So, here's the thing.

I really want to like you, AirTran. Your tickets are cheap, your website is easy to manage, and you gave me a free flight for drinking soda at Wendy's.

But here's the thing.

You really need to get some better gate agents.

See, after someone is done getting harassed by airport security, the last thing they want to do is deal with a gate agent who doesn't have any idea what's going on.

Additionally, I suppose that he could, theoretically, have been moving more slowly. But that would have required close proximity to a supermassive object, or at least a handle of vodka. Either way, it was an inspiring display of lethargy.

Anyway, I understand that bad weather delays planes, I really do. that's hardly your fault. But when your gate person tells me that I can't make my connection, I really need to be able to believe them.

There I was, waiting in line for the better part of an hour, tantalizingly close to the kiosk. Close enough, in fact, to slap the gate agent were I suddenly seized by rage. You see, I had been told that we passengers to Denver were SOL when it came to catching our connection in Atlanta, and we would need to spend the night somewhere. Fortunately, he didn't get to me, because he abandoned the line to begin boarding. While boarding, I asked him about the status of the flight to Denver.

"Oh, it's fine, you can make it."

This piece of good news was too late for the couple that had cut in line to get served first, who then tried to board the plane. Sorry! You've been rebooked! Karma? I'd like to think so.

The flight was very nice. There was a lovely lightning storm off in the distance, and a woman on the plane transporting a heartbreakingly adorable puppy.


So you can only see the butt of the puppy, but I assure you that it was really cute. Really cute.

When I got to Atlanta, your gate agents there told me that my flight to Denver had already left.

Fortunately, my trust had already been broken. I hauled ass down to the gate, and found that the flight was still there! Hallelujah!

But why, why did you feel that you needed to punish me by taking away my exit seat and putting me into Baby Central? I paid an extra $20 to sit in the window seat of the exit row, the one with no seat in front of it. I did not pay $20 to get stuck in the middle seat, behind a crier and in front of Tommy Seat-Kicker and his brother, Poop Factory.

So just so you know, the next time I fly, I'm not listening to anything any of your employees tell me.

And I want my $20 back.