THE MISUNDERSTANDING
“Tranquility is all-important to the health of one’s spirit, do you not agree?” --Eric Van Lustbader, THE NINJA, 1980 The travel bug has it me again as I’m anxious and excited about the trip to Washington DC. My client, Rosanna Scott, send me a postcard and all she wrote was “in Beijing”. Ha-ha...but the seascape image on the card and the stamps were cool to see.
I was happy to have my new BMW car. I took a few photos of me with it. Alan was happy---but not because I was leaving on the trip. Wish he could've come with us to DC. Perhaps he will at another time for another adventure.
I flew to Alameda as it was more ideal to fly from Oakland International Airport with my mom and the girls (Ashley and Lauren). I was able to see Tony, Helen and the girls, too.
Due to a mishap, we ended up flying out of San Francisco. It was actually a nightmare. We were supposed to fly out at 6:47AM from Oakland, stop at Dallas-Fort Worth, and then continue on to Washington DC; however, things got hairy. It was stressful, unnerving. The best way to explain the situation is to transcribe the letter of detail that I wrote to Alan while on the flight.
6/29/96, Saturday
Dear Alan,
You won’t believe what’s happened so far on this trip. It’s been a real nightmare. I intend to write a letter to the CEO of American Airlines and all of the employees involved.
Here’s the scoop! We just left San Francisco Airport on Flight #43 on Northwest Airlines. We stop in Memphis, Tennessee and will remain on the plane to continue on to Washington DC-National. You’re probably wondering how this happened since we were supposed to fly out of Oakland at the crack of dawn.
Well, early AM (5:20AM) or so, my brother, John, came over to pick up me, mom, Ashley and Lauren for our 6:45AM Oakland to Dallas to Washington DC direct flight. He dropped us off and everything was fine until I got in line at the GATE to check-in. I was the third person in line and my turn was coming but Toni, an American Airlines Reservation agent made an announcement that those who have tickets and seat assignments need NOT wait in line. I had tickets and I called the night before and knew our seat assignments. So, I got out of the line and went directly to enter the plane. The tall blond, Lead Flight attendant stopped us because our seat numbers were not actually on our tickets. She said I had to go back to the gate while mom and the girls waited right at the plane entrance. I went back and the line was so, so, so long! I chose to go right to the agent in front and explained that I needed seat umbers asap on my tickets. It was early. I was agitated and I did the wrong thing. I sort of exploded and yelled (the way you sometimes do to do get results); however, I slammed my hand on the counter and yelled loudly for her (G. Huddlestone) to help me. Okay, yes, I caused an incident here. Suddenly some American Airline Staff Security Service guy named Dave Armstrong ran over and asked me directly (or rather intently) in a very sinister sort of way for me to step to the side. Out of the blue, Lauren and Ashley were by my side. Ashley was in tears, stressing over the mean David Armstrong who was being so adamant with me. I did step to the side and asked him ‘calmly’, “May I explain?”
He told me, “No!”
He actually did not want to hear my explanation. He disappeared and I maintained my calm attitude at that point and decided to just get to the end of the long line and wait my turn. Mom ended up coming out and she was confused. Ashley was stressed as was Lauren. As the line moved along, I noticed two police officers show up and the Dave Armstrong fellow confronted me again, telling me that I’ve disrupted the other passengers and that I will not be allowed on the plane. Needless to say, I was appalled but I knew I couldn’t overreact again, so I tried to talk to the lead flight attendant (a tall blond) who refused to give me her name because she was the one who told me to go out and simply have the front desk denote our seat assignments. She was trying to CHA-Cover Her Ass. I wasn’t getting anywhere but I was told Oakland had an 8AM flight to Dallas and that we could board that flight.
