Airlines

mikkowilson

mikkowilson

Steadi-Guru
So I'm flying south tonight for a week long Steadicam gig... (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?230488-Migration)

The gear is delicate; and the airlines not so gentle; so we need good cases. My cases (empty) weigh 25lbs.
My luggage "allowance" (What I get for the first $20) is 50lbs per item. If I go over 50lbs, then it's $50 extra. so a 51lb bag would cost me $70.

Of course I'll be flying a lighter camera on my Steadicam; so I'll need to carry some weight plates. Yeah; extra weight.

Normally it's 2 cases. But that's going to be 3 for this trip. Or less protection for some of my gear.

Stupid Airlines.


Maybe I should just wear the Steadicam on the plane. I'll bet the 'Freedom Fondle' would be more fun...

The good news: This will pay off the $20 scale I bought myself this morning right away. :violin:

- Mikko
 
I agree it's a pain in the butt, but aren't those charges, along with all your other travel expenses, billable back to the client?
 
..Now if only there was a way to get the client to conjure up an extra 10 hours before departure...

DAY. INT.

Super: "1:07pm"

Our protagonist glances nervously at his clock. He goes back to writing
a quiz on the first section of the SOUND FOR FILM & TELEVISION DVD he
will have his students watch while he's out of town. His eyes are weary.
He hasn't slept enough last night. Tonight won't be much better, he has
an evening flight that leaves at 8pm. 8pm. 7 hours. He still has to shoot
and produce a 2 minute news feature story before he leaves work.

BARRY GREEN's voice rambles on in the background about the Inverse
Square Law.

1:14pm. In one hour our protagonist has a live-on-tape studio shoot of
their news show with his students. Steadicam cases & parts litter the
office around him. Must go home to get another suitcase. Should do it
while he goes to get the B-roll shots for his news story. Packing always
takes so long. 1:16pm. He really needs to go. But instead he finds
himself distracted by his computer. He has friends online he's chatting
with. Friends he will see in person - many for the first time - tomorrow.
Yet he squanders his precious time for silly jokes. He eludes to secret
details of the shoot ahead to his own amusement. He looks at the clock
again. 1:19pm. Time is slipping away. He makes one more post online
before grabbing his new camera and heading out to shoot video of a
new parking garage. Tomorrow's project will be historic; today it's a
parking garage. He mutters out loud to himself...

 MIKKO:
PACKING SUCKS.

FADE TO BLACK.



- Mikko
 
Well, the live show went well.

Now to cut together a 2 minute news story and pack. In an hour and 20 minutes...


- Mikko ... will be taking 3 cases.
 
NIGHT. INT.

As our protagonist packs his 4 trays of equipment back into his backpack and walks
out of the security checkpoint, his shoelaces still open, the airport PA crackles to life.

PA (VO)
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FLIGHT 66 TO SEATTLE IS ON HOLD FOR A MECHANICAL
ISSUE. WE WILL HAVE MOVE INFORMATION FOR YOU IN 30 MINUTES.

A smile of irony spreads across our protagonist's face. All this rushing to wait for a
mechanical. He makes his way over to the customer service counter in the small
airport's only departure lounge. After a moment, he catches the eye of an AGENT
who is busily typing away at her terminal.

AGENT
GOOD EVENING

MIKKO
HI. SO, I'M ON 66, WHICH IS DELAYED. I FLY ON TO AUSTIN TOMORROW MORNING
AT 11:35AM. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO ARRIVE TONIGHT AT 11:18PM.

A look of confusion appears momentarily on the AGENT's face.

MIKKO
WHEN I CHECKED MY 3 BAGS IN DOWNSTAIRS, THEY COULDN'T BOOK THEM
THROUGH TO AUSTIN TOMORROW, BECAUSE MY LAYOVER IS 17 MINUTES OVER
THE LIMIT OF 12 HOURS.

AGENT
RIGHT.

MIKKO
IF THIS FLIGHT IS DELAYED ENOUGH - AND I THINK IT WILL BE.

A moment of humorous understanding between our protagonist and the AGENT
passes briefly.

MIKKO
- IF MY LAYOVER GOES UNDER 12 HOURS, CAN YOUR SYSTEM NOW ALLOW YOU
TO CHECK MY BAGS ALL THE WAY THROUGH FROM HERE SO I DON'T HAVE TO
CARRY THE THREE 50 POUND CASES AROUND SEATTLE TONIGHT AND TOMORROW

Another laugh of understanding.

AGENT
LET ME TAKE YOUR BOARDING PASS AND SEE IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. I'M CURIOUS
TO SEE IF IT CAN BE DONE.

Our protagonist thanks the agent as he wonders over to an empty part of the
lounge where the evening's other flight out of town is just boarding. He finds
a seat by a power outlet as wonders if the free WiFi still works during the
ongoing renovation at the airport. He fires up his computer.

Time passes.

(Authors note: the following just happened; so consider this like a live movie...)

Our protagonist adjusts his leg as it's going numb curled up under him on the
uncomfortable airport bench. He looks up to see the AGENT walking towards
him, waving at him not to get up. As she approaches holding his boarding pass.

AGENT
UNTIL WE GET A NEW ARRIVAL TIME, I CAN'T CHECK THE BAGS, BUT WHAT DO
THEY LOOK LIKE SO I CAN FIND THEM FAST?

MIKKO
LIKE THIS...

Our protagonist opens another tab in his browser and shows the AGENT a photo
he has of his cases. (http://www.mikkowilson.com/files/SteadicamCases.jpg)

MIKKO
... THAT'S TWO OF THEM, THE OTHER IS BLACK WITH GRAY STRIPES.

Moments later, the PA crackles to life.

PA (VO)
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE PLANE HAS BEEN FIXED, WE WILL BEGIN BOARDING
SHORTLY.

It's 50 minutes after the original boarding time. The layover is under 12 hours.
The AGENT dissapears quickly to look for the bags...


(Authors note 2: Bags are already loaded, I get to haul them in SEA-TAC. Figures.)

- Mikko
 
Cheer up, At least you got to fly Alaska Airlines - probably the last US carrier with employees who actually try, much less give a s**t at all. :Drogar-Happy(DBG):
 
Yeah, no, the people are great.

Almost all the people I deal with at Alaska Airlines are awesome. The superb service of the gate agent yesterday is only part of it. Their counter staff, their in-flight crew are almost always helpful and friendly. Their ground crews work their butts off - I've only ever had one delayed bag (knock on wood) - and that was another airline's fault (yet Alaska compensated), their pilots are the best in the world .. the weather and terrain they fly through (or sometimes don't - which we appreciate too) is amazing.
I've seen Alaska Air agents buy entire planes of people pizza on their personal credit cards when snowed into the wrong airport, ground crews of 1 unload entire planes when staff wasn't available, pilots find an opening in otherwise impossible weather...

It just sucks that the entire industry has got to the point where flying is no longer fun.



Oh, and wheels or not, hauling 3 bags/cases is a pain in the ass. I think the airport will get my $4 for a "smarte" cart to go 100feet this morning. What's so smart about them anyway? That some company was smart enough to start charging (a lot!) for something that all other airports provide for free under the guise of "service".... :)


- Mikko
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top