Timaru to Texas: Part III, Shout Out to American Airlines

Kia Ora!

Does this story about our trip home seem long? It seemed so to us too!

It wasn't until we arrived in Dallas at 1:00 AM that I realized how rattled the agents may have been in Los Angeles. The ticket agent that changed our ticket to get us out of LAX ticketed us into San Antonio, and our luggage was ticketed to end up in Dallas. Luckily I noticed this and the relaxed, friendly American Airlines agent in Dallas quickly fixed it. Tagging the luggage to end in Dallas was apparently an intended strategy for all those refugees out of LAX. He reassured everyone that overnight their luggage would be redirected to their final destinations. Baggage agents were going to work all night matching all that luggage with the final destination and retag it? I was dubious.

We stayed at the Grand Hyatt outside Terminal D in Dallas and flew out at the next morning. I never thought the Formula 1 race track would be a welcome site, but there it was on our approach. We landed about 9:00 AM.

Formula 1 race track

There's Rob!

 We were so happy to be back in Austin, descend the escalator to Baggage Claim and see our wonderful son-in-law, Rob Ignatowski, waiting for us. Except for the missing carry-on that was left in LAX, all of our luggage arrived.


That's not the end of the story. Here is the rest:

9:00 PM Sunday--American Airlines called. They found the missing bag.
8:00 AM Monday--American Airlines called. The bag was on its way to Austin.
1:00 PM Monday--American Airlines called. Your bag is at Austin Bergstrom Airport.

 

 

Missing bag returned

 KC retrieved it. The contents were intact. We were home safely and all our luggage got here despite the incredible events that transpired November 1, 2013 at LAX.



Kudos to American airlines personnel for their good service in trying circumstances and especially to the baggage agents!

 Our hearts go out to those killed and injured and their families. A special prayer also for the shooter, who must be a seriously disturbed individual. Along with that prayer, a deeply felt concern over the idolization of guns in this country and the paranoia about guns, spawned by the National Rifle Association, that prevents a sane policy of gun ownership and use.

Cheers,
Kiwi Traveler