A post from TH3........
Yes, we made it, everyone! It was a long, but very comfortable flight to Seoul.
Today we spent the day in the field testing the pig poo stuff - all I can say is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've got a ton of pictures to go through and commentary to write, then the uploading can begin.
In the meantime, ABCDEFG's version of the story about almost missing the flight is not quite telling the whole story. (Thanks for throwing me under the bus, ABCDEFG! I'll remember that one...)
Below is how it happened. I wrote it before leaving for testing his morning, and on little sleep, again, so I hope it makes sense.
Cheers,
Thurston
A Ticket to Atlanta ...
I get to the Terminal and find the Delta counter for me to check in and depart for Atlanta. It's an hour and twenty minutes ahead of departure. There is a sea of people with very unhappy faces in the lineup. Delta is severely understaffed with only 2 customer service representatives working and incapable of checking in passengers fast enough. Tempers are flaring- for good reason.
At 5:55 am, it's the Cincinatti people they're still working on checking in. They hadn't even begun checking in the Atlanta people for the 6:15 flight. After waiting a while, the Delta reps tell the crowd to use the electronic kiosks to check in. Too late – the systems won't allow this option within one hour of flights. (Thanks for telling us about that feature anyway...)
It's obvious I'm not going to make the 6:15 to Atlanta so a kind and hopeful-to-be- passenger provides the Delta 800 # to me to rebook. I step aside and call Delta. I tell her the customer service lady Delta's short-staffing woes going on at my airport and the backlog of angry people and how it's imperative I get on the next flight to Atlanta in order to connect with the Seoul departure on time. She promises to do her best.
Delta lady at the end of the 1-800 call: 'So you say you're connecting in Atlanta to depart for Seoul? Odd, I found you in the system, but I don't see you connecting for any flight to Seoul.'
I assure her I am going because ABCDEFG said I was, and he even sent me an e-ticket. I had it firmly in hand. I am, indeed, booked for Seoul on Korean Air. The Delta customer service lady seemed satisfied and located the next flight to Atlanta – 7:40 am with a 10:06 arrival time. She assures me this will still allow me to catch my Seoul flight with ABCDEFG and Jared.
'Book it!', I tell her.
She replies, 'Done. You're very lucky. That's the last seat . We're booked solid on that flight now.'
I couldn't believe I snagged the last seat. I kept that tidbit to myself as I returned to the Delta area with an evil grin on my face. Sadly, many others were left in a bad situation. Many missed connecting flights. Many were stuck with hotel room expenses for rooms they never stayed in. More angry people.
I run to the Delta kiosk to get my flight confirmed and boarding pass in hand. Done. I'm set!
I return to the Delta lineup. Time passes and I have to use the washroom – better go before boarding. A kind individual in the lineup offers to watch my baggage.
Nature Calls ...
I'm sorry to be graphic but after a big glass of water, and 3 cups of coffee, there was a sense of urgency. The Restroom is conveniently located directly across from the Delta lineup. I try the door. It's locked. Another woman says to me, 'I've been waiting here for 10 minutes and it's still locked!' We approach the nice ladies at the Information stand nearby and alert them to our plight. They tell us to use the larger facilities just 1 minute walk down the hall. Off we go only to find it tethered off with a 'Closed for cleaning' sign attached.
Thurston, “Hello – our flights are about to board – we need to use the washroom, please.'
The response in a strong foreign accent, 'Sorry. Closed for cleaning.'
Thurston, “But we HAVE to go – please – our flights are about to board. We could miss it. Please – it will take just one minute.'
Response, 'Sorry, no. Cleaning. Go to other washroom.'
Thurston, 'It's locked. There are no others to go to.'
Response, 'No. Sorry. Cleaning.'
Realizing this dutiful, restroom detailer is not going to budge, I looked over at my new found passenger friend with a glimmer in my eye and shouted, 'I'm going to vomit! I have to vomit! Where do you want me to vomit??!! Hurry!' Restroom detailer does not respond.
Thurston, 'It's coming! Ohh (gagging sounds) it's coming! Do you want me to vomit right here? Right now?!' My passenger friend looks on with glee.
Suddenly the restroom detailer comes flying out, untethers the entrance and shouts, 'Hurry! Hurry!'
Without further adue, my friend and I seize the moment, Carpe Diem style, and run for the now welcoming stalls. I fake a gag reflex sound, and take care of business. Sweet, sweet mercy.
I left with a smile on my face and said thank you to the restroom detailer as she looked suspiciously at me while I walked out.
Back to the departure line up.... fast-forwarding:
I boarded the 7:40 am flight. As I make my way to my seat, strangers excitedly say to me in passing, 'You're the 'Vomit' lady! Good one!!! I'm going to use it sometime!!!'
We're boarded and ready to go, with not one seat to spare. (Heh, heh, heh ... I got the last seat, remember?)
After a while, I noticed at the front of the plane there was a serious discussion going on with flight attendant and a seated passenger. The passenger proceeded to get up and walk back to the rear of the plane, and said to the lady seated beside me, 'Honey, we have to get off the plane. They said the plane is too heavy. They have asked us to leave because we were the second last people to get tickets for this flight. It's okay because they're giving us $400, though.” Angry lady beside me. Very angry lady. She responded tersely, 'We've been here since 4 am! They're bumping us twice?! What a freakin' joke!!' After a few more choice 'passionate' words for Delta, she (angrily) departed with her husband. Did I mention she was angry?
The flight attendant, the Corporate lady that she was, announced to the rest of the passengers, 'Oh Delta knew this could happen before those poor people boarded the plane. They stopped weighing baggage at checkin to try to speed up the boarding.'
I'll fast forward here. The plan was further delayed due to de-icing. De-icing completed. I make it to destination Atlanta, on a bumped flight - 62 minutes late - with the arrival time at 11:10 am. Lots of time to catch the Seoul flight at 12:55 pm, right? Well, a little more about that later....
I had noticed on my luggage receipt it said my final destination was Atlanta. Hmmm, but I'm going to Seoul. I better ask them before I continue to the Seoul counter. Confirmed. I have to locate my bag and get it transferred to the Seoul flight. Another Delta messup! The baggage was at the other end of the terminal. After taking the shuttle and running in between, I managed to get my bag. I ran to the Korean Air counter to find it closed. It was 12:00 pm. A gentleman buzzes the counter for assistance. A lady shows up and asks me what she can do for me. I say I need to get on the 12:55 pm flight to Seoul. She tells me no, I can't. I have to rebook for departure the next day. I said, “No. I will not.I am going on this flight. You have to let me on. Delta screwed up and I need to be put on the flight NOW.'
ABCDEFG can RUN!!!!!!!!!!!
I texted ABCDEFG and he ran over to help me. RAN, folks. He had sweat dripping from both sides of his temples. He was a superstar. We got my boarding pass in hand and the race to the gate began. It was 12:20 pm and the gate for Korea Air was about 20 minutes away. All my bags in tow, ABCDEFG ran. He RAN like OJ SIMPSON!!!!!!!!!!! RUN, ABCDEFG, RUN!!!!
Through security we flew ... shoes off, laptop and contents dumped in tubs and scanned. We made it through in record time.
And ABCDEFG kept on running! I told everyone along the way, proudly, 'He's running BECAUSE HE CAME BACK TO GET THE GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's a MAN!!!!!!!!!'
And we made it to Korea.
Whew.
That's my first story. The good juicy stuff about the Piggy Poo Tests is next .....
AI
Market Data 
Markets 
