Um, Delta, may I have a word with you please?

The BBQ Pit
1

I’m on my way home from Tech School yesterday, and TMO has booked me a flight with Delta. Hey, fine, I have no problem with that. Little did I know the misadventures I was in for.

I run all over Keesler finishing up my outprocessing, catch a cab, and race to Gulfport to catch my plane. About the time I’m supposed to board the plane, they say that there will be no boarding for another 45 minutes due to a series of squalls passing through Atlanta. Fine with me, I’ll just relax and look good in my uniform for a while.

So we finally take off and get to Atlanta, where we then have to sit on the runway for 45 minutes before the pilot can taxi to the terminal. Now I realize that Delta has no control over ATC, but they can put out the jetway for their customers. I helped a lady and her two kids down the steps to the tarmac because they couldn’t be troubled to assist their own customers.

So I go to my terminal to catch my connecting flight to Harrisburg, where I find out that it too is delayed. OK, another weather delay. No problem. Well, here’s where things get nuts.

We were supposed to take off at 2145 hrs. When it was all said and done, it was 0200 hrs before we took off. All that time they were saying that the plane was there and almost ready, to the point where they had said that every half hour for two hours. Finally I just went up to the desk and said “Look, I can understand that things are meesed up, but the least you could do is tell us the truth, OK? If we’re going to be delayed for a few more hours, could you tell us so we can get some food, or a smoke, or something?” Their response: “It won’t be too much longer, sir. Just relax and we’ll be ready to go shortly.”

Sigh That “shortly” turned out to be another two hours.

Finally, we go to board, and they drop a few bombshells. First, the reason why the plane was late taking off was because they hadn’t even filed a flight plan until 0100! Gee, guys, you’re well organized. Second, they overbooked, so ten people had to stay behind. And lastly, I’m wearing my uniform, with VISIBLE stainless steel wings and belt buckle. Why would you make me take them off when I’m clearly not hiding them, I’m wearing something that identifies me as a defender of your country, and I have orders to that effect? I’m sure none of the passengers objected. Paranoia runs deep, I guess.

Then they inform us that they won’t be putting out the jetway again, so I help a lady and her FOUR kids (who were very good, by the way :)) into the plane, which I insisted she board first due to her condition. When we get out, we meet a very smug and arrogant stewardess, who informs everyone that “It’s too bad that you’re cold, but if I turn the heat up it’ll be too hot for everyone, so just use a blanket.” Five minutes after that priceless gem, she tells everyone she’s out of blankets, so deal with it. I was fine, but the plane was definitely a bit chilly.

So in conclusion, Delta, you suck. If you are anything like the standard for commercial travel, I think I’ll just flap my arms and try to get there myself. It might even be faster, and it would certainly be more pleasant than having to deal with your rude, impolite, and impertinent help.

That is all.

-Dave

2

I like to take the train.

Too bad the gummint destroyed the railroad companies before I was born.

:frowning:

3

Yeah, you might just be working for Al-Quaeda.

Jesus Christ on a crutch. Words fail me.

On the other hand, there’s a reason they named it Don’t Expect Luggage To Arrive. Hardly anything surprises me from delta.

Airman, thanks for being out there. Wear those wings proudly.(as I’m sure you do)

b.

4

Write a letter to Delta. Mention you’re in the armed services…maybe you’ll get free tickets or something?

5

Yes, but then he’d have to fly Delta again :smiley:

6

Delta is the only carrier from DC to Daytona Beach (my parent’s home). I have no choice but to fly them.

My last flight, they said they needed volunteers to get off the plane because the plane was overweight. I got up and said that I would get off, shit it would just mean spending another day at the beach. When the other passengers started asking what the compensation was, the plane was magically “underweight” again and no one needed to get off. I was seriously scared on that flight. I thought we wouldn’t even take off.

