Travel Day
Aug. 12th, 2012 10:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pen_gruntSo this is how my no-good-very-bad travel day went.
3:30 p.m.: We get to the Orlando airport and we're a touch squeaky on time, considering the security line in Orlando is usually pretty packed with kids/families. We see that our flight is delayed 10 minutes. Whatevs.
5:30: Our flight was supposed to take off, but the plane wasn't even there yet. Screen still tells us that it's only delayed 10 minutes.
6:30: We start to get nervous and talk to Delta reps about other flights out of Atlanta (our connecting flight).
7:30: We finally fly out after a 2-hour delay.
8:35: We land, missing our 8:30 connecting flight in Atlanta. 98% of the people on our flight have connections. 96% miss them with the exception of those flying to London. They hold the plane for them. They do not hold our plane because there is a 9:55 flight that goes out. We are now booked on it. We eat very small meals (I had a biscuit at Popeye's) in Atlanta in anticipation of getting home.
9:55: The time our flight was supposed to leave.
10:15: The time we were originally slated to get home.
11:35: The time our plane actually lands at the gate, causing a delay.
12:35: After an hour of sitting at the gate with no information, the pilot informs the desk agents that he doesn't think the plane (that just landed) should be flown. There are no other flights out. Many people start to rebook for the morning and are getting hotel vouchers. They say they will try to find us another plane. Mr. SurlyPants comments, correctly, that we are in Atlanta--hub of Delta--they have a fucking plane to put us on.
1:30: They find us another plane and tell us to head to gate T1. It is a tram ride away from where we are. We all exit en masse. This plane is supposed to take off at 1:55, they say.
1:45: We get to T1. There is no plane there.
2:15: We all get an auto-alert from Delta that the gate has changed and we start walking en masse to T24.
2:20: We get an auto-alert that the gate has changed back to T1. Back to there. I should mention that it is a time when no other planes are flying or supposed to fly, so they've shut down all the bathrooms in this terminal--they are LOCKED--and there are, of course, no food stands open or anything. We bond with fellow passengers. We all sit in line on the floor. Delta continues to play their pre-recorded messaging of special credit card offers at regular, maddening intervals. This almost causes a mutiny, because we don't want to have an opportunity for a free first checked bag. We want to GET ON A FLIGHT.
2:40: Message alert from Delta saying our plane is delayed until 2:35.
2:45: Message alert from Delta saying our plane is delayed until 2:40. This continues at 5-minute intervals for a while, always 5 minutes behind the actual time.
3:00: We end up boarding our plane. Everyone has to go to the bathroom, but we hold it like Good Minnesotan Travelers (my boss commented that if this were a plane going to NY or Boston and not taking a bunch of MN people home, there would have been a LOT more revolting and shouting).
3:30: We've been sitting, taxied away from the gate, for a half-hour. The engine has been revving up and down. The lights have been going up and down.
3:35: The pilot comes on over the intercom. The left engine is supposed to be generating electricity and it is not. Maintenance crews are going to try to fix it on the runway here. The air is stifling and no one can sleep because the lights keep going full-bright, off, full-bright, off.
4:15: They replaced the generator in the left engine. But we're now too low on fuel to go to MSP, so we have to refuel before we go. And get new paperwork. Also, he informs us that we're getting very close to time limits for our crew (meaning we would have to wait for a new crew before we could fly out).
4:30: We are still on the ground. Everyone REALLY has to go to the bathroom. They start letting us.
4:45: Hurray! IN the air! No water or beverage service. No snacks.
6:00: Land in Minneapolis. There is another plane in our gate and we have to wait on the jetway. A baby starts screaming and no one is upset about it because we all kind of wish we could do the same thing.
6:15: In the airport. Finally.
No travel vouchers, food vouchers, apology letters, etc., were issued. The crew and pilot didn't do the normal say-bye-in-the-aisle as we deplaned. They hid, pretty much.
The most awful thing about it was that even at times when it was clear we were going to be significantly delayed, they just kept bumping back the delay at 10 minute intervals or so. This made anger escalate. They didn't communicate what was going on or the status of anything. They also kept playing their promo messages. It was insane-making.
And it made me miss NorthWest. They could screw some things up--any airline can--but at least they plied you with travel vouchers and free food out of the deal. And they tended to communicate, too. Delta can kiss my ass.
3:30 p.m.: We get to the Orlando airport and we're a touch squeaky on time, considering the security line in Orlando is usually pretty packed with kids/families. We see that our flight is delayed 10 minutes. Whatevs.
5:30: Our flight was supposed to take off, but the plane wasn't even there yet. Screen still tells us that it's only delayed 10 minutes.
6:30: We start to get nervous and talk to Delta reps about other flights out of Atlanta (our connecting flight).
7:30: We finally fly out after a 2-hour delay.
8:35: We land, missing our 8:30 connecting flight in Atlanta. 98% of the people on our flight have connections. 96% miss them with the exception of those flying to London. They hold the plane for them. They do not hold our plane because there is a 9:55 flight that goes out. We are now booked on it. We eat very small meals (I had a biscuit at Popeye's) in Atlanta in anticipation of getting home.
