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reno
Mar 3, 2009, 11:35 PM
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Ignore for a moment the fact that United has a direct flight from DEN to Toronto. Just don't ask... taking that flight would have been $400 more and when the airfare is charged to the client, the powers that be decided we should take the less expensive option when possible. So, at 0630, I arrived at Denver to check in for my 0830 flight. To Houston. Where I'd connect to O'Hare. Then to Toronto. I know some folks don't care for it, but Denver Int'l is actually an easy airport to get in/out. Check in was a 10 minute procedure, and security took about the same. But it all went to shit after that. My flight to Houston was bumpy as hell, which meant no beverage service. Me, sans coffee, is not a pleasant sight. Then I changed to the plane to O'Hare. Which promptly got held on the tarmac at IAH for 40 minutes, because apparently it was too busy in Chicago airspace for one more plane. So we sat. Finally, we flew and landed, 1 hour past our planned arrival. Which, of course, meant that I missed my flight to Toronto. And, as I've opined before, there are no decent places in O'Hare to eat or get a decent beer. Nor do they have free Wi-Fi, and I wasn't paying $8 for two hours of web time. So I chocked down two beers from Berghoff, read my book, and waited. Finally, I got to Toronto. Then the joy of clearing customs. I had to provide proof that I wasn't there to sell anything (copy of the contract with the client) and proof that I had a flight OUT of Canada (flight itinerary) and that I didn't have any drugs, etc. Stamps on the passport, and off I go to collect my bag. Which, of course, never made it, and is still in Chicago. File a Missing Bag report. The lady claims it will be on the last flight of the night from ORD to YYZ. Finally, made it to the hotel after waiting 45 minutes for the shuttle bus... apparently they don't send the bus until you call them first. This morning, I had to make a fast run to Wal-Mart (I know, DMT, I know... but at 0630, I had no choice) to buy clothing that was presentable enough to wear to the client. Pants, shirt, boxers, socks, and an undershirt. The tag on the boxers said "Medium" and the t-shirt was "XL." Bought, paid, dashed back to the hotel to shower. Getting dressed, I find that it was the OUTER sticker/price tag that read "medium," but the boxers themselves were 2XL. And that "XL" t-shirt? Yeah, no... small. And no dress shoes in my size. So there I sat today, in the office of a new client who just dropped a big hunk of change on our software, wearing boxers three sizes too big, a t-shirt too small, and my La Sportiva Exum Ridge trail runners. Now, I'm back in the hotel, and my bag is still in Chicago. I spent 20 minutes on the phone, restraining my temper because if I tear into the minimum wage schmuck on the phone, she'll never put my bags on the plane. Tonight, she says. Yeah, sure. I need a drink. And my toothbrush.
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uhoh
Mar 4, 2009, 12:04 AM
Post #2 of 34
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Registered: Mar 11, 2007
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reno wrote: Ignore for a moment the fact that United has a direct flight from DEN to Toronto. Just don't ask... taking that flight would have been $400 more and when the airfare is charged to the client, the powers that be decided we should take the less expensive option when possible. So, at 0630, I arrived at Denver to check in for my 0830 flight. To Houston. Where I'd connect to O'Hare. Then to Toronto. I know some folks don't care for it, but Denver Int'l is actually an easy airport to get in/out. Check in was a 10 minute procedure, and security took about the same. But it all went to shit after that. My flight to Houston was bumpy as hell, which meant no beverage service. Me, sans coffee, is not a pleasant sight. Then I changed to the plane to O'Hare. Which promptly got held on the tarmac at IAH for 40 minutes, because apparently it was too busy in Chicago airspace for one more plane. So we sat. Finally, we flew and landed, 1 hour past our planned arrival. Which, of course, meant that I missed my flight to Toronto. And, as I've opined before, there are no decent places in O'Hare to eat or get a decent beer. Nor do they have free Wi-Fi, and I wasn't paying $8 for two hours of web time. So I chocked down two beers from Berghoff, read my book, and waited. Finally, I got to Toronto. Then the joy of clearing customs. I had to provide proof that I wasn't there to sell anything (copy of the contract with the client) and proof