I logged over 13,000 miles on various airlines this summer.  80% business and 20% vacation.  I also took a cruise, a train and a brief road trip (FYI, I loathe the road trip).  Travel has changed but not necessarily for the better.  Love Jet Blue and Air Tran.  But this year’s Made Me Want to Jump Out of the Plane goes to (drum roll) Delta.  Their skies aren’t all that friendly any more.  I asked the flight attendant if she would give my carry -on a shove into the overhead compartment . . . please note that I checked all but a small bag that held my purse and my laptop.  Note too that I’m very short so barring a sudden over-50 growth spurt; I actually couldn’t slip it into place.  I lifted it; all she had to do was give it a shove.  Her reply . . . If it doesn’t fit you’ll have to check it.  I said it did fit (as did the very nice gut in 5A) but she just walked away.  When she came around asking for beverage orders, I heard her say she was out of ginger ale.  Guess what I ordered?  Only when she came back, I had my own bottle of water and laptop on the tray table so I told her that since the ginger ale wouldn’t fit, she’d have to check it.  Childish?  Yes, but man it felt good.

 

It did make me wonder what other people think about the airlines.  Am I alone in my irritation?  Tell me your least fave travel experience!

 

Happy Writing,

 

Rhonda

My least fave? Just one? But I have THREE! First, flying for a house-hunting trip to Phoenix because my husband was set to take a job there. We took my 9 month-old daughter because she was still breast-feeding. First flight was a small plane to Cincinnati. The plane had fold down seats on either side of the aisle - one on each side. Worst, most scary turbulence EVER. Veteran flyers said it was the worst flight ever. The plane wove from side to side and it took the pilot several attempts before he landed. At that point, I told my husband, I'm not riding on anything but a jet. The airline didn't want to change our flights so we had to pay and the trip was a waste because my husband didn't take the job.
Second, horrible flight experience, returning from LA, connecting in Houston. Storms in the area. My flight was cancelled. They wouldn't pay for a hotel and said the soonest I could get out would be TWO DAYS LATER! I begged for an earlier flight. I finally found one while using my laptop in the airpot, but it originated from a different airport and would involve two stops. I didn't care. I had to pay for my own hotel AND the different flight. I just wanted out of there. Moral: buy flight insurance for long trips. Pack your cosmetcs.
Third nightmare flight. Return flight from an RWA convention in Atlanta. It was supposed to be a direct flight. They kept delaying it. I tried to get on a different flight, but they said it wasn't necessary because my flight was just delayed. Then they cancelled my flight. They paid for my hotel, but it was a scary hotel. I was afraid to sleep. I put my luggage in front of the door so I would hear if someone tried to break in. (As if I could do anything about it! :o The crazy thing about this flight is that it was direct and I actually live 8 hours from Atlanta. I could have just driven home faster than I ended up arriving. PLUS, even though it was a direct flight, THEY STILL LOST MY LUGGAGE! Great topic! ;

Nightmare flights.... 36 hours on a jet from USA to Okinawa with an infant and a 3 year old, lugging a CASE of canned formula... I won't go there!
Most recent trip to Ft Lauderdale for Sleuth fest (great conference) and Rhon drops me off, my flight is already cancelled. It wasn't when we left the hotel. Like Leanne, I live 8 hours away. "We can get you out in 2 days." I SO don't think so. No hotels available because ALL flights north were canceled. (lots of editors and agents hung out and waited) So I rush to rent a car to the tune of $400 and drive home. Warning... you pay double to leave the car in another state! I'm driving to FLA next time!
#3 Atlanta to LA the flights delayed, an hour, then two hours, then its broke, then it not there. I'm nearly drunk at this point after lounging for 6 hours and listening to some guy say he's a former Navy Seal and talking about mission (not if you're a real SEAL, you ain't) Add the screaming tired kids,(felt so bad for them)and NINE hours after our departure time, we take off. We're all bitchy, hungry, no reason for such a delay, my knee is swollen from kneeling constantly to get into my bags. I rent a car in LA and its 3 AM by the time I reach Jodi in Laguna Beach. And I have to speak the next few hours!
SC to Chicago... one stop and its delayed several times and when I finally arrive, they've lost my luggage. I've got a bathrobe from the hotel and the evil DELTA guy tells me "a little jewelry will make it work." I've got to speak at RWA national at 8 AM the next morning with nothing to wear, no place to shop at 10 at night. I'd already been in those clothes for 24 hours. I'm borrowing panties and make up! Like Leanne, a direct flight, how could they lose luggage?? Luggage arrives a scant fifteen minutes before I make a debut in a hotel robe and sandals! I avoid DELTA whenever possible and if I can drive it, that's my method of choice.
Great topic... now sorry you asked???

There's nothing worse than getting bumped and no guarantee that you'll get on any of the later flights. In some cases we had to find our own accommodations. We didn't receive any vouchers.

Any flight that isn't smoot is not my favorite - although I've learned to hide my squeals when we hit turbulence!!