I've seen a lot of complaining here about the non-NW employees who took over at some of the smaller airports, so I think it's only fair I mention some GREAT employees I saw today.

I was at ABQ. A young woman working the check-in counter (I forgot to do OLCI at the Marriott this morning) was standing there and I was getting ready to use the machine and she asked for our names and said she'd be DELIGHTED to check us in. And she did, personally. Contrast that to all the times I've been barked at by NW employees to "use the machine" whether I wanted to or not.

She was efficient, friendly, and printed our BPs on that nice cardboard stock that is going the way of the dodo.

At the gate, the same contract workers hustled and they made sure anyone needing help off or on the plane got it quickly.

In the end, I was glad to have not bothered checking in online as their friendliness and work ethic made my day.