San Fransisco Airport: Home of the Devil

It all started in June of 07, on my return trip from a month-and-a-half vacation back to North Carolina. I was ready to come back to Idaho and boarded my flight that was to depart from Wilmington airport and fly me 20 minutes west to Charlotte, NC. However, once i found my seat near the back of the plane, I sat there for 45 minutes before the flight could take off because the airline techs where checking to see if one of our back tires was 'safe to land on.'

real comforting.

But after the 45 minutes of waiting, they deemed the tire safe and we took off. As our plane began to turn south, the pilot informed us that our destination of Charlotte, NC was covered in heavy rains and lightning. we were directed to Atlanta, Georgia and told that if the storms cleared before the halfway point, we'd turn around and go to Charlotte. if not, we'd be landing in Atlanta.

the storms cleared and we were finally able to land in Charlotte, but by this time, i had definitely missed my connection to San Fransisco. they had already tossed me, and several others, on different flights out of Charlotte, so it wasn't too much of a hassle. I made it to my new connection within 10 minutes and they boarded within the next 15.

So we were off to San Fransisco. at this point, it was around 4pm, and i'd be getting to SFO at about 6:30. I pulled out my itinerary to see just how close the connection would be in SFO to Boise. it was only then that i realized i had to get my luggage from baggage claim, out side of security, get my new ticket from SFO to BOI, go back through security, and then make my connecting by 6:00. i wouldnt make it. i accepted that.

Upon arrival in SFO, i walked out of security, picked up my suit cases, and began walking the seemingly-mile-and-a-half airport from my arrival spot to my place of departure. I get there, and find out the security line is three-and-a-half hours long. so even if my planes had been on time, i would never have made it. stupid SFO.

I walk to the counter to see if i can get new tickets, and they inform me that there is not another flight to boise til the next morning at 11am. stupid SFO. They try to be helpful and get me a "cheap" hotel, but i didnt have the money - even for cheap, so i opted to sleep in the Subway resturant's booth-style dining area. stupid SFO.

i woke up around 6 and finally got up about 6:30 because people were looking at me weird. stupid SFO. i got up and walked down to the ticket counter and they said they couldnt give me my tickets til 7. some law about no one being behind security more than 4 hours before their flight's departure. so i stood in line for 30 minutes and finally got my tickets. security took me all of 5 minutes to go through, and my flight home was on time, and only had 4 other people on it. no one wants to go to boise, i guess.

so that trip was finally over.

but it started over again in August of 07 when Rachel, Derek, and i were on our way to Korea. their boss had gotten their tickets round-trip ahead of time. My Mom had purchased mine seprately, but Rachel and derek were on my flight back to the oh so lovely SFO. (and by lovely i mean stupid). we flew together from Boise to San fransisco on the same happy little flight. they already had their tickets to their connecting, and once again SFO decided to make me get mine at the desk. this time, in the International desk. I walked with Rachel and Derek to the gate and tried to get my ticket there. they started boarding but the flight had no record of me. i showed them my itinerary and explained that the ticket number meant i was flying Korean Airlines. a totally different airline, in a completely opposite side of the international terminal, out of security to the ticket desk and back through security... stupid SFO!!

At this time, Rachel and Derek boarded their flight with a 12.5 hour flight to worry whether i made my flight or not. i glanced at the clock and noted i had 17 minutes to catch my flight. I turned and ran back up the escalator towards the center of the international terminal. i found my way to the first info desk.
"Where's Korean Air??" i asked frantically.
"Number Nine." it was honestly like he didnt care. he said it so casually and un-helpful like that i couldnt help but want to punch him in the throat and he'd only said two words.
"where's that?" it wasnt a dumb question for me to ask. it's not like i'd been there before.
"uh - that way?!" he pointed behind him as he answered my question like it was the no-duh statement of the year.

i ran over in the direction the no-help desk guy pointed, and found a large number 9 high on the wall and about 40 computer desks all reading Korean Air on them. but no one to help. the entire Korean Air help-desk was empty. stupid freakin SFO!!!

14 minutes.

i ran the opposite direction and found another no-help desk. i asked them why no one was at the desk. they asked for my flight number. i gave it to them.
"oh, sorry. that flight already left."
"NO! i have 13 minutes to get to it and i'm going to make it!!!"
the lady looked surprised so she pointed to a phone on the wall a few feed away and said i could call Korean Air's help line there.
i called, and they said they were closed - all i got was their office hours. it got to thursday and said 10am-7pm. i asked a random person that happened to be walking by, "WHAT DAY IS IT? THURSDAY, RIGHT? I THOUGHT SO!"
she didnt even have time to respond. she just looked kinda scared of me. but i wasnt having it. i noticed someone new at the same no-help desk i'd just been at. i asked them why no one was on their phoneline or at their desk.

they too, made the mistake of saying the flight had left.
"NO! LISTEN TO ME. IT'S STILL THERE I HAVE 10 ****ING MINUTES TO GET THERE. I'M NOT SLEEPING HERE AGAIN." i started to walk off and added extra loudly, "I HATE THIS ****ING AIRPORT, BY THE WAY! YA'LL SUCK!"

People were staring. i didnt care in the least bit.

i found my way back to the long isle of number 9 Korean Air ticket counters. and there was a small Korean woman there to help people. finally. some thing was right.
"Hi. i need my ticekt. here's my itinerary."
"oh. sorry. this flight gone. take off already."
"NO IT HASNT I HAVE 6 MINUTES AND I'M MAKING IT! GIVE ME MY TICKET"
she didnt seem phased. she smiled and said, happily, "oh, ok!" and smiled. she printed off my ticket just as a guy walked up behind me. i heard him ask for a ticket to the same flightnumber as my flight. same response from Korean Airline Barbie.
"oh. sorry. this flight gone. take off already."
so i decided to yell back "THAT'S MY FLIGHT YOU GIVE HIM THAT TICKET, WOMAN!"
so she did. he looked at me like i was insane, but he was grateful. before i had left too far, the woman at the desk yelled at me something about a radio to security. i didnt care what she was saying. i had my ticket and i was going to get to my flight.

i walked up to security and handed my passport and ticket to the short fat black woman that was the NSA's attempt at making sure people entering the secruity line should actually be there. i told her i thought someone had raido'd ahead for me, she tossed my stuff back at me and said "yeh'? guh' fer you. ah' don' care!" yay for SFO. they just won the Biggest-Douche-bag-Airport award.

i'm dripping with sweat by now and breathing deep from my anger and frustration with everyone who works for the gayest airport in the nation. the lady in front of me was traveling with her small son. she made it to the security guy and he told her she couldnt bring her bottle of water through. she looked at me, said "i think you need it."

i downed the whole bottle of water in about 5 seconds and the security guy said "oh. you can take it through now." i glared at him. i think he was honeslty scared of me. he didnt search my stuff. good plan on his part.

i ran down the way from the security station and finally made it to the flight. i sat down. finally having made it to my place. i could finally relax.

then the flight didnt take off for another 30 minutes while we waited for people to board still.

how fun. never flying through SFO AGAIN. EVER.

:D