Today, July 2, 2008, at 1:30 PM Pacific time, I am at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport waiting to board my flight to Dallas. Waiting is the last thing I like to do, but this downtime at SEA is helping me keep my 390G busy.
I am writing this post after my eyes caught the airport direction board here at SEA. Many of you have probably seen this exact sign at various airports. It instantly takes me back to a sweet memory from three years ago at the Pittsburgh airport.
I was flying from Chicago to Pittsburgh. That day, I didn’t check any bags. The journey was cool; even though no pretty girl was sitting next to me, everything was perfect and the flight was right on time. However, after I got off the airplane in Pittsburgh, I struggled immensely to find the airport exit. Finally, a janitor cleaning the floor gave me directions that the signs failed to show.
Man, at that moment, I just laughed at myself. I thought, what the heck! I managed to travel all the way from Peoria to Pittsburgh, but I couldn't figure out how to walk out of the building? It was funny, but true. I struggled for 15 to 20 minutes just to find my way out. You people might think I’m an idiot and that I should have just looked at the signs. I did look at them, but they didn't have the information I needed. The board listed Terminal A, B, C, Restrooms, Baggage Claim, and Gates 17 to 18, but it did not have the word "EXIT" anywhere.
If I had checked my bags, I would have simply followed the signs to the baggage claim and exited without an issue. Carrying only cabin luggage is what led to this interesting experience. Even though it's a funny story, I never shared it with anyone until today. For some reason, I always felt it was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.
The reason I am sharing this now is because one of my close friends faced the exact same problem at the Minneapolis airport last month. Now I feel like I am not the only stupid person in this world!
Information is wealth, and this piece of information comes straight from experience. Why am I sharing this from SEA airport today? Simple! I noticed that the word "EXIT" is missing from the Seattle airport direction boards too.
So, when you want to leave an airport, don't look for the word "EXIT" on the signs. Just follow the "Baggage Claim" signs instead. You will always find the exit doors right next to the baggage conveyor belts.
