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indigo_rose99Made it home. No volcanic ash problems.
I will say that my (supposed) 90 minute transfer in Chicago was... a transfer at a dead run that I have not done since the 80s.
You know how transferring from an international to a domestic flight works, right? Exit plane, go through immigration line, pick up luggage, go through customs, drop off luggage, potentially change terminals, go through security, get on next plane?
Yeah, well, my plane landed late. Ugh. Research indicated that this flight runs an average of 41 minutes late. In fact, in terms of on time-ness? 1% when compared to other similar flights. *sigh*
So I suppose I was sort of grateful when my plane landed in Chicago 60 minutes before my flight home (only 30 minutes late). I was in the back of the plane, but I really booked it on the walk to immigration, making me middle of the pack in line. The LONG line. I got my stamp and five steps from immigration started running. You should have seen the airport employee's face when I ran up to the baggage carousel, yanked my checked bag off, turned around, and started running for customs! He looked like he was afraid I was going to.... something.
Evidently LOT Polish Airlines does Not Speak to American Airlines. LOT had not given me a boarding pass for my American flight. So I stopped at the transfer desk and asked for a boarding pass for my flight. They said, "You cannot make this flight." ... But, but... I have 30 minutes left! "Yes, but your luggage cannot make it." Oh, forget that! I'll take it carry-on! I only checked it on LOT because of their stupid carry-on rules. "Um... Ok. Good luck." And I started running again.
Train from international terminal to domestic terminal. I run to the nearest machine and ask for a boarding pass. WE ARE SORRY, BUT YOU ARE TOO LATE TO CHECK IN FOR THIS FLIGHT. But. But. But. I was cursing and kicking the machine. I admit, by this point I was sweaty and (I imagine) desperate looking. Happily, a human was there to take my passport and say... "I'm sorry, you are too late to make this flight." But! But! I have 25 minutes left! It has not left the gate! "Oh, yes, but your luggage will not make it." I have my luggage right here! Carry-on only! PLEASE!!!! I WANT TO MAKE THIS FLIGHT!!!! And I know that the next flight is a four hour wait. Ugh.
He finally handed me a boarding pass and told me "Good luck. You have 20 minutes to make it through security. Go that way." He pointed. I ran.
Which is how I got confused and ended up in the shorter priority security line. Really. It was all the craziness. It was only about 10% on purpose. Miracle of all miracles, the TSA lady let me do it.
Pretty short line at the scanner, but the woman in front of me was NOT in a hurry and evidently super super clueless. I was actually pushing her stuff along the conveyor. Yes I am now That Obnoxious Pushy Woman. But really! This woman was SO SLOW! She managed to hog the entire conveyor, no one in front of her and still futzing around! Even when she went through, she still hogged the ENTIRE conveyor belt and wouldn't move along until I started shoving her stuff past her. What is up with These People?!
Of course, I probably would not have noticed or cared had I not been in such a complete hurry.
Ugh. Anyway. Past security, I shoved everything in bags and ran. When I made it to the gate my shoes were still untied and my bags were not fully zipped. Oh, yes, and I was dripping sweat. Mowed-the-lawn-for-2-hours-in-95F kind of sweat. Could they possibly make these terminals any bigger?
I was not the last person to board my plane. No, I was second to last.
Whew.
I will say that my (supposed) 90 minute transfer in Chicago was... a transfer at a dead run that I have not done since the 80s.
You know how transferring from an international to a domestic flight works, right? Exit plane, go through immigration line, pick up luggage, go through customs, drop off luggage, potentially change terminals, go through security, get on next plane?
Yeah, well, my plane landed late. Ugh. Research indicated that this flight runs an average of 41 minutes late. In fact, in terms of on time-ness? 1% when compared to other similar flights. *sigh*
So I suppose I was sort of grateful when my plane landed in Chicago 60 minutes before my flight home (only 30 minutes late). I was in the back of the plane, but I really booked it on the walk to immigration, making me middle of the pack in line. The LONG line. I got my stamp and five steps from immigration started running. You should have seen the airport employee's face when I ran up to the baggage carousel, yanked my checked bag off, turned around, and started running for customs! He looked like he was afraid I was going to.... something.
Evidently LOT Polish Airlines does Not Speak to American Airlines. LOT had not given me a boarding pass for my American flight. So I stopped at the transfer desk and asked for a boarding pass for my flight. They said, "You cannot make this flight." ... But, but... I have 30 minutes left! "Yes, but your luggage cannot make it." Oh, forget that! I'll take it carry-on! I only checked it on LOT because of their stupid carry-on rules. "Um... Ok. Good luck." And I started running again.
Train from international terminal to domestic terminal. I run to the nearest machine and ask for a boarding pass. WE ARE SORRY, BUT YOU ARE TOO LATE TO CHECK IN FOR THIS FLIGHT. But. But. But. I was cursing and kicking the machine. I admit, by this point I was sweaty and (I imagine) desperate looking. Happily, a human was there to take my passport and say... "I'm sorry, you are too late to make this flight." But! But! I have 25 minutes left! It has not left the gate! "Oh, yes, but your luggage will not make it." I have my luggage right here! Carry-on only! PLEASE!!!! I WANT TO MAKE THIS FLIGHT!!!! And I know that the next flight is a four hour wait. Ugh.
He finally handed me a boarding pass and told me "Good luck. You have 20 minutes to make it through security. Go that way." He pointed. I ran.
Which is how I got confused and ended up in the shorter priority security line. Really. It was all the craziness. It was only about 10% on purpose. Miracle of all miracles, the TSA lady let me do it.
Pretty short line at the scanner, but the woman in front of me was NOT in a hurry and evidently super super clueless. I was actually pushing her stuff along the conveyor. Yes I am now That Obnoxious Pushy Woman. But really! This woman was SO SLOW! She managed to hog the entire conveyor, no one in front of her and still futzing around! Even when she went through, she still hogged the ENTIRE conveyor belt and wouldn't move along until I started shoving her stuff past her. What is up with These People?!
Of course, I probably would not have noticed or cared had I not been in such a complete hurry.
Ugh. Anyway. Past security, I shoved everything in bags and ran. When I made it to the gate my shoes were still untied and my bags were not fully zipped. Oh, yes, and I was dripping sweat. Mowed-the-lawn-for-2-hours-in-95F kind of sweat. Could they possibly make these terminals any bigger?
I was not the last person to board my plane. No, I was second to last.
Whew.
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Date: 2010-05-16 01:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-16 04:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-16 07:06 pm (UTC)