I’m warning you all right now… this is the longest post I have ever written. So if you don’t want to read about how I almost didn’t go to Costa Rica last week, or that I almost got stranded in Costa Rica, I will not be offended.
So… Airline customer service at it’s finest.
I knew I was in trouble when issued paper tickets for my trip to Costa Rica – who does paper tickets these days?
Back in August, I decided to take a trip to Costa Rica for a New Years celebration. Why not go ring in 2009 on the beach? (And I did!) Booking my flight through Orbitz, an online booking agent, I nearly melted the plastic credit card at the cost of the flight. Nonetheless, this was going to be a trip to remember; I was sure of that. Little did I know what a foreshadowing this was to be.
The months went by and the day finally came for my trip to Punta Leona, a beautiful costal resort with white sandy beaches. Man, I was excited; maybe a little to excited. With the rush of Christmas, and my procrastination to pack – compounded by a serious snowstorm threatening my trip – I forget to bring my tickets. But, who issues paper tickets now a days?
I arrive at SLC International airport with plenty of time to accommodate for seasonal travel; thank goodness. The airport was packed! An hour and a half later, I was called to the ticket desk. The ticketing agent, Cindy, was most helpful and proceeded to check me in for my trip. Nearly finished, she asked slightly confused, “You were issued paper tickets?” The horror of that statement took me in my minds eye all the way back home to my room where I could vividly imagine the tickets sitting on my bedside table.
Trying to remain calm, I asked her if we could do anything even though the tickets were home? For about an hour and a half, we toiled with phone call after phone call. The challenge we had was that my flight was not direct, and I was traveling through two other cities (and three different airlines) just to get to my destination. In short, Cindy was only able to promise me passage to San Salvador. From there I would have to work with another airline to get to my final destination; with no promise to reach Costa Rica or possible return. I was not about to get stranded.
By now three hours passed and I missed my flight. I admitted defeat and called home to let my parents know I would not be going to Costa Rica as planned. Well, that didn’t go over well with my parents. Both my father and mother took it upon themselves to make sure I would enjoy my trip.
For nearly six hours, the three of us placed multiple phone calls, browsed the Internet, and conjured up as many ideas as we could to find some way for me to get to Costa Rica. I’m not sure what it is about the world we live in today, but customer service is anything but. Briefly, and in highlights, this is a little of what we experienced:
•Booking agency blaming the airlines, and airlines blaming the booking agency.
•”Mr. Osmond, we are going to need to you come to a TACA International office to have you tickets reissued. We have offices in San Francisco and Boston, which is more convenient for you?” (I’m in Salt Lake City)
•”Mr. Osmond, can I get your last name please?”
•”Please hold.”
Finally, we found the silver lining; my mother found a flight out to Costa Rica for a fifth the price I originally paid. It was a one-way ticket, but at least I was on my way.
However amidst the excitement, it was tainted (just a little) by the fact it was still uncertain if I would be able to make it back. Typical airline protocol have them cancel the flight entirely if you miss your first flight. I would worry about that later.
My flight to Costa Rica was a redeye, but that didn’t bother me much. I was glad the ordeal was over with and I would get to enjoy my vacation.
While in Costa Rica, I had extremely limited Internet access and cell phone service non-existent. (I got online maybe twice the entire trip.) Regardless, I enjoyed every minute of every hour of every day. It was a much needed respite of 2008, and kick-start for 2009.
The trip home began with a two-hour ride to the airport and dirt roads and ill-paved roads. Considering my hopeful flight was departing at 6 am, and being told to arrive at the airport two hours early, I decided to stay in San Jose at a hotel close by. Glad I did.
Getting to the airport from my hotel was pretty simple; I would say the easiest part of my trip. Once at the airport, I had three Disney-like lines to serpentine through before even making it to the gate. At the conclusion of the second line – the ticketing desk – I was told that I’d be flying to LAX. Not exactly my final destination, but at least I knew what airport that was – Los Angeles. Previously, and during an earlier conversation I had with my father via e-mail, I knew things were taken care of and received confirmation that my flight would be honored though I was listed as a “no show” in the computer itinerary. So, without thought, hesitation, or reviewing my itinerary I welcomed my destination to Los Angeles.
While boarding, a young woman came up to me and asked what my seat number was. I told her 9F. She was overly concerned as her ticket had the exact same number. She proceeded to tell me that this happened to her on her trip to Costa Rica. I was concerned I may not be able to take this flight. Thankfully, the airplane was not filled to capacity and we were both invited to stay. Once airborne, my flight was pretty uneventful, which I welcomed with open arms. I also had a 30-minute layover in El Salvador before continuing to Los Angeles. Despite being stuck with exit rows prohibiting a reclined chair, all straight forward to the USA.
Thankfully when I arrived in Los Angeles there was a flight I was able to book and get me home. But the uncertainty of travel made this for one interesting trip that will go down in my journal as an experience to remember.
