nocomment's Journal: stranded! reloaded

aye carumba!

That was the single worst travelling experience of my entire life.

Originally I was supposed to be travelling for about 6 hours -- from Seattle to Maryville TN, with one short stop in Denver.

If you read my previous JE you'd know how that worked out for me.

Here's the quick rundown of my adventure as I don't want to fill in all the agrivating details.

Seattle -> Denver: flight was delayed missed connection from Denver. Layover is at that point 14 hours. Hotels are booked.

rescheduled for Denver ->DC: takeoff is aborted as nose is picking up, the fuel filter on the starboard side failed, and we blew the tires trying to stop.

add 2 more hours to layover (16 total hours in the Denver airport). cusomter service says NOT to board the replacement plane if they board later than 10:30 as I will miss my connection if the plane take off even 1 second after 11.

Replacement plane comes we board right at 10:30. we taxi out. that plane is busted as well. Maintenance comes and fixes the plane on the tarmac we take off at 11:15 (see earlier note about the 'magic time' of 11.

Flight makes it to DC 2.5 hours late, I have about 10 minutes to get from concourse D to concourse A. I get my stuff and enter the aisle before the plane has stopped taxiing. I run. I run with every ounce of strength in my sleep deprived body. I run for the tram that goes to concourse A. Tram driver sees me running and holds the door. I make it to my gate in concourse A with exactly 5 minutes to spare....man at ticketing counter says the plane took off 10 minutes ago. 15 minutes early.

layover in DC: 6 hours.

Flight from DC -> Knoxville: this flight was un-eventful, and I was really happy to have 'upgraded' to the emergency exit row. (at this point it doesn't take much to make me happy).

I got to my hotel here in maryville at around 2am (friday) I was supposed to be in wednesday night.

I hate I hate I hate United. This unholy scab upon the face of modern air travel.

Try Ted.

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

It's only more so. They describe themselves as a "a part of United".

I indicated that it was -literally and figuratively- the hind part.

we blew the tires trying to stop

[TechnoLust]

I bet that sucked.

Re:

[nocomment]

yes, yes it did.

When are you gonna be in maryville? I'll prolly be leaving wednesday morning.

Re:

[TechnoLust]

I will be at my parents' house (about 30 minutes from Maryville) from Wed evening through Saturday afternoon or so. I think we get off work at 3pm, so I should be at my parents' house before 7pm.

Re:

[nocomment]

ah, lol, i will just *barely* miss ya, just like last year. I will be leaving no later than weds morning.

Re:

[TechnoLust]

/me shakes Angry Fist at employer for making us work Wed. :-)