SXSW: Trying to get my bags back / journal / hicksdesign

18/03/05

SXSW: Trying to get my bags back

One thing worse than arriving in Austin, smelly and tired from a long crappy flight from Heathrow, is doing it without my luggage.

(Dials the American airlines airport baggage line to check on progress)

“This service is voice operated. Please speak clearly when instructed.”
(OK, here we go)

“Please state your destination”
AUSTIN

“I think you said Austin, Texas. Is this correct, please state yes or no.”
YES

“Please state your last name after the tone I’msorryIdidn’thearthat.”
?!!

“Please state your last name.”
HICKS

“I think you said Hickson. H-i-c-k-s-o-n. Is this correct, please state yes or no”
NO!!

“You said no. Lets try again. Please state your last name”
*HICKS*

“I think you said Heaters. H-e-a-t-e-r-s. Is this correct, please state yes or no”
NOOOOOOO!!!

“Thankyou, accesssing your records now. (bidee-bidee-bidup-bidee-bidee-bidee). Thankyou for waiting Mr Heaters, your baggage arrived yesterday…”

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Comments are now closed, but you can still have a jolly time reading what others have left:

David Barrett said 1359 days ago:

It must be the accent.

That and it being a RETARDED idea. I hope you got your bags sorted.

David Barrett said 1359 days ago:

To be clear: I meant the voice activated system was retarded :)

Jon Hicks said 1359 days ago:

Thanks for clearing that up! Maybe it isn’t built for British accents?

Jason Santa Maria said 1359 days ago:

Welcome to my world! bwa ha ha

Mike Steinbaugh said 1359 days ago:

What’s even more pathetic is that automated recording probably originated from India. We Americans outsource practically everything now. Customer support? Forget about it!

Chris McElligott said 1359 days ago:

Hicks is nice and easy, try having to say ‘McElligott’. I’ve heard ‘umm how do you spell that?’ way too many times.

Christine Spang said 1358 days ago:

Heh, sounds like a bit of a snafu. Hopefully you’ll get that sorted out.

I’m not sure what it is with musunderstandings and short names, though. People have a tendency to stick an ‘R’ into my last name, for no apparent reason.

I still can’t figure out why ‘Sprang’ is apparently easier than ‘Spang’.

Paul said 1358 days ago:

On the last name theme, it always suprises me how many people are unable to spell LLOYD, seeing it can be found in several locations on the high street, with insurance and er, shipping – or so I’m told?!

Been watching the flickr feeds, on many occasions has it brought about a little smile, sometimes even a giggle!