The Worst Trip

Sunrise over Las Vegas on Travel Day
Las Vegas, NV
October 31, 2024

 The Vegas vacation is over. That was a bit sad, but the trip home was one for the record books--in a bad way. The day began with a stunning sunrise--which should have been a warning of the troubles to come. 

I was reminded of the phrase from the Beachboys song, Sloop John B. 

Let me go home

Why don't they let me go home?

This is the worst trip I've ever been on

My first, and hopefully last, trip using Spirit Airlines ran into trouble in Detroit last night where we had to change flights. But before that, the 4-hour flight from Las Vegas to Detroit took off without Wifi. It was definitely a retro flight, but Spirit didn't seem to care that the Wifi didn't work--they just pressed on. The cabin crew also managed a second beverage service just before the Captain started descent into Detroit and we wound up holding our drinks and cups because the tray tables had to be in their upright position. Did I mention that my wine was tainted from being exposed to too much heat? And then came Detroit. 

Detroit is a miserable airport after 8 PM. Why? Because most of the shops and restaurants close at 8 PM. We arrived there about 7:50 PM and found a lounge to which I have access only to find it closed at 8 PM. We then went to Margaritaville to discover that we could get drinks, but not food as they were in the process of closing. 

The Ball
Las Vegas, NV
October 29, 2024

We wandered back to the gate to discover that our 9:25 PM departure had been slipped to 11:40 PM. Ugh. That time subsequently slipped again to 12:02 AM and we finally took off at 12:31 AM. Spirit managed to get us away from the gate just before the new magical 3 hour point where they have to provide compensation. 

Chris and I did find a restaurant/bar that was open until 10 PM. Yay. We sat there for a while before heading over to the gate to wait. And we waited. Our aircraft to Ft Lauderdale arrived at the gate shortly after 11 PM and about 11:30 PM or so we began the boarding process. There were a lot of tired passengers, and gate personnel, by that time, but things proceeded smoothly until it was almost time to close the cabin doors and a couple of men decided they didn't to like their seat and created a stir that I believe delayed departure for about 10 minutes. The aircraft was completely full and so reseating them was a challenge which the crew handled well. Fortunately the men were not confrontational, they were, however, firm in their demand. The ensuing discussion moved to the front of the jet and I am not sure how it was resolved, although some passengers subsequently changed seats. I was trying to get some sleep because I knew I had over an hour drive home upon landing. 

We finally took off and thankfully I slept most of the three hours to Ft Lauderdale. The jet was noisy and there was a passenger behind me who woke me with his snoring. It was loud! But, I got enough sleep that I was not too tired to drive when we landed just after 3 AM. 

Chris and I expeditiously departed the Ft Lauderdale terminal and our car greeted us as we approached it for the uneventful ride home. I do love traveling I-95 in the middle of the night when there is only light traffic. 

We arrived home at about 4:30 AM and after greeting Finn collapsed into bed. Of course I was so keyed up from driving that it took me a long time to give into sleep.

So the moral of this story--direct flights are best. Spirit Airlines has become my airline of last choice. When I originally made the reservation it was for direct flights to and from Vegas on Spirit--but they canceled the direct flights and rebooked me, hence Detroit.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL