Merry Christmas from Gate B10!
If you've been following the news you (may) know that O'Hare airport is still a delayed mess after the storms earlier this week. And I should know, because I've been here for a day and a half! Yay! Unfortunately, I'd be on Southwest except it flies out of Midway and doesn't have any commuter lines from the boondocks town I live in (and flying United seemed easier than driving the two hours to Midway - a mistake I'll never make again!).
Anyway, I finally vulture-stalked my way towards a seat with an outlet which is how I was able to log in to say hi. I see other vultures watching to see if I'm leaving soon...guess they're in for a bit of a disappointment. Haha!
So, hello and Merry Christmas! I hope it is warm, cozy and mood-lit (unlike this terminal)! If you wouldn't mind posting your favorite airline horror story I'd love to hear it - after the last couple of days it would be comforting to know that this isn't the WORST it could get :)
And, i any of you are United employees can you please explain why United only has THREE flights to our destination today when Southwest has ELEVEN (and is cheaper and doesn't charge bag fees)? Sorry, don't mean to be grumbly. Merry Christmas, and good wishes to the sweet maintenance guy who brought gifts for the little kids in our gate area...it's the only thing that has felt Christmas-y since I've been here!
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Hey Burned. I'm stuck half-way as well. Supposed to be home the 22nd. Flight cancelled by storms. Won't make it 'til the 26th.
Fortunately, I got out of the airport after 8 hours of misery - 5 of those hours standing in line. Best thing is people-watching the responses - who has patience, who shares stuff, who can laugh. I feel for you.... and hope you catch yours soon.
And yes, some have it much worse. A whole planeful, loaded up and made to sit, on the plane, for 24 hours - that was pretty ugly, made the news. The 5 passengers headed to Seattle that went through the line-up I did, all in wheelchairs, no grumbling. Sooooo.... Anyway. No room at the Inn, or on Airlines, eh?
Merry Christmas, and well done keeping your spirits up. Buy some chocolate, spread it around - best thing someone in our group did. Who knew? Orange chocolate slices, and a Merry Christmas baby!
December 25, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
On a flight from San Francisco to Australia in the late 80s we had to sit on the tarmac in Hawaii for an additional 10 hours, (they wouldn't let us get off the plane), while the maintenance crew checked some mechanical problem, thus adding 10 hours to what was all ready a 14 hour flight. That was a long 24 hours! Hope you get out of there soon.
December 25, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess I am glad I do not get to travel anymore.
I used to and I feel your pain.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year.
December 25, 2008 6:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't have any airport horror stories, but I still have a lot of sympathy, Dem. Hang in there, and Merry Christmas to you and yours!!
December 25, 2008 6:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the sympathy! Well our last hope for the weekend was supposed to leave at 5:55. It's oversold (who oversells flights over the holidays when you KNOW weather's gonna mess stuff up??) and the odds of getting a seat are slim. Actually, it's looking like it will be canceled because they're missing a part for a repair, so that's another 100+ folks for the standby list.
Anyway, failing this we're going to grab a flight back to our home airport. So, either way we'll be sleeping at one of our "homes" tonight.
Much love to you all and Quinn if you have details on the flight stuck for 24 hours I'd love to hear them.
Also - I took the advice and got some specially made Bacon Chocolate. No one wanted any (but I liked it).
Night!!!
December 25, 2008 7:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Peeg chocolate?
Hum. shoulda gone with chicken. Sure I haz some airline horror stories. It's unavoidable when one is cargo, rather than passenger.... But hey....Christmas delays suck eggs, rotten eggs.
I hope you get home sooooooon.
(hugz)
bwakf
December 26, 2008 1:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah.. What's with the pig chocolate B-O-D? Sounds awful! You must have been traveling with a better class of animal if as you say no one wanted any.
December 26, 2008 1:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is so strange. Having pen pals stuck in airports with instant messaging.
Stuck in the middle of nowhere on Christmas.
Take heart.
Happy New Year.
December 26, 2008 2:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gate B-10? Beaten? My sympathies to you and all the other folks who were hoping to spend Christmas among family and loved ones and didn't quite make it. Happy holidays to you and yours.
December 26, 2008 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink