- …I get to the airport for a domestic US flight and they tell me that it’s at least 2.5 hrs delayed and that if I want to make my transatlantic connection, I better drive to Dulles (I do LOVE it that I was indeed driven to Dulles though *smooch to you, babe*)
- …I get to Dulles airport, go through check-in and security and all over the TV screens they have CNN blaring that some dipshit jumped security at Newark and there is talk of closing down US airspace completely (Wasn’t the Nigerian dipshit igniting himself the day before I travelled to the US enough?)
- …I am boarding my flight to Frankfurt 20 mins late, only to have the pilot inform us that “best scenario we’ll be arriving 45-60 mins late at Frankfurt“, which would make me miss my connection to Amsterdam for sure.
- …I fall asleep on the plane, only to be woken about 7 times by flight attendants for food, drinks and seatbelt checks (they are not supposed to wake sleeping passengers for food/drinks and my seatbelt was fastened over my blanket as per their request and clearly visible)
- …I arrive at Frankfurt airport, having to find UA staff (they don’t have a desk there, how do you NOT have a desk at one of your larger destinations!) to get my re-booking voucher in order to be able to get my boarding pass and being sent from desk to desk to finally be sent to the Lufthansa Service Desk as by then hundreds of other people were as well
- …Being in line at that Service Desk for 2 hours, I end up at the desk of probably the only Lufthansa employee that was NOT authorized to print my boarding pass.
- …I then get shoved over to her colleague and almost getting beaten up by the passengers in her line because they thought I was cutting into their line.
- …I get dragged into a shouting match on the above (my lines: I know bitch, I was in line as well, it sucks, I was ordered to go to this desk, yes, that sucks as well, as much for you as it does for me, yeah bite me!) which ended up having to get airport security to get the assholes off my back.
…It finally was my turn I got informed that the UA asshole had SENT ME TO THE WRONG DESK! And I was actually supposed to go to the other terminal and to go there NOW as the flight I was re-booked for was almost departing.
- …I rush over to the other terminal only to find out I had to go through Customs ánd Security in order to get into the part of the building I needed to be in.
- …The Frankfurt Airport Information Desk guy gets into a discussion with me why the hell I have to be at the Air France/KLM desk being a UA passenger (because I was re-booked to one of their flights, fishhead, so stop wasting my time and just tell me how to get there!)
- …I arrive at the desk at the other terminal only to be informed that OF COURSE by now my flight had left (yeah, funny how that happens after 3 hours in line and half an hour rushing from one terminal to another)
- …The desk clerk tells me that the only remaining flight for the day to Amsterdam is full… but that I can go on standby, and yay! (insert sarcasm) she does have an alternative for me with available seats: fly to Zürich (Zwitserland) and from there to Amsterdam (an option that I declined on grounds of it being IN-Fucking-SANE, and knowing weather in Europe was due to get bad that night and possibly getting stuck in Zwitserland instead)
To go short for the rest of the story: I went on stand-by for the last flight out to Amsterdam last night and Thank Gawd I got on it. I have seldomly been happier while travelling then when I was handed my boarding pass last night. I got there without a hitch from then on and my suitcase was even there! My BIL picked me up from the airport, we picked up some take out, I got home, snuggled up with Ms Kitty, then unpacked my suitcase, had a shower and went off to sleep.
I was supposed to go back to work today. Instead, I slipped on the frozen sidewalk this morning when trying to scrape the half an inch layer of ice from my car windows and slammed my back into the car… My neighbour was so nice to drop me off at the Dr’s office who gave me painkillers and muscle relaxants and ordered me to go home and rest…
Gives me all the more time to think of the perfect email to United Airlines. That airline seriously sucks ENORMOUS BIG FAT ass. Their service sucks, their planes suck. I am truly never flying with them again. They better not try to compensate me with frequent flyer miles… Assholes…
Anyway, what I really wanted to say is that I am back… I had a great time and now I am back… flat on my back…
I’m sorry you had so many issues with your flights! This website has a list of contact info:
http://www.elliott.org/help/united-airlines/
It’ll probably be more helpful then what you find on their own website!
