Buckimion
Purple Heart Park Commando
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2003
- Messages
- 859
Saturday, June 18th: I was awake and pacing the floor early, my thoughts spinning like Linda Blair's noggin on a merry-go-round. We had only a couple of options as far as I could see. I had wanted to take Tierney to a beach. (For those that hadn't noticed in the previous days reports, that girl loved to swim!) We were supposed to check out of our room by 11am. My original idea was to take Mickey's Space Ship Shuttle back to LAX around 10:30am, check in and leave our bags at LAX and then hop the Big Blue Bus to Santa Monica. Only problem was, I didn't know if we would be allowed to leave our bags that early in the day...or at all. Tammy said she was in no mood to be out in the sun with her sunburn and just wanted to sit at LAX for the day. NO WAY am I going to do a Tom Hanks impression and spend 12+ hours in an airport terminal. Tammy finally suggested we see if we could pay for another day at the Alpine Inn until later that evening for our 11:45pm flight. She could stay indoors and Tierney could swim in the pool to her heart's content. Miracle of Miracles, we were able to stay the day! The clerk even shaved $5 off the standard $69 rate.
That resolved, I called back Mickey's SSS. I had arranged on Friday for our pickup this morning but let them know I now needed a pickup around 8:30 pm. They told me they could only pickup at 8 and I said that was acceptable and settled in for a morning of cartoons. At 7:45am they called back and said there was a slight problem...they were running slightly behind schedule and would pick us up at 8:30 like I originally requested. Nooooo problem! My happiness lasted only about 4 seconds when the guy on the phone said Ok, see you in 45 minutes. Whoa Whoa Whoa!!! Hold the phone. I said I needed an 8-8:30 PM! pickup. Oh, we don't pick up that late...not enough money in it. WHAT!!??? Their last runs were at 4pm. If we didn't want that, we could take a $100 cab ride. He told me to think it over and let them know by 3 what we wanted to do. What I wanted him to do was take a long walk and hug an octopus. The yellow pages in the room were no help finding an alternate transportation company and Tammy didn't like the idea of taking the airport bus...I went with the only other option I happened to know... 1-800-BLUE-VAN...the dreaded Super Shuttle. After nearly screwing up our return to the airport back in 2001, I'd have almost rather dealed with the devil himself. But having talked to the cabbies at LAX trying to negotiate a flat rate to Anaheim on the way in; Well, even Super Shuttle wasn't that bad. Super Shuttle's rate was slightly higher to LAX than I'd expected to pay with Mickey's ($15 vs. $10 each) but they sounded like they could make it this time without getting lost.
Pickup happened exactly on schedule but we had a slight delay because we had to locate and pickup another passenger who lived in a trailer park that was difficult to see our way around. Since we were still way ahead of our flight schedule this wasn't a problem for us. At LAX, my scooter nearly fell into traffic with me on it when it shifted as I was getting settled. The shuttle driver made a heroic effort to grab me and shoved me back on the curb. All is forgiven for the Super Shuttle. We had a small headache when we arrived at the Delta counter at LAX and saw the line was out the door. We grabbed our luggage and got in line. After waiting in line for 15 minutes, we realized we were in the baggage check line but first we needed to go to the counter to pick up our tickets. After picking up our tickets, Tammy moaned about having to go back to the end of the baggage check line. The Delta clerk took pity on us and marched us to the baggage check area and we were allowed to turn over our bags here and head to the security check.
I'd been though this leaving from Columbus and thought they were pretty through then, but they did everything but x-ray the scooter here. Unfortunately for me, they swabbed my scooter first and then my clothes and hands and then an agent came over to ask about my medications. It turned out I answered his questions to his satisfaction, but at least one of my medications sent back the same readings as a type of explosive! Oils from my skin on my scooter and hands had set off alerts. Tammy and Tierney started to come back though the security check to find out what the problem was and I didn't want to get them in any trouble. I ordered them to wait for me on up in the terminal. The officer had to fill out a lot of paperwork on his findings but finally let me go on. I reported to the boarding desk to get my scooter gate checked and once again asked about pre-boarding to get out of traffic as fast as possible. (Delta does not pre-board automatically, you are supposed to request it if you have a handicap or infants / children.) I'd asked in Columbus and our stop in Cincinnati on the way out and they were 0-2. I was assured at the front desk that the battery box I will need for my scooter would be waiting at the gate but the clerk has no idea where one can be. She punts the entire scooter over to a baggage handler and tells him to just make sure it gets on the plane. Wherever he got it, my battery was boxed and waiting for me with the rest of my scooter when we get to Columbus.
