I FLY SWA...NO MORE!!!

Okay, maybe that is a little hasty but let me tell you about our day yesterday and maybe you can help me decide.

So (as I will talk about extensively in my next post) I got to go to Vegas and see my sister Britta (affectionately known as Bertha Boo) and her family. The trip there was great...no problems. Britta and Clint offered to let me and the girls drive back with them (they came for the girls' blessing)...so I only needed to fly one direction...which was nice.

When I first told family and friends that I was going ALONE with twin girls to Vegas and back the concerned questions like:

"Do you really think you are ready for that?" or "I'll pray for you." kind of got on my nerves...after all, how hard could it really be? I mean I've been alive for almost 32 years and I know I can do "hard things" so why would that stop me from spending time with my beloved sister? I knew it would be somewhat of a challenge but I also knew that people as a general rule are helpful and kind and if I was in a real fix I could ask someone for help. Right?

Well the week with Bertha and family was everything I'd hoped it would be and more...we had a wonderful time...at one point I even thought "I would be willing to live in hot, brown, ugly Las Vegas if it meant living near my sister"...that is big!

Anyway Friday was quickly approaching and the reality of having to get on a plane alone with two small babes was starting to make me feel a little nervous. I did what I usually do when I'm nervous and tried to prepare myself as much as possible. I called the airport to make sure that if needed there would be some help for me to get to the gate etc., I had already gone online the day before and printed out an "A" boarding pass since Sarah had warned me that Southwest changed their pre-boarding policy. I decided to call Southwest and make sure that there was no way I couldn't pre-board. I talked to a very nice woman who assured me that I could pre-board, I just needed to let the person at the ticket counter know about my situation. I was cautiously optimistic and told Clint (whose idea it was in the first place to call the airport) what the woman on the phone had said. He reassured me that it was true...why would Southwest not pre-board families? They always have.

Well it came time to get to the airport...we were running a little late (this seems to happen ALL the time with me but even worse since the arrival of these babes and all of their essential STUFF) but nothing too concerning. Traffic was worse than we expected but we still thought we had time to spare. We finally got to the airport and if you can picture this, we had a double stroller with Laurel inside and a big bag of diapers in the other part. I had a baby bjorn thingy with Maisy inside (since she was really fussy) and then Abby and Elsa tagging along (not very quickly...what did we expect?!) I'm wheeling a HUGE suitcase with all of our stuff and a diaper bag.

Well we got to the line to check my luggage and Maisy's car seat and realized that it was LONG. Laurel started crying and needed to be fed so as we pushed luggage and fed Laurel...we were moving along very slowly and as we were almost to the counter I looked up and noticed that we had been in line for almost an hour! I started to panic knowing that we still had to go through security and our plane would be leaving in a little over a half hour.

FINALLY we got to the front and I mentioned to the ticket counter lady my concerns. She told me I had pretty much missed my flight and that I'd have to wait until the next flight which was 2 hours later. I felt panicky but I remembered that I had packed enough of everything in the diaper bag in case something like this might happen. "I can do hard things"...I kept telling myself. The lady handed me my tickets and assured me that although the tickets said we were in the "B" group, I just needed to explain to the ticket person that I was told I could pre-board (confirming what the lady on the phone had said).

Camille was so graciously coming to pick us up at the SLC airport and would need to be contacted...unfortunately Jeff and I just canceled our cell phone (another long story) and Britta forgot hers...so off to the pay phones we went...I thought we could call Mom and she could contact Camille and Jeff to let them both know what was happening...the cost? $1.35 for one minute...we had $1.25 after putting together ALL of the change we could find. Finally I said to Britta..."I'm going to ask someone for a dime"...and I did and this really nice woman not only gave me a dime but another $1.25 just in case I would need it! So I called mom and to make a long story short the answering machine picked up, the phone took my money and there I was with $1.25 again...not $1.35 UGH!

I called Mom collect and miraculously she answered this time. She was amazing..within three minutes she had contacted both Jeff and Camille and all was worked out for our late pick up.

Feeling good, Bertha and I decide to spend an hour together in the airport so we go and get food for everyone...that part was of course stressful with Abby running away from us at every opportunity but nice to have that extra hour together. Two sandwiches, two corn dogs and drinks...almost $40...SHEESH!

The time came for Britta to leave me and time get to the plane. We said our goodbyes and off I went to the security gate. Laurel had finally fallen asleep and Maisy was still hooked onto me...asleep (I realized as I walked to the gate that I had completely forgotten to change diapers...Maisy is usually okay in a dirty diaper...Laurel...um NO.

I got to the gate (and having never done this before with babies) proceeded to take Laurel while in the car seat through...the nice man told me that the car seat needed to go through the scanner thingy (DUH!) so I would have to take my baby out...SHOOT...I would wake her up...but I did it and we made it through fine.

Next stop the transport to get me to my gate..."Hey this isn't too bad actually" I was thinking to myself. I got off the transport and two feet away was our gate. At that moment I heard the ticket taker guy ask over the speaker if there were any more pre-boarders.

