So everyone knows that I was in Washington and that I was heading back to Arizona on Tuesday the 4th of August. Well, this post is about that very trip home.
Normally I enjoy traveling. I even enjoy layovers because I use it as a chance to explore airports in cities that Ive never been too. With this in mind, I purposely selected a flight on Expedia.com that had a layover in a place that I had never been to-Salt Lake City, Utah. And what was extra cool about this was that my layover was supposed (key word here) to be 2.5 hours, so I thought I'd have plenty of time to explore. I booked about 9 days in advance, so I was able to choose a fairly decent seat on my Delta flight. I chose seat number 19A which is slightly ahead of the emergency exits, and right next to the window. For my flight from SLC to Phoenix, the seats were a little more limited, but I still got a pretty good seat. 22A, again next to the window, and still before the emergency seats. I was actually pretty pleased about the idea of choosing my own seat. I usually fly on Southwest and it's pretty much first come first served.
Anyways, like I said, I booked my flight through expedia.com and that was that. Right? No sir-y bob! Later that night, well, about actually around 5am the next morning I awoke with a horrible thought. "Baggage" I had completely forgotten about the fee that Delta charges to check luggage. I tried to cancel my ticket right away, but the fee to cancel it would have been more than the $50 dollars to check to bags. I should have realized right then that that was a bad omen, but noooo.
24 hours before my flight was scheduled to depart, I went online to delta.com to check in electronically. For some insane reason I wasnt able to. I then went to expedia.com and was told that my itinerary was 'unavailable'<---again, that should have been a sign...but Im not that smart.
So on the day of my flight, I leave for the airport in time to get there at least 2 hours before check in. Im not familiar with Sea-Tac and I want to make sure I get there in plenty of time to check my 2 pieces of luggage, get my seat assignment, make it through security, and have time to stop in a few gift shops on my way to the gate. First thing I notice when I get there-no curb side check in. WTF?!? Isnt that standard? So I haul my crap inside and get into line at the Delta counter, only to be told that I dont have to check in at the counter, I can do it at the kiosk. I haul myself and my crap over to the kiosk, wait in line to use it, just to find out that I cant check in there after all because Im paying cash to pay for my luggage fee. Usually at this point I would be pissed, but I stayed calm and was only mildly irritated..I mean, its going to be a good day right?
I pay my fifty fucking dollars to check my 2 bags (quick side note: guess how much additional it would have been if I wanted to check a 3rd bag? give up?? $175 extra bucks!!! ) and I head over to security. Now, I realize that security is an issue that we all have to deal with these days, but seriously, do all the T.S.A. agents need to have a meeting at the same time, thus making the lines huge?? I mean, what kind of management says, ok-at 4:30 am all workers will attend a meeting, fuck the travelers. Wouldnt it make more sense to maybe break it up and have a couple of different meetings, so that you dont get a huge backup? Come on!!
So after roughly 45 minutes in line, I start my trek to gate S-11. And by trek, I mean long fucking hike!!! I literally walked for 25 minutes and took a tram to get there..so much for my plan of hitting up some of the gift shops. I get up to the check in counter and finally get hit with this nasty surprise--my seat has been changed to get this--45D!!! Forty fucking five?!? In case your wondering, yes, that is the last row in the airplane....and you got it, right next to the stinky lavatories! After practically pushing my way down the aisle, I find my seat and am greeted by child throwing a temper tantrum! Mind you, its not even 6 am...Oh yeah, Im a lucky one.
My flight to Salt Lake City was roughly 2.5 hours buy it felt like 2.5 days. The toddler next to me could have been the poster kid for birth control. She was horrible...screaming, crying, kicking, and tearing up the magazines. Omg-and her parents-stop, stop please, whats wrong honey. I wanted to tell them to take her into the stinky lavatory, spank her butt and tell her to behave...but I held my tongue and suffered. All while a revolving line of people stunk up the bathrooms and the lady next to me getting up every 15 minutes to pee. Ive never been happier than when the pilot said that we were about to land in Salt Lake City. That is, until the tire went flat. Oh yeah, talk about scary. But at this point, I just want off this fucking airplane and away from these people!!
By the time we de-board the plane in Salt Lake City, my 9:50 arrival is more like 11:00. This means that I have about 50 minutes to get to my next gate, which is roughly a MILLION fucking miles away. As Im practically running through the airport, I see the gift shops out of the corner of my eye..its all a blur. Thankfully when I get to the gate my seat assignment from expedia remained the same and could breathe a little sigh of relief. Knowing that I only had about 10 minutes until boarding, I found a little take out restaurant and got a chicken Cesar salad to go--which was the highlight of my trip! I didnt have any time to check out the gift shops, but by this time I dont even care. I board the plane and find my seat, pleased to find a little old lady will be my traveling companion.
As we leave the SLC airport, Im kinda sad that my layover adventure never materialized. Ive never been to Utah before, and thought I might be able to get a sense of the culture. I love looking at the artwork and displays that cities and states have in airports. I find that they usually highlight the best of the area, and its something that I find fun. My flight to Phoenix was about 2 hours which passed quickly and smoothly. I arrived in Phoenix on time and was immediately reminded why I love flying out of SkyHarbor airport. Everything is well organized and easy to find and I quickly made it to baggage claim. While looking for my dad (who was picking me up) I realized that I told him to pick me up at terminal 3, and in reality, I was in terminal 2. After a quick call to him, I headed outside to wait. When I see him drive by me, I was like--hellooooo!!! I tried to quickly catch up to him, but was unsuccessful...i ended up walking all the way to the end of the terminal, in 110 degree heat with 4 bags mind you!!
Anyways, I finally made it home. My vacation was wonderful and I had a great time. But I definitely learned something. I will never ever book anything with expedia.com and I will never again fly on Delta (unless someone else is paying for it! Lol, Im serious!!). Im going to stick with my airline of choice, Southwest...where the bags fly free.
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