July 28, 2012. Simple plane ride from Philly, through NYC, and on to SLC. Wrong. My hubby and I headed to the Philly airport at 9:30 for my 12:45 flight. Plenty of time. We saw this at a stop sign. Not quite sure what this guy is trying to say. Toys he has found while mowing? Something about his home life?
Anyway....I got to the airport in plenty of time to go through security (lucky me...picked for a random total check) still plenty of time to buy lunch for the flight and relax at the gate. At 12:15 - "We won't be boarding for a few minutes because it is a small plane and it won't take too much time."
12:45 - "Ummm....There is a small mechanical problem. We have alerted maintenance. It should only take 5 minutes and then we will board you."
2:00 - "We are ready to board. Those of you who will miss your connecting flight (me) we have already re-routed you. You can pick up your new boarding passes at the gate. We need to hurry because we only have a 25 minute window to take off."
So we all board as quickly as we can as the ground crew stores our carry on luggage in the belly of the plane. (Small plane. Only 50 passengers.) I am in 13 A. Last seat in the back by the bathroom.
2:35 - "Ummm. This is the Captain. I am sorry to tell you that they have just closed the airport in New York so this flight has been cancelled."
Why, oh why did I think it would be an adventure to make connections in New York? Everyone gets off the plane and stands in a very long line for help from the gate agents. They didn't seem to be of much help. The guy standing by me from Salt Lake City has a friend who works for Delta. He called him. His friend said there were NO MORE flights to SLC. WHAT?! I did the only thing I could do....I called Charlie. I asked him to call Delta and get me to Salt Lake by tonight. He called me back in 10 minutes and said, "I've got you a flight but you will have to hurry. Go out and rent a car at Thrifty car rental. Tell them you are renting it only one way and you aren't going to fill it up with gas. You are booked on a 5:50 flight to SLC from Baltimore. Good luck."
Without even thinking, I headed for the exit. I just barely caught the Thrifty shuttle as they were closing the doors. It was a short 5 minute ride to Thrifty.
I was 3rd in line. The agent could see the terror in my eyes as I kept glancing at my watch. She stepped to a third register and squeezed me in while she was helping another guy. She was terrific. She got me out the door and into a car in less than 5 minutes. A bit pricey but it was one way with no fill up.
I headed off the lot and onto I-95 heading to Baltimore. As I stopped a minute to breathe I thought, what on earth are you doing?! This is crazy!! It's over an hour to Baltimore and you have to go through 2 toll plazas and your EZPass box is at home! It's now 3:30. The first toll plaza by Christiana Mall construction was not too bad. I was the 5th car in line. The Toll plaza at the Baltimore Harbor bridge was even better. 3rd car in line. I could hardly believe the traffic, but we all kept the pedal to the metal at 75-80 mph. Bless those East coast lead foots! Then it dawned on me. Where is the BWI airport? Follow the signs! Just follow the signs! The signs say there are 2 exits to BWI. Which one should I take!?! I took the first one. Now....just follow the signs to the rental car return.
I passed the airport and drove and drove, following the signs.
Found it. I looked panicked so the rental car guy quickly checked me in. His stupid little machine was jammed and wouldn't print my receipt! I don't want a receipt! Just tell me where the airport is. "See those buses over there? You catch one of those and it is a 10 minute drive to the airport." WHAT!!!!!? So I hot foot it over to the bus that is just closing it's doors. I made it. The bus is full, but I made it. The driver says to sit back and relax as he drives the 10 minutes to the airport where he will make 4 stops. (Wouldn't you know it. Delta is the third stop!) Luck was on my side as all but 5 people got off at the first stop. I asked the 5 which airline they were on. Delta! Okay driver, just go to stop 3. We are all on Delta!
5:25 - I ran into the airport and prayed there wasn't a line at the kiosk to print my boarding pass. There wasn't. Security check was amazingly fast. Where is gate D-27? I run down the concourse and find D-27. They are getting ready to board. I am soooo thirsty and I have to go to the bathroom and I am hungry. All things I can take care of on the plane. I even had to sit in a middle seat in the back, but I got on the plane sooooo grateful I was going to Salt Lake.
The flight was 4 hours straight up. I had downloaded a movie on my ipad so watched "The Artist" while sipping my water and eating my cheese and fruit plate. I landed in Salt Lake at 8:30 MST. Those mountains are sooooo gorgeous!!
Chelsea was there waiting for me. What an adventure!!
(And no. I didn't take all these pictures. I didn't have time or the right mind to even think of it. All pictures courtesy of the internet.)
1 comment:
NICE!!!! Where there's a will. . . eh?
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