Sunny (not) Florida (7 cents)

I am in Florida for the second time this week, this time in Naples, where we will be for the next four days.

But let me tell you about my one day trip on Monday to Ft. Lauderdale. The plan was to take a 7:30 a.m. flight from DC, arriving about 10, and leaving on a 6:45 flight to get home about 9:15.

Everything went like clockwork at the beginning. Getting up at 5, I scraped the ice off the car, and was at the airport by 6:45 and on the plane by 7. We got our instructions and were promised a wonderful flight. Although all this was hard to hear because there did not appear to be a microphone on our Spirit Air flight.

We were then told that there would be a brief delay because they needed to load the passangers manually. (Yes, you read that correctly; that is what they said, and all they said).

Then we were told that the gates were closed and we would push off in two to three minutes.

Then 20 minutes passed.

Then we were told that there were two passengers who had not yet been boarded because of a computer malfunction and that we were waiting for them to get cleared.

Ten more minutes passed.

Then two men got on the plane, presumably the passangers, but at least one must have been special because he went right into the cockpit. Five minutes later, he came out and took a first row seat.

Then we were told that there was one maintenance issue that had to be checked, but it should not be a real problem. More time passed.

Then a new maintenance guy comes on the plane and goes into the cockpit.

Then we are told that everything is OK, but that there is a required computer diagnostic check on the plane because it is Monday morning, and in order to run the check, the plane's electronic system will be shut down. We should not be alarmed. It will start up in two minutes. It is like rebooting a home computer. ("We have all had that happen, heh,heh", said the pilot). It would check out fine immediately and we will be off.

The electric system was never shut down. We do not know if a diagnostic check was made, or if it needed to be.

Then we were told that people connecting to San Juan were going to miss their connection; they should get off and their luggage was being unloaded. About 5 or 6 passangers left.

Then we were told we needed to take on "several thousand pounds" of additional fuel, if we were going to get to Ft. Lauderdale, and that people on the right would see the fuel truck loading the fuel. I was on the left; the people across the aisle reported no fuel truck.

Then the Punta Gorda passengers had to deplane.

Then we taxied out. Then we stopped. Then for about 20 minutes we were de-iced.

Then, at about 10:15, we took off, so my arrival for my 12:00 presentation before a client board of directors was delayed from 10:30 to 1:15. I had to speak quickly.

Coming back everything was on time. But not pleasant as the gods bounced us around the entire way. A lot.

So, what was the story of the Spirit a.m. flight? We'll never know.

(Last night, to Ft. Meyer, USAir worked perfectly.