And so, I went up to the front desk and Ross, an Asian fellow made a definitive promise that we’d be the first four standby passengers allowed on the 8AM Flight. After we left Ross, the four of us walked towards the Café within the Airport for a little breakfast snack. I saw David Armstong storming up to the thicket counter. After seeing that I had a gut-feeling that he was doing something to mess-up our stand-by status on the 8AM flight. Then, it became more stressful to me. I went to the bathroom and took off my baseball cap and t-shire and put on a sweatshirt, splashing water on my face as a sort of a clearance in my mind to start over. Sure enough, back at the infamous Gate 4 while I was in-line I witnessed Dave Armstrong, whispering to Ross (who was not working as the Gate Ticket Agent). Dave also whispered to a couple of other American Airline personnel, including a black woman named Toni. Needless to say, they made up a charade, stating that they couldn’t get me on this 8AM flight. Even though Ross told me earlier that there were nine available seats and it shouldn’t be a problem. I could also tell that a couple of standby passengers in waiting did get on the flight! Finally, Toni, the black gal, assisted Ross in getting me a new flight out of San Francisco. Toni was apologetic and seemed sincere and I would later learn that her intentions were good because she gave me boarding passes, seat assignments and fixed it all ups nicely. However, David Armstrong, was still lurking in the midst, whispering to them (in front of me). I think he told them to not provide voucher transportation from Oakland to SFO. And so, we ended up taking a van shuttle for $65 to SFO from Oakland, hoping all would be better in SFO. I really thought that David Armstrong was out to get me. In hindsight, the changing of my shirt in the bathroom was probably looked upon as a ‘no-no’. It was all so ridiculous but I was beginning to feel that it was meant for all of us to fly out of SFO.
We actually made it to SFO by 9:30AM and our new flight to Dallas would be departing at 12:10PM. I tried to get on a 10:47AM flight but there was no room. I believe there was but I think that the American Airlines flight attendant saw that I already had boarding passes, so she didn’t want to deal with changing the entire transaction.
I said, “Fine!”
I chose to be patient until 12:10PM. At least we wouldn’t have to wait in line again because we had our boarding passes and seat assignments. Okay, it was time to board the aircraft. I was feeling so happy because Toni (in Oakland) gave me two Business Class seats and two Coach. I switched my Business Class seats in order to give them to Ashley and Lauren because I wanted them to enjoy and be really comfortable. As we started to finally get situated, Lauren and Ashley came back to mom and I from Row 8 to inform us that their seats were overlapped with someone else and the flight attendant told Ashley (a 12-year-old girl) that she had to get off the plane! Can you imagine that? Ashley was in tears and I knew this was going too far. I thought it was a joke but two other people appeared for my seat and my mom’s seat. The four of us had to get out of the plane. It was like they were out to get us. I was sure Dave Armstrong in Oakland had been the culprit.
As we went through the hallway to the GATE entrance, I could see two police officers (or security agents), a black lady and an Asian guy. They police officers were extremely nice. Then, I met with Meryl Berggren, an American Airlines Customer Service Team Leader.
She said, “Due to your outburst in Oakland and my strange change of clothes episode that I would not be allowed to take this flight!”
On a brighter note, she did say, “I can make new arrangements for you to get to Washington DC via another airline.”
Again, the Ashley and Lauren were distraught. Can you imagine? I could see and understand if I were traveling alone but I was with mom and my two nieces. This David Armstrong guy in Oakland surely called SFO and put a red alert against me. He just didn’t like me. Did he think I was a terrorist who just escape from Saudi Arabia? Please!
Photo: Ashley and Lauren eventually in Meditation Mode
Once again, I maintained my composure by being calm. I decided to see what flight arrangements Meryl would set up. She was very nice and mentioned the security tightening due to FAA’s close eye on the airlines. She got us on a 1:10PM flight via Northwest Airlines to Memphis, TN, then on to Washington DC via the same plane.
