they don't fly to Philly, this is a US Air flight and it's for next week. duh!! Obviously he can't help me. I turn and follow the path of my previous run back the the lady at US Air. (Susie is her name.) Susie and tie man, I believe for their own amusment send me running back and forth all for reasons that seemed of immediate unimportance to me and my ability to fly out today. My feet are inflamed, legs ache and I'm slightly annoyed at my sister. Meanwhile I have an army of family frantically trying to fly me out and my phone rings off the hook. Running with bags, heels and phone to ear is a great excercise. I recomend you try this repeatedly up and down your street (fully equipped as I was) to get full cardiovascular benefits. In the middle of this something dreadful happens. Yes you guessed it, somehow Susie manages to accidently send my bag to Germany. I glanced behind the counter to see a blank faced guy with "Training" written on his shirt and Susie proceeds to reprimand him. Yeah like that will get my bag back. You tell him Susie!! Eventually a man who appears hopelessly useless arrives and explains that the bag cannot be found. Susie furiously taps at the goddamn keyboard. (nervous habit) She sends hopeless man away. I fantasize about the many items of clothing I will miss. Amazingly about 30 minutes into my United US Air sprinting marathon useless man magically materializes with my bag. I'm convinced he had help. By this time I'm sweaty, irritated and lost all hope of seeing my sister. But just as it seemed there was no hope in ending my run of ticket counter hopping my sister calls and has purchased anther ticket. Being that in my world things don't end so simply I had to jog a few more times till we finally somehow ended up with Susie finding me a pathetic case and putting me on a direct flight and my sister cancelling the aformentioned new ticket. This is how I entered the plane, hair askew, ankles swollen and bewildered that I will actually be seeing my sister.
posted by Sue @ 8:15 AM
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