Someone shoot the security people
OK. So my flight was two hours late leaving Las Vegas. Since I had a two-hour stopover at Chicago O'Hare, I figured that I'm going to miss my connection to Copenhagen. However, at the arrivals desk they told us to hurry to the gate, since the plane was waiting for us. We ran, and ran, and ran some more (maybe about 30 people in total, all returning from the CES), only to be stopped by a TSA security idiot, who took a look at our tickets, and flatly told us that he can't let us through, because the departure time had already passed. He did not have a phone, and was not allowed to leave his post either. No amount of reasoning would deter his resolve, so we had to go back and find someone to help us out. Except that all the positions were closed (aside the transfer desks beyond the security checkpoints), and the SAS desk would not open until 13:00 the next day. Meanwhile, the SAS flight got bored of waiting for us, and left.
Finally we found someone at the baggage handling area, and she gave us a number. After a few phone calls, I got through to the SAS 24 hour number, which was of course not answering until 9 am. Disgusted, I called my travel agent, managed to get onto a waiting list for another flight today, and booked a hotel. By 1 am, I finally got to rest a bit.
At the moment I am in an airport hotel, waiting for a shuttle to get back to the airport, where I would expect more delays, trouble and general mayhem. A storm front is moving in, and if I don't get to an airplane soon, my departure will probably be delayed again, as Chicago is going to get lots of snow.
Note to self: Add O'Hare to my list of airports to never, ever, travel via again.
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| "Main_blogentry_130107_2" last changed on 13-Jan-2007 19:27:16 EET by JanneJalkanen. |
Comments
Don't fly in US. It's just too difficult due security hypocrisy.--AnonymousCoward, 13-Jan-2007
Hey, working at an airport I've come to the conclusion that the airlines etc only hire idiots. Power tripping, good for nothing idiots.
--Turisti, 14-Jan-2007
What are the other airports in your "never again"-list?
Mine consists of Heathrow (especially transfers) and Charles De Gaulle (just say no). Other airports may have their shortcomings, but nothing comes close to the ambient wrongness of these two.
--lavonardo, 14-Jan-2007
My avoid-if-you-can list:
- Lisbon (confusing and dark) - Charles de Gaulle (smoky, confusing, ugly, noisy and somebody always on strike) - JFK (immigration staff trained by experts from DDR) - Stockholm (well... Stockholm) - Heathrow (transfers is horrible)
--Kari Haakana, 14-Jan-2007
My "never again" airports include currently CDG (I've always lost my bags there, and last time I lost a GPS unit), LHR (transfers only; for flying to London it's ok), STN (it's just in the middle of nothing) and now ORD. I try to avoid JFK, but the Finnair direct flight is just too convenient.
--JanneJalkanen, 14-Jan-2007