Airport Experiences....On Airports

0n Airports

            Airports. What a challenge!

            They are made up of nothing more than fallible human beings, trying to do their jobs, food courts, restrooms, electronic boards, and P.A. systems. The rest is all pretense.

            Terminal announcers sound like this. “mfffff trufff, wastufa, now! Shuff mouff, go to faife deefer or you can frasss tobit now!” Some don’t have a “grasp” on the English language yet..

            It goes like this. “Weeel JJargge Peeterrsoooon pleas repor now tu de deshk ur de gaytt feefty faur now”.

            Everyone is trying. Very trying!

            Upon arriving at the Denver Airport from Los Angeles, I knew I had over three hours before the flight from Denver to Hays would leave. ( I won’t tell you the name of the airline, but my name for it is “Wingduck Airlines”.) I immediately found the electronic boards. Sure enough. The 7:40 p.m. flight was cancelled. But OH BOY, the earlier 2:20p.m. flight read “Delayed”.

            I thought, “They must be holding it for me and a few others who are flying in this afternoon.”. I ran. In fact, I ran about 12 miles… Seemed like it. Down the hall to the very end, down the stairs, again to the end.  A light on the wall was flashing a big word, “RELAX” . Yeah. Sure.

            Upon arriving at the specified gate, the girl blinked at me, “Oh I am sorry you ran all the way. That flight left an hour ago!” (Then why did the sophisticated board tell me it was DELAYED?..No one knew that answer)

            The next step was to give me a free voucher for a hotel room for the night. My next connection would be at 8 a.m. the next morning. I had no luggage since I had checked it through to Hays. (Yes, I know. I could have gotten it but I forgot that little detail)

            Arriving at the hotel, I went to my room with my purse, one tube of lipstick, my cell phone, a small hairbrush, my kindle, several books and my C-Pap machine. No pajamas. But I had my electronic gadgets!

            Getting into bed, I thought, “All I need now is a fire or problem in the night since I am sleeping without my pajamas. That could be embarrassing.”

            Sure enough, about 1:30 a.m. the fire alarm went off. SQEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEL SQUEEEEEEEEEL…over and over. I peeked out the door. I saw no one. I made a quality decision. Better put my clothes on. I grabbed my purse and my phone.

            By then every one was emerging out of their rooms, looking like ants filing out of an anthill. We collected in the lobby. Faces were unhappy. Most had been bumped by one airline or another and now THIS!

            Soon the fire engine arrived. The firemen marched in with their hatchets attached to their belts, the hoses on their backs, gigantic boots over rubber overalls, and heavy jackets. The helmets blocked their faces. They didn’t look human, not at 2 a.m. but then I probably didn’t either!

            We stood there blinking and squinting. SQUEEEEEL, SQUEEEEEL, SQUEEEL.

            After 30 minutes more, the firemen ascertained that the problem SQEEEEEEEEL, SQEEEEEEL was a short or digital malfunction. We were released to return to our rooms. We were as happy as a bunch of wet cats!