Terminal Mines

Just the name of this post might conjure up thoughts of a movie title. A story on the big screen about a bloody murder mystery or an undercover super secret agent that might include an array of blockbuster stars such as Tom Cruise, Matt Damon or Daniel Craig.

Sorry to disappoint, but I would not be talking about Mission Impossible, the Bourne Identity or even the elusive James Bond. Yet, as this story unfolds it does take on its own nature of espionage or it could be thought of as a tale of reconnaissance as you will see.
 

Let me ask you this:

Have you ever been stuck somewhere?
Detained against your will?
Trapped like a caged animal?
Confined within the four walls of a nightmare?

 
What if I tell you that it involves an Airport.

 
Oh I get it, I get it(snap finger and point); it’s that Tom Hanks movie about the guy who arrives at JFK only to find out that he isn’t allowed into the United States. That while en route his country is no longer looked upon as a sovereign nation and he’s denied entrance into the country and forced to live in the airport, schlepping his luggage and a can of Planters peanuts around from gate to gate.
 

Okay, that’s close—but not quite it.

Give up?
 

What if I told you that someone was stuck in the San Francisco International Airport for eight days?
 

That’s right, eight days.

Eight days spent at an airport in limbo, filled with nothing but fear and humiliation.
 


 

This is no Spielberg movie folks, this actually happened.
 

A woman named Terri Weissinger arrived at the ticket counter to check in her baggage with only thirty dollars to her name. She was on her way to start a new life in Idaho, only to find herself stuck in San Francisco with sticker shock instead.

It had been five years since Ms. Weissinger had stepped into an airport. In fact it had been so long since she had flown anywhere that when she checked in with her baggage, there was an assess fee of $60 for her additional piece of luggage. She was thirty dollars short and it was all the money she had in the world. It was as if a minefield had just opened up in front of her.
 

Now what would she do?
 

First, she offered to pay the fee when she arrived at her destination in Idaho, but the agent had flatly refused. Then she offered to leave one of her bags there at the San Francisco Airport to be sent to her later but that would’ve been a violation of airport security regulations.

So she got on the phone. She made several attempts to call all her friends but to no avail. By the time she had finished, she had missed her flight. And that’s when this story turns into a movie-like drama. It was the “The Terminal” and she had become the new Viktor Navorski, although she looked nothing like Tom Hanks.

You see, in order for Ms. Weissinger to be put on a new flight, she was required to pay for not only the baggage fee but also the $150 exchange fee. By this time it was late and with no where to stay she spent the night at the airport. When she awoke she learned of more bad news. Since she couldn’t afford the exchange fee, U.S. Airlines told her she would have to book a new flight. She almost croaked when she heard the cost: nearly $1,000.
 

This is a joke, right?
 

Over the next week Ms. Weissinger did nothing but meander up and down the San Francisco airport staking out the terminal seeking obscurity, while at night she slept hidden away in a small space she had discovered underneath a nearby stairway. At one point she was treated for anxiety at the airport medical clinic and when she sought out the police for assistance they almost charged her with vagrancy charges.

This ordeal continued for eight straight days until a nearby church gave her the $210 necessary to restore her original flight and only then did U.S. Airlines apologize for this terrible mishap, thus giving this story a happy ending.
 
 

So what do you think? Granted, this story does give new meaning to being stuck at the airport. But have you ever felt stuck in your life? Was there ever a time when you thought you couldn’t move ahead, that you were going nowhere, stuck at a dead end? How were you able to move forward with renewed zeal for a positive future?
 

If you enjoyed this post, you may follow by email for future posts.

Thank you for your many thoughts and kind comments everyone!
Karen
 
 

A big shout out to Kristen Lamb and all my new WANA classmates and friends. And a big thanks to all others that may grace my presence by visiting this post. Take care and make it a great day!

26 thoughts on “Terminal Mines

    1. Karen Post author

      Oh Angela, yes I guess it was horrible. A real nightmare! I was just so relieved there was a happy ending! No, I don’t think she’ll be flying anytime soon. 🙂

      Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Oh Susie, I bet that was crazy. And to think that this woman was stuck for twenty-four times eight! How many hours is that? 182 hours! Yikes!

      Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Serena, the story was so crazy that I couldn’t help but put it out there. And then I immediately thought of the movie “The Terminal” with Tom Hanks. Can you imagine living like that for eight days? I can’t. Thank you for leaving a comment Serena! Always good to see you. 🙂

      Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Debra, it IS unbelievable. But are we really shocked? I’m sure it isn’t the first time a huge company has acted unkindly, though it was an extreme case. Thankfully there are good, generous people out there willing to help others Thanks Debra for your comment. 🙂

      Reply
  1. August McLaughlin

    Fantastic post! I cry in my sleep when I’m stuck (melodramatic, but true ;)). And rather than greet the day with giddy energy I wake like Eeyore. Writing helps me sort things out every time… Words, music or both.

    Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Oh August, I do the same thing! Well maybe not the cry in my sleep thing, but honestly, I go into panic mode and writing is the one thing that will pull me out of it. Or a really great tune. Thanks August for dropping by! And btw, I always enjoy your writing when I read your posts! So maybe that’s your secret. That giddy energy as you wake! 🙂

      Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Fabio, you couldn’t be more right. Shame on the airline! And they were shamed alright! The media got a hold of the story and it was only then that they decided to work something out with the woman. Yes it was good to see that someone cared enough to help. How do I unearth my stories? Awe Fabio, if I told you, I would have to…LOL!!! Just kidding. I don’t know how I find them. I have always been interested in people. I love to talk to people, watch people, listen to what others say. And these stories just pop out at me and I have to write about them. I only hope that others will be interested. I panic with every post! But thank you Fabio for all your support! 🙂

      Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Thank you Patricia! Ashamed is a good word for how they should feel! But I think that actually they were shamed into their actions in the end. Just a horrible story.

      Reply
  2. Sheila Seabrook

    Oh my goodness, I can’t believe they held her hostage like that. I have never ever been in dire straights and hope I never am, but I am thankful I am married to a man who believes in opening his pocketbook to people in need. I’m glad the church was there to help her out. We all need these good souls in our life.

    Thanks for sharing this story, Karen! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      You are so welcome Sheila. Hostage, that’s a good way of looking at it. With so many people living in dire straights, they live to get through the day, the hour. And I’m sure she thought she had calculated out how much money she would need to get to her destination. But as I told Tim, there was nothing stated on her ticket saying there was an extra surcharge for the baggage. And if you don’t make it a practice to fly often, how would she have known? Thanks Sheila for your kind thoughts. It’s good to know that you and your husband are generous people! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Melinda

    What’s really sad is if I’d been there and she had asked me for money, I wouldn’t have believed her. The story is surreal! If she could have convinced me I’d have paid her baggage fee for her. I can’t even imagine the panic, anger, humiliation…poor thing!
    Melinda recently posted..A Reluctant LandlordMy Profile

    Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Melinda, what I can’t imagine is how she existed for eight straight days. How did she do it? And here she was on her way to a fresh start. You are so right Melinda. The panic, anger and humiliation must have been beyond comprehension. It always amazes me what goes on in our world. Thanks Melinda for your comment. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Tim L O'Brien

    What a horrible thing to happen to that poor woman. I can’t imagine being stranded anywhere with no money. You ever wonder why these airlines are always going out of business or needing some sort of bailing out? Bad Karma. Bad business practices.
    Interesting to read about a real Tom Hanks character.
    Tim L O’Brien recently posted..Trying to Catch Santa Claus – Part 1My Profile

    Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Tim, I have to say I like the way you think. You do wonder why the airlines file bankruptcy. But really isn’t it greed? They don’t care about people, just the dollar bill. The airline could have very well let her fly with her luggage. They did it for years without the extra charge. And they knew the woman didn’t have the money. And there was nothing written on her ticket stating that they charged an extra fee. As Coleen said, it’s crazy. Thus the comparison to Tom Hanks. Thanks Tim for your input. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Coleen Patrick

    What a story Karen! I don’t know why I’m surprised but I am–how is that it took 8 days for compassion for a fellow human being to kick in? Crazy. I imagine moving forward from that would take a lot of focusing on the positive ie the church that helped her and then paying it forward.
    Coleen Patrick recently posted..Together We Make SenseMy Profile

    Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Coleen! I like your idea of paying it forward. That absolutely would be a great way to focus on the positive! Eight days in an airport? I don’t have any idea how she did it. Yes, it was crazy.

      Reply

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