Ok, I am as little of a fan of what the airlines have become. Ultimate stop for all of them will be, for better and probably worse, regulation.

I digress.

On about 23 March I arrived to JFK on a flight from Europe on American with a further connection to Delta for the domestic portion. I do this route about a once a month, so I have it down.

I have 3 hours between flights. Enough time for Customs, receive baggage, and take the f@cking Air Train. (Side note: Demolish JFK; Start over - worst airport in the world...).

There is a 2 week overlap between when the US goes on daylight savings and when Europe goes on it. This is roughly 14 March to 28 March.

In this case, it meant my flight that "always" arrives at about 1600 arrived, in fact, at 1700 romeo time. Flight was on time leaving and arriving; just this phantom hour that I did not notice because the last thing I gamed on was a daylight savings gaffe, EVER.

Customs was slow as hell this day. Baggage even slower, and, as luck would have it, my bags were nearly the last to show. Get my bags, look up expecting to see it's 1655, when it in fact says 1755.

[Asked] 2 different TSAs the time...1800...and my flight was scheduled to leave at 1845, so I was screwed.

I arrived to Delta Medallion desk at Terminal 2/3 at 1825. Game over already, and I knew I would be screwed, best case.

So, I explained to DA, predicated by I was at her mercy, that this was completely unexpected, and that I am not somehow an idiot. Just did not notice, as the flights are all the same as they are every time I do this route.

I told her I would take whatever she could offer. I was patient. I was complimentary. I was, well, nice.

Long story short -

1. She booked me for the next day.
2. She charged me nothing.

Repeat, Delta did not rape me.

I took her name down, thanked her profusely, and hand wrote a letter on the plane and sent it to Delta.

So, sometimes airlines do the right thing in the name of customer service, and not just think about profit maximization. I don't know if she did it because I was nice, patient, and honest, or because of my mileage status. Regardless, I relay it to you here, knock on wood...