First visit to Austin !!

I can never forget the first visit to Austin ! It was for an on-site interview with Ashley Laurent Inc. on July 7, 2004. I was in Pullman, WA and was gonna fly to Austin. Company had booked the flight tickets for me. Here is my itinerary :

Alaska Airlines 2023
Depart	Tue., Jul. 6, 2004	Pullman, WA - U.S. (PUW)	06:35 am
Arrive	Tue., Jul. 6, 2004	Seattle, WA - U.S. (SEA)	07:50 am
Seat	07A
Aircraft	DH8 - Boeing Canada DHC8-turbo prop

>> Connection: 1 hr : 15 mins >>

	Delta 528
	Depart	Tue., Jul. 6, 2004	Seattle, WA - U.S. (SEA)	11:45 am
	Arrive	Tue., Jul. 6, 2004	Atlanta, GA - U.S. (ATL)	07:23 pm
	Seat	44G
	Aircraft	764 - UNKNOWN

	Delta 1819
	Depart	Tue., Jul. 6, 2004	Atlanta, GA - U.S. (ATL)	09:10 pm
	Arrive	Tue., Jul. 6, 2004	Austin, TX - U.S. (AUS)	10:22 pm
	Seat	N/A
	Aircraft	M80 - McDonnell Douglas MD-80

So I reached Seattle safe and sound and on time early morning around 8 am on July 6. Delta flight from Seattle to Atlanta was on time as well .. boarding started at around 11.15 and all of us were seated inside the plane. Around 11.40, the doors were closed and we were ready for take off ... Just then captain announced that there's some technical problem and we needed to wait for next 20 - 30 minutes. So we were all sitting there for next 30 minutes after which another similar announcement made us all wait for another 30 minutes ... people inside the plane were losing patience .. after almost 1 hour of wait, we were asked to unboard the flight - all of us - we were told that the problem would be fixed within minutes and then we would again board ...

So everybody went off the plane ... then in about 15 minutes, an attendant at the Delta counter announced that the flight had some hydraulics problem and one of the mechanical parts was found to be misbehaving ... they have ordered the new part which is gonna come from LA !! so it can not reach here today .. so basically flight is cancelled and we will try to put you on separate flights ... everybody was furious ... It was already about 2 O clock and I was sure I was gonna miss my connecting flight from Atlanta ... After a long wait in the line, I reached the counter to get myself new tickets. But guess what, they didnt have a flight which could take me to Atlanta or Austin that day! ... I explained to her that I had a job interview next day and it was very important for me to get to Austin by tomorrow ... she was like, "I am sorry sir, I can not do anything for you right now , let me take care of others and then I can check with other carriers !" .. what could I do ? I was sooo mad but .... I called up the company to let them know about the situation ...

At around 3.30, she finally got some time for me and she searched other carriers and finally found that the earliest I could get to Austin is thru' United airlines flight which left Seattle at night 12 am and reached Austin at 9 am the next day & my luggage would reach seattle with me ...

Now I know Seattle airport in and out since I have spent so much time there ... from 8 am to 12 am that day and then everytime I went to India from Pullman, I had to go via Seattle ... anyway, thankfully the United flights were on time and I reached Austin the next day early morning around 9 - 9.30 ! I had never ever been delayed before but then it had to happen on the day of the interview !! right !!

I collected my checked in bag and found that the handle for the bag was broken ! When asked, the delta guy said that the handles are anyway not covered by the flights' insurance policy !! I was in no mood to argue with him as I was very late anyway for the interview ... I rented a car and drove to the DoubleTree Inn. Well, since I had not showed up the previous night (as was the actual polan), my reservation had been cancelled. But then thankfully he had another available room for me. Without wasting any time, I got ready within 15 minutes and hopped inside the car to get to the company office ... I had taken directions from yahoo maps and google maps both ... but both showed wrong directions (or at least it looked like that :) ). I lost my way in the new city !! After driving for about 15 minutes, I reached a gas station and asked him the way. So much tension ! I was really frustrated. Not exactly a day you would expecte before an interview !! Finally I reached the company office at around 11 - 11.30 only to give a full day of interviews !

Interviews were over at around 7.30 pm .. I returned back to Pullman safe and sound and next day I got the job offer ! At least all that trouble and tension did not go waste !! All is well that ends well !! right ?