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Dateline: Dulles, Viginia
Aug. 6th, 2005 08:02 amThe flight out of Denver was delayed yesterday for 80 minutes, ostensibly due to weather in the Dulles area. We passengers were assiduously kept in the dark about our connections until arrival, though there was a glimmer of light for those of us "continuing" on United 932 out of Dulles when - upon landing - the stewardess announced "...for those continuing on to Frankfurt, there will be a plane change here at Dulles."
Alas, it was not to be. It turns out the concept of the flight out of Dulles being a "continuation" of the incoming flight from Denver (as in: has the same flight number) is as tenuous as the plot in a low-budget porn flick. Despite the fact that the departure gate was about 20 yards from the arrival gate (meaning that continuing passengers would not be milling around the airport very long when changing equipment), the outbound flight left without the Denver crowd.
So, what amounted to a large contingent of the incoming flight's passengers queued up at United's "customer service" counter in terminal C, where I spent 2 hours crawling to the head of the line, only to be told when I got there that I'd already been rebooked on the afternoon flight out of here today to Munich, and on to Moscow for arrival tomorrow. Regrettably, however, the ticket office was now closed (it was after midnight), and as my ticket had been incorrectly issued in Durango (surprise!), I'd have to show up a little earlier tomorrow afternoon to have my ticket reissued. Personally, I think the whole operation could have been better organized (if I've already been rebooked, why have me wait in a two-hour line?), but on the other hand, I did get a seat, so I should probably not complain too loudly.
I was assured my checked bag would be taken care of. I'm sure it will be <rolls eyes and whistles a little>.
I had a lot of time to think while standing in line (and if you're going to stand in line, Dulles is the place to be: few other places are as bereft of character as to convince you that standing in an imperceptably moving line is one of the best uses of your time). I spent some of that time contemplating what I could reasonably do to avoid flying United in the future, stopping only after I seriously started thinking of moving to a city where United didn't land at any local airport. (One of the other passengers in line with me told me Delta is no better, but I'm not so sure. Heck, even a change in the pace of slovenly service might be a welcome change, and it would almost certainly have to be in a positive direction.)
Since the delay out of Denver was not the fault of the airline, I had to shell out about $80 to get to and check in at a marvelous Holiday Inn here in Dulles (hopefully, there will be a shuttle to take me back to the airport later). The price is certainly better that the typical price for a room around these parts, and while some other fellow-sufferers were wondering, at check-in, whether it was actually legal to rent rooms given the amount of remodeling that is going on in the place, I was simply happy that the air conditioner works, the door locks, and the toilet flushes.
I managed to call the Marriott Aurora in Moscow before hitting the sack, to let them know I wasn't going to be needing the room today. We'll play the rest by ear once I get to Moscow.
So, what shall I do for the next 6 hours?
Cheers...
Alas, it was not to be. It turns out the concept of the flight out of Dulles being a "continuation" of the incoming flight from Denver (as in: has the same flight number) is as tenuous as the plot in a low-budget porn flick. Despite the fact that the departure gate was about 20 yards from the arrival gate (meaning that continuing passengers would not be milling around the airport very long when changing equipment), the outbound flight left without the Denver crowd.
So, what amounted to a large contingent of the incoming flight's passengers queued up at United's "customer service" counter in terminal C, where I spent 2 hours crawling to the head of the line, only to be told when I got there that I'd already been rebooked on the afternoon flight out of here today to Munich, and on to Moscow for arrival tomorrow. Regrettably, however, the ticket office was now closed (it was after midnight), and as my ticket had been incorrectly issued in Durango (surprise!), I'd have to show up a little earlier tomorrow afternoon to have my ticket reissued. Personally, I think the whole operation could have been better organized (if I've already been rebooked, why have me wait in a two-hour line?), but on the other hand, I did get a seat, so I should probably not complain too loudly.
I was assured my checked bag would be taken care of. I'm sure it will be <rolls eyes and whistles a little>.
I had a lot of time to think while standing in line (and if you're going to stand in line, Dulles is the place to be: few other places are as bereft of character as to convince you that standing in an imperceptably moving line is one of the best uses of your time). I spent some of that time contemplating what I could reasonably do to avoid flying United in the future, stopping only after I seriously started thinking of moving to a city where United didn't land at any local airport. (One of the other passengers in line with me told me Delta is no better, but I'm not so sure. Heck, even a change in the pace of slovenly service might be a welcome change, and it would almost certainly have to be in a positive direction.)
Since the delay out of Denver was not the fault of the airline, I had to shell out about $80 to get to and check in at a marvelous Holiday Inn here in Dulles (hopefully, there will be a shuttle to take me back to the airport later). The price is certainly better that the typical price for a room around these parts, and while some other fellow-sufferers were wondering, at check-in, whether it was actually legal to rent rooms given the amount of remodeling that is going on in the place, I was simply happy that the air conditioner works, the door locks, and the toilet flushes.
I managed to call the Marriott Aurora in Moscow before hitting the sack, to let them know I wasn't going to be needing the room today. We'll play the rest by ear once I get to Moscow.
So, what shall I do for the next 6 hours?
Cheers...
