5:23 PM: Arrive at gate B15, coffee and paper in hand, for my 7:10 flight.
5:49 PM: Flight is overbooked by two seats.
5:51 PM: I volunteer to be bumped from the flight, in exchange for a $250 voucher.
5:53 PM: There are no open flights to New York tonight, either direct or connecting, nor Washington, Philadelphia, or Boston, on any airline. Agent tries to get permission from his supervisor to send me to San Diego for the day. Unsuccessful. Notes "this is like trying to bring out water from a rock." Nice reference to Numbers 20.
5:54 PM: Earliest arrival into New York will be at 12:30 PM, the next day, flying (backwards) through Chicago. They'll throw in the hotel room.
6:30 PM: I take the offer. Mad dash to pull my bag from the airplane ensues. Flight is delayed a half hour. I sit back comfortably and wait for my vouchers.
7:23 PM: Hotel shuttle pulls up. My new best friend is Arnold, the other man bumped from the flight.
7:38 PM: Westin is actually a Best Western. Damn. Hotel alttrium is circa 1972, with waterfall, neon lights and tanning room.
7:45 PM: Room 2025. View of the parking lot. King sized bed. TV. Soap. I think I saw this once in a Dateline special.
8:04 PM: In need of supplies, I go for a walk. Gift shop is closed. I go down the street to the Embassy Suites. Serious hotel envy ensues.
8:30 PM: Family Guy!
9:00 PM: Desperate Housewives. I too am very desperate.
10:12 PM: Onslaught of text messages. Why me? Why now?
10:14 PM: "Sleep".
12:30 AM: Awake.
1:09 AM: Really awake. TV time.
2:46 AM: Grey hair succesfully plucked.
3:42 AM: Shower. Pack. Go.
4:56 AM: How do lines exist at this time of day?
5:02 AM: Seat opens up on 6:15 AM flight direct to La Guardia. Celebration followed by trip to Starbucks.
5:03 AM: Yum.
5:08 AM: Only person at my gate, B14. Remember the good old days, B15? How I miss thee.
5:45 AM: Plane. Pilot. Flight attendant. Still no sun. Is this really happening?
6:15 AM: Goodbye Detroit!
I read this in the library. I laughed out loud. I got dirty looks.
You are one seriously funny/strange kid David Singer. Thanks for the laugh (even if I did get dirty looks).
Posted by: Emma | Monday, April 28, 2008 at 07:59 PM
You should've asked for more $. We each got a $400 voucher when we got bumped on Delta from Detroit to NYC... and we flew 4 hours later the same day!
Posted by: Adam | Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 03:02 AM