Oh wait, now they're 0-3 as they once again start loading without calling for pre-board. This ones a real zoo as this flight to Atlanta will eventually go on to Jamaica and a lot of these bozos believe in shoving their way past as fast as they can go. We get settled in and fly over the ocean on our way out (I think all flights out have to head over the ocean for safety), the lights of the city and the Santa Monica pier fading behind us.
I have a thought...for an airline that constantly cries its on the verge of bankruptcy, why is EVERY Delta flight always packed? I've never seen an empty seat on a Delta flight. I refer to them as 'Sardine Air'.
The stop in Atlanta goes quickly, partially because we're about 15 minutes late. The wheelchair I was expecting to meet me at the gates to wheel me to the other terminal is slightly later. Moment of fear as it arrives shortly after Tammy has headed to the restroom but the attendant is cool about waiting outside of the restroom until Tammy exits. He pushes me from one terminal to the next for our flight. Will we get to the counter in time to pre-board? Not exactly. He motions for Tammy to hand off our tickets as we blow past the gate and he rolls me right to the plane door without me saying anything.
Bottom of the 9th. Delta is 0-3 with a walk.
Flight to Columbus is uneventful. Scooter is waiting on me when we get off the plane and head to baggage. After an early run of bags, there is an announcement that the rest of the bags will be along shortly as there was a jam in the system. Just after it starts back up I hear my name called to report to the baggage claim window. Uh, oh. The clerk is relieved at seeing I have my scooter as he explains that one piece of my luggage was not put on the plane in LA and he was afraid it might have been part of my scooter. I check back with Tammy and find they have recovered all of our luggage except for my main bag, containing our remaining clean clothes, golden ears and other assorted souvenirs from the trip. I give him a description of the bag and its contents and let him know I'm relieved that at least they know exactly where my bag is. (A friend of my a few years ago was headed for O'Hare but his luggage got tagged for Oahu. To this day he talks about the time his luggage got lei'd without him.) The Delta baggage clerk took my address and my bag was delivered to our home by 4pm.
On our arrival home, we found we had a pipe leaking from our bathroom into our kitchen, but thats another story...
That resolved, I called back Mickey's SSS. I had arranged on Friday for our pickup this morning but let them know I now needed a pickup around 8:30 pm. They told me they could only pickup at 8 and I said that was acceptable and settled in for a morning of cartoons. At 7:45am they called back and said there was a slight problem...they were running slightly behind schedule and would pick us up at 8:30 like I originally requested. Nooooo problem! My happiness lasted only about 4 seconds when the guy on the phone said Ok, see you in 45 minutes. Whoa Whoa Whoa!!! Hold the phone. I said I needed an 8-8:30 PM! pickup. Oh, we don't pick up that late...not enough money in it. WHAT!!??? Their last runs were at 4pm. If we didn't want that, we could take a $100 cab ride. He told me to think it over and let them know by 3 what we wanted to do. What I wanted him to do was take a long walk and hug an octopus. The yellow pages in the room were no help finding an alternate transportation company and Tammy didn't like the idea of taking the airport bus...I went with the only other option I happened to know... 1-800-BLUE-VAN...the dreaded Super Shuttle. After nearly screwing up our return to the airport back in 2001, I'd have almost rather dealed with the devil himself. But having talked to the cabbies at LAX trying to negotiate a flat rate to Anaheim on the way in; Well, even Super Shuttle wasn't that bad. Super Shuttle's rate was slightly higher to LAX than I'd expected to pay with Mickey's ($15 vs. $10 each) but they sounded like they could make it this time without getting lost.
