The Chronicle of Unannounced Delay

May 30, 2008 is a date I'll definitely never forget. It was the day I experience the incompetence of people and bed communication at it's maximum power. I woke up early to finished some stuff I need to get ready before leaving. I'm going home for 3 months and as OCD that I can be I needed everything. I arrived to the airport 2 hours before departure time. If you been in Atlanta Airport in a Friday you now it could get very nasty and if you add a "cheap" airline you need the 2 hours. After having to take my Nikon out of the carry on for the first time since I bought, I got to the gate an hour before my time. I decided to buy some coffee and play a little bit. The first thing I notice after getting 100,000 points in my online game, was that the departure time changed from 4:50 to 5:10pm. "It's not that bad...only less time to enjoy my dinner when I get to Ft Lauderdale" I thought. I started playing with my computer when I noticed that now the flight was 5:39pm instead of 5:10pm. A new hour and no Spirit employee nearby to explain. When she finally arrived, I went to make the line and asked how about my connection flight. The girl in front of me was in the same situation than me...so I kind of ear dropped at her conversation with the counter girl. She said that we'll make it to our connection flight. I was a little more relax and wait for the time.

I should've notice that once something starts to screw up it could generate a snowball of screw balls. The departure time arrived, and the mess began. The didn't call by zone and everybody started to enter at the same time. It was 5:45pm and I was placing my carry-on in the compartment. Families were split up when they book together and the flights attendants were trying to make everybody happy. I ended up in the window seat although I didn't pay the $15 the web page told me for selecting my seat. I'm sorry for the ones that did and ended up in other seats. Projected departure time: 4:50pm Actual: 6:15pm.

Getting to Ft. Lauderdale was chapter 2 of this drama. We landed near the gate I was supposed to take but had to wait 40 minutes to the next available gate to "park". I saw my plane came by the gate, and I knew I was no near to exit the plane. I got off and ran towards my GATE F2. I stopped one of the Spirit Personnel to ask about my flight. Two men told me that I was on time. Exiting the Spirit Terminal to my gate, another surprise! In Ft. Lauderdale Airport you have to pass a security check to change areas. Ridiculous, I know! Like I needed more obstacles. I was starting to strip of all my things to pass security when one of the girls from my flight recognized me and stopped me: "We missed it!". "What?!" So, running again this time to the line to change the flight. Two hours passed without moving, my new friend in line was more impatiente than me and kept moving and asking. We found out that there weren't any more flight that night and the next one was @7am without any guarantee that we will be booked for that one. Tired, hungry and very pissed...We decided to drive to Tampa. Only 4 hours. It was already 11pm.

That's how I went on a Road trip with two strangers from Ft. Lauderdale to Tampa. I never thought I would have the courage to make that decision. After 4 hours, one coffee, one bathroom stop and several conversations. I arrived to Tampa...to the beautiful sight of my fiance and his family waiting for me. As soon as I saw him I hugged him for like 5 min...I was so glad to be in his arms again.