Saturday, December 22, 2007
Stranded in Phoenix!
The picture at right is our plane -- a US Airways flight in code-share disguise -- backing away from its gate at Phoenix airport on its way to Durango. I was able to take this picture because we were denied boarding on account of "weight limitations". That we were not nearly the fattest people on the flight seemed to be irrelevant. Apparently we were the last passengers to get boarding passes, and therefore the last to be allowed to board if there is too much baggage on the plane. We were not, however, dilatory in our pursuit of boarding passes. We are the last passengers to have been given boarding passes because US Airways in Newark would not issue them at our original point of embarkation. It seems their computers are less nuanced than those of other airlines.
In any case, here's my most fundamental gripe: Since this is a flight to a ski resort during the week of Christmas and everybody and their brother has more baggage than the 1st ID, it was fairly goddamned predictable that the last four passengers would not be allowed on. Indeed, the last passenger actually granted right of passage reported that this happens on the Durango flight more often than it does not. Thanks for that, US Airways, I'll have another.
With any luck, we will squeeze on the totally booked flight three hours later. Unless, of course, I screwed up our karma with this post.
UPDATE (11:20 pm MST): We did indeed get on the later flight out of Phoenix and got up to Durango in fine fettle. As one of our commenters observed, there is a beautiful full moon tonight, and it lit up the snow-covered mountains all the way up. Absolutely gorgeous.
8 Comments:
By 
, at
Sat Dec 22, 07:55:00 PM:
Shit Jack ... rent a 4WD and get moving. Sure it's a good 10 hour haul without the weather this time of year, but at least you're on the move. Counting on a slot being open on a plane this time of year and this weekend of all seems ill-advised.
By , at
Sat Dec 22, 11:12:00 PM:
I had a similar problem flying from Hanscom Field to Trenton not so very long ago. Amazingly, the airline loaded cargo before passengers on my flight, and the "weight limitations" were due to the heavy weight of some of the cargo. Unsurprisingly, a little negotiation, of the load and argumentative variety, helped my cause and I ended up on the flight while the cargo flew on the next plane. I normally don't fight these sorts of things, but empty seats on a flight for which I held a boarding pass really lit my wick.
Make some noise next time, and see what happens.
By , at
Sat Dec 22, 11:22:00 PM:
Beutiful night here in Phoenix, enjoy it. Full moon, lovely.
By 
Escort81, at
Sun Dec 23, 12:08:00 AM:
No question you got hosed.
I think Durango is wonderful -- it's a special part of CO. That said, your next ski house should be in Utah. Non-stops on big planes are available from JFK and PHL to SLC, and there are 9 really good ski resorts within an hour of the airport, with much of the drive by interstate highway. It's nice there in the summer as well, as long as you are above 6,000 feet elevation and out of the Salt Lake Valley (think Park City or the Ogden Valley near Snowbasin). Any time you connect in an airport or have to drive over a pass, you roll the dice. Eventually craps comes up.
I spent two years living in Utah in the late 1980s while in grad school. It was a very red state (and still is, I believe) -- on a relative basis, I was a bleeding heart liberal out there (being pro-choice with some restrictions, in favor of gun controls on automatic weapons). So, you might be writing a center-left blog instead of a center-right blog, without changing a thing.
The skiing in Utah is outstanding, with Little Cottonwood Canyon (where Alta and Snowbird are) having some of the best lift-serviced skiing in the world, as good as anything in the Alps.
And Mrs. TigerHawk does not have to worry about you picking up another wife -- regardless of what's on the HBO series Big Love, it's illegal (and excommunicable in the LDS Church), and the state authorities are enforcing it now. Plus, it's challenging enough with one, I would think.
By jj mollo, at
Sun Dec 23, 12:31:00 AM:
It seems to me that package delivery is so good. It's hard to understand why people delivery is so bad.
I got stuck with my family coming back from France last year -- 18 hours in the airport when we were no more than 4 hours from home. If they had stopped lying about how long it would be, we could have taken the train. We ended up getting bussed to the next airport anyway.
Well, good luck and Merry Christmas, and I hope you get where you're going in comfort and joy.
By , at
Sun Dec 23, 08:09:00 AM:
Simple answer ... airlines make money moving cargo, not people.
Next time you have time to waste, wait around in the terminal and watch what comes off your plane, or someone else's.
Big stuff usually comes last. I think the airlines have contracts with virtual all cargo companies.
Then ask yourself if you believe they actually scan all that stuff. We all already know felons work the tarmac.
JT
By , at
Sun Dec 23, 11:16:00 AM:
I had a similar thing happen to me in Pasco, Washington. Instead of throwing passengers off the plane, they dumped baggage. I looked out the window as various bags were taken off. Fortunately, my bag was not among those left behind.
By Andrewdb, at
Sun Dec 23, 07:40:00 PM:
Google US Air - they have a pretty bad rep on overbooking (I think the WSJ had an item on them recently too).
Merry Christmas, enjoy Durango.
