This has to be one for the ages.

My sister called today to tell me that my mom coded in the hospital. I rush to the airport and tell the ticket person I need a 1-way from Philadelphia to Fayetteville, Arkansas. I know there is such a flight, connecting in Atlanta, because I checked on the internet.

She sells me the ticket, but for $779 rather than the $400 on the internet. Fine. i get on board. The plane is late getting in and when we land I learn from my sister that my mom has passed on.

I sprint to the gate on the ticket. I’m boarding when the flight attendant says that it’s Fayetteville N.C. The ticket agent in Philly booked me for Fayetteville N.C. I rush back up to the ticket desk and she sends me to the Fayetteville Arkansas gate. Still plenty of time to make the flight, still seats on the flight, but there’s some problem because Fayetteville Arkansas is more miles away than Fayetteville N.C. They can’t let me on the flight. Of course it’s the last one of the night. I tell her my story. No can do. The computer says they can’t do it. Now the flight is closed.

So I’m going to have to stay in some shabby Atlanta motel for the night. But the best is yet to come. In order to get me to the right Fayetteville the next day, it will be an additional $400! They tell me they can refund my flight fee from Atlanta to Fayetteville N.C., but not my Atlanta ticket.

I’ve been flying commercial for at least 32 years. This one takes the cake. I plan to fight the rest of the charges on my credit card, and I’m reporting them to the Better Business Bureau, and I’m not sure what else at this point.