Stranded in Chicago

It happened again. Flying through Chicago inevitably leaves me with a travel story. This time is no different. Thanks to inclement weather in San Francisco, my plane from Colorado Springs to Chicago was 2 hours late. I figured I still had 35-40 minutes, which is normally enough time.

I did not count on having to wait for 30 minutes in the temporary parking area called the "penalty box". Well, not being one to give up easily, I got off the plane and began running from one end of the "C" concourse to the far end of the "B" concourse. HAlfway to the gate, I got that sinking feeling. That feeling that comes when you think you left the oven on when you go on a trip. Or left the garage door open. Well in my case, I left my jacket, with my tickets, in the overhead bin of the plane I had just left. In my hurry to get off the plane, I fotgot about it.

So, I ran back to the gate. Huffing and puffing and out of breath, the gate agent assured me that they had not bgun boarding yet. I tried to explain, thorugh large gasps, probably resembling the air intake on the jet engines, that I left my jacket on the plane. They let me on and sure enough it was there.

So, I begin running AGAIN to the gate. About halfway there, I start coughing. The running triggered my asthma. I slow down to a fast walk. As I near the gate I can see it is empty. :-( I talk to an agent at an adjacent gate and am told that the plane actually left a bit early. So, even if I had not forgoten my jacket I would not have made the flight.

So, I then had to wait in a mile-long line with others who had missed other flights. After 45 minutes of waiting, we are told that the people we are waiting to see are going home for the night. It is 11:00 P.M. So, like sheep, we follow the agent to another part of the airport and get in another mile-long line. After waiting for another 30 minutes, we are told that ten people can go downstairs and get their tickets changed. I am one of the ten. Good? Not so good.

After waiting for my turn, the agent tells me that he is unable to rebook any tickets but can provide hotel vouchers. So he punches my flight in and discovers that there are two codes attached to my flight. He calls his supervisor and discovers that part of the flight is weather related and therefore not subject to any voucher. But the part where I was on the tarmac waiting to get to the gate is "voucherable." So they agree to give me a hotel voucher for the night plus $7 worht of food coupons for the next day at the aiport.

After waiting 30 minutes for the shuttle, I get to my hotel and wait for 20 minutes while other stranded passnegers check in. By now it is well after midnight.

Once I get to the room, I immediately call United and am placed on hold. I was on hold so long, I celebrated two birthdays.

I was told that there are no flights the next night and will have to wait one more night before I can fly back to Macedonia..

The good news in all this, is I get to spend a day and a half with my son who is a senior at Wheaton.

I will update this after I get back. IF I get back. :-)

Trent