Helaine is out-of-town for a few days. She left from Hartford this morning.
Yesterday afternoon we spent about twenty minutes, including a call to Southwest, trying to ascertain if food was as explosive (and restricted by the TSA) as mouthwash or toothpaste.
It is not.
She left Bradley and flew to BWI Airport outside Baltimore. Terminal B arrival. Terminal A departure.
Southwest flies to Houston’s Hobby Airport’s (I wish it were professional as opposed to a hobby¹), and this particular flight went to Gate 50. Yes, there are gate numbers higher, but none more remote.
How do they always know we’re coming to make it as far as is humanly possible? They do, you know.
A few years ago, when it was a United hub, we changed planes in Denver. We literally walked the walk between their two farthest gates. It was like taking the tour of DEN!
Another night, changing at Detroit’s Wayne County Airport (DTW if you’re checking your baggage tags) we were so far away, with so little time, I slipped some money to a person driving one of those long motorized carts and got chauffeured.
The terminal was so crowded, I’m still not sure we ran someone down. I closed my eyes except when I was staring down my watch. We got to the gate in the nick of time… well, it would have been if the flight hadn’t been delayed.
Back in my SciFi Channel days I changed planes in Minneapolis. I was talking on the cell phone walking slowly to my gate – 15. As I walked, I passed 19, 18, 17, 16, 31, 30, 29!
You’ve got to be kidding. They were out of order! I almost missed that plane.
Of course this is one reason I enjoy flying from Tweed New Haven Airport so much. There’s only one gate currently in use. Unfortunately, you can only fly to Philadelphia.
Actually, if more airlines would come in to New Haven, I’d promise not to kvetch about the walk.
¹ – I know, Hobby was a Texas governor – Governor William Pettus Hobby. I just can’t resist cheap humor.