What a surprise, no luggage today. If you click on the link above (in the title) then you should know that BA stands for British Airways and BAA was originally British Aiports Authority but now they own or manage airports all over the world so it is just BAA.
Anyway, I called BA and they had no trace on it that was up to date. . . they weren't sure it even left Amsterdam though they did have three flight numbers that showed it should land in Reno today at 10:15 a.m. They also confirmed that there was enough time for it to clear customs in Chicago if it made it there. The nice agent at BA also asked if I heard what happened in Heathrow today. . . seems the baggage system broke down . . . sure, my bag is there. . . it must weigh to much for the system. The poor folks working in baggage for BA at Heathrow, they just can't get a break.
American was ok today as well. They checked the list of bags that were in Reno and could tell me that my name was not on any of them (of course, I never could get in touch with anyone at the Reno airport, it is apparently not allowed).
So, here I go again. Leaving town for another week without my real luggage. Anyway, believe it or not, I am not really upset about it. . . It is what it is. . .but of course I hope I get it back.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Adventures in . . . baggage
12 days after my Heathrow experience it was reported that my bag had arrived! . . . in Amsterdam. . . did I mention my trip was only 7 days and that I was home in Nevada?
Well, it seems that 3 weeks to the day after leaving the Reno airport, my bag is scheduled to once again return according the the British Airways website and the helpful staff at the 800 number! People and bags can always get bumped from a flight, but I can cautiously optimistic.
So, you think I have been angry about it? Not really, sure frustrated because I didn't have the bag but what is an airline supposed to do when 20,000 bags show up in one airport through no fault of their own??? They didn't know a thing about the "terrorists" until the same Thursday we all got to know, and that day turned into a nightmare for them that lasted at least 10 days. So, no, not angry, in fact, British Airways has been great.
The day I was in the airport was Day 4 of the current situation. I can tell you that EVERY British Airways employee that I encountered was friendly and helpful. In fact, if you stood in one place and looked the least bit lost, someone immediately asked how they could help you!?! 4 days into a crisis with a US company and you would probably get your head bit off for not knowing where you were supposed to be. Anyway, whether that is true or not, my hat is off to the folks at British Airways - you did a great job in Heathrow and don't let anyone say different.
Bravo!
So, going to Europe, give British Airways a try. http://ba.com
Well, it seems that 3 weeks to the day after leaving the Reno airport, my bag is scheduled to once again return according the the British Airways website and the helpful staff at the 800 number! People and bags can always get bumped from a flight, but I can cautiously optimistic.
So, you think I have been angry about it? Not really, sure frustrated because I didn't have the bag but what is an airline supposed to do when 20,000 bags show up in one airport through no fault of their own??? They didn't know a thing about the "terrorists" until the same Thursday we all got to know, and that day turned into a nightmare for them that lasted at least 10 days. So, no, not angry, in fact, British Airways has been great.
The day I was in the airport was Day 4 of the current situation. I can tell you that EVERY British Airways employee that I encountered was friendly and helpful. In fact, if you stood in one place and looked the least bit lost, someone immediately asked how they could help you!?! 4 days into a crisis with a US company and you would probably get your head bit off for not knowing where you were supposed to be. Anyway, whether that is true or not, my hat is off to the folks at British Airways - you did a great job in Heathrow and don't let anyone say different.
Bravo!
So, going to Europe, give British Airways a try. http://ba.com
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Adventures in . . . Heathrow. . . . August 12/13
Well, most everyone knows about the journey of a few weeks ago. . . basically, I had the pleasure to travel through Heathrow in London on the Sunday after the Thursday "terrorist" event. That meant that my laptop, cellphone and keys had to be packed in my suitcase because there was no carry-on allowed out of Heathrow.
You guessed it, my connecting flight was cancelled and I was stranded and my bag was lost somewhere in the airport. I went back and forth between terminals 3 and 4 for the better part of 3 hours before giving up. I finally got in a queue (european for "very long line that doesn't move") with a single phone on the wall. . . sounds like some kind of joke but it is all true.
Anyway, I was to wait in this "queue" and when (if) I got to the phone I was to pick it up and talk to whoever answered and try to get my baggage back. But here is one of the high points of the trip. . . I had a guy behind me named Aaron. While waiting in line, Aaron and I started talking. He had been there FOUR days, he arrived from Africa on Thursday and his connection had been cancelled to the U.S. He was to be at a wedding on Saturday, but, well, I met him on Sunday, so clearly he missed the wedding. My situation doesn't seem very bad suddenly.
