Christmas '98

December 23, 1998

So I figured I'd have to park in long-term parking, but as I made my way back up the center of the airport, I noticed a sign about the "Holiday Overflow" lot (West long term parking). And from the road I could tell there was plenty of space, so I turned in there. Had to park about a half mile from the shuttle station. We gathered up our luggage and hiked up to the bus stop area. It was around 2:00 by then, and the monitors didn't have our flight listed yet. There was a curbside baggage check, and I asked the guy there which gate it would be. He told me the flight was canceled, and I should check inside to see if they could find something else. So we went into the building, and found a mob of about 200 people and their luggage standing in 5 lines. By the time we got to the head of the line, our flight was showing on the monitor, marked CANCELED, like many others - I'd guess about 40% of them.

There were no other flights to SLC today, and all the ones tomorrow were sold out. So we're listed as standby on the first flight out in the morning at 9:23am. Maybe we'll get lucky. The most-often overheard question was "Are they refundable tickets?" And the answer was always no.

Sorry, Charlie.

Rather than hauling the luggage back to the car I had Deidra watch it while I walked down to get the car. At the North exit, it felt like a slap in the face when the toll booth attendant announced "That'll be $1.50".

25 miles and another hour plus in creeping traffic, and we're back home again. Called my dad - "Don't come pick us up at the airport, we won't be there."

Tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn we'll try this again.

Next year I'm driving. :-)

December 24, 1998

The freezing rain that was predicted last night didn't happen, so the roads were a little better than yesterday instead of worse. Still a little treacherous, but most of the bridges and overpasses have been sanded.

5:00am

Tire is flat. To see how slow the leak is, I pumped it up using a bicycle pump. Put in 32 lbs. That's quite a workout.

6:30am

Tire is down to about 28 lbs, so it's not losing air too fast. I pumped it up to 35 lbs, and we set off to the airport again.

7:15am

Arrive at the airport - north shuttle lot is open, so we take a ticket and drive in. Dropped Deidra and the luggage off at the building, and went off in search of a parking place.

7:30am

After driving up and down every isle, I realize the lot is full, so I pick up Deidra and the luggage and head for the west lot again. At least the guy at the exit of the north lot waived the 50 cent charge when I griped about there being no "Lot full" sign up. After dropping off bags and kiddo at the west parking building, I found a place to park and walked back up. Again the building was full of people, and rather than wait, this time we just loaded onto a bus and headed to the main terminal.

7:50am

Arrived at Terminal C and got in the American Airlines checkin line that was about 100 yards long. While Deidra waited with our luggage, I went and checked the monitor and found the 9:23am flight was canceled.

8:50am

The ticket agent realized we'd had two flights canceled, and got us set up for a 10:44am flight. When I questioned her "I thought all the flights today were sold out and we'd have to be standby?", she handed me boarding passes and said "You're on it." Not one to question good news, I didn't say anything else besides "Thanks" and "Merry Christmas". She checked our bags and stapled the receipts in the ticket folder. She told us to be sure we were at the gate at least 30 minutes before the flight or we'd risk losing our seats. We headed for the line for the security check, then found the gate. I called my dad to tell him we'd be there at 12:30.

10:20am

The gate agent paged me by name. I went up to the counter and she asked to see my tickets. When I produced them, she took them and said "These never should have been issued to you. The flight is full." Griping got me nowhere, and we were stuck back (presumably at the bottom) on the standby list. I was furious, and Deidra was heartbroken.

11:00am

The 10:44 flight left. Without us. Now we're standby for the 3:44pm flight. Another call to Salt Lake to let them know to pick us up at 5:30pm.

12:00pm

Lunch in the airport. Not exactly how I'd planned to spend Christmas Eve.

3:40pm

There's a plane at the gate, but it's not the one for Salt Lake. Eventually, they announce a gate change for the flight, and everybody trudges down to the gate at the very end of the terminal building.

4:30pm

They're calling standby passengers. We might have a chance... Yes! We get the last two seats on a completely full airplane. Looks like we'll make it after all.

6:15pm

Arrive in Salt Lake and collect our luggage (which has been there for several hours already, having come on an earlier flight). Dad arrives to take us home. It's good to be here at last!