8/16/11 Connecting Flight From Denver to Cheyene, WY 1130 am
(There is a story leading up to this one in the previous blog. I just didn't want to write TOO much in one post, because then Sir Michael Gurney would comment that I'm writing a manuscript.)
My connecting flight was supposed to start boarding at 1055, and it is now 1115. I wasn't too worried, as it usually takes forever to board flights. I go up to a frontier counter and ask, "Can you let me know what gate Cheyene is currently at? And could you call down and let them know I am on my way?" She tells me the gate, and then says she does not "have access" to those phones. Um.... your lying to me. She just wanted to see me hustle. But whatever-- I'll show her I can make it on my own!!!
For the first time in my life, I walked down an escalator. Yep, walked down the moving stairs. Hopefully that's the last time I do that too. I find a large board to make sure I am going to the right gate, as I did not trust no access to phone girl, and I saw that the flight to Cheyenne was with Greater Lakes America, not Frontier. Well.. THIS is interesting. As I hear "Gate 68A is now all boarding to services to Cheyenne" I only get mad because I did not have time to creep and guess who the aisle winner was today!! Oh well... I walk up frantically to the gate, and she says, "Cheyenne?" How did she know????? I was creeped out in responding, "yess...... but I also have a question" I explain how my plane JUST landed, and I wanted to make sure my baggage got on this flight out. Again, I walked up to another liar who just says "No." Luckily, the guy who actually works with the baggage comes right up to me and says, "All the baggage that is checked for this flight is what you see out there-- was your flight Frontier?" I said, "yes, from Knoxville. I just have two large pink bags." This guy, being the man of the day, says into his little microphone, "yeah, we are looking for two pink bags to Cheyenne."
After being so happy that finally someone stopped lying to me, I thought about what he said, "All the baggage that is checked for this flight is what you see out there" I see a box. How come only a box? How come she knew I was on this flight?? How come we are boarding, and I am only behind two people? How come we are walking outside........
YES!! This flight is one of those tiny little, I can see and talk to the pilot flights, where you never go above the clouds, and with propellers and everything. I love those!!!!!! But I DEFINITELY was not expecting it at all! So who was my neighbor? You can read it in the title! The best one I ever had.... only 6 seats on the plane, so who sat next to me? ME!!!!
I boarded the flight in time, I get to sit next to me, the pilot is directly giving us safety procedures, and I didn't think this flight could get better. Just then I hear a BANG BANG BANG. Yep-- someone is literally knocking on our plane. The pilot looks out, and all I hear is, "HEY! WE GOT THAT GIRLS PINK BAGS!!!!"
:). How nice of him. I tried tapping on my window and mouthing "THANK YOU!!!" But I'm not sure if he ever saw me. 25 minutes later, I landed in Cheyenne Wyoming, with all my luggage, and good to go.
Yes, I am in Wyoming.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Aisler and Windower
8/16/11 Flight from Knoxville to Denve 9:36am
To my surprise, Knoxville airport is pretty tiny! No matter how small and convenient, Ashley has to run into a few stories as soon as she hits the airport (hence the NEED for a blog). I stroll up to the ticket counter, two suitcases, heels, and smile all with me. There was NO wait at this baggage check-in, what a way to start!!! I use all my strength to throw my large suitcase up on the scale. (for those of you who do not have a good memory, on my last flight, my tiny carry-on weighed 10 more lbs than my huge, up to my waist suitcase). 53lbs. Unfortunately, I was not able to butter up this flight assistant as I was in STL a few weeks back. So of course I just said, "Sorry-- let me take care of that," and set the big boy down, opened that sucker up, and transferred jeans and pants from that to my little guy. Lets try this again. 48lbs! My other was 36, so we were good to go.