that I had a flight OUT of Canada (flight itinerary) and that I didn't have any drugs, etc. Stamps on the passport, and off I go to collect my bag. Which, of course, never made it, and is still in Chicago. File a Missing Bag report. The lady claims it will be on the last flight of the night from ORD to YYZ. Finally, made it to the hotel after waiting 45 minutes for the shuttle bus... apparently they don't send the bus until you call them first. This morning, I had to make a fast run to Wal-Mart (I know, DMT, I know... but at 0630, I had no choice) to buy clothing that was presentable enough to wear to the client. Pants, shirt, boxers, socks, and an undershirt. The tag on the boxers said "Medium" and the t-shirt was "XL." Bought, paid, dashed back to the hotel to shower. Getting dressed, I find that it was the OUTER sticker/price tag that read "medium," but the boxers themselves were 2XL. And that "XL" t-shirt? Yeah, no... small. And no dress shoes in my size. So there I sat today, in the office of a new client who just dropped a big hunk of change on our software, wearing boxers three sizes too big, a t-shirt too small, and my La Sportiva Exum Ridge trail runners. Now, I'm back in the hotel, and my bag is still in Chicago. I spent 20 minutes on the phone, restraining my temper because if I tear into the minimum wage schmuck on the phone, she'll never put my bags on the plane. Tonight, she says. Yeah, sure. I need a drink. And my toothbrush. I'll be sporting a six or 12 pack of Central Waters and a big plate of "Italian" cheese fries (a couple pounds of mozzerella, butter, and a crust) after work tonight. It's Friday for me!
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hafilax
Mar 4, 2009, 12:17 AM
Post #3 of 34
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Registered: Dec 12, 2007
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Whatever happened to wearing a suit on the plane? Oh and YYZ
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epoch
Moderator
Mar 4, 2009, 12:21 AM
Post #4 of 34
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Gold. Justfuckinggold!!!!!
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macherry
Mar 4, 2009, 2:01 AM
Post #5 of 34
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reno, reno, reno, oh dear, always check your labels when you purchase clothing, and always travel with spare underwear and a clean shirt in your carry on. have a canuck beer and relax.....it can't get any worse
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epoch
Moderator
Mar 4, 2009, 2:14 AM
Post #6 of 34
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macherry wrote: reno, reno, reno, oh dear, always check your labels when you purchase clothing, and always travel with spare underwear and a clean shirt in your carry on. have a canuck beer and relax.....it can't get any worse It was already said, travel in the suit. Bring an adequate roller and pack smartly. I can do a fly-away for two weeks with just a roller. If I really want to have fun, I'll pack a suitcase. Oh, and don't mind me chuckling at your misfortune.
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reno
Mar 4, 2009, 2:17 AM
Post #7 of 34
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macherry wrote: reno, reno, reno, oh dear, always check your labels when you purchase clothing, and always travel with spare underwear and a clean shirt in your carry on. Yes, Mom.
In reply to: have a canuck beer and relax.....it can't get any worse Au contraire, Ma Cherry. With me, it can ALWAYS get worse. But I *am* on my fourth Alexander Keith's IPA. Decent, for Cannuk brew. But, I gotta ask: $12.50 for a six-pack? Even doing the conversion, I feel like I've been rectally violated by some green alien men from Xenu (or a doctor with bad calluses on his hands and a case of palsy, doing a prostate exam.) $12.50 for a SIX-pack? Are you KIDDING?
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reno
Mar 4, 2009, 2:18 AM
Post #8 of 34
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epoch wrote: Oh, and don't mind me chuckling at your misfortune. No problem. Don't mind me flipping you the bird while mooning you with my hairy Polish ass from a couple hundred miles West. (_|_)
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charley
Mar 4, 2009, 3:25 AM
Post #9 of 34
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I think maybe if you are going to be traveling like this you may want to heed some of the advice and be more prepared for lost bagage etc. It does sound like it really sucks though. When you need beer, cost doesn't matter. Oh happy hour. Are you buying us one of those $2.08 beers? Did that include tax?
