timid_trnchcoat

MR TPA-DFW-YYC-ORD-MIA-TPA in F on AA

Disclaimer: I apologize in advance for being a bit of a travelling newbie and if my trip report seems boring or lacks the correct FF terminology, etc. Just sharing an experience.

Apr 8
Flight 1225
TPA-DFW
Seat: 6F
Scheduled Departure: 8:40am

I arrived at the airport promptly at around 6:45am. Looked around for awhile knowing I'd have to come here Saturday for a trip to San Francisco on Northwest. I found the AA check-in counter and zoomed through the first class line which no one was in. The agent checked me in, advising me that the flight to DFW was delayed by 20 minutes but would not have a problem making my 11:42am departure for Calgary. I proceeded to the gate. At around 9 am, they delayed the departure to 10am and asked connecting passengers to have their tickets redone. A huge line formed and I mulled around waiting for it to thin out, but it never really did. I eventually got my tickets - departing at 3:47pm for ORD. I was also put on standby for an earlier 11am departure and given a meal voucher. I waited until pretty much everyone was called, then asked the GA about my ticket. She said the flight was completely full. After the flight departed I decided to cut my losses for one day and go back to the check-in counter to see if they could redo my entire ticket, so that I could depart the next day. The same lady that helped me before reticketed my original itinerary - TPA-DFW-YYC-ORD-MIA-TPA - just one day later. I was very impressed, as I was expecting to have to wait there until almost 4pm - 9 hrs after I first arrived there - or not be able to fly the itinerary at all. I left for home only to do it all the next day.

Apr 9
Flight 1225
TPA-DFW
Seat: 6F
Scheduled Departure: 8:40am

On this day, I leave a little bit later, knowing the time frame I need to arrive at the airport. So upon arriving at TPA,
everything is as scheduled and advertised, the flight leaving at 8:40am. Preboarding for F class starts promptly at 8:10am.

I forgot to preboard and when I get on the plane, I am unorganized and in a frenzy trying to get my stuff for during the trip out since I don't want to bug my seatmate since I'm in the window seat. This causes a delay because though most of the F class passengers are on, I guess others, elites presumably, are trying to get pass me.

Breakfast is served later - I'm given a choice of cereal or an egg quesadilla. I chose the egg quesadilla. It was accompanied with some sausage and onions and a fruit plate with a lone strawberry, two slices of canteloupe, and a small handful of grapes. A choice of warm biscuits or bagels were served with the meal.

After finshing breakfast and really settling in, the FA came on to give an announcement: "Is there a doctor on board?" One of the coach passengers was having breathing difficulty. I couldn't really see any of it. My seatmate told me that it
looked like someone was giving the passenger CPR, and the captain shortly gave an announcement that we would be landing
shortly...in Shreveport, Louisiana. The FAs hurriedly collected drink glasses throughout the cabin and after a sharp descent, we were on the ground shortly thereafter. EMS and police were on the scene. Everyone was turned around watching at this point, blocking my seatmate's view to the back. I don't really know what happened other than the passenger was taken off the plane through the rear exit and presumably yo a medical facility. I did see the vehicle with the luggage ramp pull up when the aircraft landed, I guess to remove the passenger's bags. I think most of us were concerned about the welfare of that passenger. Then we waited. What seemed like forever was actually about 30 minutes, the captain came on, thanking us for our cooperation and patience and said we needed to get some fuel and concluded by saying we'd be on the ground no more than an hour. We fueled up and were off the ground at around 10:45 am, and the captain expected a flying time of around 40 minutes. My YYC connection left at 11:27am, my seatmate had already missed her connection to SMF. The FAs announced close to the end of the journey, that someone at the gate was "aware of our situation" and would assist us in getting where we needed to go.
We landed around 11:35am, and I hastily deplaned. The someone at the gate was helping someone else, and took some time doing so, and knowing time was of the essence I checked the monitors - seeing that Calgary was "Boarding." Unfortunately, it's
been some time since I've connected through DFW and didn't realize how far the gates were apart (my flight came in terminal
A, YYC departed from Terminal C). I took the trAAin. after two stops I throught I could get there faster on foot. When I
finally made it to gate C12, there was no one there! A pilot happened to wander over and I asked for help. He said he was a
pilot not a gate agent, and I responded telling him I only wanted to know where the gate for my flight was, and it was on the monitors just a few minutes ago, but no longer there. He graciously obliged and I thanked him, but the flight was actually
departing from gate C20, contrary to what was printed on my DFW-YYC boarding pass. I'd already walked past the gate once and
raced back. I approached the counter hurriedly and was greeted basically by "that flight is gone, we tried paging you
several times, we had to remove your luggage." As soon as I opened my mouth, they tried to retort. Letting them finish, I insisted that I had no baggage and showed them my ticket. She said "oh" and said that they kept watching that flight, whatever that means. I was told that I had already been rebooked via ORD. I was appreciative but told them I wanted to change my outbound since the indbound arrival time would now be delayed by 6+ hours. The agent said I would probably have to go to the ticket counter for that.

