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I am justifiably proud of my airline haggling abilities. When Travelocity quoted me a bare minimum of $475 to get to KamaCon, I did not relent. With some haggling and obligatory visiting of Grandma, I got, for a mere $250, a ticket not only to KamaCon, but to the beautiful state of Wisconsin a beautiful two days earlier with a beautiful Greyhound bus experience as part of the deal. Nevermind that Priceline put me on three planes to get there; I was the conqueror.
First flight: Missoula to Denver - very pleasant. I enjoyed my select position as one of the 18 people privileged enough to fly in a United Express craft. My seat close to the loudly humming engine, which could have very well been a quaint vintage propellor, gave me the peace of mind knowing that the plane was indeed functioning throghout the entire flight. The hot summer weather had nothing on us, especially the my feet part of us that were positioned conveniently near the air conditioner and lost all feeling in a pleasant sort of numbness very quickly.
The ladies at the customer service counter in Denver are oh-so-friendly as well, greeting me with a smile as I explain that I'm on the flight to Chicago that is apparently now cancelled; and continuing to wear that perfect smile throughout the next twenty minutes as they stare blankly at the screen, pushing mysterious buttons and saying nothing of my plight. Five fellow United travelers visit the friendly customer service representative in the booth adjacent to mine as I wait. I get the chance to meet them as I wait for my customer service representative, who, as she kindly informs me, can't talk to me and run the computer at the same time. All five of these friendly folks walk up, announce their flightless status, and are promptly issued tickets on flight 252 to Chicago, which leaves in 40 minutes.
"Um, any way I can get on that flight 252 that everyone else is getting on?"
Customer Service smiley lady looks up, startled at being talked to while on the computer. "Oh, no. That one is completely full."
"Hi," says a new voice next to me, "I'm on the cancelled flight to Chicago."
"Not a problem! Says the cheery next-door answer, "here are your boarding passes for flight 252. It leaves in 40 minutes. Have a nice day!"
Eventually, my Customer Service Representative, after a brief chat with a co worker concerning an upcoming coffee break, offers me, from the boundless mercy of her heart, a ticket to Chicago tonight and a ticket to Green Bay first thing in the morning.
"What's more," she pluckily confides in me, "They have available hotel rooms in Chicago, unlike here in Denver. And your luggage will be arriving safely in Green Bay tonight."
What friendly folk. Now I get an extra night in the Windy City and, if I'm really good, food vouchers!
*dances in anticipation*
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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Oh, I must also compliment smily Customer Service Representative on her hairdo. It was at once blonde and black; curly and straight; square and hip. And she was about 75. What a marvel of cosmetological prowess!
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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I recommend going to work for a company with a paid travel agent. Use your cell to call your travel agent while you are waiting in line with the other victims of the cancelled flight. It's fun snagging the last seat on the last flight of the day before you even get up to the desk.
Posts: 2655 | Registered: Feb 2004
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Ah, the evolution of the Green Bay paper-making industry. There used to be a P&G factory on University Ave., but I'm pretty sure they shut that down. Or sold it, maybe, to Georgia-Pacific, who bought Fort James, which was a merging of James River and Fort Howard. Yay for brief history.
From where is Green Bay halfway to Sturgeon Bay? Oshkosh? Fondy? Point?
Posts: 3932 | Registered: Sep 1999
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Hence the confusion on why anyone would want to go there.