7

My mom and dad had a trip to Alaska planned, much of it prepaid, and were flying on Delta’s “ASA” (Air Suck Ass?) line to a connection in Atlanta, leaving at 5:30 a.m. They got to our dinky airport at 4:55, knowing from past experience (since 9/11) if they got there at 4:30 there was no Delta staff anywhere. Some man was walking away from the counter, his luggage gone down the belt.

The Delta lady refused to let them board; they were too late. The luggage system was shut down remotely by people in Atlanta, she couldn’t turn it back on, and if they did handwritten tickets, which she wasn’t going to do, they would probably never see their luggage again. Mom and dad couldn’t get a later flight because their schedule was so tight they’d miss the plane in Kodiak Island.

Mom was furious! Turns out Delta just instituted this policy in April but didn’t bother to tell anyone. The Delta lady at the gate kept saying, “It’s on your ticket,” but they were those “ticketless” passes – they didn’t have any tickets! Delta won’t refund the money but will waive the booking fee when she re-books them. Whoopee. Good thing this time she got travel insurance to at least pay for the hotel, train, boat ride, etc.

The trouble is, ASA is the only way to fly out of here; otherwise you have to drive to Birmingham or Atlanta. You can bet when my mom and I take our trip this Fall, we’ll be there 2 hours early, even if we have to wait outside 'til they open the doors to the facility.

8

Yeesh! That does suck.

Fortunately, I don’t have to fly Delta that often. The last time was in April, when I went to Minneapolis, and which was mercifully uneventful.

Most of the time, I fly Southwest, which is (usually) pretty good. And they fly to and from Baltimore directly to San Antonio, which makes the 'rents happy.

Robin

9

Did they let you bring them on the plane after you went through security? If so, I can see why you had to take them off. They wanted to scan you for metal objects and they didn’t want the stuff you had on to set off the detector.

Also, Palestinian suicide bombers have dressed up in Israeli Army uniforms before blowing up a cafe full of civilians. How hard would it be for someone here to get ahold of an Air Force uni? I used to see them all the time in used clothing stores.

I can simpathize with the rest of your rant. I have been a regular business traveller for over ten years. Surely you don’t expect to bypass some of the security measures because you appear to the agents to be in the service.

Haj

10

Haj, you misunderstood me. I had been in a secure area for the whole time. I cleared security in Gulfport and never left the secure area.

When they checked me in Gulfport they didn’t have any problems with it at all, but they did in Atlanta. I think there was a lack of consistency there, and that’s what annoyed me.

11

Got it. That is pretty lame. Thanks for the clarification.

Haj

12

Just ask Lissla what happened to HER luggage when she came back from Iowa…all sent to O’Hare. Including her wedding dress-that she is making.

I’ll give her the heads up.

13

Really? Was that posted here? All I can find is the Ames thread.

14

No-she told me by e-mail. She, Octavia, Madmoiselle (I can’t spell!) and I met at another message board and I got them hooked on the SDMB.

15

Odd. I thought Delta stood for Delayed at The Airport. :wink:

16

Ah , where is Sherman when you need him?

Any other Atlanta-Bashers out there?

17

I had to fly Delta from Baltimore to Atlanta last August.

They boarded the plane right on time. But then they kept us out on the tarmac for about 2 hours, while the temperature in the plane (which they didn’t measure) skyrocketed. They said they couldn’t run the A/C there at the gate; I can’t remember the reason they gave.

It took them about an hour and a half to even hand out cups of ice water to the passengers. By the time I got mine, I used it to mop my face and neck with. It was that warm. It took me awhile, but after an hour and a half (just after the water was passed out), I got permission to return to the gate area (the walkway was still connected) until they were ready to get underway. Several other passengers joined me.

And the seat pitch was easily the smallest of any flight I’ve been on, about 27 inches, IIRC, from the the back of my seat to the back of the one in front of me. (I measured with a standard 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper, if you’re wondering. Wish I’d had a thermometer.) Getting stuff out of my carry-on under the seat was impossible.

I will do my level best never to fly Delta again.