9:55: The time our flight was supposed to leave.
10:15: The time we were originally slated to get home.
11:35: The time our plane actually lands at the gate, causing a delay.
12:35: After an hour of sitting at the gate with no information, the pilot informs the desk agents that he doesn't think the plane (that just landed) should be flown. There are no other flights out. Many people start to rebook for the morning and are getting hotel vouchers. They say they will try to find us another plane. Mr. SurlyPants comments, correctly, that we are in Atlanta--hub of Delta--they have a fucking plane to put us on.
1:30: They find us another plane and tell us to head to gate T1. It is a tram ride away from where we are. We all exit en masse. This plane is supposed to take off at 1:55, they say.
1:45: We get to T1. There is no plane there.
2:15: We all get an auto-alert from Delta that the gate has changed and we start walking en masse to T24.
2:20: We get an auto-alert that the gate has changed back to T1. Back to there. I should mention that it is a time when no other planes are flying or supposed to fly, so they've shut down all the bathrooms in this terminal--they are LOCKED--and there are, of course, no food stands open or anything. We bond with fellow passengers. We all sit in line on the floor. Delta continues to play their pre-recorded messaging of special credit card offers at regular, maddening intervals. This almost causes a mutiny, because we don't want to have an opportunity for a free first checked bag. We want to GET ON A FLIGHT.
2:40: Message alert from Delta saying our plane is delayed until 2:35.
2:45: Message alert from Delta saying our plane is delayed until 2:40. This continues at 5-minute intervals for a while, always 5 minutes behind the actual time.
3:00: We end up boarding our plane. Everyone has to go to the bathroom, but we hold it like Good Minnesotan Travelers (my boss commented that if this were a plane going to NY or Boston and not taking a bunch of MN people home, there would have been a LOT more revolting and shouting).
3:30: We've been sitting, taxied away from the gate, for a half-hour. The engine has been revving up and down. The lights have been going up and down.
3:35: The pilot comes on over the intercom. The left engine is supposed to be generating electricity and it is not. Maintenance crews are going to try to fix it on the runway here. The air is stifling and no one can sleep because the lights keep going full-bright, off, full-bright, off.
4:15: They replaced the generator in the left engine. But we're now too low on fuel to go to MSP, so we have to refuel before we go. And get new paperwork. Also, he informs us that we're getting very close to time limits for our crew (meaning we would have to wait for a new crew before we could fly out).
4:30: We are still on the ground. Everyone REALLY has to go to the bathroom. They start letting us.
4:45: Hurray! IN the air! No water or beverage service. No snacks.
6:00: Land in Minneapolis. There is another plane in our gate and we have to wait on the jetway. A baby starts screaming and no one is upset about it because we all kind of wish we could do the same thing.
6:15: In the airport. Finally.
No travel vouchers, food vouchers, apology letters, etc., were issued. The crew and pilot didn't do the normal say-bye-in-the-aisle as we deplaned. They hid, pretty much.
The most awful thing about it was that even at times when it was clear we were going to be significantly delayed, they just kept bumping back the delay at 10 minute intervals or so. This made anger escalate. They didn't communicate what was going on or the status of anything. They also kept playing their promo messages. It was insane-making.
And it made me miss NorthWest. They could screw some things up--any airline can--but at least they plied you with travel vouchers and free food out of the deal. And they tended to communicate, too. Delta can kiss my ass.
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no subject
Date: 2012-08-12 06:48 pm (UTC)Completely inexcusable actions from a company that needs to know that part of their role as a carrier is in Customer Service. But I guess that's the problem. Delta is such a big player in the game, they don't have to give their
customersvictims any favors in return for their screw-ups. It's just a couple of hundred people who were "inconvenienced" on their flight.I had issues with Delta myself and I haven't flown with them in years. I have a feeling you'll be joining me.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-13 03:25 pm (UTC)But in reality, if I want a direct flight out of MSP, the pretty much have the monopoly here and I don't have too many choices in the matter with how often I fly. Ugh.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-13 04:49 pm (UTC)But, okay. I guess I'm spoiled living at the LGA/JFK/NWK hub!
Here's something people have been doing, and maybe it might help you. Instead of checking luggage, some have been going to FedEx or UPS and overnighting their bags to their destination. I mention this because when a carrier charges you fees for your checked luggage, you can save (and prevent your money from going to them) by sending it this way. Also, if you're staying with a friend, you can mail it directly to their home (and usually directly to your hotel if you're not) and avoid both the baggage carousel and having to haul your bag from airport to destination!
Just a thought to help keep you from giving Delta more cash than you need!
no subject
Date: 2012-08-14 06:07 pm (UTC)Usually I avoid checked-bag fees because my boss has a frequent flier status that makes 2 of his free (and he only checks one, so I check under his name). I like the idea that they still have to handle my bag but FOR FREE. Ha!
Otherwise I just do all carry on. I'd say 50% of the time they have me check it at the gate in anticipation of a full flight--in which case it's checked and also free.