I then get to gate 2A, and wait in suspense. Frontier started boarding, but they did it in a way I have never heard before. "No carry ons to be stowed board now." Well-- I think thats me. I mean, I have two bags, but I keep them both under the seat. Sure-- lets try this out. I'm standing in line with my boarding pass out, THREE people away from boarding. "Maam, would you like to step out for an extra security scan please?" Seriously? My response-- as I knew he was not really asking my opinion, "Why of course I would!" Do these people not know I'm on a mission to see who I am sitting next to?!!! Hurry it up.
I get that over with, get on the plane, and I'm noticing something is wrong with my ticket. It SAYS I'm in 15 B, but that is impossible. This plane is huge, and each side has three seats. You guessed it, 15 B is a middle seat. This cant be right. Debbie did me wrong! I find row 15 with no one else in it yet, though as soon as I sit down an older women says, "Hi-- I'm right next to you by the window." I politely got up to let her slide in, but I remember maybe a few grunts and thoughts of "well...aren't YOU lucky getting that precious window seat." Luckily I didn't say anything out loud, as my neighbor seaters came to save the day just 3 hours later.
I arrived in Denver with my aisler and windower neighbors. (yes, there are red squiggly lines under the words aisler and windower, but for the purpose of this blog, those are real words). The pilot lets us know we will be hanging out on the runway until our gate opens. Surprise surprise. I wanted to apologize to the 1000 people on the flight, because the only reason we had to do any waiting was because I was on the plane. But during this wait time I really got to know my two neighbors! We were just chatting it up, me and these two nice older women. They were loving hearing about my job-- UNTIL I mentioned I had a connecting flight that was boarding RIGHT NOW as we sit on this run way. It was just then when I found out Aisler and Windower were nice but feisty. And feisty to my benefit. As soon as we pull up to the gate, they are saying, "excuse me.. excuse me!! This girl has a connecting flight NOW. Let her go!!!!" It was not like something you would imagine in a movie where these ladies essentially part the red sea, but it did get rows 11-15 to let me go! How nice.
So... I run-- well, we all know that's not true-- I walked briskly to my connecting gate, only to find out my next aisle seater would be the BEST I ever had!
To my surprise, Knoxville airport is pretty tiny! No matter how small and convenient, Ashley has to run into a few stories as soon as she hits the airport (hence the NEED for a blog). I stroll up to the ticket counter, two suitcases, heels, and smile all with me. There was NO wait at this baggage check-in, what a way to start!!! I use all my strength to throw my large suitcase up on the scale. (for those of you who do not have a good memory, on my last flight, my tiny carry-on weighed 10 more lbs than my huge, up to my waist suitcase). 53lbs. Unfortunately, I was not able to butter up this flight assistant as I was in STL a few weeks back. So of course I just said, "Sorry-- let me take care of that," and set the big boy down, opened that sucker up, and transferred jeans and pants from that to my little guy. Lets try this again. 48lbs! My other was 36, so we were good to go.
I then get to gate 2A, and wait in suspense. Frontier started boarding, but they did it in a way I have never heard before. "No carry ons to be stowed board now." Well-- I think thats me. I mean, I have two bags, but I keep them both under the seat. Sure-- lets try this out. I'm standing in line with my boarding pass out, THREE people away from boarding. "Maam, would you like to step out for an extra security scan please?" Seriously? My response-- as I knew he was not really asking my opinion, "Why of course I would!" Do these people not know I'm on a mission to see who I am sitting next to?!!! Hurry it up.
I get that over with, get on the plane, and I'm noticing something is wrong with my ticket. It SAYS I'm in 15 B, but that is impossible. This plane is huge, and each side has three seats. You guessed it, 15 B is a middle seat. This cant be right. Debbie did me wrong! I find row 15 with no one else in it yet, though as soon as I sit down an older women says, "Hi-- I'm right next to you by the window." I politely got up to let her slide in, but I remember maybe a few grunts and thoughts of "well...aren't YOU lucky getting that precious window seat." Luckily I didn't say anything out loud, as my neighbor seaters came to save the day just 3 hours later.
