26 Jun 2007 1927H

Travel Tip #949

Got to Detroit Wayne Airport around 5. Was supposed to be on a 6:45PM flight for Kansas City with a stop in Chicago to make the connection. Flight was delayed till 9PM ET meaning I would miss the connecting flight to KCMO. So I rerouted. Now I was on a 5:45 flight to Nashville, which would depart for KCMO at 7:20. Instead that flight was delayed to 11:45PM at first, then, 12:30AM. But first I had to deal with the fact that they had lost my return flight to Chicago from Kansas City. Two phone calls and two more useless check-in counter experiences later, they eventually booked me on a flight one hour later from when I was originally supposed to leave.

When trapped at Nashville International Airport for five hours by Southwest Airlines for some ungodly reason, do eat at the Whitt’s Barbecue in Concourse C. Actually they are also in A & B too, so it really doesn’t matter. Also if you must know, it’s shredded pork, and so is not vegetarian nor halal nor kosher. But don’t let that stop you. See? I’m not bothered and I’m stuck here on a 5-hour layover with everything closing at 9. And you must get the hot sauce. It burns bright but not hot. Okay. I lied. It’s a little hot. Not painfully so. In fact, because they are smallish, you ought to get two sandwiches at $5 each. The first time I was directed to do so, I scoffed at this advice, but have changed my mind since. The sandwich is the better deal. The plate, $7, has less pork on the sandwich but you do get two sides. The Mac and Cheese sells out quick, but the slaw is mostly fine. And I would avoid ordering at the adjacent Market St. Lounge if you’re going to get food. Service is abysmally slow and overwhelmed even when the lounge isn’t busy and their staff is marching over to the Whitt’s stand anyway to pick up your food. Go ye to Whitt’s and sit at the adjacent spot.

My copy of Mint is broken for some reason. I will reinstall.

Now it is 3 in the morning and I am ensconced in the Westin, which seems to have remembered all my quirks and preferences, right down to the extra strawberry scent in my room. I’m sitting on my Heavenly Bed, which I’ve missed, quaffing the now complimentary bottle of Panna water while watching Larry King interview the Beatles and feeling miffed about the whole thing. Not the Beatles so much, but the travel experience. Granted, the hot weather means there’s a lot of young exposed nubile flesh to ogle around the airport, which is good for the soul and not bad on the optic nerve, but this is probably the worst night of travel I’ve ever had with Southwest. Not too bad, considering that I’ve flown just about every week with them for much of the last 10 months.

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3 responses to "Travel Tip #949"

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26 Jun 2007 2007H

K writes:

But is it an authentic sammy? Because if the Zagats haven’t okayed it? I’m not sure you really enjoyed it.

26 Jun 2007 2049H

Gino writes:

Well, I would ask them to verify this but I am sure they are joining in the Southwest check-in counter’s en masse making and flying of paper airplanes. This was preceded by drink service in the waiting area. I shit you not. That’s how bad things are. The flight out of here was supposed to depart at 7:20. It is now scheduled to depart here at 12:30. We may pull into KCMO at 2AM at this point. Of course, I have meetings tomorrow. There is a grown man next to me glumly folding paper airplanes. I’m going to listen to the iPod now.

27 Jun 2007 0653H

K writes:

Oh…dear…That’s…that’s bad. That’s very bad.

And now it's your turn.

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