I was flying home on a frequent flyer miles award ticket. My flight into Miami was delayed 2 hours due to mechanical problems. Arrived 8pm, so I missed the last flight home. I was directed to the transfer desk. Offered me a 7am flight. Told them I did not want to get up at 3am to make the flight. Gave me a 12:45pm flight. Told me to arrive 3 hours early. Miami airport looked like a zoo, so I believed him. Gave me a room at the local Radisson,and a ticket for dinner.I asked for a ticket for breakfast and a phone call to my girlfriend to tell her when to pick me up. Both were refused as a matter of policy. I asked to see a supervisor. Was told I had to go upstairs and find someone in grey jacket. Went upstairs. No grey jacket. Three employees later, found a supervisor (not in a grey jacket). He said I shouldn't have had to find him. I agreed. He gave me breakfast and lunch cupons, and a phone call.
Raidson was nice. I made sure to give them my Gold Points number, just in case.
Arrived next morning at 9:30 am. Short lines, of course. Was given bording pass. Said departure time was 11am. I questioned this, since my flight was supposed to leave at 12:45. Was told I would make this one. Got to the gate 20 minutes early, only to hear that volunteers for bumping were being solicited. $250 voucher offered to get on the 12:45 flight! Yes!
I asked about my luggage. They said it would go on the 11am flight and would be there when I arrived. Now my original 12:45 flight, and the 11am flight were both one plane change itineraries. But I knew there was a 1:30pm non-stop flight leaving. I flirted with the gate agent and asked if I could get on that flight. She said yes. Then I asked if I could get an upgrade. She said I was pushing it. I got an old business class seat (no business class on this flight) with cattle class service. Cool.
When I arrived to my destination, my luggage was there. The 12:45 flight was delayed and hadn't arrived yet. But my luggage was waiting for me from the 11am flight. So I got home earlier than I would have on the original itinerary, on a business class seat, on a non-stop flight. Cool.
A few days later I checked my Gold Points acount. Points were posted for my stay (6000, I think). Then, just for fun, I checked my frequent flyer account for this airline. They posted miles for my flight from Miami to home! Remember, I was flying on a frequent flyer mile award ticket.
So, for less than a one day delay, I got a $250 voucher, a more comfortable and direct flight home, a nice stay at the Miami Radisson, Gold Points, and more frequent flyer miles. Not bad.
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The Personal Travel Experience of Gary Steiger - including how to get free frequent flyer miles on the web.
http://home.earthlink.net/~pgary/TravelFrame.html