While not on UA...

Walking around EWR after stepping off a redeye from LAX--in a hazy lack-of-sleep endorsed stupor--I noticed that there was a flight to DCA about 45 minutes before my connection to BWI. Anxious not to sit around EWR any longer than I needed to, I called my (now former) girlfriend to see if she could meet me at DCA instead of BWI, and it worked out perfectly for her.

I approached the GA for the DCA flight and was given an iffy "no." When I asked about co-terminals et al., she told me to check at the Continental sevice center next door. Since there was NO LINE, I gave it a shot.

Before I could spit out what I was asking, the gentleman behind the counter had a boarding pass to DCA printed out for me (the load was light on that flight--and oddly enough my (junglejet) flight to BWI was overbooked.)

When I asked about my bags (figuring it wouldn't be a problem to switch them since we had just over an hour) he said, "oh, those are going to BWI you'll have to pick them up there."

Grrrr... "you can't switch them" I begged(this was pre 9/11)

"No" he replied.

"Well then I want back on the BWI flight."

Pecking away at the computer, "I'm sorry sir that flight is overbooked and the computer has already given your seat to someone else. You can go standby, but I'd recommend taking the DCA flight since you are confirmed there. Check at DCA, maybe they can send your bags down."

Grrr...

Well my (former) girlfriend picked me up at DCA and then we went to get my bags at BWI. Having no plans for the rest of the day, we decided to head on up to PHL since we were already well on the way there and I had never been there before. We had cheesesteaks--I was looking forward to them so much, and was sadly disappointed We saw Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and then I slept all the way back to DC.

So, the moral of the story, don't standby for a different destination unless you really want to see Philadelphia




[This message has been edited by the-ca-goat (edited 05-17-2002).]