United… from hell, to somewhat redeeming
OLS is over. It was a ball. Definitely want to go back again for OLS ‘06. A highlight for me was definitely gregkh’s USB tutorial. And davej’s keynote was definitely one of the best I’ve heard – talking about bugs & triage, tools, and testing.
Toured Ottawa just a bit more, and ended up hurting my leg on the last night. Skipped a step, twisted the foot; not a good idea before a long flight. Thats in italics, because I should already be in KL by now, enjoying a good night’s sleep – herein begins my story with United. Apparently they’re firing people, and its causing massive delays; so I left Ottawa about 2 hours late (which was okay), arrived in Chicago, waited, and left about 3 hours later (which wasn’t okay). Here they could blame the electrical storms and the lone baggage handler. I consequently missed my connecting flight, but lo and behold, my baggage was checked to go there (on another airline, mind you).
I go to the really, long line (of annoyed people that missed their connectings or lost their luggage), and when I finally get my turn, I get a coupon for a hotel (I have to pay USD$45/night, tax not incl.) and they tell me my bag has already been sent to Malaysia. Great. Another available flight is in 2 days (!), and I’m on their priority waitlist. Call the hotel to find out they’re booked out (who wouldn’t be at 3am, after a big fuck up right?). Airport lounges for frequent flyers are closed and will only reopen at 7am. So I find a nice spot with a power socket, and start getting some work done.
Call the horrors of United’s support line. Ask them to place me on the next flight outta LAX, because this isn’t my fault. First lady I got said she won’t do anything because apparently my connecting wasn’t confirmed. Bollocks. Second lady I got apologised profusely, gave me a booking number, and told me to get the ticket endorsed by Malaysian Airlines over to them. Wait… 6.15am, call MAS – they refuse to endorse the ticket. 7am approaches and I decide to try my luck at the United ticketing counter. After much coercing, they give me a ticket on the flight at noon. Yay. No help with luggage, but they say it’ll be around 2 days later before it arrives at best.
Determined with some already good luck, I call MAS at 9.15am, and find a nice lady on the phone saying that she’s not at the counter, but behind in the office. I rush there (LAX is so huge, you gotta move around by shuttle bus), ask her for my bag, and get it eventually. Hooray! Check it in with United (whom are amazed that I could lose such a big thing, before I explain to them it was their fault), and go to the boarding gate. Being really tired from a lack of sleep, I actually do sleep on the chair, only to be awakend by, “Sir, are you Colin Charles? The plane is about to leave and we’re about to unload your luggage.” Oops.
Flight to Narita was uneventful, save for a bunch of Japanese girls being the rave on the plane and taking many photos. Do I look exotic enough, or just plain weird? In Singapore now, where I have a grand total of a 13-hour wait before my next flight out of here (if I can help it, I’d be leaving soon, wish me luck). Its Thursday (after the international date line), and the last time I showered was Monday, before leaving Les Suites. Eew.
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