I arrived in Denver with my aisler and windower neighbors. (yes, there are red squiggly lines under the words aisler and windower, but for the purpose of this blog, those are real words). The pilot lets us know we will be hanging out on the runway until our gate opens. Surprise surprise. I wanted to apologize to the 1000 people on the flight, because the only reason we had to do any waiting was because I was on the plane. But during this wait time I really got to know my two neighbors! We were just chatting it up, me and these two nice older women. They were loving hearing about my job-- UNTIL I mentioned I had a connecting flight that was boarding RIGHT NOW as we sit on this run way. It was just then when I found out Aisler and Windower were nice but feisty. And feisty to my benefit. As soon as we pull up to the gate, they are saying, "excuse me.. excuse me!! This girl has a connecting flight NOW. Let her go!!!!" It was not like something you would imagine in a movie where these ladies essentially part the red sea, but it did get rows 11-15 to let me go! How nice.
So... I run-- well, we all know that's not true-- I walked briskly to my connecting gate, only to find out my next aisle seater would be the BEST I ever had!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Phantom flights
8/7/11 Flight from Peoria to Chicago O'Hare- 11:36 am
Finally!! It's August 7th! I officially get to start my job, and travel to my first chapter. Not only do I get to start, I get to start in Knoxville Tennessee! What could go wrong? No aisle seater is going to bring me down today no matter what!!! (Jinx).
But seriously. I was so excited, and what could upset me after having a certain gentleman take me to IHOP before my travel day? Everything's perfect. I arrive to Peoria airport, and not a single person is at the United Airlines desk. I patiently wait.... wait... wait some more. During my wait, I decided I needed some reading material, so why not read the flight board behind the ticket desk? Oh how nice.. there are flights to Chicago leaving at 930, and 130. There are flights from Chicago comi--- wait. There are flights leaving at 930 and 130.. WHAT about my flight at 11:36?!! I started trippin. I'm SURE I'm united airlines, I looked 4 times this morning. Apparently I am flying next to a ghost today, because my flight is the phantom flight.
So either I am supposed to be in Bloomington right now, OR UA messed up. As I start frantically checking my email on my phone, I notice the guy behind me looking confused. Well here you go Ashley, first friend of the day. "Um--- is your flight not up there?" Thankfully him and the next people behind him were all on the phantom flight. I pressed the service button 6 more times waiting for a nice attendant in blue to help me and take the 100lbs of luggage off of my hands. He comes running up, and says, "I'll be right with you maam, let me take care of her first." Of course, I was already making a line full of friends, so why not look at this lady and smile and add her to my list. She informs me, "Ya, they are on a ground freeze in Chicago, not flights in or out." GREAT!! What a fantastic day to start my job. :)
After finally getting my baggage checked (my monster suitcase that goes up to my waist weighed less than the carry on size one I was checking. Don't under estimate the power of shoes and shampoo) I finally got put on a real live flight. They pushed me up to the 930am flight, since it was 1100am, and it still hadnt left. Around 1115 I got to board. FINALLY I get to see who my seat friend is.
I anxiously await, then finally a large African American male sits next to me. He looks friendly! After our ice breaker of hellos, he realizes he was in the wrong seat. (I dont think he even looked at his ticket. I think he saw me, knew I had this blog, and did not want to be written about). Then a high school aged son and mother walk up. I could see their tickets, and the son definitely had the seat next to me, but must have been to SHY because he made his mother switch him. Again, he must know about the blog. But at this point, little did I know that I would really need to enjoy the company of my aisle seat partner.
2 hours on the run way. 2. After those two hours, we started moving!! Yayyyyy. Oh wait, we are moving back to the gate. My plane full of friends and I exited the plane, to get back on in 20 minutes, and sit on the runway again for another hour. Finally--- take off. During this 4 hour sit, my aisle sitter and I discussed anger, and solutions, but that's it. We both enjoyed sleeping on the runway-- WIN!
