Our Dog's Panama Journey Part 2 - Departure
Planning the departure and actually working out the logistics are TWO different activities. With our 9 trunks for baggage, 2 carry aboard bags each and 3 dog kennels, Uber just wasn't going to cut it. Bryant rented a cargo van the night before with a schedule return once our cargo and baggage was dropped at the two different locations as required by United.
After a bon voyage meal with cousin Malori, we loaded up the van at 8P, added the bewildered dogs (who were typically asleep at this hour) and rolled slowly to the airport.
We arrived at Cargo 4 hours ahead of departure. After all, that is what the PetSafe employee had told me during my pre-journey visit the week before.
Our dear friends from Irvine, Linda and Michael, joined us at Cargo after insisting we needed their help and we certainly did! Linda's career was customer service for American Airlines and she knew LAX and all about airline rules and regulations. Michael is a former teacher and his patience and calm really helped a high stress situation. We divided and conquered.
Linda and I stayed with the dogs to make certain all was well. Turned out we could not check them in until just 2 hours ahead of flight time. Not much around the United Cargo building except cement benches and a lot of concrete. The nice green grass for the dogs to relieve themselves was across Century Blvd and it was a cold evening as well. We weren't going over there so we sat inside on the few available chairs and chatted to pass the time.
Bryant and Michael took the trunks over to the United terminal to unload. Linda left me for awhile to pick up the guys from the van rental lot and return them to the terminal. She then rejoined me. Saints! Both of them!
The PetSafe desk was due for a change in shift so the earlier shift helped me to prepare all the final documents to be completed by the incoming. All well and good. Except the incoming turned out to be quite junior and was not certain about pricing. I was on the plane already when she called to say that the comfort care in Houston during our three hour layover had not been paid for and she needed a credit card to make that happen. Gave it to her just as the flight announcement told us to turn off our electronics.
Once the dogs were loaded into their crates, weighed and all the stickers applied to the outside, I nervously called to each one to say they would be fine and I would see them soon. Linda was about to throw a fit, certain we would miss our deadline to check in all the baggage for an international flight. We jumped in her car and peeled out to the United terminal. I jumped out at the curb, found Bryant and Michael, dispatched Michael back to Linda and the car with a big hug for both.
There we were with 9 trunks. How are we going to get them to checkin??? Pay for the carts and tip whomever was willing to help! United employees were those folks and we wheeled 4 carts over to the counter. Our upgraded tickets read that we had 3 checked bags per person at no charge. We were prepared to pay for 3 extra. Ummm... not according to what the counter agent was seeing.. we had one free and one additional with the upgrade...the third free did not apply because it was Panama we were going to. Welcome to Panama! We had to pay for 5 extra bags. Huh? I didn't see that in print, fine or italic , anywhere on the website!
I managed a very concerned face and uttered something about the budget being blown. The agent, who happened to be from the island of Tonga (and that fact had resulted in fun conversation before the baggage check-in began) suddenly was concerned about the time we had before boarding. Something about charging us for all the extra bags, some a pound over weight, would take too much time in two different computer systems. Could we just pay for two extra bags and the rest would be put through free. The gawds were smiling on us!
My Mom always told me that you can attract more flies with honey rather than a fly swatter (eww) and my Dad always told me that people like to talk about themselves and feel appreciated if someone is interested and asks questions. Combine the two and good things happen in unexpected places. OK, maybe I need to rethink this analogy a bit. Suffice to say that being gracious and nice no matter the situation and having interest in others often pays dividends that are unexpected. Just sayin'.
Wheels up at 1:03A.
After a bon voyage meal with cousin Malori, we loaded up the van at 8P, added the bewildered dogs (who were typically asleep at this hour) and rolled slowly to the airport.
We arrived at Cargo 4 hours ahead of departure. After all, that is what the PetSafe employee had told me during my pre-journey visit the week before.
Linda and I stayed with the dogs to make certain all was well. Turned out we could not check them in until just 2 hours ahead of flight time. Not much around the United Cargo building except cement benches and a lot of concrete. The nice green grass for the dogs to relieve themselves was across Century Blvd and it was a cold evening as well. We weren't going over there so we sat inside on the few available chairs and chatted to pass the time.
Bryant and Michael took the trunks over to the United terminal to unload. Linda left me for awhile to pick up the guys from the van rental lot and return them to the terminal. She then rejoined me. Saints! Both of them!
The PetSafe desk was due for a change in shift so the earlier shift helped me to prepare all the final documents to be completed by the incoming. All well and good. Except the incoming turned out to be quite junior and was not certain about pricing. I was on the plane already when she called to say that the comfort care in Houston during our three hour layover had not been paid for and she needed a credit card to make that happen. Gave it to her just as the flight announcement told us to turn off our electronics.
Once the dogs were loaded into their crates, weighed and all the stickers applied to the outside, I nervously called to each one to say they would be fine and I would see them soon. Linda was about to throw a fit, certain we would miss our deadline to check in all the baggage for an international flight. We jumped in her car and peeled out to the United terminal. I jumped out at the curb, found Bryant and Michael, dispatched Michael back to Linda and the car with a big hug for both.
I managed a very concerned face and uttered something about the budget being blown. The agent, who happened to be from the island of Tonga (and that fact had resulted in fun conversation before the baggage check-in began) suddenly was concerned about the time we had before boarding. Something about charging us for all the extra bags, some a pound over weight, would take too much time in two different computer systems. Could we just pay for two extra bags and the rest would be put through free. The gawds were smiling on us!
My Mom always told me that you can attract more flies with honey rather than a fly swatter (eww) and my Dad always told me that people like to talk about themselves and feel appreciated if someone is interested and asks questions. Combine the two and good things happen in unexpected places. OK, maybe I need to rethink this analogy a bit. Suffice to say that being gracious and nice no matter the situation and having interest in others often pays dividends that are unexpected. Just sayin'.
Wheels up at 1:03A.
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