I exited the secure area and headed for the ticket counter, taking a breather, knowing from the previous day that my flight options weren't until much later. Went to the first class line at terminal A and explained the situation with my first flight and my need for a later departure, fully expecting her to decline. She gave me a choice of options and even asked if I wanted to change to an earlier DFW-ORD flight. I was very surprised and she printed my new itinerary and boarding passes.

I made sure I had everything and I didn't. I was missing my TPA-DFW BP. Not wanting to possibly get screwed on mileage I asked for it and then remembered her chucking it. We both had an "uh-oh" look on our faces, but it was close to the top of the almost full of BPs trash can. It still did take her a few pulls to get the right one. Looking back, I feel bad about asking for it.

I really like the Whataburger fast food chain and happened to know that one was about 2 miles from the airport. There isn't
a Whataburger in my town, so I thought this might be a chance to go. I asked how much a taxi was and to my surprise it would be $36 RT for about 4 miles...ugh. Guess I will have to trek to Tallahassee to indulge next.

Went to my gate and looked for a somewhat quiet place to doze. Found a bench near some telephones where I was able to doze
for about a half hour.

Flight 2356
DFW-ORD
Seat: 4F
Scheduled Departure: 3:00pm

Not a particularly eventful flight. It was boarding this flight when I realized they allow maybe 5 minutes for all the F class pax to get situated before the rest board ...this and the TPA-DFW sector F class were full, and imho, not enough time.

But on this flight, pre-departure drinks were offered, and I indulged with a coke. There was no meal service on this flight,
and I was offered peanuts as a snack. I slept and rest during the remainder of this flight.

Flight 665
ORD-YYC
Seat: 5A
Scheduled Departure: 7:17pm

ORD is an airport I've never been to before. To be honest, I've probably been to more international airports than domestic -
my parents took me to a lot of places while growing up. Mostly, we transited JFK on many a trip to India. When we landed,
we must have passed the int'l terminal, because there was a UA 744 and some other int'l planes (Aer Lingus, etc.) also. Upon
deplaning, the airport seemed very busy, but a lot nicer than DFW. I wandered around, checking stuff out, knowing I had more than an hour to kill.

This flight didn't have many passengers, contrary to the ones before. I think it had about 5 vacant F seats. The FA offered
to hang my coat and a predeparture drink was offered. After reaching cruising altitude, my dinner order was taken. I was given a choice of ranch or vinagrette dressing on my salad and for a main course, filet mignon, mushroom fettucine, and barbecue glazed chicken. Without hesitation I chose the steak. I was pleased with my salad, eventually not being able to eat all of it. The main meal was served - filet mignon with some mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley, which I complimented with red wine. After thoroughly enjoying my dinner and really unwinding, the FA came around and asked my
seatmate what he would like on his sundae. Thrilled, I listened to the options carefully so she wouldn't have to repeat it. So I got a sundae with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. I had read another trip report where the ice cream is often rock solid when served, so I let mine thaw for about 5 minutes. Mine was still pretty solid, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Upon arriving in Calgary, I was beat. I proceeded to immigration and pulled an immigration form from the counter. While the directions were in English, the fields of the form were in French. I pulled out a few forms and they were all the same.

Stupidly, I started to fill it out not knowing exactly what was what. When I inevitably got stuck, I search for the English form and filled it out quickly and proceeded to the immigration screening counters. They asked why I was coming to Canada and I said I was meeting a friend I had met online. When I got to the actual immigration counter, they asked pretty much
asked the same questions and I showed them my US passport and return ticket. Then the immigration agent asked how long I would be staying, I said about 12 hours. Things went downhill from there. They asked me all about my friend in Calgary - how we met, how long I'd known her, her name, address, phone number, profession, living situation, if she was meeting me at the airport, etc. Since I had met her online and she was really a friend of a friend, we just exchanged phone numbers so that I could contact her when I arrived. When I was questioned, I realized how little I had known my friend, despite having talked for about a year! Of course, it didn't stop there. I had to fess up and say that I was flying for miles also. He
was convinced I was travelling on a business trip, which I denied. I don't remember the exact words but I believe he concluded that my reason for "visiting" Canada was a biggest pile of cockamamie b/s he'd ever heard and took me to customs.

