Pacific Views

Oy gevalt. I'm glad I helped you have a good time at the convention as some recompense for that...

Your story is why I have firm rules about traveling.

1) I will do ANYTHING in my power to not check luggage (you can fit a surprising amount in a Brenthaven laptop case and a suitcase that will fit in an overhead bin, as just BARELY legal). I'd rather do ironing of rolled-up and wrinkled clothes in my hotel room or laundry than call an airline. And the extra bonus is that no checked luggage = just clear security and you are in and ready to fly (I have shown up at SeaTac 40 minutes before takeoff and made my plane... and wasn't even last to board).

2) Related to that, I won't fly USAir through Philly. I've heard WAY too many horror stories about lost luggage.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/biztravel/2006-02-16-lost-bags-usat_x.htm
http://www.usairwayslostmycostume.com/

3) I fly direct if it's humanly possible, even if it might cost a bit more. (So far on Ykos/Netroots Nation, I'm 2-2, since Las Vegas and Chicago get direct flights from Seattle; both even are on my preferred airline that I have much frequent flyer point mojo for, Alaska- and my R/T tickets were $300 because I bought them aeons in advance). I'm probably screwed if 2008 is on the East Coast as it's rumored to be, though, unless it's one of a teeny small list of cities. In that case, I will likely fly Southwest, since they are mostly on-time and safe, even if it's a cattle car experience.)

4) Fly into the smaller airport close by if you can. Long Beach and Burbank rock (5 minute wait in line for security). LAX sucks. Midway is better than O'Hare (I broke that rule because Alaska flies SEA-ORD.) SJC is better than SFO, especially if you are going to be in the South Bay. Reagan National's probably better than Dulles, and so on.

N,
This story, sorry it is hilarious in its own way, reminds me of when we met in 2003. You and I hooked up on the Seattle to Chicago flight in August of 2003. I don't think I ever told you about my Newark to Chicago flight enroute to Seattle. We sat on the run way for five hours, ran out of food and water, returned to the terminal so we could buy our own food, were re-boarded before we could do so, and then took another hour before taking off. During this time, we re-scheduled our connecting flight from Chicago to Seattle three times. While in the air to Chicago, I wrote a poem (see below) and the flight attendants found out about it from the girl sitting next to me. I performed in on the plane, which gave me something on all my musician friends, who have never gigged on an airplane! From Chicago, we ran to catch our connecting flight. Our luggage did not make it, but arrived on the next flight. We then had a three hour drive to Port Angelos in Washington. We got there at 3 AM.
Anyway, this poem got a standing ovation on the plane and about a dozen or so E Mails from fellow flyers requesting a copy.

Escape From Newark

Four hours and counting on United Six Forty-Five
Stuck on the runway; not a hope we’d derive
Chicago flights passing as we miss each connection
Cramped on the airplane with no moving direction
Pretzels and bread crumbs our in-flight consumption
Our eventual departure is a hopeful assumption
Control tower’s offered little sign we’ll be leaving
And with words such as Kilo there’s a chance they’re deceiving
We’ve sent for more ice and First Class got a cookie
But as to whether we’ll fly soon - make no bet with your bookie
Great, now a baby is crying and my cell phone’s gone dead
What I wouldn’t give for a sandwich on some fresh, made rye bread

We’re off of the plane ... for a moment ... removed from embarking
At Gate 18 stopping, our plane is now parking
Wait! We’ve re-boarded quite sudden and I’m back in my seat
At least we’ve made friends on the flight we did meet
The questions remain if we’ll take soon to the skies
The door was just closed so let’s see what’s implied
Happy Days! Hallelujah! The planes in the air
On our way to Chicago; at last we are near.

Copyright SGW 2003

Oy.

I never, ever, let anyone touch my bags - they stay with me the way a momma pet protects a new batch of babies. (I've lost two - two! - baby seats because I trusted the given airlines to be able to not lose something that was taken directly to the gate by myself, to within ten feet or less of the airplane itself, then to be placed directly into the plane. I even watched them put one of those seats into the plane, and they STILL somehow lost it.) I also, as much as humanly possible, stick to one bag.

The second thing I always try to do is avoid any flights between 10PM and 6AM. I know the flights in this range are often cheap on the surface, but the suffering I've been through in this time slot with respect to getting around by air has convinced me to avoid it at almost all costs.

Third, if you have a viable alternative to US Air, which is hard sometimes, I realize, given that they are a primary regional provider for the Northeast Corridor, do it. They are the next Venezuelan telenovella with Kafka-ish overtones waiting to be told, this outfit. I've dealt with them in previous job incarnations, and as a result, I will not go near one of their flights. Even United, who I have a deep and abiding hatred for as a passenger, will get a shot before US Air.

My two bits...