Hang in there baby!

http://msp128.photobucket.com/albums...in_there-1.jpg

We all have War Stories, and days that test our patience. Yes, they even come in two's and three's, back-to-back and so on.

The notion that this "never happens on Southwest," is a little far fetched. Southwest has a different approach in dealing with customer service, and more passengers with the kind of service expectations that the OP suggests.

This can happen with any airline. I know how many times I've cursed UA, US and others, holding my precious CO on a pedestal. Yet, as evidenced in this case these things happen with most every airline. It's a shame when it does.

The first instinct is to explode at a customer service rep, gate agent, or other, but that's the true test. Come out of that experience calm and collected, and most will treat you the same. They'll bend the rules of getting a hotel when their management is telling them they shouldn't. They'll go the next step and make sure your bag gets to you.

[QUOTE=Charmlady06;11650936]If you fly on an airline like Southwest - this NEVER happens
QUOTE]

Never seen the show on A&E called Airline about Southwest apparently.

Yep, this is the kind of airline customer service attitude that, judging by the posts from experienced fliers here, we have all sadly come to expect. It's outrageous of the OP to think that because she paid for a service it should actually be delivered. And to be offered some friendly help solving your problems when the airline can't do what it's been paid to do? Are you kidding me? You shoulda stood in bed, dear OP, if that's what you were expecting. All of us who plan flights should give up an extra day on either end just to be sure we can actually get where we want to go.

Either that or make sure all your flights originate or end in an EU country where the flying public actually has some rights and the flying service providers actually have some responsibilities that they must live up to.

Why do you get to decide what's tolerated on this forum? I think I should get to decide.

Ta da! Exactly. If the conference was that important she should have left the prior day. End of story.

belynch was put on ATC hold yesterday :D

But the Staten Island guys didn't think it applied to them.

and when did you decide either? The OP was made major flaws in planning and there was one CO side problem in closing the flight early, but the OP made it in too late to board on time anyway. The departure time is NOT the boarding time.

Do you know how hard it is to race the SQ 345 on final to EWR when you're in first gear? :mad:

ATC targeted me because I was eating a BACON, egg, and cheese and I had a Canuck in the car. They probably figured the Canuck was a goose.

(Thread merge danger) :rolleyes:

she probably thinks this forum stinks as well. and since most of us fly co, as customers we stink for her because this is a joke.

No, this is more like it:

http://despair.com/giveup.html

Welcome to FT!

It sounds to me that you've solved your problem: you've switched to Southwest.

ROFL.

But, seriously, to the OP, you suffered from something most frequent travelers, particularly in the Northeast, endure on a regular basis. Weather and ATC delays. This is part of the game of traveling and if you have very serious deadlines, you should budget extra time into the equation.

I've come to accept that NYC ATC is a bit insane in what causes them to issue a ground stop. Case in point, Friday, the weather was great in the area and for some reason, only two of the four runways were in use at JFK. No major winds or other anomalies, they just felt like it. It is not unusual to have a light breeze and have EWR go into a ground-delay program.

I personally try to connect in cities where I can drive to my final destination if needed. In this case, you did have that option by connecting in EWR.

As for your connection from DTW, as it was pointed, CO does not operate that flight and has no control over it. They booked you on a partner carrier and you're at the mercy of the partner. It's no different had they booked you on another airline that wasn't a partner.

Based on your comments, it's obvious Southwest serves you well and since you're such a frequent traveler with "zillions of miles" you must have a lot of experience, perhaps you should stick with them. I presume since you have so much expereince with Southwest, a good portion of the zillions of miles were flown on them. Congrats, flying that much within the continental US is quite an accomplishment. I personally would never be able to do that myself.

We all experience carriers we don't like and we avoid them after a bad experience. But if you don't try someone else, you'll never know what you may or may not be missing. Perhaps this experience will help you appreciate Southwest that much more. Clearly, Continental was not for you, but to declare them as a bad airline after one experience is not warranted. I took my first flight on Southwest this past week and I hated it and made me long for Continental. Have I wandered into the Southwest forum and blanketly declaring Southwest sucks? No. I chalk it up to a new experience and learn from it.

You'll find that not taking such an offensive approach will yield better results, not just here, but anywhere in life. We welcome new people but we also expect new people to be adults and not fly off the handle as they walk-in.

It's Dr. Mehmet Fozz, author of You: Don't Be A Tool, live in studio and taking your questions.