timwinters
Ejection Handle Pulled
Offered forth as “just the facts” without additional commentary since I doubt that any is necessary.
(well, almost no commentary)
I flew one way from CLE to CGI yesterday via STL. I chose Continental since they have the only non-stop from CLE to STL. The first leg from CLE to STL was an Ebraer operated by Chautauqua (airplanes DO look like backwards bananas afterall) departing at 4:45EST, arriving at 5:32CST and the second leg to CGI was a Cessna 402 operated by Cape Air departing 8:10CST and arriving 9:01CST. The 2.5 hour layover is quite long but it would allow me to grab some dinner and get caught up on paperwork. Or so was the plan.
I made it to CLE with plenty of time, security lines were light. I made it through with no problem (except that a 1/2 size can of shaving cream was confiscated. I guess the TSA agent was out) and I was at my gate a full hour before departure. The announcement came shortly thereafter “we’re oversold and looking for volunteers…”. IIRRC they were oversold by 6; on an Embraer. But I guess they solved that problem because I only heard the plea twice.
We boarded on time and, yes, the plane was full. Approximately 1/3 were soldiers going to Ft. Leonard Wood to finish their training. We sat there for a bit and the captain announced that someone smelled “burning plastic or rubber” and they needed to check it out before departing. So we sat there for about 20 to 30 minutes and the captain made a second announcement, “we found the source of the smell and have replaced the part but now TSA wants to rescreen all the luggage and passengers”. Hooray!
So, we sit there another 30 minutes while they rescreen the luggage and then we disembark and everyone goes through a make-shift screening area in the hallway leading to the gate. They don't have a metal detector so everyone is “wanded” and patted down (there was one good looking TSA agent there and I requested her to do my pat-down but my requests were ignored). This process took another 45 minutes or so and was handled in quite a disorganized and haphazard fashion. For example, my carry-on bag & briefcase held a shaving kit (less any shaving cream) (12”x7”x3”), a camera case (6”x4”x3”), a DayRunner (10”x6”x2”) and my bags had numerous zippered pockets, none of which were opened or re-inspected.
WTF?
So, we finally push back at 7:00EST. 2:15 late. All of a sudden my 2:30 layover has become nothing.
The pilots did a good job of making up some time and we landed in STL at 7:10CST and I was off the plane by 7:25. "I might actually make my connection!"
We parked at concourse “A” and there wasn’t a gate agent or a departure/arrival screen between our gate and the exit.
So, I asked the TSA agent at the exit where Cape Air domiciled. She told me concourse “D”. Can I get there from here without exiting and having to come back through security? “No.”
I used to fly almost every week but, fortunately, since 9/11, haven't flown much. I’m sure I've done it, but I don’t ever recall having to go out of and back through security when making a connection. At STL you can’t go from “A” to anywhere. “B”, “C” and “D” are all connected but “A” isn’t. Oh, for joy, I get to play with TSA again. As if I haven’t slow danced with them enough on this trip.
So, I beat feet across the airport and make it to the other security check point. I breathe a sigh of relief because fortunately there’s almost no one in line. I hand the TSA agent at the podium my ID and boarding pass; this is where the fun really starts.
Him, “Continental doesn’t fly out of concourse “D”.
Me, “Yeah, but Cape Air does and that’s who flies to CGI”.
Him, “But your boarding pass says Continental”
Me, “That’s because I booked my flight through Continental”.
Him, “But, Continental doesn’t fly out of concourse “D”.
Me (now getting a tad impatient), “My last flight wasn’t Continental either, it was Chautauqua. Have you ever heard of the term “partnership” or “affiliation”? Look I only have 10 minutes to make my flight”.
Him, “But, Continental doesn’t fly out of concourse “D”.
Me, “So tell me, who flies to CGI besides Cape Air? Nobody! So, do you think I maybe I'm flying on Cape Air to get to Cape and that MAYBE they have a partnership with Continental?” (I wanted to finish that statement with "moron" but decided better.)
He calls over a supervisor, they scratch each other's (insert favorite body part here) and discuss it.
Me, “I have an idea, Why don’t you call the Cape Air gate (they only have one) and see if they have me listed as a passenger?”
Supe, “okay!”
They do, Cape Air does, and I finally get to pass go.
WTF?
So, at least Cape Air now knows I’m coming so they wait for me(I’m the only passenger tonight on the mighty Cessna 402).
The rest of the trip was uneventful (one hour out of 6 ain’t bad). Rode right seat in the 402. It was a nice, smooth, almost full moon flight.
