Nights in Gate 10

[plumtreeblossom]

I bought my flight tickets for Rochester (I will be "absence from house" betwixt December 21 and 26), for an unexpectedly reasonable price of $168. Not unexpectedly, and Rochester being Rochester, the flight is of course not direct. I get a nice retarded opposite-direction detour to Baltimore, then a connecting flight to Rotfester. Same on the way back.

I know, know, know I'm going to get stranded in the Baltimore airport overnight on one or both journeys. Why? Because I'm me. Airport strandings wait until I get there, then attack. Sometimes it's weather, sometimes it's a strike or staffing crisis, always it sucks. I know how to airport camp, I've done it plenty and am packing accordingly. That doesn't mean I like it.

Airport floors I have slept on:

Newark - 2 days, 2 nights
Amsterdam - 2 days, 1 night
Paris - 8 hours (doesn't really count since it was all daytime)
Boston - 1 night (could not go home or would lose guaranteed seat)
Newark again - 1 night (I hate that fucking hellhole)

No, I don't have any friends in Baltimore, since I know someone will suggest that. Why not get a hotel room when this happens? Because I'm not shelling out $200, and most airlines won't pay for it if it's a mass stranding or an Act of God weather stranding. I'm used to sleeping on the floors, and to the frustrated camraderie of helpless people stranded together for days.

Still, this once, just this one little tiny once... can it please not happen?

Comments

[guxx.livejournal.com]

The difference between you and me, is if I had to be anywhere within a 8-hour drive of here, I'd drive it. You, among other people I know, would fly it.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I'd sooner not go than spend 8 hours in a car. I hate being in cars any longer than 45 minutes or so. After that I turn into a screaming skeleton zombie and explode all over. It's ugly.