tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033598682489350651.post4083555361497358164..comments2023-05-27T01:53:21.676-04:00Comments on Diane L. Major: Delta'dUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033598682489350651.post-62502592780405598962016-08-15T12:57:40.219-04:002016-08-15T12:57:40.219-04:00Oh my stars, what an adventure. I would have commi...Oh my stars, what an adventure. I would have commiserated with the young lady myself; there is no excuse in the world for being a schmuck to any professional with no control over your situation. In being a schmuck to someone who DOES have control, there is merely idiocy - and maybe some spit in your coffee. You point out, of course, the exact reason for my mantra last Monday, that "I do not work for Delta." It is sad and dismaying to think the abuse those folks must have taken at every turn (being an airline employee any time at all probably doesn't lack for nasty customers).DLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768285199864217885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3033598682489350651.post-17845158572065331442016-08-15T09:06:08.519-04:002016-08-15T09:06:08.519-04:0013 years ago yesterday (August 14, 2003) was the d...13 years ago yesterday (August 14, 2003) was the day of the great east coast blackout. <br /><br />I was on my way from Toronto to Sydney, Australia, via Vancouver. I was in the airport, lined up at the gate (boarding had commenced) when the power died. They stopped the rest of us from boarding, but wouldn't allow those on board to deplane. Eventually, the airline sent us home, with the warning to hurry back when the power returned.<br /><br />I had just converted the remainder of my Canadian $ to Aus, so no local currency, no ATMs, no credit cards accepted by anybody, all of the forexs closed. The municipal buses all went 'free' during the event, but it still took about 3 hours to get home.<br /><br />I had no food in my apartment (I'd planned well for a long absence). I turned on the bedroom light and went to sleep. When the power returned, around 3am, and the light woke me up, I phoned the airline and learned I had a 10am departure. Be there or else. I found an ATM and a taxi and that wasn't a problem.<br /><br />It was by far the least organized (and least secure) boarding I'd ever experienced. At the last minute, they changed us to a larger plane, to help relieve the Toronto/Vancouver congestion, but our luggage didn't make the new plane (they did warn us, wait for your bags or go now). We sat 'wherever'. I got a window by the emergency exit - nice leg room. The flight attendants had to do repeated head counts against a manifest that was hand-written on a clipboard. <br /><br />Lead flight attendant came on the PA and said, "We have coffee and pop. We can go now, or we can wait four hours for your dinner service to be prepared and delivered. Do we go or wait?" <br /><br />Everyone shouted "Go!" We went. Realistically, I think we were going anyway, she just wanted to nip any complaining in the bud.<br /><br />I arrived in Sydney 24 hours late. At the airport, Qantas had staff taking our accommodation details and copies of our luggage bar codes so they could deliver our bags once they caught up. <br /><br />The idiot in front of me in line reamed out this poor teenage Qantas employee because his critically important business presentation was still in the hold of an Air Canada plane in Toronto. He made her cry. As if any of that was her fault. I seriously don't know how I didn't yell at him. Me-now would've loudly explained his own stupidity to him in detail until he shut up. <br /><br />Instead, I did the Canadian thing and apologized to her for his behaviour.<br /><br />2 days later, my bags caught up to me. Air Canada give me triple air miles for that trip - Toronto to Sydney x3 is a lot of miles. I flew from Johannesburg to Toronto on those a few years later.<br /><br /><br />Stephen G Parkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16627973901802634152noreply@blogger.com