12 March 2010

More tales from the airport - flight home FLL to ACY

So, in fine keeping with my flight from ACY to FLL; my flight home was equally wrought with drama.

Given that I fly the same flight pattern for my return home, I arrived at FLL a little over an hour before my flight time and proceed to the security area only to be told I need to go to the end of the line. I'm immediately confused as the line was damn near a quarter line long and went out the door to the curb. Naturally, I think there's a mistake and promptly announce that my flight is departing within the hour and I need to get through security.

The Spirit staff tell me that it's not up to them, but the authority of the TSA to determine who can move through the line faster; and the TSA was less than accommodating by telling me I'm not the only one with a flight to catch and that I'll make my flight. Heavens to Murgatroid I say to myself as I stomp away fuming inside. I make a call to my cousin to give her the heads up that I'm cutting it close to making my flight and I might be spending another night in her home state. Of course she has no issue with that, but I really did want to get home.

By the grace of the divine powers that be, I manage to get through security and hustle my skinny jeans; stiletto heeled wearing self through the densely. populated terminal and board the plane. As I'm coming down the aisle, I make eye contact with this cute white boy who announces to the flight attendant that he's buying his boy in seat 1A a drink; so I inquire if he's buying me one too. He eyes me up and down, takes my hand and asks what seat I'm in. I tell him and he tells me that he's got me and asks what I'm drinking. Who'd have thought there would be some redemption for all the initial drama of making the flight?!

I throw down on the food I'd brought on with me and doze off momentarily. My snooze is promptly interrupted by the flight attendant who hands me my drink compliments of the cute white boy in seat 3A. I send a thank you note back with her and prepare to enjoy my richly deserved drink.

A Jack and Coke and a nap later, I arrive at ACY where I'm picked up by the BFF and blab on about my raucous weekend before getting going home to the comfort of my own bed and sleep on the memory of another great weekend with the best cousins a girl would ask for.


It's All Possible!

05 March 2010

Tales from ACY update

So, we finally leave ACY about 3:00 pm after the delays and I situated myself and went to sleep.  Upon landing, I went through the minutia of retrieving my luggage, vacating the plane, and made my way out of the terminal to wait for my ride and then it hits me...IT'S COLD!  It was like in the mid 50s and I only had on a light denim jacket and a knitted scarf; thank goodness for the scarf though because it actually kept me warm.

I arrive at my cousin's eat; as it's imperative that I eat within an hour of landing or I will become ill. Don't ask.  It's some crazy altitude thing.  After eating, I make some calls to see what mischief I can get myself into.  Upon visiting my other cousin, I was given a bottle of Jamaica rum punch and anyone familiar with Jamaican White Rum compliments of Wray & Nephew knows that is some serious rum; essentially not for the novices.  Ironically, I'm rather scared of the stuff; however, it tasted so good (straight from the bottle) that I couldn't stop drinking it, and after my tentative plans failed to materialize, I ended up drinking, 3/4s of the bottle and lived to tell about it the next morning. My cousin drank the missing 1/4.

I'm hoping not to have tales from FLL upon my return as I'll be on the last flight for the day and have no desire to be stuck in an airport again.  Should some misfortune fall upon me, I'll simply call my cuzzie and have her come and get me and take the morning flight out.

Traveling is as enjoyable as it is stressful; however, it's a great means of transportation if you mentally innocculate yourself from the foolishness you endure in order to board.


It's all possible!

04 March 2010

Tales from ACY (Atlantic City International Airport)

Given that I usually pack a week prior to travel, I should have seen my lack or typical preparation as a sign. After a morning of errands and a Dr appt, I arrived at ACY with enough time to endure the grueling Homeland Insecurity of the TSA in order to board the plane. I paid the ridiculous price of $2.31 for a 16oz fountain sode and sat in the eating area people watching as I devoured a sandwich, chips and my freshly spiked Pepsi. Altitude makes me hungry so I have to eat prior to flying; sometimes while in the air and within an hourof landing or the effects of not eating manifest in an ugly fashion.

So, after eating, I mosey to the gate and wait patiently for my flight. During my wait. I'm engaged in four separate conversations to pass the time. Blackberry's make excellent travel companions :-). My buzz is feeling good and I'm ready to get this road on the show (intentionally said backwards) for my weekend of fun. And then the dreaded announcement comes, "attention passengers on flight 235 nonstop to Ft. Lauderdale has been delayed due to a disabled plane on the runway. We're sorry for the inconvenience, but we'll have you on your way as soon as we can. Thank you for your patience and cooperation. Thank me for my what? What freaking choice did I have in the matter? I have no choice but to wait because making a scene won't move the plane and it will certainly get me escorted out by security. That would not be a good look and would have my name added to the TSA watch list.

So, I find a vacant seat as I'd been standing and park myself as I wait for another announcement. It comes in the form on the plane being moved and we're now looking at a 2:00pm departure. The original time of departure was 12:37pm. Good thing my ground transportation lives close enough to the airport and can still get me once I land. I'm also glad that modern technology afforded me the opportunity to communicate the constant change in. Departure.

I continue to sit and tell you my tale and then another passenger sits in front of me and announces he felt like he was in an episode of 24 after the level of interrogation and search he endured. Poor thing! I'm sure as hell glad it didn't happen to me because I'm not sure how well that would have gone.

Another announcement tells the anxious passengers that the plane was rerouted to LGA ( La Guardia) and would be arrive shortly and our newly scheduled departure would be @ 2:37pm; two hours after its original departure time.  Now, I have to txt my friend whom I planned to see upon landing to say I'll be even later. Hopefully, he'll still want to wait around for me ;-)


So, this is my tale from ACY.  A follow up post will be forthcoming to let you know if we actually leave on time and what frame of mind I was in upon arrival.  Oh, needless to say, my buzz is now BLOWN :-(


Its all possible!