Experience The Adventure Of Travelocity
I've found that booking my travel for the blog on Travelocity normally gets me good bargains and excellent adaptability. However, in order to use it properly, one has to focus on the details of the itineraries in order to avoid having unusual adventures. Tonight, I'm learning the lesson the hard way in Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport.
Initially, I wanted to fly back from my Solutions Day trip around midday, and I thought that's what I'd booked. It would have brought me home in time to do my Heading Right Radio show and then get some rest for more travel. I've already booked my flight to DC on Monday for a special event, after which I'll do my HRR show at the prime-time hour of 9 pm ET to discuss the event, which I can't talk about at the moment.
However, late last night I realized that I had selected an 11 PM flight for tonight. I had to extend my stay at the excellent and reasonable Hyatt Place Airport hotel for another half-day, and I've been here at Hartsfield ever since.
It hasn't been all bad. I've chatted with a few other travelers, done some blogging, and had a drink with my dinner, which is a rare event for me. I don't usually get a chance to absorb any local flavor in airports, but I did notice that I kept hearing a recognizable voice in a local TV spot for the Atlanta tourism site. After a few (dozen) repetitions, I realized it was Samuel L. Jackson doing the voice-over. I almost expected him to say "Every day is Opening Day in Atlanta .... And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would talk bad about Atlanta." Maybe that wouldn't have been all that enticing, but it would have been more entertaining than the ubiquitous CNN feed.
I'm here for another couple of hours, and then I'll finally head home. Next time, I'll double-check those departure times....
Posted by Ed Morrissey on September 28, 2007 8:11 PM | Comments (17) | TrackBacks (0)
Comments (17)
Posted by burt | September 28, 2007 8:58 PM
Have you ever tried Orbitz ?
They usually have the best deal .
Posted by Carol Herman | September 28, 2007 9:00 PM
Gosh, how the computer changes the way we do some of our business.
There was once a time, when executives wanted to travel, they called the Travel Agency. Who prepped the tickets.
Now? Just like computer code, you've gotta develop an eye for the nitty gritty. For recognizing an "am" from a "pm." In a ticket-less universe.
Posted by Andy | September 28, 2007 9:08 PM
I usually dread flying through Hartsfield. I always seem to get delayed. Fortunately I haven't had to fly through there in a few years now, but I used to go through all the time.
HOWEVER.....one of the perks of Hartsfield is manifested in how many good-looking women are in that place at any one time. Certainly makes the delays not nearly so bad.
Posted by AJStrata | September 28, 2007 9:27 PM
Hey good Captain,
While in DC you up for some socializing? U have my email address if you are!
Cheers, AJStrata
Posted by Mike | September 28, 2007 9:41 PM
You could have saved a lot of time and aggravation by telling a travel agent what you wanted. You would have been charged a fee but, really, would it have been worth $25 to be out of ATL at noon? It might also surprise you to know that Travelocity does not display complete information about every flight. But, at least they make it pretty clear what the price is - Orbitz isn't quite so direct. If you had reported a glitch like this to a competent agent they might have been able to fix it. At the least, they would have checked seats on your airline's earlier flights and advised you whether it made sense to head to the airport and standby. Obviously, I'm an agent. Hope you have a better trip next time.
Posted by mikey | September 28, 2007 10:01 PM
The US is about the only place left that I've seen using am and pm. Our military and the rest of the world uses a 24 hour clock. There's no confusion over a flight at 2300.
Posted by flyguy | September 28, 2007 11:41 PM
Lordy if I did not do the same thing this summer - 11PM rather than 11AM arrival. I only realized a week before when I puzzled out why the rentacar was reserved for the next day (12:05AM). I called Travelocity and they told me to reserve a different flight out, I did on their site and ended screwing up the flight back, which is dependent on taking the first one one out! Travelocity's 'help' cost me a useless flight out and a $100 charge to change the tickets! They said better luck next time! and there won't be!
Posted by MikeTheLibrarian | September 29, 2007 12:13 AM
Samuel L. Jackson and an airport? Oh, jezz, watch out Capn!
Posted by Adjoran | September 29, 2007 2:29 AM
It's from Jackson's line from "Pulp Fiction":
There's a passage I got memorized, seems appropriate for this situation: Ezekiel 25:17. "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you."
Upon which, he and John Travolta blow away the punks who tried to rip off their boss.
Posted by Donald | September 29, 2007 8:13 AM
And by the way, they had ripped off his soul!
Posted by SoldiersMom | September 29, 2007 8:42 AM
Been there, done that - to Las Vegas no less. Imagine my husband's reaction when I told him. We didn't get home until 4:?? a.m. and had to work that day!
He books all travel now, and he loves telling that story.
Posted by richard mcenroe | September 29, 2007 10:38 AM
I've always had good results and prices with Travelocity. Of course, the nuns taught me to tell time in first grade...
Posted by jeff | September 29, 2007 12:08 PM
I'm using kayak.com for my travel planning now, they are a search engine against all the other travel services, hotels, rental cars, etc. Straightforward interface and consistently good results.
Posted by tomax7 | September 29, 2007 3:52 PM
...we made the misfortune of booking via Air Mile Points.
We were given connecting flights in Ottawa with 40 minutes from landing time to departure.
Right.
A travel agent is worth it.
Posted by Chimpy | September 29, 2007 6:01 PM
Diss Atlanta and Samuel L. Jackson will bust a cap in your ass or use a blowtorch and a pair of pliers on you ;-)
Zed is dead.
Posted by vidkunquisling | September 30, 2007 5:18 PM
Travelocity and Orbitz are useful for gathering information about flights and hotels, but you are ill-advised to actually make the reservations through them. If you are on business travel subject to any change, you are insane to make the reservations through them. You will spend hours on hold and talking to someone in India who can't do a thing to help you, be transferred a number of times, and pay big fees to make changes. Far better to make the reservation direct with the hotel or airline. It will normally be $5 cheaper (the intermediary's fee) and never more expensive in my experience, and you have a much easier time making changes.
Posted by Honky | October 1, 2007 3:00 PM
That's what I do, too. Find the best price on Travelocity, then book directly from the airline.