Gordon Chatter: Vacation Report: Day One

Our first day was spent strictly traveling. We left Globe at 6:00 AM - and it was a good thing too, because it was real gridlock from Mesa to the Airport. It would have been nice to say that everything went smoothly from there - but it didn't! We had planned for some hiccups. We checked our bags, knowing that they might not make it on time, we also took a carryon with the basics. We knew that delays might force a possible stayover or something like that. What I wasn't prepared for was a major glitch to happen before we even left Phoenix!!! While booking everything, we were flying US Air (Randall calls it US Scare...) to Tampa, then American the rest of the way - Tampa to Miami, Miami to St. Thomas. When booking, we selected all of our seats, with the exception of that first flight out of Phx, because there was no option to select them on that one. Every other time I've done this, no problem, they give us our seat assignment when we checked in. So while checking in, the guy says to us, "It looks like it's an overbooked flight, so they'll be asking for volunteers to give up their seats." We had a tight connection, so we knew that we couldn't give up our seats. Whatever, no problem. We get to the gate and they're calling for volunteers, and then start boarding. This is when I notice that we don't have a Boarding Group number. So we ask the gate agent, and she tells us that when you fly standby, you may not make that particular flight. "What do you mean, standby?! We got confirmation numbers and everything?!" Apparently, we didn't have seats to give up! That's right kids, WE were the ones on STANDBY!!! So with sinking, helpless feelings and knots in the pits of our stomachs, we watched as everyone boards the plane. In the meantime, the agent is looking up possible alternatives to help us make our connections, mumbling, "Nope, that's not going to work... maybe... no that's not going to... how about?... no..." and shaking her head. Jeannette has burst into tears of frustration at this point, I'm feeling more and more stupid and angry for not knowing that we'd booked standby - which I NEVER would have done knowingly, and she looks at us and says, "We've had one person give up their seat, and we're waiting for one more passenger to come... *pause for 3 seconds*... OK - GO!" YAY!!! So we sprint down the jetway and they close the doors and taxi away! *WHEW*

We make our connection to Tampa just fine, but the outgiong plane is 10 minutes late arriving there, and then 10 minutes late getting into Miami. We know that we had 50 minutes between flights, and start feeling a bit anxious again. They wait another 15 minutes to even get a gate (there was another plane still in the one we were supposed to be in) and it takes us 15 minutes more to even get out of the plane (never sit in the back when you have tight connections!). Julie texts us that they're boarding, so we call her and say "Tell them we're COMING!!!" We start power walking to the next gate (clear over in another terminal - and no quick train thingies between terminals like in the big airports) when we hear announced, "Last Call for American [whatever flight #] to St. Thomas!" ACK!! So we sprinted the rest of the way there (Think Hurley in the Season One Finale - only not quite as sweaty! Ha Ha!) and did another grand "jump on board just at they're closing the doors" move. We were pretty ramped up and giggled and laughed with Julie the rest of the way there - we felt somewhat sorry for the other people around us on the plane - but not that bad! Tee Hee!

All else went smoothly, with the exception of our bags not making it (no suprise there, right?) - but we had planned for that already, and they came just fine the next day. Check in again soon for more of "Amy's Vacation Report - Day Two: Beach, Beach, and more Beach!" Signing out for now!