Airpain II: It's going to be a bumpy ride
OK, it's been awhile since I picked up people at Fresno Yosemite International, and all I can say is, enter at your own risk.
It's under construction. Fine -- I'm not bothered by the little "pardon our dust" signs that show it's going to be better soon. Dust is not a problem. It didn't even scare me that there were 13 people sitting on the floor in the luggage area because there were not enough seats for everyone. They looked like teenagers; that won't kill them.
I know I'm far too impatient, but what I will not pardon is a lack of simple, basic effort to give folks arrival information on the monitors -- grrr. In the year 2008 -- in a traveling year when the passenger cabins sound like "Hell's Kitchen" -- they cannot figure out a way to get up on the wall one or two small monitors showing arrivals and departures? Come on.
All I can say is, if you're on some semblance of a time schedule, don't get caught without a fully charged cell phone, the cell number of your passenger and a printout of the itinerary. And if you need to sit in the luggage area while you wait for your bags, take your own chair just in case.
Postscript: I'm going out the gate to pay my parking fee and the guy in the little booth looks at me and snaps, "$2." I'm feeling a little bit snarky already, so I hold the money just out of his reach. "$2 please," I prompted him, doing my best Miss Manners imitation. He didn't know what to do. "But you have to pay," he said incredulous. Sure I do, but is it so hard to ask your customers nicely?
OK, fasten your seatbelts this summer, travelers. As Bette Davis' famous character said: It's going to be a bumpy ride.
Comments
Well, I for one, enjoyed that little drama queen indulgence Gail, and I'll bet Betty Davis' smiling down upon you too. And what a smile!
Posted by: swift | July 11, 2008 6:18 PM
I even trust that once airborne, it would not be actually bumpy like during a lightening storm while flying over Utah. But one is squeezed in like a sardine sideways, and the legs are folded up
like pretzels, and the seat behind you is stabbing you in he back.
And I have, as of yet, not surrendered my dignity.
I do not like to be bullied by airline or air port personnel. I won't fly anymore.
Many places I shall never see again during my wait for pushing up daisies at my pre-paid plot on Villa Avenue.
Posted by: Isabell Lawson | July 11, 2008 6:31 PM
FYI is a joke first to call it international when you have trouble even flying in the states is just plain crazy. They have now taken what used to be short term parking and made it rental cars only thus making short term way out. The hanicapped parking is not very close either. Poor planning. Its great Isabell that you have a prepaid plot on Villa but someone will still have to pay an open and close fee just to move some dirt usually about $600. That gives new meaning to get you coming and going.
Posted by: Jackie Krage | July 11, 2008 8:35 PM
Jackie K! Thank you for the laugh you provided for me this morning. I sure
could use it, after reading the Fresno Bee.
Posted by: Isabell Lawson | July 12, 2008 8:51 AM