Down But Not Out ...

It is 2:00am here in the Twilight Zone of the Hurst Family Trainwreck and I have been through more rounds than I care to remember with my Vengeful Travel gods (since my Travel Fairy - apparently a balding guy named Vince is sitting in his pink tutu in the Lizard Lounge - drunk on one too many martinis ... but I digress ...). They have been having there way with me all evening.

Round 1 - Continental check in - well actually Continentals stupid ticketing system. It gave me a 'mini upgrade' and seated me in the 'Elite' section of the plane - seats in the teen numbers - front of the plane - but unless you are special - and here is the real kicker - they don't give you the status to go with the seat - you cannot board until the end of everyone who has brought all their luggage with them aboard the plane because Continental charges now for checked baggage and the last half of those boarding generally don't have a chance in Hades of getting any overhead bin space. Which - to every ones annoyance I need.

I. Need. Overhead. Bin. Space.

For my computers and cameras - I don't check them - thus I always get in the back of the plane so I can board first - a small price to pay for overhead bin space - it is just the way I do things. But I couldn't reassign my seat.

Check in 24 hours in advance rolls along and I think - why not give the seat assignment a whirl. I am in luck!!! A middle seat (and you know I ABHOR middle seats) is available - on the back row. I snap it up and smile fiendishly -

Round 1 - Lori: 1 Vengeful Travel Gods: 0 (why - you ask - because I turned in a mediocre seat for one that guarantees me a spot of overhead bin space? NO - THERE IS NOBODY BEHIND ME!!! NO ONE TO PLAY SOLITAIRE OR GAMES ON THE BACK OF MY HEAD REST - and yes I AM laughing maniacally ...)

Round 2 - Qantas Check in - I look and see that the flight is at 11:00 - cool - 1/2 hour earlier than usual - I will be able to check in at 1:00am in the morning. 1:00am comes around but the online check in is not highlighted - I cannot select it. I call Qantas. He looks around, tells me that it leaves at 23:30 (duh - Europe - 24 hour clock) and it was not time to check in yet - I was looking at my return flight at 11:00 from Brisbane to LA. Idiot

Round 2 - Lori: 1 Vengeful Travel gods: 1

Round 3 - Time to check in - and OF COURSE. It WON'T LET ME. Gives me the SAME FLIPPING ERROR MESSAGE I GOT LAST TIME. So I decide to call and see if, like before, I am situated in 'Travel Limbo' which is sort of checked in and just worry about getting my ticket when I show up in LA. Dial the toll free number for Qantas again. "Hmmmm, the Qantas Lady seems SUPER excited about something" I think as I am half listening to the recording - it sounds different, but then again - it is almost 2:00am and I am running on fumes. The Qantas Lady starts talking and it is DEFINITELY NOT NICE. Some how I have found: Dial-a-Porn. Wow. Hang up.

Round 3 - Lori:1 Vengeful Travel gods: 2 (sniggering ...)

Called and yes I am in 'Travel Limbo' to be freed when I find a Qantas counter. Dang - I am tired but buzzed at the same time - just wondering what the Vengeful Travel gods have in store for me tomorrow. Gary wants me to buy him some easy-to-put-on clothes at Walmart - and I am thinking that heading to a 24 hour store right now would be more profitable than punching my pillow for 5 hours.

Off to shop ....