I knew exactly what I wanted marching towards the counter determined to get on an earlier flight.
After several minutes of one airline lady training another she informs me, “We have space on an the 3:20 and it will be seventy-five dollars for the change fee and twenty cents for the difference in fare.”
“You charge for that now?”
“We have for two years.”
“I’ll just stay on my flight.”
I begrudgingly checking my baggage.
Plan B. Locate a place to plug in my computer and work. In the flurry of details prior to leaving, I forgot about arranging to employ my phone as a tether. I ponder paying for the Boingo. The guy next to me generously gives me the code to share his wi-fi.
Perched on an uncomfortable stool flanking the bank of electrical outlets I research for a project. #Shitstix. My phone isn’t charging. I fumble with the cord until the icon informs me the current is flowing from A to B.
All I wanted was to get on an earlier flight.
I wonder if my stubborn Dutch cheapness might be a detriment at times. I wonder what happened to customer service. I wonder why people put up with this. I wonder why we have not taken to social networking to cause an uprising of upset. I wonder why you would charge someone for a seat that is empty.
Or maybe I should just go to the bar.
I approach my gate. The monitor says: COMPLIMENTARY: SNACKS. Underneath the smaller type states: A variety of snacks are available for a small fee.
Not complimentary.
I wonder why their marketing people are idiots.
Six hours after arriving at the airport I board the plane. A flight attendant sits next to me as I bemoan the lack of wi-fi. She tells me to sit near a Red Carpet President WTF Club.
At the Super Shuttle desk they tell me my wait could be forty-five minutes or more; however, twenty minutes later they call I name. I whip out my paper (call me Paddington Bear) with the address of where I am staying.
“How do I get there?”
“I dunno. I don’t live here.”
“You don’t know where you are going?”
Um, isn’t that your job?
I departed Stillwater Springs at 7:00 AM Eastern and arrive at my final destination at 12:00 AM Central. I knew I wanted to get on earlier flight.
Smooches!!
The Queen of Alyssaland
WRITING PROMPT:
This week we’d like you to write a memoir piece about an unfulfilled goal or a broken resolution, beginning with the words, “I knew what I wanted”.
The word limit is 400 words.