On Tuesday we had a travel adventure. In the winter we always are careful to try to route our trips through airports which are less likely to have snow and ice. So we were supposed to be traveling from Ft. Myers to Washington D.C. to Oakland. Yes, it seems like going to Washington is sort of going backwards but it was all that United could offer and we were using free miles. But you can’t just figure on the airports you are using, you also have to consider where the planes are coming from.
So with plenty of time we arrived at the airport in Ft. Myers. Our plane was to leave around 2. However, at 1 the plane that we needed to use had not left Chicago because of ice and snow. No worries, we have a 3 hour layover in Washington. At 3 we start to get concerned. So we ask the ticket counter about alternate flights. However, the agent in Ft. Myers is not enabled to make reservations. You must call United for that.
John calls. That afternoon we reach many nice Indian people assuring us that the flight has left Chicago on time and that our flight has also left on time. No, that cannot be so, we reply, because we are still here in Ft. Myers and there is no plane. The weather must be nice in Bangalore because there are no flight delays. How frustrating! And the more you press them for information or to escalate the problem, the longer you are put on hold.
Well, long story short, our 2 PM flight does not leave until 5:30 PM and we miss our connection to Oakland. We are able to find a flight to San Francisco that leaves at 9:40 PM and we get home at 2 AM.
Whenever we told people down in Marco Island that we were from California they were always amazed about it. Now we know why. You can’t get there from here.
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