Well, one cannot say I didn't learn my lesson in Albuquerque. Yesterday I started in Spokane, with a flight meant to leave at 8:40 AM. It didn't. In fact it didn't leave until after 9:00 AM and I was due in Portland to start boarding for my next leg at 10:00 AM.

Being a regional jet there's one gate, multiple doors. We arrived at Portland 5 minutes before boarding at door L. Walked all the way in to gate A7 then all the way back out to door (drumroll please) L.

We flew from Portland to Santa Rosa and after leaving late, arrived late. But I wasn't so concerned because this was a one stop flight that would take me on to Las Vegas.

Do you hear the ominous music playing in the background now! We who were continuing on were told not to deplane. After all we would only be there less than forty minutes. Here comes the captain telling us we have a large puddle of hydraulic fluid under the nose cone!! But please stay on board and he'll keep us informed. We wait, they serve complimentary beverages keeping the doors open so it was very comfortable.

45 minutes later the captain says, there is a ruptured hydraulic line to the forward landing gear We don't know how long it will take or what we are going to do so please gather your belongings and deplane.

It was too hot in the building to wait so I waited outside as the breeze blew. It was pleasant enough and fairly pretty despite being an airport. (Mind you, the Santa Rosa airport consists of one airline, three rental car desks and OUTSIDE baggage claim and a restaurant that must be supported primarily by locals. As the captain aptly stated, Santa Rosa is not the center of the universe as airports go.) We waited and waited and waited some more. Finally we notice the reader board marks our flight as cancelled. So we waited 45 minutes or more in line to rebook and of course, no one was happy and everyone wanted to argue so it took forever for each person to get reticketed. Me, I walked up and said what do you have, can I make it through SFO security that quickly, fine I'll take it.

They provided a voucher for ground transport, meal vouchers to use at the airport and re-ticketing. My one question, the poor desk agent couldn't answer was "Is it a regional jet or a real plane?"

So, after a long bus ride to the San Francisco airport (made much shorter by a very pleasant and humorous driver) I arrived and proceeded to check in on the new airline. Much to my chagrin - baggage fees. But I checked in and got some food and went to my gate. We boarded nearly on time and had a pilot who seemed in a genuine hurry to get us to Vegas so off we went and arrived a hair early (she says biting her tongue) at 9:00 PM. I proceed with my compatriots to pick our luggage. We were told baggage claim 16. And 45 minutes later were still waiting. I went to the office and she said "oh it came on 15." GRRRRRRRRR "Why did you post it on 16 then?" So she proceeds to get snippy with me. I walked out, grabbed my bag and went to the hotel shuttle. I arrived half dead at the hotel shortly after 10:00 PM.

Okay I'm in Vegas with Anne and others. So where do we go this morning? WALMART of course Welcome to Las Vegas!

But I'm here with tickets and looking forward to Saturday night! And I definitely am reminded NEVER FLY ON SHOW DAY.

You DO know what they say Bonnie...."getting there is half the fun"

Time now to relax and live it up Vegas style.

ENJOY!!

Bonnie

I am so glad you finally arrived here! I feel so bad for your travel day and know how disappointed you were, but now it is time to get by the pool and far away from Walmart! Hummer is looking for someone there and she is at the pool.. Hope it doesn't rain again? It will get better I promise.. Have fun you guys!!!

Sounds like you're having fun, Crackedegg!

I had car trouble today and was lucky to make it in my car to the fixit shop. So, join the crowd.

Well definitely getting around is stranger than fiction.

Yesterday six of us went to the Grand Canyon (note that's now five states in three days I do like to be well-traveled but this is getting nuts.

The day was marvelous and if you ever get the opportunity to walk the skybridge DO IT! It's a spectacular view.

Of course coming back .... the bus broke down. But we had a great substitute bus driver into Vegas and then great dinner at the Rainforest Cafe when all was said and done. We're tired and all but still having a great time and wish all of you could come out and play too.

Hi you lucky people. After your plane story, Bonnie, I was just thinking that if that would happen to me, I would be DONE IN. It is still very hot here, and I am in the cool, but I would have loved to join the party. Maybe next time. Tell everyone Hello, and I am happy every one is having fun. P.S. I loved the Sky Bridge, spectacular.

Well my flights home were night and day compared to my flights down. And after all is said and done, I now have most of my next ticket paid for so at least they responded well to my frustration with the mess.

And I arrived home at 7 Tuesday night to a voice mail from my boss asking me if I could do overtime Thursday morning. Fortunately, the apps we needed didn't arrive today so that was canceled because I'm still playing catch up on my sleep. Thank goodness we have a three day weekend.

Bluebird you are right about the skybridge, incredible. I need to upload my photos and do some editing and scan the picture of us on the bridge, then I'll post some pics of this incredible trip - one I will definitely not soon forget!

Bonnie

It was so great to see you again.. You are such a very special lady.. I hope we can all meet again...Loved our get together with all of our friends...

Can't wait to see the pics

Myky

Hi crackedeggg:


I can't decide if your trip was worse then mine, but it sure was close.
After driving almost three hours to Atlanta, I waited in line for a 6:30AM flight to Denver,and from there, I was to connect with another flight to Salt Lake City. Well, we wait, and wait, and wait, until some one decides to find out what the delay was...and we find out the same time the flight crew found out. It seems that the airline did not even bother to tell the rest of the flight crew that the flight was cancelled on the account of the Captian called in sick!
Well, to make a long story short, we all waited for almost five hours before it was decided to place us on flights with other airlines...some flights did not leave until the next day, and so the airline had set up hotel reservations for those passangers. The plan was to drive from SLC to Las Vegas, for the concert, which I could have clearly made if everything went according to schedule (or close to it), but when my new flight (different airline) was not scheduled to leave until after 3:30PM, that killed everything. Of course pleading with the original airline was clearly out of the question! So much for that concert. But I was not going to miss the very last one in Glendale, Arizona, and after leaving very early in the morning, I just make it to the venue, but not without getting a little dis-placed along the way. But that's another story. but that concert, I did see, and enjoyed it, but boy, was it hot!