Stop the insanity

When will the flight issues end. Normally I try to ensure that I am at a client site by 10 am Monday morning else my personal convictions require me to travel Sunday night. This week however, I violated my rule in order to catch the Superbowl. I booked a flight at the "oh my gosh who flies this early" time of 5:15 am. My routing was MSP-ATL, connection ATL-GNV. First off, I should have known better to fly via ATL but, hey its once a year SuperSunday right? Get up at 0-dark:30 (3:50) to shower and catch my cab coming for me at 4:15 am. All is well with the world, a bit tired but shoot, the starbucks at the airport was even open at 4:30 am. mmmm latte. I get this straight arrow dude sitting next to me blocking me into my window seat, bummer, when the door closes and I start giving him head nods to move to that wide open row up in front of us. Psst, yo-mister, see that whole row to yourself, scram. C'mon, don't you read head nods. I cant move, you've pinned me in. grrrr damnit man. Well we go from bad to worse. "Folks we have some minor mechanical issues, this is very minor, it doesn't impede any of our flight controls only the backup to the auto brakes for landing, we will check with maintenance and get you a status........... ok we have to return to the gate for repairs." damnit again. He said it's not essential, fly this bird. Well, not like my vote counted or anything, but I lost that argument. 60 mins later we are fixed, 1 hour late so far, I can still make my connection. 'Course that would be to easy. Only now after we are all done does the gas truck come over and the pilot announces he is going to put some fuel on board. Fuel? We haven't gone anywhere what do we need more fuel for. THIS takes another 15 mins. Thats it im screwed now on the connection. What irks me is if you wanted fuel, why didn't you order the dang truck to pump simultaneously as we were being repaired? Does common sense not exist in the airline industry?

So I have a pleasant flight next to mr "I gotta keep my assigned seat please", and we make it to ATL where I miss my connection by 2 minutes. 2 mins!!! Stupid refuel. The gate agent, however, so ever nicely and bubbly says, Dont worry we have auto-booked you on the next flight. Ma'am I wasn't worried to begin with, just irked at the issues. Next flight...... 3 hours later. So, recap. I get up at dark dark, run to the airport at dark dark still, catch a flight that goes no where until sun-up to spend 3 hours in ATL and arrive at work at 2:15 pm. Delta, you rock.

On a happy note. I am easy-come easy -go, this stuff doesn't really bother me, just fun to vent a little bit. I did however call NorthWest to offer a small complaint about the attendant who lost her badge and was awarded 7,500 free miles this morning.