The Nightmare After Christmas

May 17, 2009

in Delay/Cancellation Stories

I am in the military and sometimes we will get a few days off for federal holidays. Well, for Christmas of 2008 I decided to go to TN to visit some family. I was flying from New Bern, NC to Knoxville, TN with a connecting flight in Charlotte, NC. The flight there wasn’t bad at all. However, on the way back, it was. My flight was supposed to leave at 9 in the morning. I got to the airport around 7am. I checked into security and got to the gate with no problem. At about 830am, an announcer tells us that our flight will be delayed due to fog in the area. At about 9, the announcer proceeds to tell us that the plane we are supposed to board cannot land due to fog and the captain not being able to see the tarmac. The plane is then rerouted to the closest airport. I had to get in line at the counter so I can get put on another flight.

Two hours later, I finally make it to the front of the counter. I get another ticket but it isn’t until 630 that night. My dad comes back to pick me and take me out to lunch since I had another 6 hours before my flight was to depart. I get back to the airport after eating and decide to buy a couple books to pass the time by. At 530, the announcer tells us that the flight will be delayed and if this causes us to miss our connecting flight to come to the counter. I had to go to the counter to change my connecting flight. With my luck, there were no more connecting flights from Charlotte to New Bern, so we had to look for surrounding airports that I could fly into. At first, the lady could only find a flight to Raleigh, which is 3 hours away from my destination. Finally, we found a flight going to Wilmington, which is only about 1 1/2 hours away, so I took that flight.

At the next gate over, a plane was about to take off to Charlotte and it was half full, so I jumped at the opportunity to take the flight so I could at least make it to NC. I finally make it to Charlotte and find my next flight. I board the plane to head to Wilmington and we are about to leave when all of a sudden we are taken back to the gate because the plane was having communication problems with the tower. Thirty minutes later, we finally take off and head to Wilmington. I didn’t make it to Wilmington until about midnight and didn’t make it back home until about 2am. Luckily, my supervisor said I could come into work a little later than normal.

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Roto13 May 16, 2009 at 6:37 pm

What does you being in the military have to do with anything?

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SAW May 16, 2009 at 7:06 pm

Wow… truly hell. You had someone to spend time with and have a nice meal… only 30 minutes delay for a mechanical problem.. AND you made it where you were going within a 24 hour period. You don't know what hell is until you're stuck in Dulles for 3 days, and make home without your luggage and the same underwear you've been wearing all 3 of those days. THAT's hell. stop whining.

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Hugh May 17, 2009 at 7:15 pm

Thanks for your service. Rest assured, SOME of us appreciate it. God bless you and your family!

Reply

MJ May 18, 2009 at 8:58 am

Wow, SAW, I'm so glad your life is so much more difficult than everyone else's. Maybe you're the one who should stop bitching.

The whole thing does sound like a pain in the ass.

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