Colorado: There And Back

 

 

I just got back from visiting my sister in Colorado. Even though I was there last June for her graduation this trip was pretty different. First, it was just her and me (her boyfriend is currently working in Russia.) Second, last June she took the whole time I was there off and this time she was working - which I knew beforehand so it wasn't a surprise. Third, last June I flew US Airways/American and this time I went Delta. And finally, I got to do things this time that I haven't in the past. But more about that later.

 

When I started my trip I had the usual "fun" driving to the local airport: dense, thick fog. There are very few times that I drive to the airport (an hour and a half away from my house) that there isn't thunderstorms, heavy rain, fog or a snowstorm. When I drove down my mountain there was a little bit of fog, but once I got toward the capital the fog was so thick that I could only go about 5 mph (on the highway.) Luckily I gave myself lots of time so I was able to have breakfast at McDonald's (there are only 3 places in my state that are open 24 hours: hospitals, gas stations and several McDonald's.) After I ate I then went to the airport. As I already said last June when I went to Colorado I flew US Airways/American and went through Philadelphia and Dallas and had numerous problems and issues with both the airline and the airports (you can read the earlier post about it.) This time I flew Delta and went through LaGuardia and Atlanta and everything was much smoother. I had no problem checking-in, going through security or getting to my gate. I was waiting at my gate when an airport employee invited me to wait in the business center. It was pretty relaxing. There was also no issue boarding or aboard my flight to LaGuardia. I have never been to NY's LaGuardia before and was a little skeptical (especially after Biden called it a "Third World Country Airport.") I landed at Gate T 1 and was flying out of Gate T 2 so I didn't have to go far for my next flight. The one issue I did have with LaGuardia (going to CO) was the Internet. They didn't have free WiFi like most airports do. Again there was no problem boarding or on my flight to Atlanta. I've been to the Atlanta airport before and so knew I had to take the airport train to my next gate. As with all the earlier flights I had no issues and landed in Colorado Springs where I met-up with my sister.  I know it's not all that exciting that my trip to Colorado Springs didn't have major problems or issues, but it was pretty nice for me especially since the whole travelling time (from my house to my sister's house) took 18 hours.

 

Since I'll write about my time in Colorado in another post I'll write about my trip home from CO here. I flew Delta and went through Atlanta and LaGuardia again. Things this time weren't as carefree as they were before. I had no issue at the Colorado Springs Airport (other than wondering if the SkyCab "Capitan" who checked-in my bag (because Delta's desk wasn't open yet) would actually take my bag inside the airport - -he did, but I didn't know that until I landed at my last airport 16 hours later. In Atlanta I had to take a train to my next gate like before. Unlike the  last time though my flight to LaGuardia was delayed due to weather in NYC. I will say that the Delta gate lady did a good job keeping everyone informed with announcements every 10-15 minutes. The one thing I didn't care for (and I didn't even have to use) was that if you were going to miss your connecting flight you had to walk to a central Delta desk, wait in a long line to have someone help you. Most airlines have the gate agent do that and it is a lot more convenient since the line isn't so big and the gate agent is usually just sitting there doing nothing otherwise. I had plenty of time scheduled in my layover at LaGuardia that I was fine for my connecting flight - or so I thought. When we finally boarded the plane the captain came out in person to say that we would most likely have to wait 2 hours (on the runway) but that he would try to work with the airport to shorten that time. In the end we waited 30 minutes on the runway and then took off. When we landed in LaGuardia it was a mad-house. There were hundreds of stranded passengers all over the place (the lines at the Delta Help Desk were astounding.) Again Delta should have used their gate agents to help in the backlog. Unlike when I was going to CO and only had to walk one gate over this time I had to go from Terminal D to Terminal C and because of the delay had to run through the airport and all the people. This time it really felt like a "Third World Country Airport." I made it to the gate just in time to board my final flight (which was a good thing because I later learned that the other flight I could have taken was cancelled and the last flight to my final airport was delayed by hours. Since it was a small airplane there was only one flight attendant and he was pretty creepy. He looked and acted like he drove a windowless van and tried to lull children with candy. Plus he kept walking up and down the aisle and stare at each passenger (and he wasn't even giving out drinks or food. We hit some turbulence and a woman started screaming uncontrollably (even after the turbulence was over.) That was pretty annoying. We landed on-time and I had no issue getting my bag (it was the second one off.) The true "fun" came when I left the airport parking garage and was driving home. It was raining so heavily and was pitch-black that I had a hard time seeing. I had planned to stop and get something to eat  - considering that I didn't have anything to eat or drink for 17 hours, but since I was so tired and didn't know if the weather would get even worse than it already was I just drove straight home. I picked up my mail at my mailbox (of course there's a package slip so I have to go to the Post Office later to get them) and then I got home. My dogs were overly excited to see me and other than them leaving some "surprises" for me around the house everything was fine.

 

All-in-all my trip to and from Colorado was much more pleasant then when I went last June. Delta was much better than US Airways/American and even LaGuardia was better than the Dallas Airport.