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January 5th, 2010 at 3:21 PM
Thanks Girl. I have actually just sent a complaint to their Dutch offices, but if that doesnt work out I will certainly use this link
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Damn, girl. I don’t know how you made it through all that without killing someone. I would have.
Glad you’re home, safe and sound.
Coal Miner’s Granddaughter´s last blog ..I’m In Ur ‘Puter! Feedin’ Ur Reads!
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January 5th, 2010 at 3:21 PM
Oh trust me, I WANTED to kill someone… several someone’s actually, I just didn’t have the damn time to do it!
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Well that totally sucks….glad you had a nice time while stateside!
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January 5th, 2010 at 4:22 PM
I did
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Awww, so sorry Hon. Glad you got to stay home today though. You needed it. : )
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January 5th, 2010 at 4:23 PM
Yeah, it’s just that Ms Kitty keeps trying to sleep on my face… Makes breathing a bit hard…
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Oh dear. I’m glad you got home safely anyway. I hope your back feels better soon.
Now… apparently I missed something. Who’s the mystery man in Virginia, is it?
Finn´s last blog ..I Believe 
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January 5th, 2010 at 4:23 PM
Look UP
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January 5th, 2010 at 4:28 PM
Ahhh…
Finn´s last blog ..I Believe 
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I think my favorite part is that airport security actually HELPED YOU (by getting people in line off your ass). That has to be some kind of record.
I think you should send them this blog link as well. It worked for me when I blasted Verizon and Alienware.
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January 5th, 2010 at 4:24 PM
Yeah, I was thinking of sending them the link if they don’t reply or don’t compensate me sufficiently
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damn, that is a lot of fucking hassle just to get home.
Glad you got home safely, but sorry to hear about your back.
martymankins´s last blog ..The Oatmeal
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January 6th, 2010 at 2:24 PM
Uh Huh, a looottt of fucking hassle. Never had any shit like this before.
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Airlines are required to suck, I think. My advice is to not fly Continental, either. I saw a Continental employee slap some lady HARD across the face in Newark, once. So did some other guy, who started yelling and it got alll crazy.
Glad you’re home safely with Miss Kitty and tending to your poor back!!!
Sybil Law´s last blog ..Barfly
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January 6th, 2010 at 2:25 PM
Yeah, I’ve never flown Continental but I don’t hear very good stories about them either…
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I’m glad you made it home finally. However, you have me terrified to ever travel overseas. Please reassure me that it isn’t always like that.
Margaret´s last blog ..A New Year
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January 6th, 2010 at 2:25 PM
It’s not always like that. I’ve been travelling for years and this is actually the first time I had to go thru shit like this. I guess it was my turn
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I’m going to use this as an excuse why we never go on vacation. Yeah, that’s it!
Sorry you went through this hell. Now give UA hell!!!!
kapgar´s last blog ..What if I do…
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January 6th, 2010 at 2:26 PM
Noooooo you can’t use this as an excuse! I won’t let you!!! :whack:
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Jeez…what a freakin mess….this is whyI’ve all but stopped traveling. You’d think they’d have their shit together by now
Bug´s last blog ..Notes from the Universe 
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Welcome to my world! Except things like this happen to me almost every time I fly. The last time I had something THIS messed up, I was flying INTO Dulles. The airport must be cursed.
Dave2´s last blog ..Tool
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Yikes. That’s a rough way to travel.
The most trouble I have sleeping on a plane is people banging into me. I’m sort of big, but I can still make it down the aisle without bouncing off the people in the aisle seats… I may be the only traveler in the world with this skill. (People banging into me is not as troubling as having the metal cart shoved into my shoulder.) I mostly take window seats these days.
I’m glad to hear you made it home safely.
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