Let's talk about Comair

Good morning. Well, I spent last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday traveling from Jacksonville, Fl to Portland, ME and back. The only problem with that is I was scheduled to be home Friday night. Hmmmm.... May I share with you my well thought out plan to foil the luggage system as well?

I scheduled a trip from JAX to PWM that went through (key word here is "through") New York LaGuardia. The Comair flight landed in LaGuardia and I was the only passenger staying on the flight going on to Maine. This was a good plan because there was no way they could mess up my luggage, or could they? While the baggage handlers were busy unloading "ALL" the bags, I was helping the flight attendant clean the aircraft. I should have been watching the bags come off and jumped up and down and screamed when they unloaded mine. Upon arriving in Portland at 5:00 p.m. and heading directly to the baggage claim I was to find no bag! It had been taken off and sent to Raleigh, N.C.???? Have no fear, it was scheduled to arrive in Portland at 11 p.m. that evening. Ah, the best laid plans! One interesting note about the baggage person in Portland, ME. When I arrived back at the airport around 10:45 p.m. to "meet" my baggage, I inquired at the baggage office to make certain the flight and bag would be arriving. As luck would have it, I was speaking to a Somali immigrant who had a very difficult time with English. With that in mind, I just gave up and sat and waited. Lucky for me, my bag arrived with the late night flight. After getting my bag I needed to check back in with the bag agent and let them know to stop searching for the bag (they had issued a bag claim # earlier in the day). I want you to know that a miracle...Yes a MIRACLE had taken place between 10:45 p.m. when I made the initial inquiry and 11:15 p.m. when I turned in the claim number. The Somali was now speaking perfect English with very little accent. I know, pretty remarkable but true!

Well, my fun was far from over. On the return trip (Friday evening) weather made everything into LaGuardia late as well as going out of LaGuardia either late or cancelled. Somehow I ended up in Atlanta spending the night.

On a more positive note, I did meet some very nice people during this trip. One gentleman from Jacksonville was experiencing the same situation I was. We both had to joke about it (either that or cry!). Staples - I used them again for copies while in Maine and what a great job! They did all I asked while they sent me to dinner. Perhaps there is hope!

Guess what? This morning I'm back at the airport and trying again. Hoping for better luck this time!