Frontier Airline Travel Woes & Vegetarian French Onion Soup

Travel Adventure Part 1: Florida Edition

Well, it's been a busy two months since my last post.

I am on a two week travel adventure.

I'm currently in Florida and have been for about a week. However, it turned into quite an experience when I decided to fly Frontier Airlines for the first time.

I show up 40 minutes early for my flight, to be turned away since I "missed" my check in. She said there was "nothing" she could do until she checked in guests on the next flight and I would have to call customer service. She told me to stand next to the back window and she would call me over as soon she was done. I was on hold for quite awhile, kept an eye on the CSR and after about 20 minutes, she closed down and walked away. Didn't waive me over. Actually went behind a locked door and shut off the lights.

Great Service, no?

Finally got through to customer service after an extreme wait time, they offered me to pay $99 to purchase the later flight and I refused. Even though I was right in front of an agent, I had to call their customer service that seems to be based in India and fight with several reps to waive the fee. Finally, after talking to two supervisors, I was able to get a new flight later that evening without having to pay the fee, but had a 3 hour layover in Denver.

Fine.

Even though, this is all occurring BEFORE my first flight has even left yet. I was happy to just get on a fucking plane. I spent most of the day with friends in Milwaukee. I watched the new flight like a hawk, then about 3 hours till take off, I started getting notifications that the flight was delayed, delayed, delayed, delayed. I arrived back at the airport 2 hours early (because I didn't want to miss check in again), to discover that my second plane was so delayed, that I would miss my connecting flight in Denver. The first phone customer service rep told me, to fly any way to Denver. Even though, I had no connecting flight going out at this point. I spoke to another customer service rep on the phone and she told me the same thing. When I talked to a customer service rep at the airport, she told me NOT to take the flight to Denver, since I would be stuck there for days and would not be compensated for food or a hotel. However, she offered that I could purchase a bus ticket to Chicago and fly out of O'Hare the following day. I told her I would check with my party in Florida and if the new time would be suitable for a pick up. I came back to the counter and asked a different rep (since the other girl was hiding from me now) to see if they could reimburse me for the bus ticket, since it was no fault of my own that I missed the connecting flight in Denver. She said there was "nothing she could do". And that I could pay the bus ticket AND pay for a new flight out of O'Hare for $387, or not go. Keep in mind I had been awake approximately 44 hours at this point and was not thinking straight. I asked if I gave up the flights, would I be reimbursed? She told me, "no, there is nothing I can do." I really just wanted to go home at this point. I was tired, irritated and starting to get irrational. I demanded to speak to a supervisor there. She informed me there wasn't one.

Really???

At one point, I started raising my voice and making a small scene. She then called someone (probably her supervisor) and they re-booked me on the flight out of O'Hare, but I had to pay for the bus ticket out of my own pocket.

I drove all the way home, and got to sleep in my own bed. Then the next afternoon, drove back to Milwaukee to get dropped off at the airport again (this is the 3rd drop off in 24 hours). It's about a 2 hour bus ride, get to O'Hare. I slept a little on the bus, but awake still irritated. As soon as I walk in (literally through the doors of the Chicago airport), I get a text that the plane (plane 3) is delayed. I ended up spending about 4 hours at the airport making friends, drinking overpriced wine and hating Frontier with all of my fellow passengers. We all decided that my experience was the worst out of all of us. It was a sad, but beautiful coalition. And it was sure a life lesson to never, EVER cheap on a flight again.

And I enjoyed myself a bit.

Crocodile Sighting

Drinking Peach Whiskey on the beach on Easter

A new little friend

Deep Fried Lobster Grilled Cheese

Tomorrow morning, I have a flight from Tampa to Denver, where I opted to not take the connecting flight and paid for a separate flight out 4 days later. Just so I can spend some time with a friend who lives in the mountains, who I haven't seen in 5 years. Hoping those negative ions wash away all the bullshit that this trip has left me feeling. And let's pray my travel woes are done forever. Yeay, Florida sun!

Travel Adventure Part 2: Denver Edition

UPDATE: 4.7.18

So, I made it! My second leg of my travels had absolutely no travel issues. Besides my flight coming in 20 minutes early, and my shuttle also arriving early. Neither are which are really problems at all. Woohoo! However, the layover that I skipped, was delayed a couple hours (shocker). So, maybe Frontier isn't so bad when they are the first flight of the day and are traveling back to their home base of Colorado?? I'm just glad I am here.

