The Worst Airport

I haven't been to all the airports in the world, but tonight the Orlando airport earns a two-thumbs down from me. It is nearly impossible to get to, has signs that imply there is no parking at the airport (instead only economy lots), and is the most inefficiently staffed place I've ever been. (I may, at some point, modify my opinion, but not tonight.)

Since I was surprising my granddaughter on a variety of levels, all of which I managed to keep a secret until one I blew at the last minute, I came to the timeshare first and unpacked the truck. I was here for less than ten minutes before I left to drive to the airport. I was making good time. And then I got to the airport. I ended up circling it before I pulled into the economy lot, and I was lucky that the shuttle came to the stop almost immediately. I popped out of the shuttle and into the airport more than an hour before my granddaughter's plane landed. However, it took me nearly a half hour to get my gate pass so I could meet her, and another thirty-minutes plus to get through security. It was insane! I've been in that airport before and have never seen it so bad. I called over every TSA agent I saw to plead for help; my granddaughter was going to get off the plane and I wouldn't be there. It was her first time traveling alone. No one cared. Lately when I've traveled, I have been assigned a TSA pre-check -- just randomly, I wouldn't pay for it. When I asked an agent closer to the front of the line if I could go through pre-check (after explaining the situation), he told me in a very derisive tone that "no one with a gate pass would ever go through pre-check." Idiot.

Finally I got through security and literally ran for the tram or rail or whatever they call it. As soon as I got to the train, it pulled out. I waited for what seemed like an eternity for the next one -- it was probably five minutes -- and went to the gate. I had already texted my granddaughter and said if I wasn't there she should stay right where she was until I did get there. She called me and I assured her I'd be there in five minutes. I was, and we had a grand reunion. I'll write more later. It's time for a late-night walk.