Roller ... aka Ed 351 Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 As many of you know, I was selected to race on the Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans during the Marine Corps Marathon.Friday, October 24th, I flew out of ECP on my way to Washington, D.C. Delta Airlines got off to a bad start.6 weeks previously, I had called and let Delta know that I was flying with a wheelchair and a racing chair. It was all set - help would be available and the chairs fly free.No help was available at ECP; at first they said the racing chair was too large to fly - even though the same chair clay and the same class airplane all the time; the cargo supervisor came.in, took one look and said, "no problem"; then they tried to say I would have to pay $150 to fly the chair on each leg - $300 to D.C.; when I said it was supposed to fly free, they got snooty; they said there was no information about the fee being waived - I pointed out they said it flew free, so there was no fee to waive; it started to go downhill, until I insisted they contact the CRO at Delta's headquarters; suddenly, they said they would do me a favor and waive the fees.More to come ... this was mainly to celebrate my 10000th post. wdwpoohbear...Jennifer, AC in A2......Aaron and Grumpy and Grandma 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799 Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 Congrats on making 10000!!! That's sucks that they gave you a hard time though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
h2odivers...Ray 952 Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 9,999 shameless posts to get to this TR! Lol. Way to go. Can't wait to hear about the marathon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Katman1356...Jason 1,140 Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 Count me in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beckers 1,136 Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 In! That's rotten they were giving you trouble from the start. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
disney4dan 68 Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 Happy 10,000 post! At the rate I am posting, I might get to 2,000 before I turn 100. Sorry to hear about the challenges at the airport, but looking forward to the race posts. And food pix maybe? It's all about the food. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547 Posted November 7, 2014 Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 I'm in! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roller ... aka Ed 351 Posted November 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2014 They convinced me to check my own wheelchair ... unfortunately. More on this later.The Delta supervisor came to my loading gate, and told me he had upgraded my seat. I guess he had a guilty conscious, because he had stood nearby while the whole brewup over the racing chair went on and said nothing.Boarded with no problems, and it was a nice seat - aisle and nothing in front of me, so I could stretch out my booted foot.ATL is a quick flight, but you lose an hour because of the time zone change.The Delta wheelchairs in ATL SMB! They have no padding and hard cushions. On top of that, I got the bum's rush from one arrival gate to my departure gate ... Then they left me. It was a layover of a couple of hours. It would have been nice to be able to get around by myself so I could grab a bite to eat. I eventually got a push down to T.G.I. Friday's and got a nice lunch, but ... SMB Delta. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twiceblessed....nacole 433 Posted November 8, 2014 Report Share Posted November 8, 2014 In and excited to hear about the marathon. ..sorry you had such a rough start : Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy and Grandma 740 Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 More to come ... this was mainly to celebrate my 10000th post.Way to go Ed.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alexwyattmommy 181 Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Oh Ed. I am so sorry to hear about the mistreatment by the airline. I am guessing this is their normal attitude to those that require non-standard protocols. I really hope they didn't ruin your trip for you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roller ... aka Ed 351 Posted November 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Oh Ed. I am so sorry to hear about the mistreatment by the airline. I am guessing this is their normal attitude to those that require non-standard protocols. I really hope they didn't ruin your trip for you.That seems to be business as usual by Delta at ECP. I didn't let it bother me ... too much. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alexwyattmommy 181 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 I would have worked myself into a tizzy at the time. But I always do that. Stress out and then relax about it later. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AC in A2......Aaron 693 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 I'm in.Congrats on 10K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roller ... aka Ed 351 Posted November 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 I would have worked myself into a tizzy at the time. But I always do that. Stress out and then relax about it later. I don't get in the tizzy - I'm the one that puts THEM in the tizzy. Maybe pulling out the stylus on my Note 3 and writing down names as well as comments might have been a factor in their sudden change in attitude. I never said a nasty word ... but actions speak louder than words. The implication of nasty things in the future was hanging over them. :smug: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roller ... aka Ed 351 Posted November 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Back to where I left off ... Lunch and a little pood forn. I started off with Pretzel Bread and Craft Beer Cheese Dip Then on to a Jack Daniels glazed Sirloin with Spinach and Sweet Potato Fries I then had to head back to the loading gate - it was getting close to flight time. No luck getting a better seat, but they did move me closer to the door. An uneventful flight to Reagan National ... and the wheelchair waiting for me was better than the ones at ATL - but not by much. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twiceblessed....nacole 433 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Beer in the cheese dip, Jack on the steak....what did you wash it all down with Thank you for your service Ed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roller ... aka Ed 351 Posted November 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Achilles was to meet me at Reagan, but no one was in site. A quick phone call, and I found out they were at Reagan loading another Veteran, and would be over momentarily to pick me up. Lots of help getting me and my chairs loaded, then off to the Holiday Inn Rosslyn - my home for the next 3+ days. The room was fantastic! and it had a nice view ... A little swag from Achilles waiting for me ... and some relief after a long day ... That night was the Pizza Party - sorry no pood forn ... but it was just pizza. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roller ... aka Ed 351 Posted November 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Beer in the cheese dip, Jack on the steak....what did you wash it all down with Thank you for your service Ed. More beer ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roller ... aka Ed 351 Posted November 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Zero Dark:30 the next morning ... At the Starting Line ... along with 139 other racing chairs! at the finish line - you have to watch for me at the bottom right ... http://www.csnwashington.com/video_content_type/marine-corps-marathon-finish-line-50000-51000 And a shot with a Marine after I finished - finished FIRST in my age group in the handcycle division! (yes, I was playing stork and had all of my weight on my right foot) Burritos for lunch after the finish and Chinese for Dinner - no pood forn. Mea Culpa. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roller ... aka Ed 351 Posted November 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Up early the next morning to catch my flight home ... Achilles had phoned ahead, and each of us had a personal escort through check-in and TSA! None of the SMB like I had at ECP! Not even a question about the racing chair flying free - of course it does ... that's your mobility! I did NOT check my personal wheelchair this time - ATL had taught me that lesson. TSA was a breeze. A couple of swabs, and off we went to the loading gate - where I had a bit of a wait, but a LOT of people were impressed with the Marine Corps Marathon shirt and that I had 'ran' it in a racing chair. Nice flight to ATL. They shuffled me to my next gate in MY comfy cushioned wheelchair, and I could get myself around to grab a snack before my next flight. Flight to ECP was no problem and they took me and my racing chair out to my car and got everything loaded. Maybe someone had had some words with ECP ... The drive home was uneventful, and as much as I hate bed rest, I was glad to see my own bed! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Nice shot of the National Cathedral with Georgetown University in the foreground. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Burritos for lunch after the finish and Chinese for Dinner - no pood forn. Mea Culpa. 'Ohana! Fixed it for you. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alexwyattmommy 181 Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Hey, didn't that person in the black shirt know they were messing up my view? Congrats on finishing first in your division. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roller ... aka Ed 351 Posted November 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2014 A little hindsight - the hills were VERY rough on me. Not that they are that high, but they are steeper than any around here. I had to put a lot more stress on my arms and shoulders than normal. The strain on my injured arm along with having to wheelchair or walker around (and Whine & Drown Half, I'm sure) has developed into what I'm sure is tendonitis. I see the doctor about my foot tomorrow ... and no wheelchair and an further injured arm will - hopefully - stir the pot and get some faster action frm the VA. We shall see .. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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