Journal Entry — September 14th: Welcome to Hell
Let’s see, where to start? Well, due to severe weather in Atlanta, the airport there was on full “ground stop” for two hours. No air traffic in or out. So, we sat and grew moss in the Austin airport. Talked to the folks at the counter and was given bad news. International flights are given priority, and more than likely because the plane I was due to get on was running late too, they were going to dust off another one from the hangar to get the Manchester flight out on time. Joy.
Took off from Austin 2+ hours late, had an uneventful flight, but we ended up sitting on the tarmac, mouldering. Apparently the plane at the gate we were going to had mechanical problems. Forty-five minutes later, we finally pull in.
Coming off the plane I emerge into chaos. People everywhere! Went to the nearest check-in counter and asked what my options were. Obviously the lady there wasn’t all too bright and she scared the hell out of me with her ill informed research. She directed me to the main check-in counter for the terminal. Arriving there I found myself in a line of hundreds. Not long after I got there, some other employee came along and started pulling international travelers out of line and directing them to a different terminal desk. A terminal so far away I had to get there by train. By train. Big damned airport.
Getting to the “E” terminal (from “B”) I find myself in a line of thousands. THOUSANDS!! Jeebus, what am I in for? I’m hungry, I gotta piss real bad, and I can’t leave the line or I lose my spot. Twenty minutes later, an airline employee comes to us at the end of the line and says there are no flights leaving for Europe till tomorrow, and the wait from our point in line is estimated at three hours long. She advised that we should go to “T” terminal (all the way at the other end of this monster airport) and talk to the folks at their master check-in counters in the ticketing area, that it’ll take much less time.
I bolt for the escalator — you don’t have to tell me twice — and make the train ahead of the throng. Taking the train to “T” I notice the terminal map indicates that ticketing is by the baggage area, which is the next (and last) stop after “T”. I go there, bolt up the escalator and see a big sign that says “Leaving Secure Area, No Re-Entry”. Crap. Can’t have that happen.
I decide to hoof it back to “T”, and a few escalators and an elevator later… I’m lost. I eventually ask an someone that looks official (man, finding employees is a challenge) where to go, and strike out in the direction they indicate.
I come across a lone, lonely, and more importantly, free of passengers check-in counter. They give me two options — a direct flight at the same time tomorrow as my flight was tonight, or a 5:30pm flight out of JFK airport. I opt for the direct flight and fewer opportunities to miss another connecting flight. I’m pissed, I’m hungry, my blood sugar is low and I feel like crap.
Now I have to find someplace to stay, and I’m worried that with all the grounded passengers, there will be no rooms available. I make a few calls and find a room at a Quality Inn (truly and oxymoron) five minutes from the airport. I jump on the shuttle and book my room. The only food is pizza delivery… so I make an order. The last time I ate was at 11:00am and that was over twelve hours ago. I devour a crap pizza and feel better almost instantly. Now here I sit, writing this.
Checkout is at 11:00am, so I’m gonna’ go to the airport way, WAY early. I can get food there and I can take my time clearing security and getting to the gate. I’m gonna have to buy new train tickets in Manchester and I don’t want Sweets to have to go out of pocket for hers. This sucks, now not only is everything more complicated, but I’m losing a whole damned day with her. I can only hope that the flight home is somewhat smooth, or I’m fucked again.
Time to get some sleep… I’m wiped out.