Didn’t they know about gift cards? Or online shopping? Granted she had a couple of small things in her luggage for Lara’s kids, but they barely took up any room.
Ally prided herself on travelling light.
“Two days before Christmas and you didn’t expect it to be crowded?” her assistant laughed.
“Well, Christmas Eve and Day are usually quiet; that’s why they’re usually my favourite days to fly,” she said, scowling at a man who’d almost rolled his suitcase right over her toes.
“Because most people spend those days with family, not travelling on vacation,” Mel said. “Which reminds me, you’re all set for your usual Clearwater Beach hotel. As soon as Christmas is done, you’ll be en route to palm trees and sunshine.”
Which to Ally right about now, sounded like heaven.
Chapter 2
She certainly wouldn’t be getting any sunshine and palm trees in upstate Maine.
Looking around again at the crammed airport, Ally started to doubt whether she’d in fact made the right decision visiting Lara and her family for the holidays, rather than going straight to Florida.
But time spent with her old friend was long overdue and since she hadn’t yet visited her friend’s house, and rarely took time off from her tech consulting business, this time of year was a good opportunity as any.
“Thanks Mel,” she said to her assistant now. “Enjoy your time off, and Merry Christmas.”
Out of breath a little from running in heels, Ally scrambled to check in at the other airline’s digital kiosk with only minutes to spare.
As her boarding pass printed, a sudden horror filled her when she saw the seat number printed next to her name. Not only was this the first time in recent memory she hadn’t been upgraded, but to add insult to injury, they had the nerve to ask her to board in thefinalgroup.
Ally had been pretty much royalty on the biggest airline in the country for the last four years in a row thanks to her weekly travel schedule and copious airmiles.
SkyAir rewarded her for her loyalty by treating her like gold. She was usually the first one on the aircraft, whereupon she almost always enjoyed a complimentary upgrade to first or business class.
What would it be like to fly as a regular person again?
She barely had time to think about what lay ahead as she hurried onwards to her gate.
“Last call, boarding group #5,” someone called over the loudspeaker just as she arrived. Looking around the gate, Ally saw only four other people waiting to board.
She quickly scanned her pass and wheeled her bag through, only to find the line at a standstill on the jet bridge.
No doubt the passengers already onboard were searching for overhead space or playing musical chairs with their fellow seat mates trying to secure seats next to the family members they were traveling with.
As if it would be so difficult to spend a two hour flight apart.
“Ma’am,” a flight attendant approached her then. “I’m afraid we are going to have to check your luggage today.”
“Excuse me?” Ally asked, in the hope she’d misheard. Her bag was TSA approved. It fit perfectly in the overhead storage compartment and was just the right size to hold her clothing, her work computer and toiletries. This lady had to be mistaken.
“Overhead storage is limited on these smaller puddle hoppers,” she explained pleasantly. “Don’t worry, we’ll just store it beneath the hold and it will be waiting for you at the carousel on the other side.”
Worry wasn’t the right word. Annoyed was more like it. Though not wanting to prolong the boarding process any further, Ally reluctantly handed over her case, first grabbing her garment bag off the top.
“OK, well is there somewhere on board I could hang this maybe?” she asked.
“We only have a small area for the crew’s items. We’re not supposed to, but that dress is gorgeous. It would be a real shame if it got wrinkled.”
“Thank you,” Ally smiled gratefully, as the attendant took the garment bag and headed back out the gate.
A little bit of separation anxiety kicked in and she felt compelled to watch as her trusty suitcase and favourite dress were spirited away somewhere.
It occurred to Ally then she hadn’t arranged for a bag tag, but before she had time to get the flight attendant’s attention, the line started moving again and she needed to keep up.
