Jeebus, bonny, that dude sounds like a particularly dim specimen.

(b) they know they're gonna get fired if they let you talk to the boss.

Zen, the more I think on it, the more I'm thinking this is the case. The simple fact of the matter is that this whole thing can be traced back to the fact that Incompetent! Travel Agent entered our surname incorrectly on the first set of tickets, thereby necessitating the need to void the original tickets and reissue them, which is where the next big mistake happened.

And with every excuse she offered--oh, it was the reservation software's fault, it was my MiL's fault for not checking her credit card statement, we're unreasonable for wanting escorts for our children, etc., etc.--she dug that hole deeper. It was definitely not in her best interest to let us speak to the boss.

Oh, and on my first day I managed to score a small tool donation of specialty deconstruction tools. ::buffs nails on sweaty t-shirt::

Go, smonster!!

Oh! I meant to say YAY SMONSTER for good first days!

Barb,

I'm sure you are going to do this, but I believe in raining down hellfire after the children get home safely.

It seems like this person's incompetence knows no bounds.

BTW, I 100% endorse your wanting an escort in Atlanta. I am not saying this to worry you, but to affirm your instincts are correct and that the few times I have been in the airport, *I* would have appreciated an escort.

I am not saying this to worry you, but to affirm your instincts are correct and that the few times I have been in the airport, *I* would have appreciated an escort.

Both Lewis and I are well familiar with Atlanta-- as an airport, it has a lot to recommend it and I don't mind it, as an experienced traveler. However, experienced though I may be, *I* would be freaking out over a 35 minute connection, if it was me traveling. That it's my kids? Oh, hell yeah, they get an escort.

Okay, I'll quit being all MEMEMEMEME, now. Thank you, my Bitches, for helping to keep me sane and reassuring me that no, I am not overreacting in my desire to yank Incompetent! Travel Agent's spleen out through her left nostril.

Barb, just make your children aware that they should tell someone as soon as they get on the plane that they are expecting an escort when they land and tell someone again when the plane lands Also tell them that they have a quick connection. It pays to be pushy in these situations.

I have such a hard time seeing the Atlanta airport the way a stranger would. It seems much simpler than a number of other airports, particularly O'Hare, Dallas and St. Louis.

eta: I know the airport well, and I'd think the chance of making a 35-minute windows as maybe 50-50, unless it's in the same terminal and preferably the same airline.

Also, what sj said, plus they should also point out how short the time is, so a flight attendant will call and make sure the escort is there and get the kids out quickly. I point out that I'm making a close connection if it's important I get somewhere at a specific time or I'm changing to the last flight of the day. There are, I'm afraid, some airlines whose response has been "Sucks to be you."

Barb, that is utterly fucking ridiculous.

Yay smonster!!!!!

Barb,

I will also add (Ginger may disagree with me on this point, which is fine, I welcome it!) - every single time I have flown on Delta through ATL, my flights have been late.

I actually dismissed the 35 min connection thing as the least problematic for this reason.

Ginger,

the first time I was in ATL was around 1996 and I didn't see the tram to move people from terminal to terminal and baggage claim. I had walked through 2 terminals (with 3-4 other adults) before I figure out - OH! there is a tram! My experiences only have gone up from there. :-)

I like Delta in a lot of ways. I've found they're more likely to at least act like they care, and they're good at luggage. My experience has been that with connecting flights, flight number one is invariably running later than flight number two.

Oh dear. I'm been at the airport a few times when the people mover wasn't working, and it was hell.