The lady asked me some questions, some of the same, some different. They wanted to search my luggage, and of course, being
on an MR, I had none, just my carefully packed backpack. The words 'thorough search' do not do justice to the way they
searched my bag. They found things (old receipts, ticket stubs) in my bag that I didn't even know were there. After she was
done searching that and my wallet, I was told to go back to immigration and sit in the waiting room. Three other pax were
here, all with dejected looks on their faces. I didn't want to be here. One of the pax left her passport wallet on the
plane, and of course was stuck when going through immigration. I think she was a UK citizen. A nice agent handed her the
passport wallet and said he had them re-search the aircraft and they found it between the seats, all in a reassuring and
sympathetic voice. When couldn't I get this guy? Another gent had arrived from MXP via ORD and I later found out he would
be flown back to ORD because he came for a work-related reason. Then my guy came in and said that until he could contact my
friend (who wasn't answering her phone), that I was staying there. I buried my head in my hands and rubbed my forehead.

This is was turning into a nightmare. After about twenty minutes, he told me to come around to his counter. He told me he
had spoke with my friend and she had said that she thought that I was on sort of business trip. My heart sunk. I had never
told her my reasons for coming to Calgary, but what woman would want to play second fiddle to an MR! He asked me a lot of
questions - an obscene amount really. I have been to job interviews where less questions were asked. The bottom line was he wasn't buying any of MR reasons, claiming no one comes to Calgary 12 hours after having travelled 12 already. I asked if
there was an internet kiosk available, and suprisingly, he seemed willing to entertain my plea. I told him about FT. The PC
he was using at the immigration counter had Internet access so I fed him the URL. I then cited the Mileage Run, saying many
people take circuitous routes to a farwaway destination only to turn around and do it all over again. I didn't have an angle
on the monitor, but knowing the site design by heart, I talked him exactly to the thread which I found the fare. I told him
I would be completing an AA challenge on this trip. He said it was a waste of money and he surmised that if I wanted to do
this again that I should do it in my own country. It was about 12:30am when he was done questioning me and reluctantly let
me go, concluding that what I was doing was throwing up a lot of red flags. All pax had long gone. I started to head out, when a customs officer came running from the customs area. She only wanted the form I forgot to give her because no one was
there when I passed by. Whew. I did manage to get to my hotel via one of the lone taxis circling the airport at this hour.
Was in my room shortly before 1 am.

Apr 10
Flight 1792
YYC-ORD
Seat: 5F
Scheduled Departure: 2:05pm

After an exhausting day prior, I woke around 9am. I think about trying to track down my friend for an early lunch since my flight departed at 2:05pm. I rang her twice, then and at around 10am. Then I decide to get ready to leave. As a last aditch effort to meet my friend, I call again a little after 11am. I get a hold of her and she said jokingly how she was going to kick my ...well, you know. She says she can make it to where I'm staying in about 30 mins, so looking at my watch knowing time is of the essence, I say sure. After drinking a cup of tea and just lazing and watching TV, I realize it's noon now and I better start to head out. I head down to the registration desk and check-out and ask about the airport shuttle. The driver was ready to go, but I said I needed to wait for a few minutes, hoping my friend might show. Called her again, only voicemail. I told them I'd be flying back to the US, and at 12:15, the driver looking like he had nothing better to do, politely urged me to leave, advising 2 hours prior to the international flight. Grudgingly, I headed off to the airport in the shuttle van, with only me inside. Got to the airport about 10 minutes later, and headed to AA's business class line which no one was in. Knowing after this, I couldn't go back, I hung around for a bit, debating whether to call again. Knowing my woes the day before, I went ahead and proceeded to the US customs/immigration area. Filled out the immigration form quickly and handed it to the officer who escorted me to the customs officer...I was thinking here we go again. He flipped through my passport and asked me some basic questions. When I told him where I worked, he said "perfect" and soon I was mentally breathing a sigh of relief. He pointed out where I forgot to fill out "CANADA" underneath countries visited, and we both luaghed I was only there about five minutes tops including a quick x-ray of my backpack. I was off to the gate through some construction they are doing at the Calgary airport. Once airside, a full 100 minutes or so before the departure of my flight, I try to call my friend one last time, and she picks up! We gab for about 10 minutes, apparently she came to the hotel I was staying not five minutes after I left! She wanted to try to convene at the airport but told her I couldn't really leave the secured area. We both concurred on what a fiasco it had been and how perhaps it could have been planned better.

