opus17
Aug 29, 00, 8:44 am
It was the kind of trip that I would normally not post -- I was on the final leg of a SJC-DCA-CLE-SFO trek, mostly for business. I had had remarkable luck with Delta this summer; every flight had been on time or early, with no cancellations. Little did I know that was about to change! (Note to my high school English teacher: Please note the subtle foreshadowing -- and please ignore the spelling).
I had a Monday morning 6:55 AM from Cleveland to CVG, with a connection to SFO at 9:00. I like the early morning flights in the summer, mainly to avoid possible late afternoon thunderstorms. Like every other DL flight I have taken over the last few years, I had confirmed upgrades.
We boarded on time. The captain announced we were on a ground hold due to foggy weather in CVG. As time passed, it seemed less and less likely that I would make my connection. I called the Delta automated line and found that my connecting flight (originating at BWI) was on time (and obviously impervious to the fog, maybe it had high-beams).
I considered my options while sipping my apple juice. I called Continental -- they had a flight CLE-SFO had around 9AM, but it was fairly full. I had some upgrades certs on CO, but little chance of using them.
I called Delta reservations, also from my seat in First Class. The next flight from CVG-SFO was at 12:50 or so, first class was full, but they could give me an exit row middle seat. Oh joy! Maybe Atlanta?
I was told there was a 10 AM flight CLE-ATL with a 12:30 connection ATL-SFO on an L1011. The waitlist for F was closed, but they could give me an aisle in coach. I opted for this, and bolted from the plane.
Gate C6 in CLE had a long line where passengers from my plane and a subsequent ComAir flight to CVG were being rerouted. I walked over to the empty gate C4 where the ATL flight was set to depart.
I had an e-ticket (I am one of the few on this board who prefers e-tickets; maybe because I'm a computer geek and have greater faith in software than wetware). I walked up to the gate agent and told him I had rebooked myself on the ATL flight. He asked if I waited on line; no, I called.
He said, "Smart man". He knew he was dealing with a pro, and I knew I was dealing with one. I wasn't going to wave my Platinum Medallion card or proclaim my status or ask for favors (I never do that, anyway). He tells me he will put me on an ATL flight that is leaving in a few minutes (a delayed flight that was scheduled for 5:30 AM) -- first class was just about empty. Then, to my shock he also handed me the boarding card for ATL-SFO -- seat 1E (Exit), a revenue First Class seat (that is one way to get around the waitlist!).
It was a quick flight to ATL. I did some e-mail in the Crown Room Club in terminal A (very nice, hadn't been to that one before). My SFO flight had been switched to the B concourse while I wasn't looking, so I was a bit late getting there.
I boarded the L1011. There was no place to stow my rollerboard. The FA took my bag and walked all over, finally finding a closet near row 14. I thought that was very nice -- I had offered to carry it, but she insisted on doing it herself.
The seat was great -- 1E and 1F have no wall in front, so the legroom is about 15 feet!
I was asked for my meal preference first -- I told them I would take whatever was left over, all the choices looked acceptable to me. I got a shrimp pizza that was very good! (The food all day was very good on Delta).
The flight was wonderful -- smooth all the way. When we landed, I figured I would have to wait for the plane to empty to get my rollerboard, but, to my surprise, the same FA who stowed the bag had made her way to the back to get it for me, and handed to me at my seat!
I am giving DL an A+ on this one, with extra credit! On top of everything, I got a class-of-service bonus for the "revenue" F seat on ATL-SFO.
Now, if they only would change their mind on the systemwide upgrades for 2001....
I had a Monday morning 6:55 AM from Cleveland to CVG, with a connection to SFO at 9:00. I like the early morning flights in the summer, mainly to avoid possible late afternoon thunderstorms. Like every other DL flight I have taken over the last few years, I had confirmed upgrades.
We boarded on time. The captain announced we were on a ground hold due to foggy weather in CVG. As time passed, it seemed less and less likely that I would make my connection. I called the Delta automated line and found that my connecting flight (originating at BWI) was on time (and obviously impervious to the fog, maybe it had high-beams).
I considered my options while sipping my apple juice. I called Continental -- they had a flight CLE-SFO had around 9AM, but it was fairly full. I had some upgrades certs on CO, but little chance of using them.
I called Delta reservations, also from my seat in First Class. The next flight from CVG-SFO was at 12:50 or so, first class was full, but they could give me an exit row middle seat. Oh joy! Maybe Atlanta?
I was told there was a 10 AM flight CLE-ATL with a 12:30 connection ATL-SFO on an L1011. The waitlist for F was closed, but they could give me an aisle in coach. I opted for this, and bolted from the plane.
Gate C6 in CLE had a long line where passengers from my plane and a subsequent ComAir flight to CVG were being rerouted. I walked over to the empty gate C4 where the ATL flight was set to depart.
I had an e-ticket (I am one of the few on this board who prefers e-tickets; maybe because I'm a computer geek and have greater faith in software than wetware). I walked up to the gate agent and told him I had rebooked myself on the ATL flight. He asked if I waited on line; no, I called.
He said, "Smart man". He knew he was dealing with a pro, and I knew I was dealing with one. I wasn't going to wave my Platinum Medallion card or proclaim my status or ask for favors (I never do that, anyway). He tells me he will put me on an ATL flight that is leaving in a few minutes (a delayed flight that was scheduled for 5:30 AM) -- first class was just about empty. Then, to my shock he also handed me the boarding card for ATL-SFO -- seat 1E (Exit), a revenue First Class seat (that is one way to get around the waitlist!).
It was a quick flight to ATL. I did some e-mail in the Crown Room Club in terminal A (very nice, hadn't been to that one before). My SFO flight had been switched to the B concourse while I wasn't looking, so I was a bit late getting there.
I boarded the L1011. There was no place to stow my rollerboard. The FA took my bag and walked all over, finally finding a closet near row 14. I thought that was very nice -- I had offered to carry it, but she insisted on doing it herself.
The seat was great -- 1E and 1F have no wall in front, so the legroom is about 15 feet!
I was asked for my meal preference first -- I told them I would take whatever was left over, all the choices looked acceptable to me. I got a shrimp pizza that was very good! (The food all day was very good on Delta).
The flight was wonderful -- smooth all the way. When we landed, I figured I would have to wait for the plane to empty to get my rollerboard, but, to my surprise, the same FA who stowed the bag had made her way to the back to get it for me, and handed to me at my seat!
I am giving DL an A+ on this one, with extra credit! On top of everything, I got a class-of-service bonus for the "revenue" F seat on ATL-SFO.
Now, if they only would change their mind on the systemwide upgrades for 2001....