On Friday, March 25th I headed to Reagan Airport to board a Frontier Airline flight to Dallas, Texas for the third race in my quest to be a Rock Legend with the Competitor Group. For those non-runners or those not familiar with this quest, the Rock Legend is bestowed on those runners who complete seven or more Rock and Roll Race Events, either half-marathon or full marathons within a twelve month period beginning in January each year. http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/
I designated this year, 2011, to be my Rock Legend Year. Little did I know that Competitor Group added a twist this year that the completion of 10 races in their series would make one a Rock Idol. Yes, when I arrived in Arizona in January to run and attended the expo, there was a whisper that the Idol was coming. Now, Patti Busque my dear friend saw the glint in my eye and immediately began to temper my excitement.
Thanks Patti, not to worry, seven races have been registered and somehow another two have snuck onto my calendar…ha..hello another race will be added and then I’ll have 10, not only will I be a Legend, I’m getting that IDOL and the Desert Double Down (don’t ask).
So back to March 25th. It was a beautiful evening and I was excited to be heading to Dallas for the third race in the series. I was going to be visiting old friends who generously offered to house me and drive me to all the necessary events for the race. It is a good friend who will arise at 4:30 am to drive a runner to the start and then wait for the finish. The race doesn’t often start until 7 or 8 am, so for a non-participant, that is a lot of love for a runner!
When I travel by air to a race, I pack my race-day gear in a duffle bag to accompany me on the plane. I don’t want lost luggage to sideline a race because my running gear is MIA. Often my checked bag is small and contains more shampoos and gels than clothes. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I stepped up to the Frontier Air ticket counter and the agent offered to fly my small bag for free. I explained I’d already paid the fee online. I thanked him and kept that in mind for the next time I fly Frontier Air.
Again, those that know me well know of my love affair with US Air. They are my airline of choice. I am always a happy passenger and the one or two times there has been a hiccup with their service, I chalk it up to business as usual. I was unable to arrange a flight to Dallas on US Air to meet my deadlines. I settled on Frontier Air after a cranky search of other airlines with times necessary for my needs to get in and out of Dallas for the race. I have never flown Frontier Air and I actually had to enroll for a frequent flier card for this trip.
So, there I was at the counter with an absolutely lovely young man checking me in. His name was Prashaint. He told me the flight was delayed and said he’d move me up a few seats so I could disembark sooner and get to my gate in Milwaukee a bit quicker. Yes, I had a layover in Milwaukee. God Bless Frontier, they hub in Milwaukee and I had to take that flight to get to Dallas. Ah....hindsight.
I headed to my gate and had not been sitting there long when I was called to the counter. Now, I know that is not usually a good sign. There was Prashaint and another gent named Demond Krider, a Station Supervisor. Prashaint and Demond mentioned they were concerned I’d miss my layover in Milwaukee and wanted to change me to American Airlines, which would get me to Dallas on a direct flight. Ok guys; let’s go. If they were worried, then perhaps I should make the change. But, oh no…the female gate agent informed me that I’d be fine in Milwaukee, after all, my connecting gate was only 4 gates from my arrival gate.
The guys looked at her, looked at me, looked at her and looked at me and shrugged. Oh, she was in charge. Make no doubt about it: she was in charge. So, I sat down and 20 minutes to 30 minutes later there were the gents again. They had a ramp agent ready to pull my checked bag and get me to American. They were trying their best to get me to Dallas…they knew, ha they knew! So, off we go to get me redirected, and the Ramp Witch again said no and assured me I could make my connection. I suppose I should have been more vocal and insisted she move me, but she really was a bitch. So, I stood there with Prashaint and Demond chatting; all the while knowing I was effed. So, I’d get to Milwaukee and they would put me on a later flight. Whatever! No big deal. Ha, if I only knew. I should have consulted the Crystal Cranium Monkey on my phone. Always trust a monkey in a turban and not that bitch gate agent at Frontier Airlines!
Prashaint and I chatted about running. He runs for exercise: he looks like a runner. He has been with Frontier Air for 7 months. He’d been with Chevy Chase bank then CapOne and was laid off on annual review because he’s been out for a hip replacement. Yes, he is sporting a titanium hip. When he finished rehab, a friend of his dad suggested Frontier Air and he was hired. He would like to get back into banking. Have to say, he is wonderful with a big beautiful smile and he is truly a blessing in customer service.
Prashaint and Demond are both very friendly and seem to love what they do. That is Prashaint on the right and Demond on the left in the attached photo…or if I’ve uploaded incorrectly, Prashaint is the taller gent! The female gate agent gets huge thumbs down. When I was face booking my updates, friends were asking if I would eviscerate Frontier Air. I told them that I’d be fair and put out the good and the bad with the good certainly out weighing the bad. Again, Bitch Gate Agent in DC 0 and Prashaint, Demond, and the ramp agent 10.
We finally boarded, I checked my watch and settled in for a flight with a connection I knew had no chance of making in Milwaukee. I took a nap and when I woke, we were preparing to land. We landed; I bolted to my gate and there stood two gate agents and no passengers. Of course! The flight was long gone and they were waiting for me.
They were very helpful and informed me I could be out of Milwaukee at 3:pm the following day and in Dallas by 6 pm. WTF…I informed them that wouldn’t work because I’d be too late to go to the expo to retrieve my racing packet that would allow me to run my half-marathon on Sunday. Totally unacceptable. If that was the case, send me back to DC. This time, I was being the ballsey bitch. So, they began to check flights and voila, Frontier Air at 7:am to Kansas City and American to Dallas having me in by 11:am. OK, book it Dano. Then we did the delicate dance that I needed a hotel. I got a bit of pushback and the Widow stood her ground and voila, motel voucher. So, I headed out for the shuttle to the Sleep In and I almost fainted. It was 14 degrees and snowing. Holy Running Blisters. I rooted through my running bag and grabbed my running hat, running gloves and anything I could wrap up in. My ears felt as though they would drop off in the cold. Truly, they were numb and I had no feeling in them. I climbed in the shuttle and off we went. I asked the driver to crank up the heat. I almost laid my ears on the vent because they were so cold.
I was riding the shuttle with two pilots. I have a soft spot for pilots because my sweet Jim was one. We got to the motel and they got to the desk before me and then the drama began. Tall pilot was bitching that he needed the 5:30 am shuttle to leave on time because the last time he took it, the driver waited for a family and he was late. I signed up for the same shuttle. I love punctuality: these guys were winning my heart. But then, short pilot wanted the desk clerk to check all of his frequent stay points. He thought there was a mistake on his account. Really? Dude it is 11:pm, I’m hungry and we are catching a 5:30 am shuttle. For the love of God, shut up and move before I pummel you because I AM hungry and a bit pissed off.
I suppose my piercing Widow Eyes in the back of his head made an impact, because he turned and looked at me. He nicely stepped aside and told the clerk to go ahead and check me in. Thanks buddy! So, I chatted her up and got a few carry out menus while questioning as to who she preferred, who was quickest and several other senseless questions, just to make him cool his jets.
I headed up to my room, ordered Chinese, and fell asleep only to rise at 4:30 for my 5:30 shuttle to the airport.
Now, you know there is plenty more to this Widow’s Tale, but you will have to tune in for Part II when it is posted over the weekend…oh yes…the fun was not overJ
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