(This post was edited by charley on Mar 4, 2009, 3:28 AM)
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reno
Mar 4, 2009, 3:35 AM
Post #10 of 34
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charley wrote: I think maybe if you are going to be traveling like this you may want to heed some of the advice and be more prepared for lost bagage etc. Not directed at you, Charley, but that argument is bullshit. If you paid $700 to have two items shipped from Denver to Toronto, and only ONE of those items showed up, would you think you got your money's worth? I'd ask for a refund... I entered an agreement, paid the money for services promised, and those services were not delivered. Fuck the airlines. Fuck. Them. If they hadn't been given multiple handouts by the gubbermint, they wouldn't have lasted this long. But thanks to OUR money, taken from us by the gubbermint, they're still in business and can fuck the consumer at every chance. Fuck. That. Fuck 'em. Seriously.
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reno
Mar 4, 2009, 3:36 AM
Post #11 of 34
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P.S. I'm sending United a bill for the clothing I had to buy today because they fucked up. We'll see how that works out, but it might be fun to watch.
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epoch
Moderator
Mar 4, 2009, 3:40 AM
Post #12 of 34
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reno wrote: charley wrote: I think maybe if you are going to be traveling like this you may want to heed some of the advice and be more prepared for lost bagage etc. Not directed at you, Charley, but that argument is bullshit. If you paid $700 to have two items shipped from Denver to Toronto, and only ONE of those items showed up, would you think you got your money's worth? I'd ask for a refund... I entered an agreement, paid the money for services promised, and those services were not delivered. Fuck the airlines. Fuck. Them. If they hadn't been given multiple handouts by the gubbermint, they wouldn't have lasted this long. But thanks to OUR money, taken from us by the gubbermint, they're still in business and can fuck the consumer at every chance. Fuck. That. Fuck 'em. Seriously. You're in Cananananananananada now, your opinion doesn't matter.
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epoch
Moderator
Mar 4, 2009, 3:41 AM
Post #13 of 34
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epoch wrote: reno wrote: charley wrote: I think maybe if you are going to be traveling like this you may want to heed some of the advice and be more prepared for lost bagage etc. Not directed at you, Charley, but that argument is bullshit. If you paid $700 to have two items shipped from Denver to Toronto, and only ONE of those items showed up, would you think you got your money's worth? I'd ask for a refund... I entered an agreement, paid the money for services promised, and those services were not delivered. Fuck the airlines. Fuck. Them. If they hadn't been given multiple handouts by the gubbermint, they wouldn't have lasted this long. But thanks to OUR money, taken from us by the gubbermint, they're still in business and can fuck the consumer at every chance. Fuck. That. Fuck 'em. Seriously. You're in Cananananananananada now, your opinion doesn't matter.
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qwert
Mar 4, 2009, 12:48 PM
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Flying is fun. Know whats really nice? when you have to change planes at an airport where they are not allowed to fly at night, and you arive there at the evening, and hotels are too expensive. And you get all your luggage (20kg normal luggage + 30kg of skiing and ice equipment + carry on bag) and therefore you have to stay in the check in hall, for 15 friggin hours, with everything closed, and people running around with vacuum cleaners all night. I hope copenhagen tommorrow night will be better than Oslo last week. But at least i have not lost my luggage so far (i will go berserk if my skis or axes get lost ) qwert
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krillen
Mar 4, 2009, 2:10 PM
Post #15 of 34
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Registered: Jul 19, 2001
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reno wrote: But, I gotta ask: $12.50 for a six-pack? Even doing the conversion, I feel like I've been rectally violated by some green alien men from Xenu (or a doctor with bad calluses on his hands and a case of palsy, doing a prostate exam.) $12.50 for a SIX-pack? Are you KIDDING? Nope no joke, you have to be truly committed if you want a beer here.
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shockabuku
Mar 4, 2009, 2:29 PM
Post #16 of 34
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But it was worth the $400, right?
