A major media source (ABC News) has asked me to find some real frequent flyers (maybe 1/2 a week) who have had their share of problems with all these air delays and are starting to do something different in their travel because of it. Are you driving instead of flying? Have you changed airports or airlines?

Interested with a story? Please let me know.

Randy, have spent 12 hours in Atlanta last year due to storms. Made a real roundabout trip to PBI via MIA and FLL four weeks ago coupled with rental cars and delays there arriving at 0400. I have stayed with DL but learned to protect myself early in the game when the "30 minute delays" begin. Jim

DL has always been good to me when it comes to handling delays. The last 3 occasions:
1) JFK - MAN Flight delays by 2 1/2 hours due to a fuel leak on aircraft. New aircraft used coming in from PDX. One hour turn-around on that plane. As many Medallions as possible upgraded - regardless of fare class - Coach not full. Biscuits, snacks and soft drinks laid out on table next to gate whilst the lucky pax who were upgraded went to lounge. Three weeks later with no prompting from me, an apology letter arrives with a $100 Transportation Order.
2) Tornadoes hit ATL. ASA in ROA reroutes me to CVG and on to BOS. They wrote in computer that should I miss 30 mins. connex in CVG, pls book in hotel. That happened, Comair was having probs that night too and I ended up at a nice hotel in CVG with $30 for meals and a phone card.
3) Thunderstorms in BOS. Was called the night before and protected on UA via IAD - cancelling DL reservation. Tipped up at airport next morning to be told that a flight to ATL would in fact be going out (in 15 mins.) and that my upgrade was intact. Fine by me ...

I've been really impressed with DL when it comes to handling delays whether it be from giving out free (alcoholic) beverages / headsets in Coach for a 45 mins. delay or the above.

The month of June was just one problem on UA and Air Wisconsin after another. It started with my trip to COS (where you and I spent some time together) and went downhill from there.

Delays in LAX, DEN, COS, SLC, ORD, IND, IAD, PWM ... Had to spend a Friday night camped out on a colleague's couch in Portland, Maine due to connection problems. Got home 13 hours late.

I suspect my problems were pretty average, based upon posts in FT. So far I have only diverted one trip from my primary carrier (UA) to someone else. However AA will be picking up my near term business. At least until I am comfortable that UA has solved their labor and maintenance problems.

[This message has been edited by Craig6z (edited 08-07-2000).]

Randy .. look at the UA board. I just looked and HALF the threads on the front page related to delays and cancellations and beefs about both.

Sad but true.

randy,

when i began my ft gig, i quickly altered
my behavior. others may disagree - but
these are my *personal* rules, in no
particular order:

- no nwa dc9's (old and prone to mx delays)
- no nwa dc-10's (ditto)
- no aa dc-10's (ditto)
- never take the 1st flight of the day
(possible duty day limitations and
incomplete mx)
- never take the last flight of the day
(possible duty day limitations)
- if connecting (almost always) check the
weather at the hub. if it's snarled,
ask to be rerouted thru another hub. if
the whole sys is a shambles; get a hotel
rather than launch into the mess.
- if less than 250 miles; drive!
- if arriving at the airport early; standby
on an earlier flight is almost always a
safe(r) bet.
- always, always, always get paper tkts
- never, ever use e-tkts
- did i mention that paper tkts are better
than e-tkts? <g>
- carry copies of the dot rules and airline
rules for the airline(s) you are flying.
know these rules cold.
- never, ever check bags
- use the 800 nbrs and ask to be protected
on a later flight. if at first they
don't cooperate - keep calling ... while
walking to the club.
- if flying a foreign carrier that permits
pax to jumpseat, ask for a jumpseat.
- the best agents seem to work in the clubs.
i.e. the walk is probably worth it.
- get in line behind a screamer ... and
then be as nice & sweet as you can be
when it is your turn.
- if possible, ask the deplaning pilots if
there are any mx squawks that might
delay departure. if yes; get protected
on another flight.
- if delayed; inquire about the crew's
duty day limits.
- if your plane is not at the gate 45 min
before your departure time; ask'm to
check flifo for the status of the inbound.
do not trust the data in the resv sys

i am certain that i am leaving a few things
out ... <g>

-doug

Randy one interesting point mentioned above and on 4 other posts I have read this morning on differnet boards, for totally different reasons:

Get PAPER tickets EVERY time if possible. Seems to be many plusses with them over e-tickets and as far as I can see, NO minuses!

Randy:

This summer has been a bad one for delays and worse for flight cancellations.

Almost all of the delays and cancellations
that I've experienced have been weather related.

Since I don't want the airlines to fly in unsafe conditions, I just accept it as the small price I pay in order to get there safely.

Safety comes first in my book.
I'd rather get there late and in one piece.

The only change I've made is I now make sure I always have at least 2 Clive Cussler novels in my carry-on
"Hanging" with Dirk Pitt and friends at the airport club is so relaxing I almost like seeing my flight number blinking on the departure monitor

DL did me good earlier this summer--had booked LAS-LAX-ATL to maximize segments plus fly on a L1011 from LAX-ATL.

Incomplete maintenance done o'nite on the 757--led to a 1 1/2 hr delay ruining my connx.

I called my TA while on plane to find out that later LAX-ATL flts were wide open--just as I hung up a redcoat walked on board and offered me the nonstop LAS-ATL in first which had been fully booked (I'd u/g with certificates). Needless to say, I was on my way...

JL

i have 21 consecutive flight days of bad experience 5/30 - 8/6 (the latest).

you have mail on how to reach me.

f

Aren't FT'ers just suppossed to grin and bear it?

Okay, just bare it!

Randy,

Dont know if you need more help, but I fly pretty much UA and have been killed the last weeks, especially through IAD and ORD. I am a converted Continental flyer as my company only permits us to fly our "preferred' carriers (AA, UA & DL). I am PremEx on UA. Silver on CO & Delta (The latter two from last years travel)

I think UA is THE story about cancellations. Just about anyone who's flown them this summer has been affected. They make HP look like a well-run airline by comparison.

I fly UAL at least a couple of times each week and so far (knock on wood) have had no significant delay problems (other than a gate agent giving away my seat on a connecting flight in DEN before my plane landed. )

I mentioned my good flying fortune to a tragically harried Res Agent today and she told me that there are actually only 5% of UAL flights going sideways (mostly out of ORD, IAD and DEN), but that they are getting 100% of the notice.

I am a victim of UAL employee theft and gross lack of internal communication, but not Air Delay. Wish I could get some resolution for my problems.




[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 08-07-2000).]

"gross lack of internal communication"

Indeed!

And with regard to NWA, I'm an ongoing victim of a complete lack of external communication as well!

When they are truly ready to due a serious customer relations (or actually lack thereof) story, perhaps then I'll be more anxious to emerge from my "shell!"

As boomer notes, sometimes the plane must be delayed for whatever reason- but answer the mail, return your calls/emails/faxes, refund the money due from unused, returned tickets within 9 months, issue credits as agreed upon for TCV's, fix billing problems within 9 months, award the agreed upon mileage, send the promised materials, and so on, and so forth...

CUSTOMER FIRST!

Gimme a break!

The tone is set at the top! And it isn't a nice tune!


[This message has been edited by doc (edited 08-07-2000).]