Back at the gate. Lots of people wearing the same clothes as last night. Today’s gate agent just announced that they haven’t assigned us a plane and they’re waiting for new equipment to get assigned and towed to the gate. I’ve had a lot of nightmare travel situations but this one is easily cracking my top 10 worst, maybe top 5 if things continue like this.
Edit to add: since our plane boarded and pulled away from the gate yesterday, it has technically “departed” according to the airline systems. So when I showed up this morning to the Sapphire/Etihad lounge for a quick breakfast, they said they couldn’t check me in because technically I was outside the “3 hours prior to my flight” lounge access window, and my boarding pass didn’t reflect the new departure date & time (thanks, United). I was really looking forward to a breakfast shot.
We made it. Baggage situation was a shitshow, only half came out. No announcements, no signage, no open baggage office. So a small mob marched up to the departures desk. Turns out half the bags were sent on an 8am flight and nobody told us, and they were in storage behind the departure check-in desk. I think if the bags hadn’t been there a fight would have broken out, people were steaming.
Anyway, got in an uber for an hour and a half ride out to my final destination, driver immediately asks if I mind if he disregards GPS and goes his preferred way. Let’s see how this goes.
Fare is locked in. I woulda rented a car normally for a situation like this, but after the remainder of this work event, I’m meeting up with my wife’s family and heading to gulf shores and working from there for a week. Renting a car from now thru Memorial Day and with a return to Pensacola woulda been insanely expensive. Besides, work doesn’t limit our uber spend, so fuck it, happy to inject $150 into the local economy by way of my gui Tim and his minivan.
Thanks. Hope you guys enjoy the inevitable true crime documentary about this saga after my dismembered remains are unearthed next to a meth lab deep in the woods.
Edit to add: when I say disaster, I am saying relatively to the relatively easy security process that it is. I usually walk right through, and that hasn’t been the case this week. Photos floating around of long lines.
I do not understand how anyone doesn’t have Real ID at this point - it’s been like 15 years since they said it was going to be a requirement, and in the 3 states I’ve lived in in that time it’s been impossible to NOT get a Real ID.
I’m sure there are tens of millions who don’t. When I renewed my license in Missouri 2-3 years ago, I was given the option of not getting the Real ID endorsement. For lots of people who rarely or never travel by air, I’m sure they would just opt for the easiest way to renew, and not go digging around to find a certified birth certificate or get a passport.
My wife had to make 2-3 trips to the license bureau last year because she didn’t have the correct documentation (marriage certificate, I think).
