Observations From The Airport

The following are the result of hours with nothing to do thanks to the North Eastern seaboard shut down yesterday due to weather as I tried to return from my grandmother’s funeral in Florida to my home in Portland, ME.

• Why do “they” keep it so frickin’ hot in public places during winter? I mean we’re all bundled up to combat the cold outside, but the minute we get inside, we have to start stripping and there’s only so much we can take off before we’re arrested. And who wants to lug a big, heavy coat plus layers of sweaters and longjohns around the mall, a restaurant, or the airport whilethey try not to overheat and get to wherever it is they’re going or do whatever it is that’s forced them to leave the comfort of their home in the first place?
• I know it’s hard to believe but I have no desire to listen to your phone conversations whether it’s with your boss, your mistress, or Oprah. I particularly don’t want to hear it when you’re standing 2 inches behind me AND not using yovr indoor voice. And certainly don’t have the gall to look offended when I turn around and comment on your side of the conversation as if it was supposed to be private.
• Whatever happened to respect of personal space? Trust me on this. You aren’t going to get to the front of the line any slower ifyou take a step back. Some of you have invaded space I wouldn’t want a boyfriend in on most days. Not to mention that it’s cold and flu season. I’m making a list and if I come down with something, I’ll be paying a visit to each of you.
• The airport is not McDonald’s Playground. No one there wants to play with your child or babysit your child; they have their own things to worry about. They certainly don’t want to be groped by runny-nosed stranger children nor do they want their posessions stolen or manhandled by such wild children. It’s really a wonder more children aren’t abducted in airports.
• Having been stranded in airports for countless hours more than once within 2 months, I think I’m not alone when I say that it would be nice if a few services were added:
  1. I’d gladly pay an hourly fee or similar to rent a small cubicle with a cot to rest between six hour lay-overs.
  2. Some sort of Kinko’s-like office space where people not travelling with laptops can get some work done.
  3. An adjacent department store, WAL-Mart, or mall would be helpfull. I wouldn’t have minded the 12 hour wait after my flights were cancelled if I had more distraction than a few newstands, a couple of bookstores, and a very mini Brookstone (where I bought a nifty travel pillow for $45 so I could try to nap in those uncomfortable airport chairs while clutching my luggage so no one would tamper with it).
  4. Working lockers would be nice; towing my carry-on to the bathroom a couple of times an hour gets old fast.

I would to to especially thank those few Delta and Comair employees who handled the 100’s of flight cancellations with grace, patience and professionalism. Sometimes it’s hard to forget that the airport personnel is just as frustrated with the situation as the traveller is when flights are cancelled for whatever reason.

Granted, I ran into more than a few employees who not only acted burdoned by my desire to get home and my request for help but actually said to my face that they wished I’d go ask someone else for help. It’s those that make the unfortunate situation of weather-related and mechanical-related flight cancellations and delays much more miserable.

I wish I’d gotten the name of the woman who managed to get me a confirmed seat on the only flight out of Atlanta to Portland last night. I’d like to write her a thank you letter and recommend her for employee of the year. She was friendly, calming, patient, and managed to do what no one else seemed to want to do. I got the feeling that she really went above and beyond.

tags: pet peeves, airport

One comment

1. on February 13, 2006 at 1:16 pm

   Tamara said:

   Ooh, I hadn’t thought about the weather delaying your trip home. Love this post — excellent points, all. Glad you’re safe.

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