Airline Hell

[alexiscartwheel]

You know that scene in Home Alone where they’re all running through the airport to get to the gate on time? I think that scene gives a pretty good idea of what my day was like. We got stuck in traffic on the way to the airport because of a car accident on 270. We finally arrived at the airport half an hour after I was supposed to check in for my flight. Luckily (sort of) there was a delay, so I wasn’t actually late.

The twenty minute delay became a thirty minute delay, which resulted in the flight arriving in Toronto half an hour late. My tiny flight landed in the reject part of the airport, so I had to take a bus to the main terminal, then hit customs, collect my luggage, recheck my luggage, and literally ran to my gate. When I got there, the gate agent informed me that because of my late connection I had been bumped from the flight. The agent switched me a different flight—the same one my luggage would be taking.

When I arrived at my new gate, the flight was already boarding. Unfortunately, it was also just beginning to snow. Before we could take off, the plane had to be de-iced. My five o’clock out of Toronto eventually took off at quarter to seven.

The news in French is currently playing, and I can tell that they’re talking about the transit workers, so I really hope that they haven’t decided to go on strike. That’d make it pretty difficult for me to get home.

I typed that last bit just before the flight attendant came by and made me turn off my electronic device. That was about an hour ago, and I’m still at the airport. Apparently, even though the gate agent assured me that my suitcase would be on this flight, it didn’t actually happen. The baggage guy told me there’s another flight from Toronto landing in seven minutes, so I figure I may as well hunker down and wait for that one. I’d rather have my luggage tonight instead of waiting for it to turn up tomorrow, especially considering I packed all my school stuff. Brrnt.

So that’s my day. It’s been nothing but—to borrow from Lemony Snicket—a series of unfortunate events, culminating in me sitting on the floor by a baggage carousel, writing a LJ entry to post when I get home, and completely missing my stupid weekly online chat. I think that chats are dumb… unfortunately, this is worse.

ETA: I found my suitcase and made it outside just in time to watch my bus pull away from the curb. Wait time +30 minutes.

ETA2: Clogs are perfect for airport security checks. Not so for sludgey sidewalks.

Comments

[somerled.livejournal.com]

Yikes. Well, I certainly feel your pain. There is nothing civilized left in consumer airline travel! Welcome back to Montreal nonetheless.

I know that annex terminal in Toronto by the way. Good old gate N for all my flights to Raleigh/Durham.

I was just thinking about how pretty the snow is, but I guess you will be less thrilled, in clogs, waiting for the 211 after the 204, walking over ice puddles and freezing water puddles full of road grease and salt into Lionel Groulx station (assuming that is your route in). And on and on.

[alexiscartwheel.livejournal.com]

That was, in fact, my exact route home. Once the 204 came back everything went very smoothly. STM wins for actually getting me where I wanted to go without adding two extra hours or losing my stuff!

The snow is pretty. Just less so when I've got ice in my shoes. I have got to get some boots...

[somerled.livejournal.com]

Wet snow. Best as it falls or right after, isn't it? Perfect snowflakes to catch with open mouth and wonder how something so thick, so ponderous in the sky and seeming so wet, leaves so little water on the tongue.

[alexiscartwheel.livejournal.com]

No rain, no ice pellets. Real snow!

I think I'll sled to class tomorrow. Or I would if I had a sled.

[d4ni.livejournal.com]

Let's go to Canada! Let's leave today-ay! I was listening to that song today and thought of you.

[alexiscartwheel.livejournal.com]

I have a let's go to Canada icon, but I'm not using it 'cause I can only have six 'cause I'm super cheap. (But you already know that.)

[d4ni.livejournal.com]

If I had the internet at home I'd make one and use it for you, but since I don't that's just too bad. Guess we're both kinda cheap. :D