This was sent to the wizard and me from
Todd Liles, one of the Wizard of Ads partners:
He sat his bag down to dig out his ID. The line was moving slow this morning. Being a veteran of travel, Todd knew this was unusual for a Tuesday morning.
The airport was very busy, and running inefficiently. Normally, there are two lines for general boarding. One on each end of the terminal. Today, the general boarding line was on the opposite end of his gate. That’s ok. He got there early enough.
“ID”
“Here you go ma’am.”
“Do you have another ID? A passport?”
“No ma’am.”
“Somethings missing. You’ll need to go back to the ticketing agent.”
“What’s missing?”
“I don’t know. Sorry. You’ll have to go back to the ticketing gate.”
The gate is on the other end of the airport.
Ok. Time to jog. Well, maybe a little faster than a jog.
He grabbed his bag, and started hustling. A little faster. Faster.
(This is why I train. You never know when you’ll have to run.)
“Sorry. Sorry. Let me explain.”
He quickly and kindly explained why he needed to skip the line. The last lady gave him a look. It was a combination of annoyance and understanding.
“Go ahead.”
“Thank you!”
Ticket fixed. Hustle reengaged.
More running. Now, a light sweat is forming on his head. It’s ok though. His hustling saved him time.
Back to the front of the line.
“Sorry. Sorry.”
(The security agent told him as he was walking away earlier to come straight back here.)
Through the security gate, he glanced at his watch.
“All good. Screen the bag, run down to the other side of the terminal, and ready to go.”
Yet, fate had one more twist….
A large bag filled with all kinds of oddities are in front of my bag.
Oddities. Strange liquids close to 3 ounces. Odd electronics that raise a reflected eyebrow in the reflection of the X-ray monitor. An urn for ashes. What is this lady’s deal??
With only one agent, we wait. He slowly goes through each item. One at a slow time. He then slowly puts them back.
“Finally! He’s done. Great.”
Another one of the lady’s large bags comes out. The slow process repeats.
Now, Todd is wondering if a phone call will be made explaining this lateness. (Not good. This does not need to happen. American flat out cancelled all of the flights out of Austin one week ago. He needs to get on this plane.)
Like a ray of sunshine, his bag comes out!
Shoes, on. Backpack, on. Bag, in hand.
RUN Todd Run!!!
He does. He runs. He bobs. He weaves. He dodges. He leaps. He slides. He exaggerates for dramatic effect, but he does run.
As he rushes to his gate, he arrives in time to hear, “Now boarding group 8.”
Todd had minutes to spare.
He thinks for the second time. “Good thing I train.”