August 10, 2008.... sitting in the airport waiting at my gate, writing in my little travel journal.
So Aunty Sandy and I get to the airport through all the traffic and I've got a little over two hours before I even board. So I figure we're good to go. We find a loose pushcart thing and decide to use it for free... why not? In hind sight, it was most serendipitous. I get up to the United counter and try the self-check-in. It doesn't work and prompts me to call an agent using the phone they've so conveniently placed right next to the touch screen (likely because this whole not working thing is a common occurrence). So I call and listen to the terrible music for what seems like a lifetime. I contemplate hanging up but decide to keep holding. Finally a woman answers and tells me that my flight to San Francisco is two hours late so I will miss my connecting flight to Sydney. She informs me that I'll have to catch the 5:57 flight. "talk to an agent at the counter," she says. I say things, look at my watch--it's 5:23--and the one agent manning all the self-check-in ports grumpily announces, "If you need to see an agent, go get in that line." So, with the slight glisten of tears in my eyes at the prospect of missing my flight to Sydney, I walk quickly (all luggage in tow on that fabulous cart) to the long line. Aunty Sandy sees the near tears in my eyes and tells me not to panic. I take a deep breath and calm down just in time to see this man and woman rush up and cut the entire line to talk to the next agent. GRR!!! I said almost loud enough for them to hear, "I'm pretty sure there's a line." When I finally get up there and explain my situation, the lady finds me a flight on Alaska/Horizon that will get me to San Fran in time for my Sydney flight. I declare, "Barbara, you are FABULOUS!" She explains that I'll have to go and check in down at the Alaska counter. No prob, cause guess what... i'm still going to Australia. WOOHOO!
So we trek over to the Alaska counter and I hand my itinerary over to the next lady who, upon first impression, looks like she's having a terrible day. She takes it, types a few things and says, "I can't check yo in."
"What?"
"I need a paper ticket or this needs to be electronic. You have to go back and get something different."
"Can't you just call them over there?" (Mind you, the United counter is not conveniently located right next to the Alaska/Horizon counter.)
"No that wouldn't do any good," she says, concluding our conversation.
Okay, so once again a little frustrated, Aunty Sandy and I turn to leave. She calls after us... "If there's a line, just go right up to the agent you spoke with." (P.S. I just made accidental eye contact with this adorably attractive guy a few rows over. Yum. Also, the girl behind me is on the phone with her boyfriend and she's being terribly mushy, lovey-dovey, and altogether annoyinng.) Anyway, so I go back to the United counter and feel completely guilty about not only cutting in front of everyone but saying something rude when that couple cut in front of me (a little perspective, maybe?) So I talk with Fabulous Barbara again who says it's silly they wouldn't check me in. They had everything they needed. She immediately gets on the phone with Alaska and magically fixes everything--while making jokes about rookies, "we all have to start somewhere don't we?" I thank her profusely one more time and head back over to Horizon once again to check my bags. Barb's instructions, "just ask for Liz" repeating in my head. Got it. I get up there and ask for Liz. I can follow directions. :) The guy, Daniel, looks me up and down and his eyes tell me, "We don't need Liz." He takes care of it and somewhat creepily leans against the counter with his foot up on the baggage scale... he asks me if I know where to take my baggage in this weird voice and a chill goes down my spine. He points me in the right direction and I'm finally checked in and headed toward security.
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