"That is me." I thought, "shoot I need to hurry" I quickly went to the front of the "A" line, excusing myself the whole way (watch out...here comes a lady with two babies!). I handed my ticket to the ticket guy and told him that the lady downstairs had told me to tell him that I was supposed to pre-board. He looked at the ticket (which said B-68) and said:

"Your ticket says you need to be in the "B" line."
me: "Oh yeah, I was told I could pre-board since I have these two babies traveling with me."
him: "Well that's not true...you will need to get in the "B" line.
me: "But sir, I have two babies with me...and the lady downstairs said..."
him: "I don't care what she said, she had no right to tell you you could pre-board, I make those decisions"
me: (feeling very confused, anxious and frankly embarrassed that this is turning into a scene and there is a LARGE audience of travelers waiting for this to be resolved so they can get on the plane...not to mention Laurel is starting to squirm and could start siren crying at any moment) "Sir, can't you please make an exception?"
him: "Ma'am if I made an exception for you, I would have to make an exception for all of these people (pointing to the crowd watching us).
me: (thinking to myself, um...okay? That doesn't make sense since NO ONE else in the line has TWO babies to get on to a plane...in fact I'm pretty sure I was the only one on the whole plane with any small children)...then I hear myself say...

"I'm getting on the plane." and I hand him my tickets and start WALKING DOWN THE TERMINAL!

him: (calling down the terminal) "Ma'am you are just making this harder for yourself."
me: (thinking, "I can't believe I did that" and also wondering when I will be put in handcuffs, turn around) Sir, I have TWO BABIES here! TWO BABIES!
him: "SO WHAT!"
(I turn around and head down the terminal to the plane...and burst into tears)

I get on the plane and the most ANGELIC stewardess greets me.
her: "Oh, what's wrong?"..."Are you okay?"
me: (sobbing) "I just walked past the line...I can't believe I did that I'm just so stressed out...sob,sob..."
her: "Oh my, don't you worry, let's get you and your babies seated...everything will be okay."
me: sob, sob, "Thank you."
She then proceeded to help me get Laurel buckled in and then myself...I was waiting for security to come at any moment but nothing happened. I still couldn't regain my composure...I was just so embarrassed about the scene I had just made and so completely overwhelmed by the day in general (not to mention the lack of sleep that is always accompanying me).

People started filing in...the same people who had witnessed this whole scene...I was of course in the very front seat and so all of them saw me sitting there obviously in tears...I just turned my head and tried in vain again to regain my composure. There was one aisle seat left next to me but no one wanted to sit there! I don't blame them! I was probably quite a sight.

Finally a security guy came on and found me right away.

him: "We have a problem."
me: "Yes we do."
him: " What you did was totally inexcusable..."
me: "I know, I am so sorry, I still can't believe I did it."
him: "You cannot do that..."
me: "Again sir, I am so sorry. I am not trying to excuse myself, but I was told I could pre-board twice by SWA and...
him: "Our policy says that you can pre-board after the "A" group"
me: "I was never told this." "I have already missed a flight, I am not trying to excuse myself but this has been a very stressful day and I guess I just lost control."
him: (softening a little bit) "Okay, don't let this ever happen again." "Have a better day."
me: "thanks"
him: (leaves and then comes back) "Here is your luggage claim information, you may need this." (smiling)

Finally the nicest guy asks if he can sit down. He is on his way to see his 18 month old son. His girlfriend left him and took the baby so he has been having a really rough time. Laurel starts crying and Maisy is starting to wake up. He asks if he can help and ends up holding Laurel the whole time (very happily). We have a great flight and talk a lot about what miracles babies are etc. I told him he was an answer to prayer. He smiled and said that he enjoyed every minute of the flight. The plane desended and we started to leave, as we left the angelic stewardess stopped him and said "Thanks for taking care of her." I stopped her and said "Thanks for being so kind to me." She smiled. I swear she was an angel.

That is the story...here are my thoughts:

First, I still can't believe I behaved the way I did, but looking back I do understand it a little. Wasn't it obvious that I would need some extra help boarding the plane and wouldn't it be better for EVERYONE on the flight if they let me pre-board and get situated?

Second, I was NEVER told about the "boarding after the "A" group" that should be something that everyone makes clear to you especially if you call SWA and specifically ask them about pre-boarding policies.

Third, I was right that there are plenty of really nice, helpful people in this world but there are also a few rude, judgmental, unhelpful people too. I'm going to keep trying really hard to still assume that all people are really nice deep down.

And last but not least, Laurel and Maisy have a mom that can blow at any moment.

What are your thoughts? Did you know that Southwest had this policy? What have your experiences been flying with babies? I want to know!

P.S. I looked online today to see if anyone else was upset about this LAME policy and found THIS. It's an online petition to get them to change the policy. They still need quite a few people to sign up...if you have a moment, and you agree that the policy needs to change would you sign up? Thanks!

P.P.S. I'm completely in love with Jeff. He came to the airport looking devilishly handsome with a rose and a long understanding hug. I was SO happy to see him.