I flew to Atlanta last night. My flight was supposed to leave at 8pm. I got to the airport at 5:30 because I was told traffic would be bad plus all the holiday travelers/people fleeing Frances were making OIA a complete mess. Yeah, I got through check-in in under 15 minutes. So, I sat in the terminal for about about 2 hours when one of the announcers tells us that our flight is being delayed because bad weather in Atlanta has caused congestion at the Hartsfield airport. :mad: On top of it, our terminal was CROWDED. It was the people that were supposed to be on the flight plus over 100 people willing to be on standby to get out of the State before the hurricane comes and swallows it whole. I had some little 4 years old next to me who was throwing a temper tantrum. The mother just sat there and read a newspaper. How can she block it out? I was trying to read Cosmo and couldn't concentrate because I had to hear, "WAHHHHHHHH!!! (shriek) Mama, I want APPLE JUICE NOW!!!!!!!!!"

Finally, we board the plane at 9pm. The seats on AirTran are tiny. They put this guy next to me who was clearly over 250 pounds. He was spilling into my seat. I was up against the window. The crying 4 year old was behind me kicking my seat. The air conditioning system on the plane broke. It was so hot that I was nauseated. Congestion was bad at OIA too so we couldn't take off until 9:45.

Oh, and I hadn't eaten since 11:30am that morning. I get cranky when I'm hungry. :)

Because of the weather, the flight was BUMPY. Awful turbulance that didn't make my tummy feel any better. When we were close to Atlanta, I noticed the plane kept making circles. The pilot said we had to do this because of all the congestion at the airport. The Air Traffic Controllers weren't letting us land. So, we were in the holding pattern for a good 30 minutes. Around, around, around in a circle.

We landed in Atlanta at 11:45. My poor boyfriend had to be up for class at 6am so he was not happy. Because all the flights into Atlanta were delayed, the baggage claim area was a zoo. It took 30 minutes for them to unload the Orlando people's stuff onto the conveyor.

It was still a 30 minute drive back to his place.

We were home at 1:30. WORST FLIGHT EVER.

I'm scared that I might not be able to get back to Orlando on Monday if OIA gets destroyed. grrrrr....

ZTAngel- what an awful night. i would have not made through all of that. it is good to know you made it to Atlanta

Re: So... Why did I fly to Florida???
 

No. Say hello to Tropical Storm Ivan.

I hope that you, your family and friends, and your broad-band internet connection all stay safe. :)

ZTAngel, I hear you. We got to OIA at midnight for a 6AM flight, and it was a zoo. People were pushing, trying to cut in line, and it was an all out mess. Some woman jumped in line in front of me and my boyfriend and he flipped out on her. Everyone in line behind us cheered for him. HAHA. She still made her flight, stupid b****. If they hadn't let the people who had the first flight jump ahead and hold the planes, I think we would have missed our flight. All these jerks with 11:00 flights were checking in first and not letting people with more immediate needs ahead of them.

And that mofo Ivan better stay the hell away. I can't afford to fly out everytime a damn hurricane forms. Not to mention I'm worried enough that I won't have a job when I get back.

A local newswoman was reporting on the beach and she got smacked in the ribs with a piece of styrofoam... at first, I though, oh funny... but it did some damage... it was traveling at speeds of 90 MPH. OUCH!


Again, I picked such a good time to come home for a visit ;)

OIA???
 

At first I was scratching my head, then it hit me like a ton of bricks... I'm used to calling Orlando International Airport by its identifier, MCO (after McCoy Air Force Base, formerly Pinecastle AFB, which is what begat OIA... :) )

i live in south texas right by south padre in my 21 years i have yet to have to evacuate for a hurricane

and here florida is two in two weeks

i hope you all stay safe

I usually call it MCO, but I figured no one would know what I'm talking about. ;)