Chicago Madness

I decided that I wanted to dedicate a whole post to explaining the nightmares of traveling on American Airlines...So to future travelers, keep this in mind! Erin started her trek back East on a Sunday...around 7:30a.m. She was not feeling so good, almost had a little episode in the car while driving up to the airport. We got to the airport, and of course holiday season the airport is really busy. I proceeded along through security, stripping off all your extra layers, belts, shoes... while they search you, and your purse...feeling totally violated.
I sat down, when I come to find out that I had a hour delay going into Chicago. I figured, oh that's not to bad... I wasn't feeling well to begin with. Then the hour delay then turned into 2 hours, making my arrival time into Chicago after the time I was supposed to board in Chicago for my next flight.
But this was just the beginning of Erin Marie's travel nightmares.. If I only knew what I was getting myself into, I would have just went straight home. Sorry Family :)
I arrived in Chicago.. and if anyone has ever been to Chicago OHare, the airport is HUGE! So in high heels and all, Erin is running with her pink blanket in one arm, and her sister on the other... in panic that she might not get to her gate in time. As I entered the terminal, there was absolute CHAOS in the terminal. I have never seen anything like it. People were crying, emotions were raging, and people were running to try and get there flight.. Flights were being canceled left and right...The lines to actually talk to someone were rediculously long.
I waited at my gate, which was then changed probably 3 times, and I had to walk to each side of the airport... and waited... delay after delay.. After waiting for two hours of delays, an employee gets on the intercom and announces the absolute unthinkable.. CANCELED! What! Well I don't know what to do... So I call my dad, and beg for my father, who is sitting at home, to make this all go away, and for him to tell me exactly what I am supposed to do... I don't care that I am 23 years old, I NEED my dad! I am in complete tears. No one will talk/help you... Everyone is in the same situation that I am in... CHAOS!
I then get on the so-called "RED" phone with American Airlines to try and book another flight, so I can get the heck out of this airport. I didn't care if I went to Florida, I just wanted OUT of this madness! I then was on the phone for 30 minutes talking to a lady, who was trying to book a flight into La Guardia, NY...the only flight that she could put me on was 5-6 hours later! Are you kidding me! I asked if she would be able to put me on an earlier flight into NY, at 9:30, but because she was incompetent and had put me on hold for so long, she said it was to late to get me onto that flight.. So not only could I have left almost 3-4 hours sooner, she couldn't put me on the earlier flight. However, she "gaurenteed" my luggage to be on that 11:40 flight. Interesting...
Well you think the nightmare ends... I then waited around for 5 hours, praying that my flight would take off on time... Without any cell phone battery left. I was left alone...
I finally got onto my flight, which only lasted an hour and a half... and finally met my wonderful sister who has been waiting for me in New York at 3:15 A.M. I was traveling for close to 24 hours, by the time I drove to CT, and then got back into the car and drove straight to Vermont. Luggage? Well we waited for 30 minutes for them to finally get our bags out, to find out that even though my luggage was gaurenteed to be on that flight, it was still stuck in Chicago...
Needless to say, I didn't have any clothes till Christmas morning.. Christmas gifts? Sorry family, that came late too. I called American Airlines looking for my luggage close to 30 times. Not one employee could tell me where my luggage was located, and repeately told me to try back, and hopefully it's on the next flight out... my luggage didn't get to me till Thursday, 4 days later!
What is the moral of the story? 1. Never, EVER fly into Chicago Airport. 2. Never EVER EVER EVER fly American Airlines. EVER!
There was a happy ending... I returned home to Utah, without any delays, problems or hassles!!