TRAVEL NOT GETTING EASIER. As many of you know, I’m a frequent flier, traveling cross country monthly (at least), spending most of my travel days in either Washington, D.C., or Sacramento. My travel stories are often usual and mundane, leaving little for the imagination, except for a delightful time in the skies…..That all changed a week ago or so when I left for Washington, D.C., and then tried to return from a detour to Savannah, Georgia, to visit sister Shari and brother-in-law Ted. Before I begin my story (which was both remarkably interesting and disgustingly frustrating) you should know that even though I travel in the U.S. skies about 50,000 miles per year, my experiences the past 15 years have been exceptionally good……until now!

I fly United most days, and the airline usually treats me well. During the past 10 days, everything that could go wrong when traveling by air did go wrong. And United’s usual friendly skies treatment was less than remarkable…..so for a little more than a week, I’ve joined the class of travelers who really have some bad news about traveling. I’m hopeful that this was an experience that won’t happen often, but with fuel costs demanding that airlines find ways to save money, I’m somewhat afraid that packed and canceled flights may be the norm this year instead of the exception.

My experience began on a Monday when I was leaving San Francisco on a direct flight to Washington, D,C. Canceled. United diverted me to Denver on another plane, then on to D.C. The flight was on time but I arrived three hours later than originally planned. My trip in D.C. went off superbly, as we lobbied the USDA, White House and Congress for two wonderful days. I had interesting and business-issue dinners with Congressmen Dennis Cardoza, Devin Nunes and George Radanovich; and significant movement regarding agricultural issues appeared to be moving forward in a way that would please my colleagues.

Instead of returning with the rest of my group on Thursday, I reserved a flight to Savannah to spend two days with Shari and Ted. Flight was on time, but my luggage containing my clothes was not. While my small bag filled with books and papers arrived with me, the larger one was sent to Atlanta instead. I had hoped the bag would arrive the next morning, but it took almost 48 hours to get to the marina where I was staying aboard Mystique, Shari and Ted’s sailing vessel. I dressed in Ted’s clothes during a fun-filled two days.

Then back to Savannah, where United announced that my flight was three hours late, and since I was heading back through Chicago on my way to San Francisco, I would miss my connection. I called the Hilton, where I spent the night, before heading to San Francisco a day late.

I landed in San Francisco a half day late, but kept my appointments as planned.

United’s flight attendants should be commended for always doing exceptional work in amazingly crowded planes. My experience with the United personnel working in Savannah is poor; they don’t seem to want to go that extra step in making a changing itinerary more acceptable.

Regardless of my experiences in the skies, on the ground I had a remarkable time with Shari and Ted in Beaufort, South Carolina where Mystique rests in a quiet marina. Shari is a psychologist for the juvenile justice system and Ted works for West Marine where he advises customers on all kinds of boating issues.

Beaufort is a relatively smart, artsy town with residents who live much like we do here on the West Side. The community is historical, like ours, however homes there are at least 100 years older than most of ours and the giant oak trees surpass 500 years old. Beaufort survives on art and tourism, and old family money provides the kind of culture you only find in very old communities. People are very friendly, much like us, and they welcome visitors and new residents to their town every day. Many Midwesterners have moved to the East Coast for winter homes and retirement living, and Beaufort is a pleasant city that entertains both kinds of new residents.

And while my trip aboard United was as crazy and disappointing as ever, my time on the ground made up for the inconvenience.

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