This is why I hate flying commercial airlines.
I flew one way from CLE to CGI yesterday via STL. I chose Continental since they have the only non-stop from CLE to STL. The first leg from CLE to STL was an Ebraer operated by Chautauqua (airplanes DO look like backwards bananas afterall) departing at 4:45EST, arriving at 5:32CST and the second leg to CGI was a Cessna 402 operated by Cape Air departing 8:10CST and arriving 9:01CST. The 2.5 hour layover is quite long but it would allow me to grab some dinner and get caught up on paperwork. Or so was the plan.
I made it to CLE with plenty of time, security lines were light. I made it through with no problem (except that a 1/2 size can of shaving cream was confiscated. I guess the TSA agent was out) and I was at my gate a full hour before departure. The announcement came shortly thereafter “we’re oversold and looking for volunteers…”. IIRRC they were oversold by 6; on an Embraer. But I guess they solved that problem because I only heard the plea twice.
We boarded on time and, yes, the plane was full. Approximately 1/3 were soldiers going to Ft. Leonard Wood to finish their training. We sat there for a bit and the captain announced that someone smelled “burning plastic or rubber” and they needed to check it out before departing. So we sat there for about 20 to 30 minutes and the captain made a second announcement, “we found the source of the smell and have replaced the part but now TSA wants to rescreen all the luggage and passengers”. Hooray!
So, we sit there another 30 minutes while they rescreen the luggage and then we disembark and everyone goes through a make-shift screening area in the hallway leading to the gate. They don't have a metal detector so everyone is “wanded” and patted down (there was one good looking TSA agent there and I requested her to do my pat-down but my requests were ignored). This process took another 45 minutes or so and was handled in quite a disorganized and haphazard fashion. For example, my carry-on bag & briefcase held a shaving kit (less any shaving cream) (12”x7”x3”), a camera case (6”x4”x3”), a DayRunner (10”x6”x2”) and my bags had numerous zippered pockets, none of which were opened or re-inspected.
WTF?
So, we finally push back at 7:00EST. 2:15 late. All of a sudden my 2:30 layover has become nothing.
The pilots did a good job of making up some time and we landed in STL at 7:10CST and I was off the plane by 7:25. "I might actually make my connection!"
We parked at concourse “A” and there wasn’t a gate agent or a departure/arrival screen between our gate and the exit.
So, I asked the TSA agent at the exit where Cape Air domiciled. She told me concourse “D”. Can I get there from here without exiting and having to come back through security? “No.”
I used to fly almost every week but, fortunately, since 9/11, haven't flown much. I’m sure I've done it, but I don’t ever recall having to go out of and back through security when making a connection. At STL you can’t go from “A” to anywhere. “B”, “C” and “D” are all connected but “A” isn’t. Oh, for joy, I get to play with TSA again. As if I haven’t slow danced with them enough on this trip.
So, I beat feet across the airport and make it to the other security check point. I breathe a sigh of relief because fortunately there’s almost no one in line. I hand the TSA agent at the podium my ID and boarding pass; this is where the fun really starts.
Him, “Continental doesn’t fly out of concourse “D”.
Me, “Yeah, but Cape Air does and that’s who flies to CGI”.
Him, “But your boarding pass says Continental”
Me, “That’s because I booked my flight through Continental”.
Him, “But, Continental doesn’t fly out of concourse “D”.
Me (now getting a tad impatient), “My last flight wasn’t Continental either, it was Chautauqua. Have you ever heard of the term “partnership” or “affiliation”? Look I only have 10 minutes to make my flight”.
Him, “But, Continental doesn’t fly out of concourse “D”.
Me, “So tell me, who flies to CGI besides Cape Air? Nobody! So, do you think I maybe I'm flying on Cape Air to get to Cape and that MAYBE they have a partnership with Continental?” (I wanted to finish that statement with "moron" but decided better.)
He calls over a supervisor, they scratch each other's (insert favorite body part here) and discuss it.
Me, “I have an idea, Why don’t you call the Cape Air gate (they only have one) and see if they have me listed as a passenger?”
Supe, “okay!”
They do, Cape Air does, and I finally get to pass go.
WTF?
So, at least Cape Air now knows I’m coming so they wait for me(I’m the only passenger tonight on the mighty Cessna 402).
The rest of the trip was uneventful (one hour out of 6 ain’t bad). Rode right seat in the 402. It was a nice, smooth, almost full moon flight.
This is why I hate flying commercial airlines.
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