word!

Wow! After logging into Gmail today, it appears I have 50 invites to give away! I don’t even know that many people online! Wow. Anyone need one? Anyone?

Having the honor of picking up my sister and friend from the MSP Aiport over the weekend was quite a joke.

I’ve been to the airport a few times, so I guess nothing should have suprised me, but everytime you go the whole place appears different. First thing to notice is that they have a new eTicket option, basically pay with credit card for savings of $1. Looks good. Park and head into baggage claim. Hm… where is sister’s flight and information as to where and when they would be coming in. Search giant panel of 9 screens to learn they’re just Northwest and/or KLM.

WTF? With all the damned money that place brings in, you’d think they could post all the flight info or at least scroll through it. No such luck. Then we have to hunt down where United Air would deposit their baggage and or flight information. Walk to one end of terminal to learn that we had passed it on our stroll. Seems United is not a major player at MSP, so they get a small shingle to post along with a few other airlines sharing same baggage carousel. Retarded.

Finally find the little carousel and then see flight information on a small screen only located there, not next to exit gates, which might make sense. Check time and proceed to wait. And wait some more….. check time/flight info again to be sure all is well.

While waiting for people to come down to baggage, wouldn’t it be helpful to have a display screen of information on current flights are arriving? I’m not sure if security wise this would work, but they could announce arrivals, etc. there too.

Sister and friends finally arrive and we find their baggage. Wait a few minutes and say goodbyes to friend that is leaving with family. As we were leaving parking lot, notice that time is REAL close to 1hr , that magical point when they charge you more for being there.

Weave through parking lot like a race car driver hoping to make payment gates. What’s this? Oh, they moved payment gates to end of airport road, thus wasting more time. Make a break for seemingly functioning toll machine to realize that it’s out of order! Out of order? They have these big old flashing signs above all light up and seeming to beg you towards them. Fine, change spots behind someone else that is actually leaving and promptly swipe credit card.

As luck would have it, we were two minutes over one hour. Thus getting bumped up to next time/payment schedule. Stupid. I honestly think those people at the airport are out to fleece you. No handy information and always a constantly changing maze one most manuever to exit the premises.

As much as airports are grand to take you to distant lands and excursions, they’re just a trap for your average joe.