missed flight...

i haven't missed a flight in ten years...because i've learned to check in and board at the latest time possible without missing the flight. but we missed our flight back from italy. we had such a great trip logistically too....planes, trains, taxi's, ubers, car rentals....logistically everything went smoothly. the gps was accurate, we got on the right train and we figured out how to use the petrol station from our last trip. we woke up early...got to the airport 3 hours early to get our tax refund, check in and relax at the lounge....and then we go to the wrong tax refund line...and then the correct refund line doesn't seem like it's moving at all...so we decided to check in and do the tax refund inside the terminal.

the the vat refund system doesn't care about you or your money or the long line or the flight...they divvy up the lines into custom checking and then the different companies paying u back the tax refund. they take their time checking your item, the computers lag in inputing the data, they call to double check items, they call each other 100 feet away...and they get up and take breaks without warning or care. one person mans one booth and their futility leads to long lines of frustrated passengers. we hedged....amanda stood in the customs check line, and i awaited the stamp of approval from her line to then collect the refund. that took an hour and a half. and by the time we were ready for tax refund, there was an error. we heard our names over the intercom....so i rushed ahead to quite possibly the furthest and last gate at the end of the terminal. 20minutes of running...i arrived 10 minutes before departure time.

"sorry sir...there's nothing we can do to board you..."

that conversation went on for five minutes before she actually tried to access the computer to help. seriously if she had tried when i got there...maybe it would've helped...or at least i knew she helped. but the delayed and unwillingness to help two passengers ready to board 10 minutes before departure time was unbelievable. they had prematurely taken our luggage off the plane...they were ready to just move forward with the next flight...i couldn't believe how airline staff was so horrendously unwilling to help an exectuvie platinum and a sapphire passenger especially when the plane was still right in front of our sights.

instead...the lady decided to be more helpful after she realized we were nice people trying to get home. so our vat refund and more...went into a flight at the neighboring gate....to miami...and then to new york. i would've chosen to stay in milan another night. but amanda needed to get back.

after 10 hours to miami. it just so happens that a cat 4 hurricane was approaching miami...but i was annoyed with the flight and figured a quick exit to get food and drinks would make the trip more bearable. but the amount of traffic on the freeway...the long lines at the gas stations...made our trip a bit nerve racking. nonetheless...ceviche and drinks....and cubano's on the way home....and then another 3 hours back to ny. and a forever of a cab ride back into the city. GAH