Once on the plane, I noticed we were greeted by the same flight crew from last night. And one of the pax was on last night's ORD-YYC flight who commented that we must be on the same schedule. A predeparture drink was served. There weren't many pax at all, but more than the ORD-YYC flight the night earlier. F class was nearly full however. During taxi and pushback, my eyes glazed at the panoramic mountain view of which - thanks to transgressions - was the first time I saw! I took a few pics with my digital camera. Warm mixed nuts were offered and this was a snack flight so I got a choice of two items, one of which I cannot remember. I got a shrimp salad with pasta which was complemented with an assortment of individually wrapped cheeses and crackers. The amount of shrimp was bountiful and even though I would prefer a hot meal, I enjoyed it nonetheless. I indulged with a glass of wine also. The time seemed to go by pretty quickly and towards to end of the flight, the FA asked each F class passenger for the city he/she was connecting to and provided the gate information to them. I thought this was a nice tocuh, as I hadn't seen it on any other flight. They did customarily announce connecting gate info through the PA after this though for all pax.


Flight 1457
ORD-TPA
Seat: 4A
Scheduled Departure: 7:17pm

I had about an hour to kill between flights so I just wandered around O'Hare's G, H, K terminals. I was incredibly thirsty and bought a bottle of water, even though I'd probably get a predeparture beverage soon. We were on our way to TPA with an on time departure. The gentleman next to me seemed to be more friendly than any of the other passengers I'd been sitting next to throughout my journey, but after reaching cruising altitude, was working on some stuff in his notebook. In fact, about half the F pax had their notebooks out. I enjoyed the warm mixed nuts yet again, and a dinner snack choice was offered - either vegetable pizza or chicken salad with a side salad. I chose the chicken salad while my seatmate chose not to get anything and continued to work. We eventually struck up a conversation and apparently, he was a loyal DL flyer, having made PM by segments for the past few yrs. He said with the Skymiles changes, he probably couldn't get to PM this yer, since it would have to be by miles. He was trying out AA though on this occasion and marvelled that AA's F product was better than DL's which he upgrades to often. I told him about NW though and how they do have unlimited domestic upgrades for elites and how he could probably benefit from that and the 75K top-tier elite structure and how he could get there on any fare as opposed to DL. I wanted to tell him about FT, but couldn't manage it. (Perhaps he found the fare on FT too, since he was travelling TPA-YUL.) We arrived in TPA a shade after 11pm and I made it home around 1am. Fortunately, the return trip was mostly hassle-free!


Conclusions:

1) Despite the circumstances, AA treated me very well on the ground and in the air.
2) If I have a choice, I'd rather connect through ORD as opposed to DFW. I've connected through DFW a few times before and every time the gates seem to be on opposite sides of the airport. ORD seems to be cleaner, closer and better organized.
3) I could have planned meeting my friend better, and will definitely try to get additional contact info the next time around.
4) I thought getting into Canada would be easy for a US citizen, but I was very much mistaken. Next time I want to visit, I think I'll take my chances flying into a close-to-border airport like BUF or SEA and cross the border by car.
5) Doing mileage runs to places where there is limited service can be risky when plans go awry. I don't know about many daily frequencies AA has to YYC, but I think it's three each from ORD and DFW. Because of this, I had limited options when flights were delayed and when I misconnected.


[This message has been edited by timid_trnchcoat (edited 04-23-2003).]

keithguy

Wow. That's quite a first half of the trip.

A couple of tips: With the Canada immigration/customs form, the English side is on the reverse of the French side (it's the reverse side on another page).

As for Canada (and US) customs, on mileage runs, just tell them what they want to hear, if you look like you are on a business trip (quick overnight), just tell them that and they won't look at you twice. It's when you throw in the unusual reasons that they get suspicious and it all spirals out of control.

fromYXU

Sorry about your troubles at customs.
Overall, I think that honesty is the best approach through customs. Tell them you are flying in with a quick turn around. If they ask why tell them what you are doing. It is legal, but they get suspicious. If you keep changing your story or you invent facts they will pick it up quickly.

RTW4

This is one of the most harried trip reports that I have read.....Anxiously waiting to hear the rest of your report.