I already took part in the lovely snacks Colorado has to offer, talked about life, gazed at the amazing stars, drank some whiskey and listened to all the animal sounds out here in the mountains. I definitely heard coyotes and maybe a wolf, but my host, says; that's highly unlikely. Maybe it was a dog...who knows. Pretty chill first night.

Things I have learned so far on this trip is; the last couple years I keep repeating things. Life lessons, that I am obviously not hearing, since they keep trying to knock on my door. And it's not so much realizations about me, as about repeating characters in my life. Strangely similar people in my life. The men, specifically. Also, the more money you make, the more you try to hold onto it and get hung up on such, stupid, silly things. With this realization, I will not allow myself to get distracted by such. Owls like to visit me every 20 years and I believe them to now be my spirit animal. And propane is apparently really expensive. And I had to take the quickest shower ever, along with my tiny fingers freezing as I type this. Wondering, when is it acceptable to start a fire at someone's house that you're a guest of...no heat (since conserving this liquid gold (which, by the way is a gas, but gas gold doesn't sound as good)). I am fucking freezing.

Travel Adventure Part 3: Milwaukee Edition

Update: 4.13.18

I returned home 4 days ago after another fun filled day with FRONTIER airlines. I had to have my friend drive one and a half hours to Colorado Springs and I then had to pay for a shuttle from that airport to take my flight out of Denver. After an early morning of almost 4 hours of travelling to the airport, I received a lovely text about 15 minutes after entering the airport that my flight would be delayed about 4 hours. FANTASTIC! I think that's why it took me 4 days to recoup from the clausterfuck of bullshit travels from these asses. I KNEW better than to travel during Mercury Retrograde, but shit...that was when my spring break was. LIVE & LEARN! I lost 3 days from travel bullshit of my vacation. Thanks, Frontier 'ya fucks..

However, all in all, I had a pretty great vacay with some hiccups. But, that's life, right?! Oddly, you'd think I would never want to leave the house again after all this, But! I actually really miss a lot from Colorado. The weather was a bit chilly, but it was beautiful and super chill out there. I could sit outside and just stare at the mountains and listen to all the animals forever. It is the most chill feeling I have felt in quite awhile and have decided that I really need to start making plans to move. If not there, somewhere I feel that calm. It was beautiful.

Something significant about New Zealand came up while I was in Florida, but I will keep that under wraps until it becomes more concrete. Stay tuned.

In the mean time, here's a soup I have been dreaming up for over 3 years.

Since Frontier Airlines has created more than enough tears for me these last couple weeks, than I have cried for anyone in quite awhile. I saw it fitting to post this recipe with the travel novel.

Plus, I always loved French Onion Soup. But, being vegetarian, it has been impossible to find it anywhere without the beef broth. It's ALWAYS made with beef broth. Why?!?! Just why? I finally created a meat free version that I believe to be pretty effing spectacular. And I don't say that often. So, it is THAT good. You can make this vegan by using EVOO instead of butter, a vegan worchestire and a vegan Swiss cheese too. Whaaa? That's right, baby! Do what you need to do. But as is...it's GREAT! Make sure to cook it as long as suggested. The long cook time, really gives it the depth of flavor. Don't skimp.

Serves: 2 or 1 Wild Gypsy Child

Ingredients:

4 TBS Butter

4 Cups sliced Onions (about 2 Medium onions)

s & p

2 TBS Liquid Aminos

2 tsp Dried Thyme

1/2 Cup White Wine

4 Cups Mushroom Broth

2 TBS Dried Minced Garlic

1 TBS Worcestshire

2 slices of bread

Handful of shredded gruyere cheese

Melt the butter over Med Heat. Add onions and stir. Add a sprinkle of the salt and pepper. Add thyme and turn down to low. Very low. Cook about an hour (stirring every 10-20 minutes) till the onions are nice and caramelized. Add the liquid aminos, white wine, mushroom both, garlic and worcestershire. Turn soup back up to Med and let bubble a bit till nice and fragrant (about 12-15 minutes).

Pour into oven safe bowls and top with a slice of bread. Top the bread with a very generous sprinkle of the cheese. Broil till cheese is bubbly and melted.

DEVOUR and plan your next life adventure.

You deserve it!