Flying to Where?

My flight home from Seattle was to include a stop in Albuquerque,where I was to take a connecting flight to Lubbock. As we flew into Albuquerque, the air was thick with smoke, and the wind was stout. It was decided to divert the plane to El Paso, the plane’s alternate landing area, and the next stop on this multi-leg flight to Austin. Those passengers scheduled to debark in El Paso were allowed to do so, and the airline found a connecting flight to Dallas for many other passengers.

So, on June 7, I was in the El Paso airport once again, at 5:30 AM. Monday, June 6, 2011 was the day that I was scheduled to return to Lubbock from Seattle. But it did not happen.

For those of you who do not know about flying Southwest, the schedule for my flight home was not that unusual: I was on a plane that was scheduled to land in Albuquerque; I was to deplane, with many others, and would fly into Lubbock from Albuquerque. The plane was scheduled to go on to El Paso, and then Austin, Texas. 

After about 30 minutes on the ground in El Paso, it was determined we would be on the ground 30 minutes or more still, so we were encouraged to deplane and use the amenities. They resurrected some old plastic boarding passes and let us off. Shortly thereafter, they told those of us going to Houston, Midland-Odessa and Lubbock that we would be put up in a hotel for the night, and we were on scheduled confirmed flights on June 7 AM. I had taken my carry on bag with me, thinking I would play with the computer, so did not need to go back to the plane and get anything.

I am not sure what happened to the others, but Southwest was trying to get the plane back to Albuquerque to return those passengers going to Albuquerque, pick up the people in Albuquerque who were trying to get to El Paso and Austin, and then return to El Paso, then Austin.

So, June 6, 2011, I spent the night in the Radisson at the El Paso Airport. It included free Internet, and a breakfast voucher, but I had to leave about 4:30 AM to get to the airport for my 6 AM flight, which would take me to Dallas, then to Lubbock, arriving about 12 noon.When I checked out, the clerk at the hotel tried to charge me for my room. I have to wonder; when I told her I was on a voucher, she did not object, and acted like it was in the system. So, I have to wonder if sometimes, they charge twice, and the staff make some money. Is that so very negative? Skeptical?

The airport is right next to the hotel. The shuttle driver was very informative: he is working on a master’s degree in health administration, and his day job is in a clinic in Juarez, which he claims is a safe city during the day. He also suggested I visit the University of Texas at El Paso Museum which has a lot of archaeological/historical displays, when I next visit El Paso. Food for thought.