My friend LaToya is an aspiring artist. 2008 has been a great but difficult year for her as far as the art shows are concerned. For the first time, LaToya has been selected as one of the many artist in South Carolina to participate in a traveling art show called "The Connections: Showing the Connections between South Carolina and Barbados". The show started in Anderson, SC and traveled to 5 other SC cities. Now the final showing is in Barbados, and at present, LaToya is flying high with American Airlines.
However...this trip was not easy.
First off, the organizer of The Connections did not think in the best interest of the artist as far as traveling arrangements. Being that all the artist are from South Carolina, one would think they would pick a airline for a group rate where everyone could meet centrally.
Nope.
Or even state in writing that you can make reservations with the airline of your choice, however we will be booking our group flight through XYZ Airlines.
Nope.
Instead, the organization decides to book the flight from Atlanta-Hartsfield.
Now, nothing is wrong with Atlanta, however for LaToya, Atlanta is 5 hours away. It didn't make any sense to me for her to have to drive or ride way down there to catch a flight going to Barbados.
Initially, the organization booked the flights through Air Jamaica (that's what they said) and the closest airline was Atlanta. They wanted to book a non-stop flight. The ticket price was $700. From the rip I was like "Toya, you might want to shop around and get your own flight there and meet the group." but she was dead set in flying with the other artist. I'm not going make an argument out of that, you know? So here it is, she's scrapping up all this money so she can make sure she gets this ticket for Air Jamaica. She gets in contact with the organizer one week before the trip who emails her directions as to how to print her e-ticket. When she gets the instructions, it says go to www.aa.com and follow the instructions. The e-ticket comes up with all the information needed for flight but the airline that she would be flying on is American Airlines. And... the ticket ends up being $200 cheaper.
Okay, so Toya's puzzled about the Air Jamaica/American Airlines thing. Bump that, I want to know if she gotta fly American Airlines why she gotta come all the way to Atlanta? A few months ago, I looked up the same exact flight with the same exact itinerary through Hotwire.com. There was a flight on American Airlines that cost $465 round trip including taxes and fees, flying from Charlotte to Miami, with a layover in Miami and then final stop in Barbados. At least Charlotte would have been closer since Shalanda (another one of our friends) and I were going to be the ones driving from Columbia (she drove her car up to Columbia and parked it at my apartment) to the airport. Save money and gas, not only for us but for her too!!!
Not only did Toya find out this piece of info, she also finds out her cousin (who lives in DC and decides to meet her there on the trip on her own flight) is flying out on American Airlines with a layover in Miami. They both end up on the final flight, sitting about two seats from each other.
Crazy, I say!!!
Being that most of the cost damage was already done, Shalanda, Toya, and I got in the car and rode down from Columbia to Atlanta, leaving a little after midnight (we really left Columbia at 1am). I had to make a pit stop in Thomson (exit 172) cause my stomach starting acting crazy while we were on the interstate. That delayed us for a little bit. We got to the airport at 4:30am, making sure Toya had everything needed for the 5 day retreat. I drove going to Atlanta and Shalanda took the wheel coming back to South Carolina.
All this and I am at work now. Wow...
I hope Toya has fun down there, and I REALLY hope someone buys her work down there. The girl can put it down on the hand made quilts and fabric collages. If you want to see more of her work, you can go to http://www.myspace.com/artisticvision06 . My other blog features her as a member of the motorcycle/social club community doing great things. You can read this at http://www.thescoopbydiamondstar.blogspot.com .
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1 comment:
Ok, now I know personally that you were working on the traveling arrangements for a while for her so why was she so adamant about traveling with the group? I understand that sometimes we want to be with our peers, but times are hard and she is a struggling artist. She needs to realize that her friends are the ones that are always by her side and that you all would never steer her wrong.
Sometimes I look at people and wonder what they are really thinking. Life would be so much better if folks would stop and think about their situation and what really makes sense. I'm glad that she finally made especially after all the research and work you put in assisting her with the arrangements. I've seen her work and it's really inspiring.
Tell her I said Good Luck and keep her head high.
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