Sunday, January 10, 2010

Vacation = No Worries, Right?!? or Gotta Love Vacation

Which blog title fits this post best, you decide............

Other than a few times, I try not to blog about the non tatting parts of my life here.  I think people who visit this blog are here to see tatting.  However today this post will be used as an outlet for me.  Here's my story.... after 2 days of travel we have arrived in Austin, TX.  We left our home, the land of lake effect snow, on Friday at 3 PM and drove to Buffalo NY, it was snowing no big deal, it's western NY it's snows for months at a time there, the airport can handle this, no problem, right?! ......... went to check in at airline and the machine told us to see a representative, we did, no problem.  Security checkpoint, no problem.  Went to terminal, problem!  It was about 5 PM at that point, our flight was scheduled for 6:25, the rep who checked us in didn't tell us that Atlanta Georgia was having freezing rain issues and the incoming aircraft, which was also our outgoing aircraft, couldn't leave there.  These things happen, that's why we left home 2 days before the ship sails, it'll be okay, we waited,and waited,and waited, and left Buffalo after 9.  Needless to say when we got to Atlanta we had missed our 9:55 connecting flight.  We stayed the night in a hotel there, and after roughly 4 hours of sleep (rough being the key word), showered, put back on our dirty clothes, and headed back to the airport.  Thankfully the flight was non eventful and we arrived safely in Austin at 10 AM on Saturday, on a plane that was less than half occupied ....... However, our new luggage did not arrive safely.  But it will still be okay, right........ no not quite yet.  I then made a missing luggage report.  And it was located in Atlanta.  Seems that the 8 hours it was there wasn't long enough for them to get it to our aircraft.  Okay okay we can deal with this .............. Me "We need it for our cruise tomorrow morning."  Airline Rep "Should be on the next flight, IF there is room after that flight's passenger's luggage gets on, they take priority." ........ the flight we were on should have had more than enough room for it originally since there was hardly no one on it.  Okay so.....  they will bring the luggage to the home after it arrives.  I went thru all of that and then found out that it will come to the home within 12 hours of arriving in Austin, but they can't promise when it'll get to Ausint. It goes to an outside agency who takes it to a warehouse, sorts it into areas to be delivered to, then sends it out.  No way, can't chance it, we'll come get it then.   I stressed for hours because the flight it maybe on was 3 hours late in arriving to Austin.  Then we were told we couldn't pick it up right away because it would take at least a hour for it to be located and delivered to the airline's office.  After hours and hours of worrying, my husband went to pick up the luggage.  Nice it was home, we have clothes for the cruise!, all is well, right? ........ I opened it only to find that some how (I expect tampering!), the security locks (TSA approved) on both pieces had been broken off (there is no note on or in the luggage saying that it was opened for inspection).  Was it opened in the hours and hours it temporarily lived in Atlanta, or was it at the Austin airport while it was waiting outside their office to be picked up ........  we will never know. I didn't have the heart to go thru it all to see if anything is missing (there was nothing of any value to anyone else, just clothes and heath care items, everything else was in our carry ones).  So now our new luggage, both pieces, are slightly damaged.  Not beyond use of course, just sad that our new luggage is messed up after just one use.  I couldn't deal with life at that point and went to bed.  After a few hours of sleep I woke up at 3 AM and at 5 AM have now prepared for the day.  I am enjoying my morning coffee and have come to the understanding that today, after traveling about 4 hours by car, we will get on a cruise ship and have the time of our lives with no worries for the next 7 days, our vacation will get better .... right?!?!

6 comments:

Jane Eborall said...

Interesting. My luggage from Atlanta to Cincinnati arrived with me - no probs even though I was on a standby. BUT whenever we get home to the UK my suitcases go via 'somewhere else' and have their own holiday for a further 24 - 48 hours!! Still, from now on the cruise and holiday can only get better - promise.

rainbows and raindrops said...

oh dear. it can only get better. *hug*

I've had my bags 'damaged' at US airports a coupla times too... even though I had TSA locks... it is upsetting.

Gina said...

You'll have a great time! Get on board, settle in your room, eat, drink and be merry! Many hugs and good wishes going with you!

Krystle said...

Oh you poor thing! Same thing happened to my sister who was flying OUT of Austin...she ended up in seattle and her luggage ended up in Portland.


Happy sailing to you!

Unknown said...

What a frustrating experience! How awful...I hope everything is there and that you have a fabulous cruise!

Tatskool said...

What a frustrating start to holiday but it will make the cruise seem so much better!! Hope you have a great time. Do tell us about it, I love reading non tatting things.