Just returned from a fun filled trip to Washington, DC, with some of my old high school classmates. It was a fabulous time -- more about that later.
But every silver lining has its cloud, and this one was the airlines. One of our classmates was scheduled to catch a Delta flight last Thursday at 9:00 AM, but she received a call at 3:00 AM from Delta advising her that the flight had been canceled and inviting her to catch a 6:00 AM flight. What a great way to start a day.
The airline industry has seen better days, and current airline economics have produced some very unfriendly skies for travelers.
My problem was with American Airlines. The flight had two legs each way, and the first three legs went just fine -- no delays, no lost luggage, no problems. The last leg of the return trip got canceled due to some phantom storm that American Airlines could see but no one else could. The next available flight that wasn't fully booked was scheduled to depart in 20 hours. There would be no reimbursement for the ticket, no reimbursement for expenses, and no reimbursement for the frustrating time invested in getting from there to here. The American Airlines staff tried to be cordial, but by design, the people on the front line never have the authority to actually do anything to solve a problem.
My options were basically these: (a) go away sad; (b) go away mad; (c) just go away. So I rented a car (at my own expense) and drove the rest of the way home, cursing American Airlines the whole way.
There was time when American Airlines had a stellar reputation, and maybe it still does -- it's an example of a shifting baseline. What was once considered mediocre service may now be considered pretty good. If you are on the ground, alive, regardless of the location, then you had a good flight.
George, we are at DC Reagan National awaiting our return to San Antonio on American too. Here's hoping our trip is better than yours. I have showed this entry to the people at the AA desk and they just rolled their eyes!
Posted by: Suzanne Scism Hildebrand | March 31, 2008 at 02:56 PM
I was scheduled to depart Chicago at 11:00 am on the 21st (on American)it was cancelled..she told me the NEXT opportunity to get to Midland was the following TUESDAY!! Granted it was Easter weekend but 4 Days? When I warted them to death to get me to Dallas and I would get on Southwest they finally got me out the next day to DFW and a miracle departure for Midland on Sunday. (Still took 2 days)
No Voucher, no discounts not even an invitation to kiss their hiney's...amazing...
There was a lot of people that were renting cars and going around the globe to get home that weekend.
I feel your pain....
Posted by: Susan | March 31, 2008 at 03:43 PM
Oh my. Susan and Suzanne, my heart goes out to you. I don't want to play the victim, but we are really helpless against those airlines.
Posted by: Geo | March 31, 2008 at 05:59 PM
The airlines are really getting worse. But did you see this one from late last year? http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/20/woman-sits-in-urine-soaked-airplane-seat/2
And just today the best airline, Aloha, announced they are done. They were one of that few that tried.
Posted by: Barrie Moore | April 01, 2008 at 03:14 PM
Barrie, that's outrageous. What a horrible flight that woman had.
Posted by: Geo | April 01, 2008 at 03:23 PM