Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Momentary Stress

I called up the Airline to ask them what documentation I needed for MiniWarrior to fly with me (as he has no photo ID).

While on the phone with the agent, I asked her if she could tell us what seats we had as Orbitz function of allowing me to choose a seat wasn't working when I purchased them online.

"I'm sorry Ma'am. We don't have two seats left that are together."

"Um. No. I am traveling with my son. I need to be sitting by him."

"I'm sorry. There are no more seats together."

"No. No no no. You don't understand. My son is Autistic, has never flown before and needs to be beside me or he will flip out!"

"One moment while I put you on hold."

I sat on hold long enough for me to grind through my first layer of tooth enamel, feeling my heart pound inside my chest while pictures of passengers lunging frantically for the exits--mid air--after being a captive audience for 4 hours of MiniWarriors diatriba on Mantis and frog growth specifications--spun around my head like a bad 70's 8 track tape.

The lady came back onto the phone and had not only found us two seats together, but had placed us right behind First Class in the handicap seats for all 4 of the planes we would be traveling to and from Houston.

Thank you, US Airways! That was an awesome move on your part :)

One step closer to EWO time, Peeps.

Good times.

good times...

8 comments:

jade spaces said...

WHEW!
that was stressful just reading it!

Haphazardkat said...

Jadey: Omg girl, it was!!! I would have had to start from the beginning, cancelling those tickets, notifying EWO's travel agent of the change, the hotel, the car picking us up...etc etc etc... *puff puff wheeze* gads...I cannot believe they would even attempt to seat a parent away from their child!

Pop and Ice said...

Just shows, once again, how persistent you must be to get anything done. And something this important, well, I would have stayed on the phone as long as it took!

Terri G said...

I am so proud of you for sticking it out and making them make it work for YOU instead of the other way around. Awesome!

Haphazardkat said...

PopnIce: true, isn't it? Although in this case the lady was very helpful and kind :)

Terri: Can you freakin' believe that any airline would think it was OK to separate a kid from their parent while traveling? Sheesh. I guess I'm naive because this is the first time I'm traveling with my son...but dang!

The Darker Side said...

oh HECK no - no kid should EVER be seated away from parent - NOT!
It is good that you were persistent AND you got a helpful person.

hugs
the never-present dragon

Haphazardkat said...

Dragonlady: I faintly remember a time when traveling seemed like a grand adventure. I'd hop on a plane in a heartbeat and zoom to strange places with not an extra thought in my head other then, "I hope I have enough money..."

How did this all get so complicated? :)

*hugs to the sorta-never-present Dragon :D

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad things worked ou for you and I'll remember U.S.Airways. You were SOOO close to First Class!! Hope you have a safe trip.

Well, my dog#1 will be posting a rebuttal today to dog#2's last one. I hate when they compete like that because that just gets dog#3 all worked up! I also wish they would stop calling the internet the 'innertube'!! Oh well...

Have a Great week!
Bob~