Pickup happened exactly on schedule but we had a slight delay because we had to locate and pickup another passenger who lived in a trailer park that was difficult to see our way around. Since we were still way ahead of our flight schedule this wasn't a problem for us. At LAX, my scooter nearly fell into traffic with me on it when it shifted as I was getting settled. The shuttle driver made a heroic effort to grab me and shoved me back on the curb. All is forgiven for the Super Shuttle. We had a small headache when we arrived at the Delta counter at LAX and saw the line was out the door. We grabbed our luggage and got in line. After waiting in line for 15 minutes, we realized we were in the baggage check line but first we needed to go to the counter to pick up our tickets. After picking up our tickets, Tammy moaned about having to go back to the end of the baggage check line. The Delta clerk took pity on us and marched us to the baggage check area and we were allowed to turn over our bags here and head to the security check.
I'd been though this leaving from Columbus and thought they were pretty through then, but they did everything but x-ray the scooter here. Unfortunately for me, they swabbed my scooter first and then my clothes and hands and then an agent came over to ask about my medications. It turned out I answered his questions to his satisfaction, but at least one of my medications sent back the same readings as a type of explosive! Oils from my skin on my scooter and hands had set off alerts. Tammy and Tierney started to come back though the security check to find out what the problem was and I didn't want to get them in any trouble. I ordered them to wait for me on up in the terminal. The officer had to fill out a lot of paperwork on his findings but finally let me go on. I reported to the boarding desk to get my scooter gate checked and once again asked about pre-boarding to get out of traffic as fast as possible. (Delta does not pre-board automatically, you are supposed to request it if you have a handicap or infants / children.) I'd asked in Columbus and our stop in Cincinnati on the way out and they were 0-2. I was assured at the front desk that the battery box I will need for my scooter would be waiting at the gate but the clerk has no idea where one can be. She punts the entire scooter over to a baggage handler and tells him to just make sure it gets on the plane. Wherever he got it, my battery was boxed and waiting for me with the rest of my scooter when we get to Columbus.
Oh wait, now they're 0-3 as they once again start loading without calling for pre-board. This ones a real zoo as this flight to Atlanta will eventually go on to Jamaica and a lot of these bozos believe in shoving their way past as fast as they can go. We get settled in and fly over the ocean on our way out (I think all flights out have to head over the ocean for safety), the lights of the city and the Santa Monica pier fading behind us.
I have a thought...for an airline that constantly cries its on the verge of bankruptcy, why is EVERY Delta flight always packed? I've never seen an empty seat on a Delta flight. I refer to them as 'Sardine Air'.
The stop in Atlanta goes quickly, partially because we're about 15 minutes late. The wheelchair I was expecting to meet me at the gates to wheel me to the other terminal is slightly later. Moment of fear as it arrives shortly after Tammy has headed to the restroom but the attendant is cool about waiting outside of the restroom until Tammy exits. He pushes me from one terminal to the next for our flight. Will we get to the counter in time to pre-board? Not exactly. He motions for Tammy to hand off our tickets as we blow past the gate and he rolls me right to the plane door without me saying anything.
Bottom of the 9th. Delta is 0-3 with a walk.
Flight to Columbus is uneventful. Scooter is waiting on me when we get off the plane and head to baggage. After an early run of bags, there is an announcement that the rest of the bags will be along shortly as there was a jam in the system. Just after it starts back up I hear my name called to report to the baggage claim window. Uh, oh. The clerk is relieved at seeing I have my scooter as he explains that one piece of my luggage was not put on the plane in LA and he was afraid it might have been part of my scooter. I check back with Tammy and find they have recovered all of our luggage except for my main bag, containing our remaining clean clothes, golden ears and other assorted souvenirs from the trip. I give him a description of the bag and its contents and let him know I'm relieved that at least they know exactly where my bag is. (A friend of my a few years ago was headed for O'Hare but his luggage got tagged for Oahu. To this day he talks about the time his luggage got lei'd without him.) The Delta baggage clerk took my address and my bag was delivered to our home by 4pm.
On our arrival home, we found we had a pipe leaking from our bathroom into our kitchen, but thats another story...
