littlebitca (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
littlebitca) wrote2005-09-07 02:28 pm
littlebitca) wrote2005-09-07 02:28 pm
Entry tags:
Perspective. It's really something, isn't it?
Flew back to Michigan from Alanta yesterday. Used a plane, two even, much easier.
Changed planes and airlines in Detroit. Had to check the monitors for my gate. Flight not on monitors. Noticed that no flights after 7:25 are listed; mine was at 7:30. Stand in front of monitors for twenty minutes before flight shows up. Note gate, get something to eat. They were out of what I wanted, so I pick something else. Whatever. Gate is in C Concourse. C35. Get to C Concourse, first thing one can't help noticing is the large sign at the entrance stating "No restrooms past this point." Potentially 35 gates (or more) and no restrooms. Yuh huh. Restroom can be found down the escalator. Okay. Fine. Eat while sitting in a seat for C1, then use restroom before heading to C35. Which one can't get to because of construction being done on C Concourse. Which also means that everyone waiting for flights out of six gates are now waiting in what is essentially a hallway. With a couple dozen chairs. Fine. Sit on floor and continue reading Gregory Maguire's "Lost" while keeping half an eye out for a vacated chair. Eventually get one for a couple minuted before it's time to "pre-board" which means lining up in a big bunch. We get the 'go ahead' and get to go outside, walk the equivalent of six or seven gates, past planes with engines (and in some cases, propellors) going. Is very noisy. Finally get to my plane, which does not have propellors, and go up the steps to board. Row 11. Last row, the one with the seats that don't recline. Yay. In the plane with the non-working a/c. Yay. But the little air blower thingy works. Glad it's a short flight. Get in on time. My luggage doesn't. Apparently 2-1/2 hours isn't quite enough time to get the luggage from one airline to another. Sigh. Luckily, I've learned never to put anything important in my checked luggage. But it did arrive this morning, which is good.
The funny thing? Two weeks ago all of this would have irritated me. Last night? I had clean clothes. There was a restroom. The floor was inside, dry and very temporary. The flight wasn't the most comfortable, but it was taking toward and not away from my home. The missing luggage? Didn't make me happy but I have clothes, a house or two, electricity, clean water, food, functional indoor plumbing and my family is safe. A little discomfort and inconvenience just didn't seem like much to get upset over.
Changed planes and airlines in Detroit. Had to check the monitors for my gate. Flight not on monitors. Noticed that no flights after 7:25 are listed; mine was at 7:30. Stand in front of monitors for twenty minutes before flight shows up. Note gate, get something to eat. They were out of what I wanted, so I pick something else. Whatever. Gate is in C Concourse. C35. Get to C Concourse, first thing one can't help noticing is the large sign at the entrance stating "No restrooms past this point." Potentially 35 gates (or more) and no restrooms. Yuh huh. Restroom can be found down the escalator. Okay. Fine. Eat while sitting in a seat for C1, then use restroom before heading to C35. Which one can't get to because of construction being done on C Concourse. Which also means that everyone waiting for flights out of six gates are now waiting in what is essentially a hallway. With a couple dozen chairs. Fine. Sit on floor and continue reading Gregory Maguire's "Lost" while keeping half an eye out for a vacated chair. Eventually get one for a couple minuted before it's time to "pre-board" which means lining up in a big bunch. We get the 'go ahead' and get to go outside, walk the equivalent of six or seven gates, past planes with engines (and in some cases, propellors) going. Is very noisy. Finally get to my plane, which does not have propellors, and go up the steps to board. Row 11. Last row, the one with the seats that don't recline. Yay. In the plane with the non-working a/c. Yay. But the little air blower thingy works. Glad it's a short flight. Get in on time. My luggage doesn't. Apparently 2-1/2 hours isn't quite enough time to get the luggage from one airline to another. Sigh. Luckily, I've learned never to put anything important in my checked luggage. But it did arrive this morning, which is good.
The funny thing? Two weeks ago all of this would have irritated me. Last night? I had clean clothes. There was a restroom. The floor was inside, dry and very temporary. The flight wasn't the most comfortable, but it was taking toward and not away from my home. The missing luggage? Didn't make me happy but I have clothes, a house or two, electricity, clean water, food, functional indoor plumbing and my family is safe. A little discomfort and inconvenience just didn't seem like much to get upset over.
no subject
no subject
And I've spent some wretched hours in the Detroit airport. But I like the fountain and the train.
no subject
"a quick greetingfrom paris airport... medical emergency en route divrted us to Newfoundland, 21 hours to get to Paris, total disaster. Nice free hotel helped a little."
Well, at least he got a flight direct to Salzburg, so his friends didn't have to make the trip twice!
His situation couldn't be helped. But in yours, I don't get why they wouldn't put up a sign about the construction at the entrance to the terminal, right by the one about the bathrooms (at least they let you know about that). It's the kind of thing you'd rather find out about before you actually get there.
"Luckily, I've learned never to put anything important in my checked luggage."
Yeah, I learned that a couple of years ago, after the Vancouver meet. I took the redeye back & went straight in to work at a client's. I'd packed a fresh change of clothes at the top of my big suitcase, where I also had my toothbrush, deodorant, etc. The bag didn't get onto my connecting flight. Which left me to go to work in the clothes I'd spent all day & all night in. Next time? I'll put the essentials in a carry-on. Or just not check any baggage. Oh, & my bag arrived the next morning too...a little after 1 am.
Glad you got back OK.