Carfield

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

I have problems with the Canadian immigration and tried to avoid traveling or even transiting through Canada. They are suspicious of everything that you are doing. It is almost to the point of ridicule.

Last time, I was sent through to the secondary immigration check and through custom check, as I was actually transiting through YYZ to LGA from HKG... not even a MR... just a normal trip, but due to the late arrival time of my YYZ flight, I have to stay overnight at the Hilton YYZ.

I love Canada, but the immigration and custom have left me with much mood to travel in this country. Nonetheless, your story is not the first time and it will not be the last time.

I am on my trip to YVR in June, but this time I am transiting right through... no overnight at all... But I am expected to be grilled through at the international transit counter though... you are required to fill in the Canadian forms and the agent will actually ask you questions, even if you are not staying at Canada at all.

Next time, just tell them that you are on a business trip... Also, please remember to bring a printout of your e-ticket itinerary. They do check it now...

I hope you have a nicer return flight.

Carfield


[This message has been edited by Carfield (edited 04-23-2003).]

lalala

Very interesting report. I am soo sorry about your immigration problems. I encountered Canadian Immigration hassles last November on my way to a one day scientific meeting in Vancouver. They just couldn't understand why a bunch of scientists would travel to Vancouver for a international scientific meeting. Really.

I had colleagues who just told the inspectors that they were up for the day to shop, they had no problems.

Now, I am going to Halifax and on the St. Pierre/Miquelon in June for a three day meeting of architectural professionals. I wonder how much of a hassle I am going to go through transiting through Canada and on the one day I decide to spend in Halifax on my return. I may just end up going through to Boston, I don't think there are enough tums in the world to put up with this.

lala

korea71

Rough start. Don't you at least have lounge access travelling in F? If you do/did, make use of it. You are entitled to it.

dhacker

Wow. I feel guilty because I started the MR thread you followed. Sorry!

As for Canadian immigration, my wife was also hassled - while traveling to a conference in Toronto last year. They were going to insist that she pay Canadian taxes on her salary for 2 days because she was a trainer for two post-conference, one day mini-courses. She had to spend some time in a similar, bleak holding room before they allowed her to leave. Meanwhile, I flew to Buffalo on a flight that left after hers, rented a car, crossed the border, and drove all the way to Toronto. She only beat me to the hotel by 30 minutes!

JohnG

Only on trans-con routes.

Very interesting report. Wow....

keithguy

Same thing as transiting via the US - US Immigration and Customs also requires you to fill out the forms.

And of course, US immigration/customs isn't a cakewalk either.

[This message has been edited by keithguy (edited 04-23-2003).]

timid_trnchcoat

I amended my trip report to include the rest of my journey. Sorry for the way it's justified, I cut and pasted from Notepad. Thanks for sharing similar experiences and tips. I was almost too proud to write a trip report exposing and accentuating all my neophyte traveller woes and mistakes.

Carfield:

I had my entire E-ticket itinerary, return ticket, and ticket receipts handy. Also had cash and credit cards to cover the costs of what I'd need in the short time I was there.

korea71:

I couldn't get free AC lounge access since I was travelling within the North American zone. I did refer to the AA forum before I left to confirm this. I don't currently have access to AC either. There is no AC in TPA or YYC, so it would have been limited to the four hours of ground time combined in DFW and ORD. Didn't think the one-day pass was worth it.

dhacker:

Do not feel guilty! Thanks to you and other FTers, I was able to complete the Gold challenge. FLL-YVR wasn't really an option for me as FLL is 300+ miles from where I'm located.

[This message has been edited by timid_trnchcoat (edited 04-23-2003).]

Abby

I don't think Immigration and Customs people are doing their jobs if they don't question people somewhat. Still, they can make you feel miserably unhappy since YOU know you are legit. (Maybe just a bit different!)

I have had questionings by US Immigration at airports that felt like interrogations almost.... and when I used to travel in Europe (a long time ago) I found a couple of countries there (Germany, in particular) could really give you a grilling (at airports or on trains).

Driving through the border does not eliminate the potential questions, either. When I was about 18 or 19, I used to like to go on short driving trips into the USA, and I must have fit some profile they had for drug runners or something, because I had my car searched (thoroughly!) several times, and they would ask me to provide proof of where I gassed up and where I stayed, as well as time-stamped receipts to prove where I was and when. I think I was questioned by both the US and the Canadian folks at different times.

But, I really enjoyed reading your trip report, and I really felt for you!!! You had more than your fair share of go-wrongs!