So YAYYY!!! I finally arrive in Chicago O'Hare to my connecting flight!! I even only have 30 minutes to wait! What else could go wrong, I will be in Knoxville in no time! :)
8/7/11 Flight from Chicago O'Hare to Knoxville- 3:56pm
Imagine me, all dressed up with my pin on, excited to finally get my flight to Knoxville! I'm checking all of the UA boards for a gate change of my flight that I have about 10 minutes to catch. Oh weird... another phantom flight!!! It is not on the board! Oh well, plenty of desks to go ask a nice lady where my gate is, "Excuse me maam, can you tell me what gate I can find the 356 flight to Knoxville?" "Flight 356 to Knoxville has been canceled, please see the customer service desk for more options."
Uhh..... what? I don't have that kind of option. As I'm looking for the customer desk, I find all other customer desk, with not a soul around. But once I pull up to good 'ol UAs, the line is 3 miles long, including ALL of my friends from peoria flight, and others. What happens next?
Let me make this part short to move onto the real topic of this blog-- once I get ON the plane and sit next to someone! So to get to that point, I get put on stand by for a 530 flight, get a ticket for the 730 flight, and if ALL else fails, there is still a 940 flight.
530 flight- I am 8 out of 42 for stand by. They stopped offering seats at person 6.
730 flight- problem after problem, infact, it ends up leaving AFTER the 930 flight..... :)
So I get on the flight at 1130 pm next to---- who?? YOU GUESSED IT!! One of the blonde twins with her mommy that I had been watching all day sippin on her mocha, whining "mommy call daddy." So conversation- not happening. Sleeping?? YES! It is midnight and I had been in airports for 15 straight hours! As I start to get get some shut eye, I notice ONE over head light on on the whole place. WHY does someone need to read at midnight? And WHY does that someone need to be in seat 18B, RIGHT next to 18C, which is what my ticket states................... asdfkjalsdfjalsdjfalsjie! Congrats blondie!! You win the prize of aisle seater that is needing a punch.
Finally, I arrived in beautiful Knoxville with 3 shining faces and a bouquet of flowers to welcome me. :) I was SO thankful they were understanding of my schedule, and I would not be arriving until 10 hours after planned! They were even better sports when one of my suitcases was lost... and after I accused the UA worker of trying to steal my shoes, he finally found it!
I soon found out it was in a special room because my little purple suitcase was threatening, and had a paper in it that it had been checked. I thought they stole my shampoo, but in fact, they took everything out and re packed it for me, putting my shampoo on the bottom. How thoughtful and nice those UA folks!!! :/
ANY aisle seater on my next flights next Monday has GOT to be guarenteed a better story!! :)
Till next flight!
Finally!! It's August 7th! I officially get to start my job, and travel to my first chapter. Not only do I get to start, I get to start in Knoxville Tennessee! What could go wrong? No aisle seater is going to bring me down today no matter what!!! (Jinx).
But seriously. I was so excited, and what could upset me after having a certain gentleman take me to IHOP before my travel day? Everything's perfect. I arrive to Peoria airport, and not a single person is at the United Airlines desk. I patiently wait.... wait... wait some more. During my wait, I decided I needed some reading material, so why not read the flight board behind the ticket desk? Oh how nice.. there are flights to Chicago leaving at 930, and 130. There are flights from Chicago comi--- wait. There are flights leaving at 930 and 130.. WHAT about my flight at 11:36?!! I started trippin. I'm SURE I'm united airlines, I looked 4 times this morning. Apparently I am flying next to a ghost today, because my flight is the phantom flight.
So either I am supposed to be in Bloomington right now, OR UA messed up. As I start frantically checking my email on my phone, I notice the guy behind me looking confused. Well here you go Ashley, first friend of the day. "Um--- is your flight not up there?" Thankfully him and the next people behind him were all on the phantom flight. I pressed the service button 6 more times waiting for a nice attendant in blue to help me and take the 100lbs of luggage off of my hands. He comes running up, and says, "I'll be right with you maam, let me take care of her first." Of course, I was already making a line full of friends, so why not look at this lady and smile and add her to my list. She informs me, "Ya, they are on a ground freeze in Chicago, not flights in or out." GREAT!! What a fantastic day to start my job. :)
After finally getting my baggage checked (my monster suitcase that goes up to my waist weighed less than the carry on size one I was checking. Don't under estimate the power of shoes and shampoo) I finally got put on a real live flight. They pushed me up to the 930am flight, since it was 1100am, and it still hadnt left. Around 1115 I got to board. FINALLY I get to see who my seat friend is.