Stay with me here, this was when the hand of God intervenes. So, I am learning that Aaron has a degree in BioChemistry and went to Ethiopia after graduating to help kids with AIDS. After a time doing that he decided the kids needed help before they were sick so he now was in Africa building schools for the little kids and teaching. All that and he is only 25 years old. . . incredible. . . unreal. . . alot of wisdom at a young age. . . pretty inspiring. . . he would be pretty embarrassed right now but, well, it's my blog and I can brag on him if I want.
So, Aaron and I waited at least 1/2 hour, maybe alot longer but we were talking and for me the time flew by. Finally we get to the front of the line and there are a group of four of us standing there. A girl picks up the phone and, well, believe it or not, no one answers and it just goes dead. . . this happens several times when a guy from British Airways walks by. We stop him and told him our problem. . . yes, I probably was at the front of the pack and yes, I was probably not very happy.. . for those of you who were filling in the blanks. Anyway, he got our baggage claim tickets and disappearred behind the double doors next to the phone. . . this is when I mention that those tickets were our only CLAIM to our bags. . . this could be bad.
Just about this time, someone pops out of the door and escorts us in. We go through security again in a very small room. . . and then we are escorted to baggage claim where hundreds of bags. . . all black and looking just like mine. . . are piled all around. We find the guy with our tags and he explains what is going on for each of us. . . mine are reported to be enroute to Amsterdam but no planes are leaving that day, so I know that means the bag will sit there until it can get another flight out. . . JUST. . . LIKE. . . ME. . . anyway, Aaron didn't have any luck either so we departed.
Aaron and I decided to stick together. Well, really he invited me along (no brainer, where was I going?). Aaron told me that just upstairs (in departures) there were thousands of people stranded trying to get out of there just like me. He said I would have better luck going to a hotel and making calls from there. So, we jumped in a cab and went to his hotel - it was new for him so he checked in. He invited me to stay there (because there are no rooms on that side of London) - he told me that they have a saying in Tanzania "what is mine is yours".
We went up to his room and he got on the internet and got the phone numbers for American Airlines and British Airlines and a phone code as well for me. I went downstairs and tried for over 20 minutes to use a pay phone in London - - - (note to someone special - maybe I wouldn't be a very good partner for "The Amazing Race"). Finally I succeeded and after being on hold for over 30 minutes with American Airlines' London office - they got me a flight that evening out of Gatwick so I arranged for a taxi at the hotel desk.
Aaron and I had lunch at the hotel and he told me a little more about his business. He works for an NGO (non-governmental organization) that is non-profit and he raises his own income. He was headed back home on a once a year trip to see his family and do that fund raising. He told me the name of that NGO TWICE and I cannot remember it to safe myself - - (hey, it was a hard day!) . . . I am sure it started with a c or ch and was a simple word. . . not much to go on but they do have a website. . . if I could remember the name.
Anyway, I know all of you (there are three or four right?) would support this great guy - I sure would - but I don't have any way to contact him. Maybe he was just an angel from the Lord for a hard day, but I am hoping he will drop me an e-mail sometime soon - I told him to.
So, the last I knew of Aaron was that he was hoping to get out the next afternoon on a flight to Chicago. I shook his hand, thanked him repeatedly and headed out again. My luggage still hasn't caught up with me and I have been home for two weeks, but there is still hope.
Did I mention the taxi got a flat tire on the highway going to the airport. . . .
IF you are new to blogs, this is where you join in! Hit the "comments" link below and say what's on your mind . . . I know, you fell asleep reading my second post. . . can't blame you!
You guessed it, my connecting flight was cancelled and I was stranded and my bag was lost somewhere in the airport. I went back and forth between terminals 3 and 4 for the better part of 3 hours before giving up. I finally got in a queue (european for "very long line that doesn't move") with a single phone on the wall. . . sounds like some kind of joke but it is all true.
Anyway, I was to wait in this "queue" and when (if) I got to the phone I was to pick it up and talk to whoever answered and try to get my baggage back. But here is one of the high points of the trip. . . I had a guy behind me named Aaron. While waiting in line, Aaron and I started talking. He had been there FOUR days, he arrived from Africa on Thursday and his connection had been cancelled to the U.S. He was to be at a wedding on Saturday, but, well, I met him on Sunday, so clearly he missed the wedding. My situation doesn't seem very bad suddenly.
