Not to be too lazy but I did such a good job chronicling my arduous, harrowing and nearly aneurysm inducing time in OK that I will just give you the run up to the event and then direct you to my Picasa pix instead of posting them all here.
I flew into Lawton OK on a Monday and paid close attention to the route that the Enterprise shuttle driver took and how long it took her to get to the Enterprise office. There are no on site car rental companies here. So, when coming back to the airport on Thursday to get the hell out of a town that a) thinks a salad that consists of iceberg, croutons, french dressing, 1 cherry tomato and then tons of SALT = vegetables and 2) a big area if not whole state was literally depressed when Obama won, I made sure I left plenty of time for the drive from Enterprise to the airport.
Well, the 2 guys working that day made me wait 10 mins and then one decided he may as well take me. As he drove, this time just a car, not a shuttle because it was just him and me, he narrated about how he had just graduated from High School in June and over there is his High School. Over there is his favorite chinese. Back yonder is the bowling alley. Oh, and here's his church. At this point I'm thinking I don't recognize very many of the places that the lady drove by on Monday. Hmmm me thinks.
Next thing I know we are at a dead stop. We sit there for a good long 5 mins which is like 30 to me without him trying to figure out what the problem might be, just saying "Hmm, I wonder if there was an accident." I ask "Is there another way to the airport?"
"Yeah, but it is longer."
So, we wait a few mins more with nothing happening.
I then communicate that we can't just sit here, I must get to the airport and he then gets out and walks for a minute to see that everyone is stopped for a train.
I think how much longer can we wait for this train? So we wait a few mins more. Now at this point, because this happened a couple of years ago now I cannot remember how much time has elapsed total, but my guess would be 12-18 mins. 12-18 precious minutes.
So I tell dear tour guide that I am in jeopardy of missing my flight and he better figure out how to get me there on time.
So, he gets out of the queue and takes me another way. We have a few more stops and it is longer but we are moving. I encourage him to drive as fast as he likes--I won't tell!
We now pull up to the airport exactly 47 mins before my little prop plane is to take me to Dallas to then take me to ATL. I rush into the airport and am relieved to see that there is no line, I get right up front, present my id and pre-printed out boarding pass, etc, and plop my bag to be weighed and checked in.
The Delta agent whom I shall endearingly call Sourpuss takes my paperwork and id, pushes it back to me, and says that I've missed my flight. I say that is impossible.
Sourpuss then tells me that since I have checked luggage I had to be here and have my bag checked in no later than 45 mins prior to the flight. I again check my watch. I am now there 44 mins till the flight.
"But Ms Sourpuss, I was in line 45 mins prior to the flight. it is just now 44 mins till. Surely we can squeeze one bag in?"
"No we cannot."
"Why not?"
"We won't get it through the scan and security in time."
Ok, now, please look at the pix of this airport for greater clarity and empathy with your dear narrator.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lauren.drabble/BOREDOMOklahoma#
As you just saw they certainly could have gotten it from point A to point B in less than 10 mins. they just wouldn't.
No matter how much I begged, pleaded, cajoled, etc. it was all futile. That woman wanted me to sit there for no damn reason for over 3 hours!
Again, look at the pix and just imagine for yourself! And you know me. You know that this did NOT sit well with me. I am still fuming about it thinking about it years later.
Suffice to say, you know know more of damn good reasons to hate Delta, why I hate to check luggage and rarely do, why I haven't gone back to Enterprise rental car and why I left 2 hours earlier the next time that I had to fly through that damn airport. Oh, and btw: I never want to return to OK--EVER.
....
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