…And after all that this I learned you can either choose to get frustrated with the way things are/aren’t working, or you can sit back and enjoy the ride. Think of it this way, when is the next time I’m going to get an experience like that? When is my next visit to Costa Rica? When am I going to have the opportunity to travel abroad, not being able to communicate effectively? Life is about experiences, and I’m grateful for this one.
Hi Don: (yes, I know you’re not your dad) anyway, this is my first time commenting on your blog, would have liked to have sent you a message from facebook, but I’m tired and this was easier. Anyway, when I read you went to Costa Rica I had to comment. I served an LDS mission there a couple of decades ago and I wanted to know how you liked it. I loved it and the people are great! My husband is a tico and a super person! We visit there as often as possible. Well anyway, did you like Costa Rica?
Well, you guys have scared me to death, I have not flown in 40 years, and I have to fly to Maryland in late April, which consists of changing planes, in Chicago, which is a huge airport. If anyone could screw this up it would be me. I am going to stop reading about traveling catastrophe’s. I am glad that you got home safe and sound and had a good time.
That was amazing! And, now I’m thankful I only go 1,000 miles each way whenever I travel. Phew! And, as for “Mr. Osmond, can I get your last name please?” TOO FUNNY!
There’s what our American education seems to be doing to people.
Hey – I have great admiration for you staying so cool and calm and still going even though you had no idea whether or not you would be back anytime soon!
Did you have a great time? Was the weather great?
And ignore the nosey parkers asking as to the whys or wherefores of why you went
LOL…..life is not a dress rehearsal – make the most of the opportunities that come your way!
Have a great 2009!
xxxxxxxxxx
HOWS THE MAN COLD ,
DID YOU MANAGE TO STAY AWAKE FOR THE THE FILM NIGHT
Don,
I was just reading Yahoo a few minutes ago and Costa Rica just had an earthquake. And I think I remembered reading that you had a layover in San Jose.
You are soo lucky to be home at the right time. If you had went this week, you could had been stuck in Costa Rica.
Now I think we are glad you did made it home safety.
HERE HEREEEEE ITS REALLY COLD IN THE UK AS WELL
Don,
It is a COLD, GREY, depressing day here in my lil corner of California. Any chance you have a pic of a WARM SUNNY beach with golden sand you can post to help warm up my lil frozen fingers?
I think Don is not telling us something. Hmm. That kinda explain why his parents would help him get to Costa Rica. He hasn’t posted in 3 days. Something’s up.
Hmm. Knowing Don. He’s probably not going to tell us until it actually happens.
Blab it out Osmond, two weeks ago you were wyning that you were disenchanted. Remember what I said “cook for them and they will come”. Ooopps maybe I should restate that, sound like “sexual”.
SPICE GIRL,
HES NOT SAID NOOOOOOOO
DONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
IS WHAT I HEARD TRUE OR NOT
i heard it from someone who says they know you,on facebook
It wasn’t one of my most glamorous of moments, that’s for sure. But, as anyone who’s planned a wedding can attest, the stress levels were pretty high. And, although I was grateful to be starting my new life with this amazing man, the whole “who’s sitting with whom, and who needs a vegetarian meal, and how is mom getting from point A to point B” can make even the most organized of folks pretty frazzled.
By the time I got inside Logan Airport, my main focus was getting to our tropical destination, and sitting side by side with my sweetie, with my feet buried in the warm, white sand. Having to get physical with a nubile young customer-service-rep in training was not real high on my agenda.
I will say one thing… it made for a memorable moment, for everyone involved!
Oh, and by the way… I’m glad you’ve all looked past the horrendous typos and missteps in my last post. It was my kids’ first day back to school today (after a two week hiatus), and that early morning alarm must have done something funky to my brain, I think!
(No wisecracks, Osmond!)
You are soo right, Don. You might hate it then, but you look back and just laugh about it.
I hope and pray I don’t go through anything ya’ll went through. I showed don’t want to get stranded in another state or country I don’t know nothing about.r
Mama! That is one heck of a good story. At moments like those we hate going through it, but after they make for some great story telling.
Thanks for sharing.
Yikes, MamaC. I will make sure to never get on your bad side.
But you know. I did once forgot my bag in a shuttle bus once. OMG Was I panicking. I had to call the shuttle bus number and tell them I left my bag in their bus.
Boy I do get a bad experience sometimes. Its either getting lost in Dallas or not arriving in NYC until midnight.
Well, I was going to say. It must have been a sign from God you going through all of that and about the young woman having the same seat number you did and what are the odds of that happending and did you get her email address. But, now someone thinks you got engaged and oh crap what do I write now……. Welcome home….
You know, Don. I was soo glad to see 2009. I had a really bad 2008 and I can see this will be my year. I will get that job I dreamed of and maybe find the man of my dreams. I know something will happen.
