paul@uiucuxc.UUCP (03/11/84)
#N:uiucuxc:5300006:000:3151 uiucuxc!paul Mar 10 21:37:00 1984 This story covers several lessons I learned while flying round-trip Seattle to Chicago. Back when Continental went in for a little union-busting with creative abuse of the bankruptcy laws, they offered a $75/segment airfare (Seattle-Denver-Chicago-Denver-Seattle = $300). This was such a good deal, and cheaper by $250 than any other fare given the time limits I had, that I disregarded my better judgement about crossing picket lines. My drive from Portland to Sea-Tac was delayed by unexpected construction. Off the freeway there are all of two signs for guidance to the airport. Miss the turn at the intersec- tion. Farm fields clue me that I missed it. Better luck next time. Park car and sprint, hoping car clock was fast. No such luck - plane had just left. Bad news. Continental folks checked their computer, shook their heads sadly, and told me to take my troubles elsewhere. Elsewhere was the Frontier desk where I was told I could have the last seat on the plane for $300. Little bells start ringing in the back of my mind but there's a voice saying, "You did agree to be the photogra- pher at Meg's wedding. And she has friends where you live." Out comes the plastic, postponing the need for morphine to the end of the month. Surprise in Denver: miss a flight and all subsequent reserva- tions are cancelled. Not pleased that Seattle neglected informing me. Standby list already has ten names on it. What are the choices 1000 miles from home and 1000 from Chicago? ATC hands us a 45 minute gate delay. Passengers keep showing up and get their seats. The Continen- tal gate attendant is beginning to look like Siamese sextuplets with six standbys watching him check off the remaining seats. Again I'm on the last seat. Damn plane smells like a bus. Lot of fear smells. Who wants to stay overnight in Denver with the worst storm of the year ready to roll over the airport? In Chicago I seek to correct this unfortunate situation - my reservations, not the weather. Ticket counter lady was the first civilized Continental employee I met. Re- booked my reservations home. Sigh of relief. Off to wedding with camera and nuclear flash. Next day I check on reservations. What reservations comes the voice on the phone. Deja vu. Book again, seats are scarce, yet success. REAL BAD NEWS at airport. With all the cheap seats gone, I'm booked into first class. More bucks. Definite pain - free booze doesn't cut it. Geek at Denver insists on x-raying film bag. I insist on hand inspection and assure him I'll miss my flight to find his supervisor for scorching. A little craziness goes a long way with these people. I won't EVER fly Continental again if at all possible. They screwed their employees with the remainder darkening my trip at every step. I screwed up missing the flight. They took it from there. Depending on fare restrictions, I will always try to book legs as separate journeys to avoid the domino effect. Never, if possible, cross a justified picket line. Everyone deter- mines justified for themselves. Wiser and poorer, Paul Pomes, ihnp4!uiucdcs!uiucuxc!paul University of Illinois, CSO