by B. L. Babb

Created on: April 20, 2008

For many years I traveled via airlines. I thought that each time I had a really poor flight it couldn't get any worse than the last one. Each time I was surprised how wrong I could be.

I have had flights where I had a seat in the last row against the back bulkhead. The seats were arranged with three seats on each side of the isle. Someone please explain to me the common sense to sell a parent traveling with two children two tickets for two seats. The "theory" is that one of the children will sit in the lap of the adult. Right, like that ever happens.

In my case, the "extra" child spent the trip from New Orleans to Norfolk sprawled across all three seats, my lap included.

However, even that wasn't even my worst flight experience. It is hard to only select one but I will try.

My day began in Aransas Pass, Texas. It is the beginning of Memorial Day weekend. I had to drive with a co-worker to Corpus Christi where the nearest airport was. We were to catch a plane there to Houston's Hobby Airport and change flights to continue on to Norfolk.

We arrived at the airport and returned the rental car. The associate behind the counter cheerily informed me she would move my flight up. I would be able to catch the 9:30 (am) flight from there to Houston. My co-worker would be on the 11:30 (am) flight following the same path. At this time it was 9 am. I had half an hour before my flight.

It wasn't very surprising to me when two and a half hours later both myself and my co-worker were boarding the 11:30 flight (which was in fact the 9:30 flight slightly delayed in departure) and heading for Houston.

We arrived in Houston to find we had to walk off our plane onto the tarmac and enter the building. Now by this time, our connecting flight is boarding, and of course, it is boarding at a gate furthest from where our incoming flight landed.

There was a woman standing inside the building when we entered. We requested she contact our gate and inform them we were on our way. Unfortunately, she didn't speak English except one phrase "Gate 20, up the stairs."

Now the room we entered from the tarmac has one door and one set of stairs. No other ways in or out. It is amazing the airport thought people couldn't figure out to enter the door, climb the stairs, and exit. They have to post someone there to say "up the stairs."

We rushed to our gate and the door was closed to our plane. Airlines have rules; once that door is closed, it cannot be opened for that flight. It does not matter if the plane is

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