Welcome home. At least you had a wonderful time during whatever you were doing. LOL
Happy Belated New Year.
Don. Question. Is their something going on in Costa Rica.
A friend of mine, he went to Costa Rica last month and then my boss said she wanted to go to Costa Rica. It had just hit me that a lot of people are heading to Costa Rica for some reason. Am I missing something?
DONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
I HAVE JUST HEARD TRUE OR NOT,
THAT YOUR ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED,
THATS WHY YOU WERE SO KEEN TO GET TO YOUR DESTINATION,TO PROPOSE ON THE BEACH.
WELL IF THIS IS THE CASE
CONGRATULTIONS TO YOU BOTH.
I’m glad you finally had a great time and managed to get home…but the thought of an Osmond having a travel drama made me laugh…you’d have to be a travelling fan to understand…Lol
Mama C…you crack me up…the thought of you pulling that guy towards you by his tie had me in stitches….I like your style…:)
WOW first let me say welcome home. I at least hope that you had a good time while there. I recently had paper tickets in Sept 08 when my hubby surprised me for my 50th birthday and took me to Vegas to see you know who (VIP tickets) anyway the trip (hotel and air) was booked through AAA and we had paper tickets, I made sure I held onto them!!! I too would be so relieved to know that my destination was at least somewhere in the USA. Glad that you ae finally home and posting again. We missed you!!!
Don,
Welcome home! Thanks for sharing your travel nightmare with us.
I have to ask ~ did you have a wonderful time while you were there?
Happy Monday!
Whoo wee! You are one brave soul, to go without knowing how you’re getting back!
My husband and I took a Royal Caribbean cruise to the Bahamas. Being the anal-retentive, organized person I was, I had every single thing planned to a tee. The ONLY thing I left my soon-to-be husband in charge of was to remember to bring our identification information… and I’d only left him in charge because he had to go to City Hall to obtain a duplicate copy of his birth certificate, so I figured he could handle putting everything in one place and bringing it with him in his carry on.
Our anniversary is October 30th, and on that particular evening, part of our honeymoon itinerary was an overnight stay at the Boston Harbor Hotel. It was an amazing, five-star hotel, and a lovely way to kick-start a marriage! I’d also chosen that particular hotel because our cruise ship didn’t depart out of Miami until November 1st, and that hotel offered ferry service across the Boston Harbor to Logan International Airport.
Well, the next morning was the end of Daylight Savings Time, so the day began an hour EARLIER than usual. Which meant, we had to get up LITERALLY at the crack of dawn to catch the shuttle, and get to the airport on time. We both scurried to get ready, pack everything up, and make it to the ferry on time.
Once at the airport, I began to relax a little. I took out the (paper!) tickets, and all of the boarding information necessary to get onto the cruise ship that was docked in Miami. I was reassured that everything was in its place, and tucked it all securely back into my pocketbook. I then turned to my brand new groom, and said, “Why don’t you give me our identification information now, and I’ll put everything together.” I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen quite the same look of dread on his face since.
Yep, you guessed it. He left ALL of our identification information back at home!
Sheer panic set in, and I bolted to the check in desk. A young man was standing behind the counter, and I don’t think he’d gained enough personal at that point in his career to deal with the likes of me. I explained our situation to him, asking him if he knew whether or not we’d be able to board the ship once we arrived in Miami without proper identification. He said the wrong thing. “Ma’am, I honestly don’t know. Can you go back home and get your documents, and come back?” (Talk about lousy customer service!).
On a GOOD day, a cab ride from Logan Airport to the ‘burbs takes about an hour. ONE way. Our plane was scheduled to take off in 20 minutes. Unless we sprouted a pair of wings and flew home and back ourselves, there was no way we’d make it back to the airport in time.
I asked Mr. Customer Service Dude if we could be booked for a later flight. No can do, he said, shining his pearly whites at me. The tickets we purchased were non-transferrable.
My brand new husband chimed in with another oh-so-brilliant solution. “Why don’t you fly on to Miami by yourself, and I’ll go back home and get our stuff, then come back and get to Miami on a later flight.” By then, my blood was practially boiling, and the anger and frustration I displayed at these two crazy men made me wonder why he didn’t just turn on his heels and RUN to City Hall to file for an annulment.
With fire coming out of my eyes, I explained to him that not only would that “bright idea” take up a huge chunk of our Bahamas spending money, but by the time he got to Miami, the ship would be long gone!
So, Mr. Bright-Shiny-New Customer Service guy said, “Well… I guess there’s nothing more we can do here, then.”
