Jackieinpdx's Blog

UPDATE:

I can’t believe I forgot to write this lovely statement made by the United Airlines agent at the Portland gate. “If you people would stop coming up here and bothering me I could do my job”. Then she realized what she said and tried to back pedal. “I mean do my job which is to make sure you all taken care of.”

Let me tell you how my day went…

I set my alarm yesterday evening for 6:30 AM. I wanted time to shower, get ready and catch up on some email before heading to the airport.

I woke up a few times and looked at the clock, the last time it was about 5:00 AM. The next thing I knew I woke up and it was light out. I looked at the clock, it said 6:07. Now I know it doesn’t get light until close to 7:00. I got out of bed and went to look at the clock on the microwave. It was 7:28 AM. Shit! My taxi was coming at 8:00 AM to take me to the airport. I didn’t have time to shower or put any makeup on. I was already packed except for throwing in a few last minute things. I turned off my laptop and put in it my backpack. The taxi showed up at 7:50. Had I not been ready he would have had to wait in the driveway for me. I got to the airport to check in on United. The counter staff was not the same friendly United employees that helped me last Monday when I was flew to Denver. They were downright rude. I paid $15 to check my one bag as I had my laptop in my backpack as a carry on.

My flight to San Francisco where I was to change planes was first delayed by two hours due to weather (fog) in both Portland and SF. The flight ended up leaving about an hour late. I got to San Francisco where I had asked to have a wheelchair waiting for me. Good thing I did as I arrived at one end of the concourse and the next flight left from about as far away as possible without leaving the terminal. I wanted to stay in a wheelchair to get to the plane since it was a small plane that wasn’t at the jet way. It was out on the tarmac quite a ways. The elevator to get down to the ground level was not working. Or as it turned out the United employee who was trying to open it didn’t know which way to turn the key. She was swearing up a storm with shit and f’bombs flying like crazy. At this point I just laughed and told her she sounded like me. I finally got to the plane and had to climb the stairs to get on. Stairs are still not easy for me to maneuver with my injured knee. Again in PS I had a wheelchair because I remembered how far some of the gates are from the baggage claim. I waited for my bag and it never showed up. I was the only person still standing at the carousel when it stopped moving. Turns out my bag was not taken off of the plane in SF and was on its way to Honolulu. Again the United employee was a jerk. I practically had to beg him to give me a “complimentary” overnight kit. Then I went to get my rental car from Avis. I was told all they had available was a SUV. I told the woman that I didn’t think that I could get in an out easily from a SUV. Then I was told I could have a minivan. I do not drive a big car so I did not want a minivan. She sent a guy out to the lot to find something else for me. I ended up with a cute little Pontiac Vibe or something like that.

I got to the condo and was supposed to have free internet access. Funny how the authentication website for free use was not found. I will make sure my credit card is credited back the $15.95 that I had to charge to get internet access.

I have not had a travel day from Hell for a long time so I guess I was overdue. But don’t think that United won’t be hearing from me about their poor customer service and the fact that I had to pay to check my bag that they sent to Honolulu instead of PS.

Got to go since my laptop power cord along with all of my clothes and everything else is in my bag that is not here with me. My pizza is here and I am ready for a vodka and tonic. It has been along day!

Filed under: Travel, vacations | Tagged: airlines, palm springs |