Florida Starts Off Slow [Travel]

Once again, I’m traveling for work–this time to the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa near Naples, Florida. This is our annual retreat and is usually a good time.

But it didn’t start off so hot. We couldn’t get a direct flight here, so we had to connect through Miami. The flight from Miami was on a 60-seat prop plane–and I love flying on prop planes! Of the 60 people aboard, at least 7 of them were in the wrong seats. The old couple in front of me were sitting in 11A and 11B; their seats were for 11D and 6A! What the heck? (Reminds me of Seinfeld’s bit about old people driving.)

I don’t understand this type of behavior. It’s a 60-seat plane. The chances are pretty good that someone is sitting in whatever seat you chose to sit in. This isn’t like going to a Kansas City Royals baseball game late in the season when less than 17,000 are showing up. Remember, people are idiots.

Then, after a somewhat harrowing (and smelly) flight to Ft. Myers, my bag doesn’t parade around the baggage carousel. Not only my bag, but seven of my work compatriots and several others who were originally on the DFW-MIA flight. In fact, of the ten of us on the flight from work, the only ones who got their bags were the two who got to the airport late, were unable to check their bags at the counter, and had to gatecheck them. So much for getting to the airport early.

The AA bag attendant at the airport was a little overwhelmed by the number of us without bags–in fact, she seemed reluctant to believe that this many people were sans baggage. It took about 40 minutes for all of us to file our claims, and we were off to the hotel.

My bag did not come in on the next plane, unfortunately but predictably. I’m not sure what flight it arrived on, but it got to my room at 2:45 a.m.–perfect timing!

Checking baggage: reason 801 why the terrorists have won! (Just kidding.)