I swear to you, on everything I hold dear, that I LITERALLY grabbed the guy by his American Airlines tie, and pulled him to me. “Look,” I said, “My husband and I have been tucking money away, week after week, for MONTHS now, to go on this cruise, and now that I’m about 10 minutes away from climbing on board a plane to take me to the ship, there’s NO WAY that I’m not going to take an ‘oh well’ as an answer! Now get on the phone, and call somebody, and find out if we need the damned ID’s!”
Well, he managed to recover some special, secret number for Royal Caribbean’s customer service, and he handed me the phone as soon as he got a human voice on the other end.
Thankfully, the woman was calm, professional, and KNEW HER STUFF! She said we did not need to bring our identification information, but we would need to be prepared for the possibility of paying a $90 fee (per person) as a penalty for not having it. Putting aside $180 at the beginning of our honeymoon was DEFINITELY a viable solution for us!
And, my husband has learned his lesson, and lets ME handle any and all important documentation whenever we go somewhere!
Glad you ultimately had a good time, and you finally made your way back home!
as least your home in one piece
I remember being young and traveling all over the place…I don’t travel much now, except to Disneyland. However I never experienced a trip like that when I was single. But I do have a funny one. My husband was taking me on a second honeymoon. We were leaving my just turned 1 year old with my parents. Which freaked me out since I had never left him before. We traveled from Lake Tahoe (where we lived) to Sacramento where are flight was leaving and to drop Ryan off. Oh I forgot to mention I was 5 months pregnant. My husband unpacks the car at my parents and goes straight to bed. I go to get my night stuff out and realize he didn’t bring the Eddie Bauer bag. I wake him up in a panic because just like you the paper tickets are in that bag…..and no way will they reissue these because they were a gift from my hubby’s job. He is hot and declares some swear words and goes back to sleep. I kid you not. (Yes we are still married.) So my sister (who is up for anything) says lets go…I’ll drive you back home. It was a 5 hour trip back and forth even with snow falling. My sister to this day is a great sister! Now my point is my husband does not like the to have those experiences where as like you they make great journal entries! Thanks for letting me share on your blog!
P.S Glad you made it home safely and shared your fun and stressful story!
Aww, Don!!! That was an eventful trip to Central America. I’m glad your parents helped you out. I guess they haven’t left their vacation to CA yet. You would think they would helped you because of your name, but than again. Half of those people probably weren’t even born yet when your father was big.
OK. That person needs helped when she said Mr. Osmond, can I get your last name? HUH!!!! She just said your last name. *hits her head on the wall.
Anyway. You know I had that same thing happened to me. Kinda. I was going to NYC. I was a girl who just turned 25 two weeks earlier going to a big city all by myself. A city I’ve never been too and very scared to be at to see the guy in my picture for a get together with other fans I met only once. Scary. I still don’t know how my mother let me go.
Anyway. Back to my bad experience. So I had a layover in Memphis. Which is about an hour flight from Jackson, MS and three hours if your drive. OK. No problem, but the problem was. I was traveling during the worse time when the northeast was having a bad blizzard and very very low temperatures ever.
It was soo windy, we couldn’t leave Memphis. So I was stuck in Memphis and our flight was delayed for almost 3 hours. An hour layover turned into a 3 hour layover because it was windy going toward the northeast, they wouldn’t let planes fly toward the cities until the winds died down.
You know I was very impatient and wanted to kill somebody. Luckily I had my computer(but no internet. Just DVDs and clips of my favorite couple from General Hospital)
Plus. I’m glad they didn’t cancel my flight. I shown didn’t want to stay in Memphis and missed the Get Together. And I showed didn’t want to call my mother to drive 3 hours from Jackson to come and get me. My mother would had been very mad.
Anyway. I don’t remembered when we finally left for NYC, but we finally left and I didn’t make it to NYC until almost midnight. Yikes. I was supposed to meet up with a few friends I knew from the internet and I called one of them to tell them I won’t see them until the Get Together the next day.
Plus. I was in another part of the city in another hotel(went to NYC almost broke and staying in very cheap hotels). Yikes again. That was an eventful trip to NYC.
I told myself I would NEVER go back to NYC in the dead of winter. When you’re from the south and you don’t see temperatures in the single digitals, its not fun.
Then going back home. I only had one layover and wanted Memphis. Anyway the plane ride home to Jackson was overbook and they had to asked people to go on another flight. I didn’t want to do it because I wanted to get home and I had to work the next day(it was President’s Day and I took that day off). So I didn’t volunteer, but I wished I did because I could had gotten a free plane ticket to anywhere in the US. Looking back now. I should had took it.
But I really enjoyed myself. That was my second and last time I saw Ted King in person. I hope to one day go back to NYC with money this time.
I’m glad you had fun and you made it back home safely. I know your parents were happy to know you made it back to Utah safely.
Very interesting travel story, Don. I spend my New Year’s at church with nobody guy to kiss (Starts to cry). Maybe this year I will finally find that guy.
Don. Slightly off topic. What happened to the countdown clock for the Olympics?