Early flight out

Posted by Tasha (Chicago, United States) on 10 April 2008 in Transportation.

I snapped this shot on my way to the airport for my New Mexico trip. I had this idea that I would show how stupid early I got up (and thus how much I love my dear father since we're both night owls), and what the world is like at "stupid early".

The bus stop was deserted. The bus was nearly so. The El was even closer to deserted. Almost no one in the little hallway that connects the train station to the airport.

And then 17,000 people in the airport itself. Seriously, "zoo" does not begin to describe this place. "Chaotic" comes close. "Oh <earmuffs grandma> I'm going to miss my plane trying to get through security!" probably best covers it.

I had literally walked in from the train station to the security line. I could not figure out where to check my baggage for several minutes. Of course, when I did figure it out, then I had to force my way up there, only to be caught in another sea of people.

A woman and I came up about the same time. She and I had grimaced at each other back in the security line, and she ended up about three people behind me in the bag check line. Rather, I should say she STARTED three people behind me in the bag check line. I was there, meandering my way through my line, fretting a bit about my flight, and then I turned one of those rope "corners" and saw her about ten people AHEAD of me. I seriously considered confronting her, but decided it was too early in the morning, and even if it wasn't, what would I gain by doing so? However, I did remember it.

I did not, however, miss my flight. The workers at Midway Airport were incredibly efficient and I even had time to get a terrible airport breakfast. Ah, travel.

Which is probably what this guy was thinking as he hauled all that darn luggage on the trains and through the airports.