I anxiously await, then finally a large African American male sits next to me. He looks friendly! After our ice breaker of hellos, he realizes he was in the wrong seat. (I dont think he even looked at his ticket. I think he saw me, knew I had this blog, and did not want to be written about). Then a high school aged son and mother walk up. I could see their tickets, and the son definitely had the seat next to me, but must have been to SHY because he made his mother switch him. Again, he must know about the blog. But at this point, little did I know that I would really need to enjoy the company of my aisle seat partner.
2 hours on the run way. 2. After those two hours, we started moving!! Yayyyyy. Oh wait, we are moving back to the gate. My plane full of friends and I exited the plane, to get back on in 20 minutes, and sit on the runway again for another hour. Finally--- take off. During this 4 hour sit, my aisle sitter and I discussed anger, and solutions, but that's it. We both enjoyed sleeping on the runway-- WIN!
So YAYYY!!! I finally arrive in Chicago O'Hare to my connecting flight!! I even only have 30 minutes to wait! What else could go wrong, I will be in Knoxville in no time! :)
8/7/11 Flight from Chicago O'Hare to Knoxville- 3:56pm
Imagine me, all dressed up with my pin on, excited to finally get my flight to Knoxville! I'm checking all of the UA boards for a gate change of my flight that I have about 10 minutes to catch. Oh weird... another phantom flight!!! It is not on the board! Oh well, plenty of desks to go ask a nice lady where my gate is, "Excuse me maam, can you tell me what gate I can find the 356 flight to Knoxville?" "Flight 356 to Knoxville has been canceled, please see the customer service desk for more options."
Uhh..... what? I don't have that kind of option. As I'm looking for the customer desk, I find all other customer desk, with not a soul around. But once I pull up to good 'ol UAs, the line is 3 miles long, including ALL of my friends from peoria flight, and others. What happens next?
Let me make this part short to move onto the real topic of this blog-- once I get ON the plane and sit next to someone! So to get to that point, I get put on stand by for a 530 flight, get a ticket for the 730 flight, and if ALL else fails, there is still a 940 flight.
530 flight- I am 8 out of 42 for stand by. They stopped offering seats at person 6.
730 flight- problem after problem, infact, it ends up leaving AFTER the 930 flight..... :)
So I get on the flight at 1130 pm next to---- who?? YOU GUESSED IT!! One of the blonde twins with her mommy that I had been watching all day sippin on her mocha, whining "mommy call daddy." So conversation- not happening. Sleeping?? YES! It is midnight and I had been in airports for 15 straight hours! As I start to get get some shut eye, I notice ONE over head light on on the whole place. WHY does someone need to read at midnight? And WHY does that someone need to be in seat 18B, RIGHT next to 18C, which is what my ticket states................... asdfkjalsdfjalsdjfalsjie! Congrats blondie!! You win the prize of aisle seater that is needing a punch.
Finally, I arrived in beautiful Knoxville with 3 shining faces and a bouquet of flowers to welcome me. :) I was SO thankful they were understanding of my schedule, and I would not be arriving until 10 hours after planned! They were even better sports when one of my suitcases was lost... and after I accused the UA worker of trying to steal my shoes, he finally found it!
I soon found out it was in a special room because my little purple suitcase was threatening, and had a paper in it that it had been checked. I thought they stole my shampoo, but in fact, they took everything out and re packed it for me, putting my shampoo on the bottom. How thoughtful and nice those UA folks!!! :/
ANY aisle seater on my next flights next Monday has GOT to be guarenteed a better story!! :)
Till next flight!
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