(united airlines 1st class – 747 flight in the 70s)
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after booking an upcoming flight
i may have a few misplaced hopes and expectations
that this will be my experience in the air
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“let your dreams outgrow the shoes of your expectations.”
-ryunosuke satoro
Called airline to confirm my flight for this evening. airline told me it had been rebooked 13 hours earlier for this morning and it had already left. They had contacted my travel agent in the states who is 12 hours behind and sleeping or dancing away her weekend night. they did not think to also contact me. next possible flight to make my 3 connections, is actually too soon for me to arrive at the airport in time. Next option: add in one more flight, spend the night in an airport somewhere, continue on. No rebooking for the next day as one leg of the trip falls within the 24 hour no rebooking rule, which I think she made up while talking to me, because at some point it’s less than 24 hours away and I’ll be losing or gaining a day somewhere in the process. Next option: leave at midnight tonight, check bags through all airports, until i hit customs again in the states. Possible glitches: airline called this option ‘dangerous,’ as far as all flights must be on time, allowing for a very small window for transfers and connections, customs has to not consider me an enemy combatant or mule, and they said they ‘would pray for me.’ This sounds like the perfect fit and of course, the option I chose. After hours on the phone and computer, and many teas, coffees, and cookies, and an emu beer, I am ready to go.
Command center.
as we waited at the gate for our plane, i was amazed by the new ‘system’ in place. i couldn’t quite get a handle on it at first, didn’t know exactly where to sit, where to line up, when, etc.
this is how the gate agent explained it to me. ‘we’ll call you by your letter and you stand in a single file line by the pole that has your number on it that goes with your letter that we’ll call and then we’ll call you by letter and number together and and we’ll know you by that. there are approximately 100 small strips of spaces with seats with numbers.’ being the black sheep that i am, i waited until the last possible second to get into line in my assigned number/letter place, and was met with gate agent glares. i think some of the other sheep may have been upset with me too.
People, like sheep, tend to follow a leader – occasionally in the right direction.
In order to be an immaculate member of a flock of sheep, one must above all be a sheep oneself.
The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same.
I didn't have my glasses on.... 