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macherry
Mar 4, 2009, 3:04 PM
Post #17 of 34
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reno wrote: macherry wrote: reno, reno, reno, oh dear, always check your labels when you purchase clothing, and always travel with spare underwear and a clean shirt in your carry on. Yes, Mom. In reply to: have a canuck beer and relax.....it can't get any worse Au contraire, Ma Cherry. With me, it can ALWAYS get worse. But I *am* on my fourth Alexander Keith's IPA. Decent, for Cannuk brew. But, I gotta ask: $12.50 for a six-pack? Even doing the conversion, I feel like I've been rectally violated by some green alien men from Xenu (or a doctor with bad calluses on his hands and a case of palsy, doing a prostate exam.) $12.50 for a SIX-pack? Are you KIDDING? beeri is overtaxed in canuckville.........but i do get universal healthcare. thanks for supporting me!!! keith's is okay for an east coast beer
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macherry
Mar 4, 2009, 3:07 PM
Post #18 of 34
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epoch wrote: macherry wrote: reno, reno, reno, oh dear, always check your labels when you purchase clothing, and always travel with spare underwear and a clean shirt in your carry on. have a canuck beer and relax.....it can't get any worse It was already said, travel in the suit. Bring an adequate roller and pack smartly. I can do a fly-away for two weeks with just a roller. If I really want to have fun, I'll pack a suitcase. i said bring another shirt in carry on........that's different Oh, and don't mind me chuckling at your misfortune.
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hafilax
Mar 4, 2009, 6:11 PM
Post #19 of 34
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macherry wrote: beeri is overtaxed in canuckville.........but i do get universal healthcare. thanks for supporting me!!! keith's is okay for an east coast beer We don't drink THAT much beer.
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bustloose
Mar 4, 2009, 7:31 PM
Post #20 of 34
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why in the world would you pick alexander keiths? either you're an IPA fan, in which case, you wouldn't be buying Keith's, or you asked somebody "hey, what's good here?" and they got scared and said "Keith's!!" i suggest doing some homework and finding a really good Ontario micro brew to enjoy before you have to come back to the U.S. of Pabst Blue Ribbon. oh, and always travel in the suit. dress shoes in your carry on.
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atg200
Mar 4, 2009, 7:53 PM
Post #21 of 34
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If you bought your plane ticket with an American Express card, you should be able to purchase clothes as part of their travelers insurance. It is one of many reasons why an American Express is by far and away the best credit card out there for the limited number of places it is accepted. If you do have Amex, give them a call before you buy replacements. The airlines have no obligations to you at all for delayed luggage - only if it is lost. I think you are being too hard on the airlines. I've flown close to a thousand times over the last ten years, and i've had bags delayed a total of 6 times - and 4 were delivered to me within a few hours. Two times were inconvenient as hell, but a .2% failure rate isn't too bad when dealing with a problem as logistically complicated as routing bags - especially if you look at the caliber of people who would accept a job like baggage handler. The main takeaway is that your company should charge for travel time. When I was consulting, I always billed for travel time at half my standard rate. That eliminates all the quibbles about cheaper tickets with much longer travel times. I consider my time much too valuable to be jerked around saving a few bucks on airfare.
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reno
Mar 4, 2009, 8:12 PM
Post #22 of 34
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atg200 wrote: The main takeaway is that your company should charge for travel time. We do, but a flat rate, not hourly.
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atg200
Mar 4, 2009, 8:44 PM
Post #23 of 34
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Dude, you are getting screwed. Your company should pay the difference on the airfare if the customer balks.
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reno
Mar 4, 2009, 9:21 PM
Post #24 of 34
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atg200 wrote: Dude, you are getting screwed. Your company should pay the difference on the airfare if the customer balks. Maybe I didn't speak clearly: I get paid a normal day's work if I travel. 3 hours of travel? Full day of pay. 12 hours travel? Full day's pay. The client gets to pay the company one flat rate for each day we're on the deployment.
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atg200
Mar 4, 2009, 10:37 PM
Post #25 of 34
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When I was salaried and traveling for work, I always had to fit in a full 40 hours+ of work in a week on top of the traveling, which was draining and why I insisted on the best/shortest flight schedule for me. If your situation is less heinous, well, then here is to airport bars! When i was independent, I always billed half rates for my travel time to head off round the world epic flight bullshit.
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