I really don't want to be a megalomaniac just for the sheer lust for power (no wise ass remarks from family members or partners). No I want an airplane. A fast, long-range jet airplane. Why? Because of incidents like this.
I was scheduled for meetings tomorrow in Ontario, CA which is about 80 miles from where we are based in Thousand Oaks. My plane reservation home is out of the Ontario airport one of five serving the Greater LA area. The meeting got canceled. I wanted to change my reservation so I left from Burbank which is about 35 miles away. In LA driving world which operates on an entirely different set of laws of physics than the rest of our universe, this is the difference between an hour trip and a three hour trip.
I went online and found I couldn't make the change on line. I had to call the airline directly. I did this while sitting in Kinko's between meetings (much quieter than Starbucks). After waiting on hold for 25 minutes, I reached a human who told me I can't just change my tickets because they're different airports. I need to buy another ticket for the Burbank flight and then I will have credit for any future flight I might want to take out of Ontario. This takes about 15 minutes because she has to check things out. Just as we're finishing up, we get disconnected because I'm an idiot and hit the wrong button on my cell phone. So do I have a reservation or don't I? I don't know.
So I have to call the airline again. On hold again. Get another person who tells me I absolutely can change my ticket and does so. My protestations that I have a new reservation that was in the works makes no impact on him. While we're finishing up this transaction, I get the email confirmation that I have the reservation from the first call. So now I have two reservations and two new charges.
Maybe I can get the seats together so I don't have to sit next to someone. Maybe I need an airplane.
6 comments:
hrm, I don't know whether to take heart or despair that you are still trying to win at the airline game, after all your flying experience. I usually never bother, the stress is almost not worth it. :(
This could only happen to you. No wonder I only travel to exotic destinations during the year by plane. Those people are idiots. Can't change your ticket because it's a different airport....That just freakin' ridiculous. The ticket is with an airline not an airport...idiots.
In Los Angeles, the traffic is crappy, but when your heading to the beach, its not so bad...I'm usually on my way to work or home!
(waving to the beach) :(
Anonymous is Tim, gee I'm really screwing your blog up! I told you I shouldn't be on here...by the way, it's not all work, but mostly!
Traveling just sucks, period. I don't know how you stand it. It speaks volumes about how much your temperment has changed considering a slow waiter used to make you blow a fuse! ;)
Well Pu, I'm not sure I've really changed that much - I just hide things better these days. Some day I'll just go postal.
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