When I moved to Austin people complained about the traffic, but it’s nothing compared to my experience in the Northeast. Still, it’s one of the three most frequent things people whine about, along with high housing prices and the heat in the summer.
If you’re headed to the airport, you’re probably going by car. At peak times there’s not enough airport parking, even in the economy lot and over the holidays not even in off-site lots.
That makes rideshare a great option, but getting onto the airport property can see real backups.
- You’re allowed to use either the departure or arrivals level, whether you’re picking up or dropping off.
- In the morning the lower level is frequently better, and in the evening the upper level is better.
- But even reaching either of those can see traffic.
Last March there was a day that was so bad people were abandoning their rental cars and walking to the terminal to try to make their flights. Even the PreCheck line was snaked outside the terminal.
So you can understand a woman getting so stressed about making her flight that she… stole an Uber driver’s car to get to the airport, and abandoned it in front of the terminal.
- She was frustrated with how long it was taking to get from her hotel to the airport
- So she grabbed the driver’s phone and threw it out of the car
- The driver stopped the car and got out to retrieve the phone
- So she jumped into the driver’s seat and drove off
Police tracked her down before she boarded her Southwest Airlines flight from the airport.
Before Afkami could board the plane, she was found by police. When questioned, Afkami said she and the Uber driver were arguing over how long the drive was going to take. She told the Uber driver, “I need to get to the airport, so I’m going to take your car and drop it off at Southwest Airlines.”
She also stole the driver’s wallet, and I guess she was actually at the airport in plenty of time because she stopped several times to make purchases with one of his cards, including half a pound of candy.
But the driver knew where she was going! He phone the police and told him she’d stolen his car and was driving it to the airport.
(HT: Paul H)
What a nut. She should have left earlier if she was truly concerned.
BNA has turned into a similar nightmare lately. The Airport Authority has completely messed up the parking and roads leading to the airport. Weekly there are news reports of people walking the shoulder of the interstate, trying to catch their flights. I am 1 1/2 hours from BNA and three hours from TYS. I’ve shifted my air travel to TYS when possible. It’s only $6 a day parking right next to the airport compared to $18 in the satellite lots at BNA and there’s a nice Hilton attached to the airport by covered walkway.
They don’t catch the smart ones.
in other AUS news, DL just announced an expansion with new service to BNA, MFE and MAF plus added flights to current cities.
As much as some people failed to believe it, DL simply waited for AA’s failed attempt at growing AUS to play out.
No doubt this will be dismissed due to ‘mental health’ and she’ll get to keep the candy and shot glass.
recently there was an accident that shut West 71 right by the airport. So all cars had to funnel from the other direction. I missed my flight by 10minutes. My biggest pet peeve with City of Austin was that they didn’t put any cops at the traffic lights managing traffic. This would have saved alot of people from having to rebook. It’s a common sense thing to do, but we still act like a bumbling small town when real oversight/management is needed
Miss the old Austin.. not much traffic. Nothing more than West and Dirty 6th. No Californians, less homeless. The only days you had to worry about were when Texas Relays were in town.
She doesn’t pussy-foot around . She takes care of business and believes in direct action . She ought to be recruited into the Marine Corps .
Good thing this thief was flying back home to California. We Texans don’t like her kind ’round these parts.
Action oriented
Do we know what she identifies as? It IS Austin afterall. I can only hope there was misgendering. Also, was the bail set at 5 bucks or is this a cashless bail situation?
I wouldn’t use a Lyft or Uber. I feel it’s the same as hitchhiking.