America Worst

2000

The first leg of the flight was short. But it was late on departure and I have a connecting flight.
In Phoenix.
I get to Phoenix and race around the terminal - why is it that I land at the far end of one and connect to the far end of another?
I walk on the rolling floors.
I reach the gate.
The flight is ---- delayed.
I sit in a lounge with people who have been there 2 1/2 days. Seems there was a computer problem.
And a lot of cancelled flights.
I chat to people and help out a woman who is profoundly deaf (and does not read lips). I scribble notes whenever they "update us" for the next 3.5 hours.
I chat with a couple with a child I could have sworn was a girl (it was a boy). I connected that the couple was a two mothers family and we talked about travel with kids. The airline had put them into a hotel at least. Not everyone had been lucky. Several people told me their stories.
We are bonded by our misery and panic.
I am glad I carry a can of soda (and one mashed banana).
By the time a plane arrived, they were pleading with people to stand back and let the passengers off the plane.
It was a near thing, Tired ,frustrated people wanted to GET ON THE PLANE NOW! Any plane!
I board right after first class - because. Just because.
I am not challenged.
Good thing!
Three and one half hours late means I will miss connecting with my photographer. And I am now wondering if he got through Cincinnati - there are a lot of cancelled flights from the North due to storms.
I collect advice from my seatmates on cruise ships, sizes and lines and neat trips to take and other adventures. They travel a lot. I always tell everyone about my project.
We are at the bulkhead and I have my feet up. The older woman next to me has hers up because of leg problems. Hey - two can do this. Actually works.
Everyone on board hangs in there fairly well. We had survived the delay without anyone loosing it.
We have a movie (Music from the Heart - lovely music - boring story) and they provide free earphones and a free drink (large bottle of Merlot). Pacify the passengers.
Meals on America West are "sacks". A small sandwich, odds and ends, and beverage service.
I have learned to drink a lot of water.
And of course, the wine.
The wine helps me not to worry. The Zanax I took before the flight way back this morning has long worn off.
Arrival is the normal massive crush and I was almost out of that folding tunnel when one man finally lost it.
He just started spouting - and renamed the airline "America Worst".
I think it stuck. In my mind certainly. I giggled. He said it "wasn't a laughing matter".
Nope. It is not. But I have a secret. I will write about it. It's called venting.
I find baggage (and a restroom).
And wait.
I have no ideas where Ron is. At Hertz? At the hotel? Did his plane get in?
One step at a time.
Find the bag.
Well, my bag is about the last one off the plane. Of course.
I load up (I have a carry-on and my purse besides.)
I find the yellow Hertz bus - because I saw the signs that Hertz was no longer in the airport.
I hate that!
I get help boarding (I have been helped all day by other travelers in getting the suitcase up stairs in shuttles etc. Nice people.)
We ride to the Hertz center. I check that the bus runs 24 hours. Good. I'll ride back if I have to.
I unload and head in - and spot Ron waiting at the Hertz counter.
He's been there three point five hours!
Poor man!
OK. One thing accomplished. Now the car.
Well, the reserved car is not there --- but ---they have a Mitsubishi equivalent. Big green SUV.
Oh well.
Ron, tired by the time we get processed and taking no prisoners, and annoyed that I paid $25 extra to add him as a driver, pulls the monster up behind the Hertz bus (you aren't supposed to do that), tosses the bags and me in, and drives past the bus by climbing a sidewalk (men and four-wheel drive). I navigate us out of there.
We are in the middle of a game preserve.
And we are welcomed to town by full sirens and a cop car and two fire trucks going the other way!
We find the hotel and the bellhops have long gone to bed. Ron gets the dolly and we haul our own bags. And get cookies. (DoubleTree hotels have cookies.)
We crash.
I will spend the whole next week confusing people as both rooms are in my name - so my Faxes from the printer go to Ron's room. We straightened out the phone calls - because he has a wife who checks up on him!
I have a child or two to check up on me.
Tomorrow we will check up on Troy.
We are in Florida.