Just Some Grumbling

Just venting a little here. My wife and I are taking a trip in July, and I booked the tickets through the AARP-Expedia travel center. Since the original booking, Delta Airlines has changed our flight departure five times, with the latest change making our outbound flight an hour later than initially scheduled. No inquiry about whether or not this inconveniences us, just a notification. Yet when I called to see about changing to an earlier flight I was told that the airline would charge us a $200 per ticket change fee....

Just venting a little here.  My wife and I are taking a trip in July, and I booked the tickets through the AARP-Expedia travel center.  Since the original booking, Delta Airlines has changed our flight departure five times, with the latest change making our outbound flight an hour later than initially scheduled.  No inquiry about whether or not this inconveniences us, just a notification.  Yet when I called to see about changing to an earlier flight I was told that the airline would charge us a $200 per ticket change fee....

John, don't even go there!  I booked my flight to Edinburgh, Scotland to visit my friend in a couple of months.  Originally, going home to San Diego I had a three hour layover in Newark.  That's just about right for going through customs and, if there is checked luggage, rechecking the luggage and going through the TSA line again.  
Well, guess what.  United informed me a few weeks ago that there will now be exactly a five hour layover!  It only takes about 5½-6 hours to cross the continent from Newark to San Diego.  What really ticks me off is that I have a hunch United knew they were going to do this before I booked so why not put the later schedule up?  (This isn't the first time they have pulled this.)  I used to say that my holiday started when I got on the plane.  I now say it starts when I get off.  Airlines (and cable companies) have become the used car salesmen of the 21st century, in my opinion.

My friends I feel your pain.  My wife and I travel a lot and it has become more of a hassle than a pleasure.  I just broke five million miles with Delta, does it make a difference?  Not a darn thing!  We even moved to Georgia, since it is the Delta hub, so we could fly more direct routes.  It doesn't matter, the service is just getting worse.  Between flight delays and lost luggage, my God, is just horrible.

We have had great experiences with foreign airlines.  Virgin Atlantic and British Airways are awesome and their customer service is superb.

I’m always baffled by people who have good experiences with Delta, because in the last eight years, I have observed some family members and friends have absolutely horrendous and downright outrageous service from that particular airline. But I suppose since Delta operates hundreds of flights each day, sometimes they must get things mostly right… (?)

I’m with Hector. British Airways has been good the few times I’ve flown with them. Some of my other favorites include SAS and Finnair. But as Freddy says, mostly it’s been downhill for airlines for a while now. Long gone is the excitement and glamour of commercial flight, as we now often travel in what seem to be cattle wagons in the sky.

John, I’m sorry about your experience, and I will say that it just confirms what my notion has been for years: stay away from Delta if at all possible.

I’m always baffled by people who have good experiences with Delta, because in the last eight years, I have observed some family members and friends have absolutely horrendous and downright outrageous service from that particular airline. But I suppose since Delta operates hundreds of flights each day, sometimes they must get things mostly right… (?)

I’m with Hector. British Airways has been good the few times I’ve flown with them. Some of my other favorites include SAS and Finnair. But as Freddy says, mostly it’s been downhill for airlines for a while now. Long gone is the excitement and glamour of commercial flight, as we now often travel in what seem to be cattle wagons in the sky.

John, I’m sorry about your experience, and I will say that it just confirms what my notion has been for years: stay away from Delta if at all possible.

That is exactly the way I feel about United but, honestly, the big 3 (United, American, and Delta), as well as others, are all pretty much the same... rubbish.

This is the result of deregulation going bad!

Try flying Air Canada. Their mission statement is "At Air Canada we're not happy until you're not happy". It seems to be a universal degradation of service in the airline business. They just figure F you, what are you going to do about it, walk? I saw an article that the TSA was responsible for something like 73,000 missed flights last year. That has a real cost beyond the inconvenience factor. The security is questionable too - I have a 19 year old daughter and an attractive wife - guess who gets randomly selected for the x-ray screening? Every time. Little pimple faced pervert security dick getting his jollies. Its just rude, and if you complain or in any way express a normal human reaction to their outrageous conduct, well, enjoy your cavity search assuming you get on the plane at all. Do you remember the ads featuring attractive, smartly dressed airline stewardesses and pilots welcoming you to the sophisticated pleasures of airline travel? Ha!

Marko et al,

Air Canada has a well established reputation for never being prepared for anything.
They always do their utmost to live down to that reputation.
Yet their commercials are always so appealing. False but appealing.
Good old Hot Air Canada.

Mickey

Marko, what you said reminds me of a concept called “security theater,” which you may already be familiar with. A lot of what TSA does is unnecessary and a waste, but somehow it is supposed to give travelers a (false) sense of security.

I remember being on a domestic flight in Sweden about 20 years ago. Before landing, the pilot opened the cockpit door, and a passenger (who was his friend) went and sat in a jump seat between the pilot and co-pilot. The cockpit door remained open for the entire landing, and all the passengers were able to look into the cockpit and see the runway ahead.

There’s something I don’t ever expect to be able to see again.

If anyone wants a little read, here’s an interesting link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_theater

Sitting in the Washington/Dulles airport right now waiting on an 8:12 AM flight. Got to the airport at 5AM to miss the lines. By 6 AM you wait an hour.

I am tall so the idea of having to pay extra for leg room grinds at my core.

Airlines don't care, TSA pretends and we continue to take the abuse. I had to take this trip for work but find less and less the notion of air travel nothing more than a chore and emotional drain.

Next summer we are looking to go out west and have looked at the train rather then the plane to avoid the hassle. Takes longer but I don't have to deal with the hassle of air travel.


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