Lord, what a trial!

[blume357]

So, my wife and I just spent a week and a half in western South Dakota having a great time traveling in the Black Hills and over to the Bad Lands and then back to the Black Hills and then even over into Wyoming and Devil's Tower and back. If you get a chance, go to this part of the world it is well worth it.

Then we have to head home... in making these plans getting into and out of Rapid City via American Airlines there were not a lot of choices... but flying in went really easy.... (I think y'all see what's coming)

Headed out yesterday and I get a text that our flight is on time.. then another that it will be delayed a half and hour then another that it will be delayed 15 minutes... One thing I did not like is that flying home here to Greenville we had to connect through Chicago and had 1 hour and 15 minutes to make that flight.... usually not a problem with that much time but I have certain prejudices about even flying to Chicago... (all of course because of Chicago's gun violence problems and etc.)

So our flight out ends up leaving about 20 minutes late... we still should be okay... I've mapped out what we have to do at our arrival gate to get to our departure gate for the next flight and they are not that far apart.... we touch down in Chicago exactly 20 minutes late... still should be good right? We then taxied around the airport.... ready for this? for the next hour and 15 minutes... I'm not making this $H!+ up! did not sit but actually taxied for well over an hour... went past the turn into to go down to our gate twice.....

Now let me say that every person I have had to deal with at American Airlines both in person and on the phone has been great and very helpful.... So, we finally get to our gate and off the plan and go to customer service.... beat about 50 people there. nice guy gives us all kinds of bad choices for getting back here to Greenville the next day but then I ask about getting to Charlotte... he can put us on a plane in 20 minutes to Charlotte and we can even still have our first class seats... So, I decide we will fly to Charlotte and rent a car and drive home.... 3 checked bags will end up in Greenville some time in the morning on the next flight here... We get to Charlotte early (11:00 p.m.) and we drive home (2 hours)

Here's the thing... this is the only flight I did not go on line and check where our 3 bags are because I just assumed they were going form Chicago to Greenville the next day on the first flight out (this is what I remember the guy at customer service saying).... I go on line this morning to see if the bags are in flight and guess where they are? Charlotte! They were on the plane with us.... dang it.... all I had to do was check..... So now I'm dealing with A.A. baggage service and such... seems they are supposed to fly them here and then hand deliver them to our house... but I'm wondering about that now because of course there is a pistol in one of those checked bags.... and when picking it up at the airport you now have to go to baggage claim and show I D and often cut all kinds of nylon wire ties off the bag....

Lord what a trial.... but at least we are home.... I need to go get our two dogs and life will be even better.

Oh and I have two phone/internet lines at our house... one personal and one business on two separate fiber optic cables and both are out..... what next?

Have to go back to work tomorrow (thursday) and work Friday and then..... Head up to Contenders early Saturday morning....

 

[gramps]

Take slow deep breaths, WHOOSHA! It will be OK? See ya Saturday!
gramps

 

[contender]

At least when you get here,, it'll be "down time" for FUN!!!!!!!

 

[Fox Mike]

Click your heels three times and say"There's no place like home!". See ya Saturday.

 

[blume357]

I spent the day off and on trying to track the three checked bags we left Rapid City with that were supposed to be coming on the first direct flight from Chicago into Greenville here first thing this morning... they actually were not on the flight my wife and I took to Charlotte last night but it seems on another one that arrived at 1:00 in the morning, just about the time we pulled up in our driveway. I called the main number to discuss with someone twice and they were sort of kind of helpful.... but finally two people at the baggage claim office in Charlotte called wanting to know what to do with them..... first call was for the one with a firearm in it. Lady was a little concerned that it would not make it back through security and I finally got her to understand that it went through security in Rapid City, I actually watched it go through some kind of big machine... nothing like the one they use at the walk through check point and watched the guy check it.... I wish I had asked him if I could watch too. Anyway she said she would send it on and of course I have to pick it up at the baggage claim office.... then about 20 minutes later another lady called about my wife's bag and the other one ..... the interesting thing is this was a good hour before a 2:00 flight to here but it seems these two bags got put put on the 4:20 flight.... and so will arrive (I hope) shortly after 5:00 I'm still going to head over there shortly and just assume they will be there...the internet says they will so it must be true. It is good to be home..... and both dogs are here with us.... life is good.

 

[Kevin]

Wow! Did the flight attendants say anything about why you taxied on the tarmac in Chicago for over an hour? That would be sort of strange.

On a couple occasions I’ve had bags take different flights than me and they got delivered to my house later. Once some guy delivered a bag at 2 or 3 in the morning. I wasn’t the happiest about that.

Well, I hope your gun made it back with the bag all right.

See ya Saturday! I’m on the road in some over-priced motel right now.

 

[blume357]

I think we may have taxied to sort of keep us sheeple happy... I've noticed on a lot of jets that the air vents don't put anything out if the plane is sitting still... not fun in the summer.... that is the only logical reason I can come up with other than folks aren't allowed to move around when the plane is rolling.... have to keep your seat belts on.

All is good.... next time I check more than one bag I'm going to not which number the airline assigns is on which bag.... Since I had to return the rental car to our airport I kept checking on line... one bag was already at baggage claims ... came in on a early flight from Charlotte right after I talked to someone who was concerned that it might be a problem because there was a firearm in it. I finally convinced them it should not be since it had already been checked and scanned by TSA and had passed through their security and it was labeled that it had to be picked up at a baggage office after showing proper I.D. So that had to be the bag already here right? Nope it was my wife's bag and one of the two coming in on the 3rd flight to greenville arriving at 5:06 was the one with the gun.... the only aggravating part was trying to get to the airport just before 5:00 in the afternoon... traffic is terrible in this town since half the country has decided to move here and the highway dept. has decided to redo all the main roads near the airport.... bu the bottom line is I got the rental car back, and picked up all three bags no problem.... lady in the baggage office did ask me if I had been hunting..and I just told her no it was a handgun I carry with me... and then said it was a burden I have to bear. She just gave me a funny look.....
We had left our car at a member of our church's house who lives near the airport and she came and picked me up.

Now to head up to Contenders Saturday morning... I'm bringing the soft drinks and water.

 

[gunsbam69]

I had a friend tell me just the other day, if you don't wanna hassle with the long drive, just fly down and I'll pick you up in Roanoke. I said, I'll just drive and bring a few revolvers along. I have so many friends that fly and deal with stuff like this I just have no desire whatsoever anymore.

 

[CGDustDevil]

I can't imagine flying commercial again... I just don't think I'd be a good candidate for it.

 

[blume357]

I did not fly for years and then was kind of forced to. The organization I belong to decided to have a convention way over in Reno.... just a little too far for me to drive. So I decided to have an adventure and fly and since Nevada recognizes S.C.'s permits I decided to take a pistol with me. This was the first time and I found out that it really was not that difficult. Still don't like being made a sheep and having to blend in with the herd but there are ways to kind of still stay a sheep dog and make it through TSA's security. On the other hand, there is not much you can do if that big heavy can of aluminum decides to drop out of the sky.

 

[Colonialgirl]

On the other hand, there is not much you can do if that big heavy can of aluminum decides to drop out of the sky.

Just sit in the very back row; it's the last part to hit the ground and that's where they usually find any survivors.
That was my practice when I had to fly on business; Now I just look for a cheap seat and some comfort.