A few weeks ago I flew to Chicago for work. It was my first business trip, and I wasn't sure of the etiquette. As a dude I didn't want to over-pack, but we were going to be there for 4 days and I needed nice clothes for work as well as casual stuff for the evenings. My luggage set consisted of a tiny carry-on suitcase that I couldn't fit everything into. The next smallest case I had was bigger than I needed, but it was my only option.
I got to the airport and headed to the auto check-in kiosk. I went ahead and checked my bag. Right as I was giving my bag to the lady my travel companions showed up. They groaned when they saw me checking my bag. "Dude, now we are going to have to wait at baggage claim in Chicago. Can't you just check it at the gate?" I asked the lady behind the desk and she looked at my bag. She said it was borderline, but she would probably let it go... however if I wanted to get reimbursed I would have to go to another desk and get it taken care of. We didn't really want to mess with it, so I just let them check it under the plane. We would check it at the gate on the way back.
Our trip went well and It was time to leave Chicago. Before I even checked in I asked the attendants about my bag. I got the same answer. It is borderline, but they would probably let it go. Everything should be fine. I went ahead and did not check my bag. I took it through security and nobody said anything. When it was time to board I got my little valet tag and I was headed to the plane. I have to admit I was nervous earlier, but it looked like everything was going to be okay.
We sat at the gate for a while. We were getting impatient. It was almost past our scheduled time to leave. Somebody came up to the plane and whispered something to the flight attendant. They talked a little bit then the attendant got off the plane. She got back on and grabbed the loud speaker, "Is there a Didwell on the plane. A Mr. Didwell?" I looked around, but I knew it was me. I didn't do anything for a second. The attendant looked out the door... "Nobody is answering." I stood up and walked to the front. "I'm Bidwell." As I turned the corner I saw my bag sitting there with a very grumpy looking lady next to it.
I proceeded to get lectured about baggage check policy, and was told that my gargantuan bag couldn't be put next to all the wee little carry-on luggage. I apologized and said it was fine, we can check it and I will retrieve it at baggage claim at my destination. I am fine with paying the money to check it. I re-boarded the plane and took my seat. We sat there for a few more minutes. We still weren't moving.
Of course my co-workers were having a good laugh in the back of the plane. Mostly because "Did-well" is one of my nicknames at work, and it was so serendipitously hilarious that the attendant called that out over the intercom.
A couple more minutes and we still weren't pulling away from the gate. The attendant had got off the plane and she was back on... coming straight for me. "Sorry Mr. Didwell, they need to see you again. I don't know what the problem is." I got up and left. The same grumpy woman was waiting for me at the door. "Sir, you understand that there are protocols and weight limits. We cannot put your bag with the rest of the valet." I was a little perturbed. "Yes mam. I am fine with checking it." Then the very thing I was most afraid of happened. Well, that isn't true. I was most afraid that I would get kicked off the plane and not be allowed to fly, but that would have been absolute worst-case scenario. Well, I guess I could have been arrested, that would have been worse. "Sir, grab your bag and follow me to the terminal."
I had to wheel my bag back up the ramp into the terminal and go to the nearest service desk. I had to fill out some paperwork and have a baggage slip printed out and affixed to my luggage. The woman kept mumbling stuff about rules and regulations. My face was red with embarrassment. We got everything in order and I wheeled my bag back to the plane and dropped it off right where I had 30 minutes before, right next to the plane door. I stepped back on the plane. As I made my way to my seat I could feel every eye looking at me with murderous rage. I had single-handedly delayed our flight. I felt like a huge a-hole.
The door shut and we started to move. I started to relax a little bit. They could make up the time in the air... right? As we pulled away from the gate the pilot got on the intercom. He said something about our schedule and we were now ready to go... however, we had missed our spot in the runway lineup, so we would have to wait a little bit before we could taxi out and take off. The passengers glared at me with renewed hatred. I just stared down at the sky mall.