Unfortunately, it was 12:30pm and I felt a bit stressed because we had to walk all the way over to the Northwest Terminal. We made it there by 12:40pm---but guess what? I dropped (lost) my ticket. I lost my ticket somehow while walking from American Airlines to Northwest Airlines. To make a long story short I chose to just buy a new ticket, so that I could travel with my family. I had to pay $650 for a new ticket. Jeez, as I write all of this it feels like I might have a small claims lawsuit against American Airlines for the stress, anxiety and childhood mental harassment!
Anyway, I write you now in-flight and we are almost in Memphis, TN now and the stress has been tapered down dramatically. I feel relieved but I can’t wait to go home and work on my letter about my dissatisfied experience. I hope, ultimately, David Armstrong, will get fired for he is the one who made it worse for me. Maybe you can come up with some ideas as to what I will write.
Look for my postcard that will arrive soon.
Love, Michael
P.S. Look at these bagel stores attached
P.S.#2: Wouldn’t it have been nice if American Airlines just changed our arrangements to a new airline after the first missed flight instead of having us go through a total waste of our time? Alas, I am sure more pleasant vacation events are ahead.
Murphy's Law: We arrived at National Airport, Washington DC at 11PM (8PM California time). WE located four of our 6 bags at the American Airline baggage claim. Two bags are still un-recovered (Lauren’s only bad and mom’s bag).
We took a taxi to the JW Marriot. That was easy! We were confirmed; however, due to overcapacity they gave us 1-free night across the street at the WILLARD INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL, so we go back to JW MARRIOTT tomorrow (Sunday). JW MARRIOTT will also give us a second complimentary night this week due to the inconvenience.
Alas, I miss Marina Del Rey!
I ended up filing a claim for the lost luggage and contents (Lauren $125, Mom $125, Me $75). I was reimbursed #325 but it didn’t come to me for another 12-weeks.
I had Ashley write her own rendition of the events in the Travel Journal that her mom and dad gifted me and I loved the way she described it:
When we were at the Oakland Airport Uncle Mike was in line to get Boarding Passes. Then, the lady, Toni L Jackson, said that if you have kids going on the plane, you’ll get boarding passes. So, he left the front of the line and the lady inside (a tall blond) said to get seat arrangements. He left and asked the lady for seat arrangements. Then, by the way, he sort-of cut in line but only because the tall blond told him to). The lady wouldn’t let him cut in front since the line was too long. He still wouldn’t go in the back and the lady ignored him. He got mad and yelled at her. Then some stupid, bald, crazy retarded idiot who worked there put his big nosey nose into THE MISUNDERSTANDING. The conniving, bit brat said, “Don’t yell at her. Step away!”
“Just let me explain.”
“Step away, sir or I’ll call security.”
“But...”
“Security 412,” he said as if he had just stopped a bank robber. He made a huge deal about it. We ended up not going on that plane because he (the bald, mean, stupid, retard, idiot jerk aka David T Armstrong said that the people wouldn’t feel safe! As if...I mean...he was with two kids and his mom. So, we had to take a taxi van to S.F. Airport. All because of that bald, freak and we won’t get to D.C. in time to swim! Some day! Lauren and I gave him mean looks.
P.S. Uncle Mike changed his appearance by taking off his hat and putting on his sweatshirt.
P.P.S. This story is not really complete described fully but I’m getting tired of writing...
A funny thing happened on our first night though. I was still a tad anguished while trying to recover our last luggage, so I was downstairs on the phone in the posh hotel lobby. Suddenly, I looked out of the window and I thought I was seeing things. I thought I saw mom, Ashley and Lauren outside in their pajamas. Apparently, I did! There was a fire drill of which I didn't hear because I was in the lobby library. What a hysterical moment to top off our non-stop travel day. The girls were having a blast. In fact, the adventure went on without a hitch after that. I know we will never forget this experience.
Many say that miracles only happened long ago, but I feel and I tell you now that they still happen today. However, they are quiet miracles, and are only to be found in the souls of those who are ready for them. --Stefan Zweig, THE MIRACLES OF LIFE, a short story
