Where In the World . . . .

When we were the "Novice RV'er's" my sister used to quip "Where in the world might Keith & Diane be" now. This comes from an OLD computer game that only those with DOS history might remember. It is probably one of the first computer "games" Brett & S'te played. No graphics, no mouse, lots of typing, and spelling was a MUST!!

Anyhow, where in the world are we? We are stuck in the Portland Airport until 9 PM. We were on time for our 10:45 am flight. We boarded about 20 minutes late as the plane was late arriving. In fact they were de-planing about the time we should have been boarding! Then, as we are captively strapped into our seats without air to breath and Keith has no legroom - they announce that an outside door of some sort has a crack in it and they will be replacing it. Instead of letting us out where we could breath, eat, potty, or walk - there we sat. Like sardines of the first order!!!

So, guess what time our ticketed connection is!! 1:45 Only a supposed 1.5 hour wait in Portland. As soon as the late announcement came Keith tried calling Alaska Customer Service and make sure we were booked on the next available flight. He waited on hold for about 10 minutes (while they nicely told him he might get quicker answers on AlaskaAir.com) before a nice lady answers AND THE CALL WAS DROPPED!! So Keith askes the Flight Attendent what time the next flight from Portland to Eugene is. Before we ever leave the terminal in San Diego. He answers 5 something or another. We breath a sigh of relief. At least we won't be driving to Coos Bay in the dark. Note : at 10:30 this morning Alaska Airlines knew we would not make our scheduled connections!!

At 2:25 pm we de-plane in Portland - we stayed in our seats so that travelers with connections they could make could get out first. Such nice people we are!!

We are told to check in with Customer Service at the desk upon de-planing. We do so. We are told that we would be booked on the 9 pm United flight to Eugene. Not the 5:40 Alaska flight. It was booked up with others that had missed connections and checked in before we landed. It didn't make any difference that Alaska Airlines knew there was no possible way to make our scheduled connection - they did not hold the seat for us until we checked in at PDX!!! They had a 5 or so flight to North Bend - we said hold on to that for a minute. Fired up the trusty Internet - Checked the car rental rates - More than double for a rental car from Coos Bay/North Bend area AND a mileage allowance. No wonder the "tourist trade" is floundering!! No - for that amount ~~~~ SO ~~~

We took the $8 each for lunch and dinner so we have something to do while we wait the 6 hours before the 9PM United flight. So much for driving in the daylight! We go to the United terminal and see a 5:45 flight to Eugene. So, we go there and ask if we can be put on the standby list for that. Yes, the Agent was very sweet, smiled nicely, checked us in for the 9 something flight and put our names on the 5:45 standby list. She sweetly smiled while she asked if we had United Flyer Numbers. No - we have Alaska and American. A few AirWest and I think Keith even has some Delta. But no United. So, still smiling, she says that even tho' we are checked in really early, the flight is overbooked, and if United Customers booked on the 9 pm flight wanted to bump ahead of us - it would happen. Makes me wary of the later flight. What if the bumped REGULAR United passengers from the OVERBOOKED flight at 5:45 decide they want our seats on the later flight? Does that mean we walk? Or after spending 6 hours in the airport - they keep us here overnight - and I miss my meeting with Detective Looney tomorrow? Maybe, just maybe, we should have just mailed the tape. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe.

So only the Good Lord knows where we will be tonight - or even tomorrow. Pray for us - we need all the support we can get :)

So now, we've had lunch and I've typed this and Keith went down and got us both mileage numbers - no miles on them but we have numbers!! and only have 4.5 hours to go. What do do next?? ? ?

Signed - the Novice Travelers!!