Like quite a few people this evening, I was delayed getting into the airport and missed a connection to Boston. I’m hanging out with a friend, her son, and my daughter.
If you’d like to know what is in the little amenity packages that Delta hands out, have any questions about the quality of the acrylic blankets, or want something from the vending machines, ask away!
I’m available for cuddling to keep you warm. 
Does the little train run all night or does it shut down at some point?
Will you be back in time for the Dopefest on Wednesday?
Ah, didn’t see the other thread. Never mind.
Good Lord, I hope I’m back later today.
I do think it’s ridiculous that coffee places aren’t open 24 hours here.
Don’t know about a train, but there’s a guy riding a floor-cleaner around and it’s very annoying.
What are 2 things you wished you had?
I’m plenty warm, but I need coffee, damnit! None of these places are open 24 hours.
One person in our party (we are a group of 6, actually) took herself and her son to an airport hotel. Our flight out is around 7 [del]tomorrow[/del] this morning, and we wouldn’t have gotten there until 10 pm, so that was hardly worth it to me. Her son was pissed, too. The kids are all 12 and staying in the airport all night is quite the adventure.
A big, thick sweatshirt and some more coffee. The sweatshirt can double as a pillow or an eye mask, and coffee is fucking delicious.
Staking out territory was my priority. The lady who ended up fleeing to a motel 6 or whatever was all, “I want a decent meal.” No way, man. I want my real estate. I’ll survive without crappy airport “brewpub” food, but I need my stretching out room.
I’ve slept overnight twice, Miami and Heathrow. Both pretty crappy experiences. If English people are supposed to be more polite then it didn’t show based on my stop.
Wait, they gave you amenities? Didn’t get anything. Miami had better sleeping arrangements at least. The chairs weren’t bolted down so two could be dragged together. Heathrow had all the benches occupied and all that was left were hobo-proof ones with a big armrest.
I was stranded at the Detroit airport once about 10 years ago. It really shuts down in the middle of the night, doesn’t it-- at least it did then. I was surprised. Fortunately I had only brought one bag and it was a carryon, so I had everything with me. It was in July and the a/c was cranked up to max. I started putting on all the tops I had with me, like a homeless person.
No place to stretch out. I went off and found an area by myself and just kind of slumped over my bag.
This was before kindle, etc., and I had just one book with me (for my book club). It was Cloud Atlas. Being forced to read about half of it in virtually one sitting was the key to actually getting the story, and I absolutely loved it. Most of the book club found it too difficult and several gave up on it, but I think that was because you can’t read that book in little snippets…too confusing.
There aren’t chairs or benches here, but plenty of floor. And the AC is cranked way up now, too.
35 minutes until Starbucks opens.
Starbucks would be open by now, about 15 minutes ago.
I don’t like how the chairs and benches at most US airports have fixed arm rests on them so you can’t stretch out. But in European airports there are more places to stretch out for a nap, or a more comfortable overnight.
How was your night? Any rest?
Starbucks fuckers, man. Not open until 5:30. When you’ve been dreaming about the 5am coffee, that half hour is like a knife in the back.
2 hours until our flight.
I must add, though, we have seat requests but not assignments. I could be here until the 10 am flight.
Final tally:
1 kid slept sitting up, for about 4 hours
1 grown-up slept on floor, for about 4 hours
1 kid has been up this whole time
I dozed on floor, for about an hour
1 kid/grown-up pair went to hotel. I can’t imagine that was worth it, but…
On the plane to go home. Yay!
Detroit has an airport? With planes and all?
Yes. Detroit itself might be a deserted wasteland, but there are suburbs around it with the occasional sign of life, and a few people who wan to fly somewhere. (Detroit Airport was the first place that I landed in the US, when I first visited the country about 22 years ago.)
Yeah, my brother lives in Dexter, Michigan and I like to tease him by introducing him as my brother from Detroit.