As an early twenty-something with full college credit load and a part-time job, I never expected to be awarded the opportunity of business travel.
However, I soon found myself on a plane to Louisville, KY, for a two-day training all by my lonesome. Needless to say, I learned a lot, and experienced my fare share of bumps, bruises, and, of course, delays.
1:20pm (Michigan time): I board my United Express flight to Chicago, a tiny, cramped, overwhelming space. Despite my 5 ft. 3 in. petite stature, I felt as if my claustrophobia would incite hallucinations of a gremlin on the undersized wing of the toy plane.
1:20-1:55pm: Despite the stifling air and lack of hot beverage service, the solitary female middle-aged African American flight attendant (to provide a clear picture), entertained passengers with gems such as,
"Please remove your items from the overhead bin carefully, for they may have shifted during take off. As I tell all of my passengers, shift happens."
"I will now come down the aisle to collect any unwanted items... not including your husbands, wives, colleagues, and certainly not your precious children." And, after we had landed in Chicago yet were not granted a terminal after over 20 minutes,
"Yes passengers, we are still at the O'Hare airport..."
2:20pm (Chicago time): Finally, after an unsurprising half-hour delay, I board my connection flight on a second United Express. Upon hearing the boarding call, I collected myself and regretfully passed delayed, Savannah-bound passengers waiting in the same terminal for something like "mechanical difficulties." Poor souls...
4-something pm (Louisville time): I arrive, slightly rattled but otherwise alive, and immediately bulldoze my way through the southern airport, down the escalator, and into the first available yellow taxi. I tell the driver, "downtown Marriot," and finally relax. As I stare out the window absentmindedly, finally relieved to be on the ground, I sift through my hotel reservation papers. I read, Marriot, Oct. 17th through 19th, Fairfield Inn. Fairfield Inn? I think, and look again...
5:15pm: I arrive at the Fairfield Inn, 20 minutes outside of the city center, fuming. I spend the next hour or so scrambling to attempt a hotel transfer, transportation, discounts, and God's mercy. Frustrated and traveling alone for the first time, I crumble on the king size bed in the hotel much too far away for comfort.
6:02pm: Exasperated, I wander to the vending machine at the end of the hall and, willing to shell out the $2 for a 20oz Coke, I slip two dollar coins into the slot. Nothing happened. Really? I slam my fist against the gleaming behemoth. Did anyone hear that? And slink off to my room...
Stay tuned for part II of Have business, will travel!
Have business, will travel (Part I)
Transportation - October 31, 2011 - 8:30am by lcarlson
As an early twenty-something with full college credit load and a part-time job, I never expected to be awarded the opportunity of business travel.
However, I soon found myself on a plane to Louisville, KY, for a two-day training all by my lonesome. Needless to say, I learned a lot, and experienced my fare share of bumps, bruises, and, of course, delays.
1:20pm (Michigan time): I board my United Express flight to Chicago, a tiny, cramped, overwhelming space. Despite my 5 ft. 3 in. petite stature, I felt as if my claustrophobia would incite hallucinations of a gremlin on the undersized wing of the toy plane.
1:20-1:55pm: Despite the stifling air and lack of hot beverage service, the solitary female middle-aged African American flight attendant (to provide a clear picture), entertained passengers with gems such as,
"Please remove your items from the overhead bin carefully, for they may have shifted during take off. As I tell all of my passengers, shift happens."
"I will now come down the aisle to collect any unwanted items... not including your husbands, wives, colleagues, and certainly not your precious children." And, after we had landed in Chicago yet were not granted a terminal after over 20 minutes,
"Yes passengers, we are still at the O'Hare airport..."
2:20pm (Chicago time): Finally, after an unsurprising half-hour delay, I board my connection flight on a second United Express. Upon hearing the boarding call, I collected myself and regretfully passed delayed, Savannah-bound passengers waiting in the same terminal for something like "mechanical difficulties." Poor souls...
4-something pm (Louisville time): I arrive, slightly rattled but otherwise alive, and immediately bulldoze my way through the southern airport, down the escalator, and into the first available yellow taxi. I tell the driver, "downtown Marriot," and finally relax. As I stare out the window absentmindedly, finally relieved to be on the ground, I sift through my hotel reservation papers. I read, Marriot, Oct. 17th through 19th, Fairfield Inn. Fairfield Inn? I think, and look again...
5:15pm: I arrive at the Fairfield Inn, 20 minutes outside of the city center, fuming. I spend the next hour or so scrambling to attempt a hotel transfer, transportation, discounts, and God's mercy. Frustrated and traveling alone for the first time, I crumble on the king size bed in the hotel much too far away for comfort.
6:02pm: Exasperated, I wander to the vending machine at the end of the hall and, willing to shell out the $2 for a 20oz Coke, I slip two dollar coins into the slot. Nothing happened. Really? I slam my fist against the gleaming behemoth. Did anyone hear that? And slink off to my room...
Stay tuned for part II of Have business, will travel!