Since airline performance is improving because fewer consumers are flying, I was quite surprised to experience an awful flight recently when I returned from vacation. It took me 16 hours to fly from Miami to Seattle.
I was on time for my flight from Miami to Houston on Continental Airlines. An announcement was made that the crew had reported maintenance problems. We were to leave at 11:55 a.m. At 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m., more announcements were made that maintenance crews were continuing to investigate. Hydraulic problems were mentioned.
I became concerned that flight might never leave. I went to the counter to ask the agent if he could get me on another flight. He checked his computer and said I could fly to Seattle via Philadelphia on U.S. Airways.
That didn’t sound like a good idea. I’d be going north rather than heading across the country. In addition, that flight wouldn’t be leaving until 2:30 p.m. I asked for something else. He said there was nothing. No flights on American through Chicago or Houston.
When I was mulling over what to do, I was surprised when the agent handed me the Philadelphia-Seattle tickets. I hadn’t made up my mind. Since it was a guessing game as to which flight might get me home the fastest, I took the Philadelphia-Seattle tickets.
I walked from gate H 10 to J 4, quite a hike. My heavy backpack loaded with two cameras and a laptop was balanced on top of my rolling suitcase. I was beginning to develop calluses.
When I arrived at J 4, I asked the U.S. Airways agent if my other bag would be transferred from the Continental flight. He said he didn’t know. The only way to know for sure was to walk back over to H 10 and ask the Continental agent. I was tired and upset. Bag transfers should be done automatically.
I wanted my bag when I got home, so I trudged back to H 10. It was a good thing I did. The Continental agent hadn’t transferred it. Then I dragged my backpack and suitcase back to J 4. I was completely exhausted.
The plane was boarding when I got back to J 4, so I didn’t have time to get lunch. The plane left on time. However, the pilot made an announcement: A storm was occurring north of Miami, so the air traffic controllers in Philadelphia wouldn’t let us leave. The pilot took us to a parking area and there we sat for 45 minutes.
I worried about making my connecting flight to Seattle. I had about an hour and 10 minutes between flights.
A flight attendant told us we’d be arriving at gate B 11. She said to look at our tickets to see what gate our plane would be departing from. It was irritating. The gate numbers weren’t on the tickets. As we approached Philadelphia, I pressed the help button and asked the attendant to find out my departure gate numbers. Although she said she didn’t have it, later she told me I’d be going to gate B 3.
When I got off the plane, a U.S. Airways agent handed me a ticket to a plane leaving at 8:40 p.m. in case I missed my connection.
My flight to Seattle was leaving at 5:50 p.m. I arrived at the gate at 5:45 p.m. There were no agents at the gate. I walked down to the ramp, but the door was locked. I couldn’t see for sure that the plane was still there, but one went by a few minutes later that could have been mine.
I walked to gate C 28. There were no flights to Seattle before the one at 8:40 p.m. The agent was crabby when I asked for a refund on the $15 I paid to sit by the window – seat 5 A – on the flight I’d missed.
I had dinner and bought two more books. I was almost finished with the one I brought with me. I read novels when I travel because it helps me to relax.
I called a friend and told him about my airline problems. He suggested going back to the gate and asking for an upgrade for the inconvenience I’d experienced. I thought I’d try it.
The agent I talked to before and another agent were rude to me. The first one said she’s told me before she couldn’t do anything about a refund, so why was I asking again. The second woman, Cynthia S., got all excited when I put my hand on the counter for support. She thought I was going to take one of the tickets she’d laid out. She wouldn’t even let me say what I wanted. She just ranted at me. I told her she was rude, and I’d be filing complaints with the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Airways about their poor customer service and the flight problems.
Instead of leaving at 8:40 p.m. the plane left at 9:20 p.m. Then we sat on the runway for 45 minutes, waiting. We were due in Seattle at 12:10 a.m. We didn’t get there until about 1 a.m.
I got home at 2:30 a.m. and into bed at 3:30 a.m. That’s 6:30 a.m. Miami time. The trip took 16 hours. It was awful.