Stay with me here, this was when the hand of God intervenes. So, I am learning that Aaron has a degree in BioChemistry and went to Ethiopia after graduating to help kids with AIDS. After a time doing that he decided the kids needed help before they were sick so he now was in Africa building schools for the little kids and teaching. All that and he is only 25 years old. . . incredible. . . unreal. . . alot of wisdom at a young age. . . pretty inspiring. . . he would be pretty embarrassed right now but, well, it's my blog and I can brag on him if I want.
So, Aaron and I waited at least 1/2 hour, maybe alot longer but we were talking and for me the time flew by. Finally we get to the front of the line and there are a group of four of us standing there. A girl picks up the phone and, well, believe it or not, no one answers and it just goes dead. . . this happens several times when a guy from British Airways walks by. We stop him and told him our problem. . . yes, I probably was at the front of the pack and yes, I was probably not very happy.. . for those of you who were filling in the blanks. Anyway, he got our baggage claim tickets and disappearred behind the double doors next to the phone. . . this is when I mention that those tickets were our only CLAIM to our bags. . . this could be bad.
Just about this time, someone pops out of the door and escorts us in. We go through security again in a very small room. . . and then we are escorted to baggage claim where hundreds of bags. . . all black and looking just like mine. . . are piled all around. We find the guy with our tags and he explains what is going on for each of us. . . mine are reported to be enroute to Amsterdam but no planes are leaving that day, so I know that means the bag will sit there until it can get another flight out. . . JUST. . . LIKE. . . ME. . . anyway, Aaron didn't have any luck either so we departed.
Aaron and I decided to stick together. Well, really he invited me along (no brainer, where was I going?). Aaron told me that just upstairs (in departures) there were thousands of people stranded trying to get out of there just like me. He said I would have better luck going to a hotel and making calls from there. So, we jumped in a cab and went to his hotel - it was new for him so he checked in. He invited me to stay there (because there are no rooms on that side of London) - he told me that they have a saying in Tanzania "what is mine is yours".
We went up to his room and he got on the internet and got the phone numbers for American Airlines and British Airlines and a phone code as well for me. I went downstairs and tried for over 20 minutes to use a pay phone in London - - - (note to someone special - maybe I wouldn't be a very good partner for "The Amazing Race"). Finally I succeeded and after being on hold for over 30 minutes with American Airlines' London office - they got me a flight that evening out of Gatwick so I arranged for a taxi at the hotel desk.
Aaron and I had lunch at the hotel and he told me a little more about his business. He works for an NGO (non-governmental organization) that is non-profit and he raises his own income. He was headed back home on a once a year trip to see his family and do that fund raising. He told me the name of that NGO TWICE and I cannot remember it to safe myself - - (hey, it was a hard day!) . . . I am sure it started with a c or ch and was a simple word. . . not much to go on but they do have a website. . . if I could remember the name.
Anyway, I know all of you (there are three or four right?) would support this great guy - I sure would - but I don't have any way to contact him. Maybe he was just an angel from the Lord for a hard day, but I am hoping he will drop me an e-mail sometime soon - I told him to.
So, the last I knew of Aaron was that he was hoping to get out the next afternoon on a flight to Chicago. I shook his hand, thanked him repeatedly and headed out again. My luggage still hasn't caught up with me and I have been home for two weeks, but there is still hope.
Did I mention the taxi got a flat tire on the highway going to the airport. . . .
IF you are new to blogs, this is where you join in! Hit the "comments" link below and say what's on your mind . . . I know, you fell asleep reading my second post. . . can't blame you!
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
A new start in a new place. . .
O.K. . . time to get started. . .
everyone has just expected me to have a website and has been asking for years. So here it is, simple, hopefully useful, and maybe even fun. . .
Anyway, my need for this has changed. Having moved to a new place, I am hoping to use this to keep everyone up to speed on what's happening. We'll see if it works or not.
Comment anytime. Look forward to hearing from you.
m
everyone has just expected me to have a website and has been asking for years. So here it is, simple, hopefully useful, and maybe even fun. . .
Anyway, my need for this has changed. Having moved to a new place, I am hoping to use this to keep everyone up to speed on what's happening. We'll see if it works or not.
Comment anytime. Look forward to hearing from you.
m
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