“Survived” the trip… bout all I can say… Don’t EVER fly Delta if you can help it… They absolutely SUCK!!!
Wed- Worked all day, haul ass to DCA, get through security and barely make the airplane for a 1700 takeoff; which backs away from the gate and immediately goes on a 48 minute ‘ground hold’ due to WX in ATL. 90 minutes later, pilot says we’re going as soon as he can start the fans we have 7 minutes to make our takeoff slot…
BUT…
Dumbass pilot tries to start the fans off the APU while still pumping AC into the cabin, result? One APU shutdown… So there we sit on the ramp on 28VDC, not moving and no APU (and blocking the ramp). 20 minutes later he finally gets the APU to restart, and both fans going; we taxi to the holding area and sit for another 30 ish minutes…
1 1/2 hours later we land at ATL, only to spend 45 minutes in the penalty box, since there are no open gates (and I watch my connecting airplane taxi out and take off)… Finally get to a B gate, get off, harried agent won’t even talk to us, she is “Too Busy”… so go stand in line at ‘customer service’ (NOT!!!); it’s now 2130 and I’m looking up flights on my phone, while I stand in line. I finally get up the front, only to be told I’ve been resked for 0800 Thurs AM departure-
Nope- Not accepting that, point out there is a 2225 departure on ASA going to Panama City; but agent doesn’t want to do it. I force the issue and finally get a boarding pass. Problem is, I’m in Terminal B, ASA is Terminal E and it’s now 2205, do the OJ through the terminal to the tram, do the OJ to the E gate, only to find out that in fact I was NOT assigned a seat and am standby for the flight… sigh…
Get the last seat on the airplane, finally get to Panama City at 2315, only to find they have cancelled my car rental, the only thing available is now $97 a day, vice the $37 a day I had (Thank you VERY much Avis, I’ll never darken your doorstep again)…
Oh lovely, it’s a black car, with black vinyl interior… In FLORIDA no less, in the middle of the summer.
Finally get to the hotel at midnight-30, at least they didn’t give my room away… Get a 0400 wake up call and crash.
Up at 0400, pierside at 0500, underway at 0530. Computer problems, but finally get them solved and get systems up, and get to work. Problem is, units are NOT working… After about 4 units, tech ‘remembers’ they changed the initiation procedure… Lovely…
Knock off at sunset, finally get some sleep, back up at 0500, more work until sunset, go to crash and no air in the bunk room… Lost one of the AC units, only cooling is on the bridge and in Ops Center. Damn…
Too hot to sleep, go back to work on other stuff. Finish up at 0500, speed run back to the beach at 1100; flight is available just after noon, jump off the boat, run to the car, throw bag in trunk, jump in car and promptly scream foul words… Remember the black car, with black interior, in Florida? Yeah, I’ve got waffle burns on the backs of my legs (shorts), and my butt…
Go get water out of the hydrant, pour over driver’s seat- It literally steams off, but after two glasses I can at least sit in the seat. Haul ass to the airport, get picked for “random” security check, make the flight by literally about 2 minutes.
Get to ATL, this time I only have to go from B to A terminals, get to the gate, only to find out I have no seat on the connecting flight??? WTF??? Apparently my seat was “mis-assigned”, e.g. somebody put a non-rev or buddy fare in my seat and I got bumped. I sit for two hours in ATL, can’t afford to pay for food in that damn place when a BAGEL and a 12 oz cup of coffee is $9…
Finally get on a flight, literally the LAST frikkin row of the airplane, grumpy flight attendant, and the third of three airplanes with NO water in the Lavs. I’m wondering if Delta is so broke they can’t afford water? I mean, THREE flights out of three with no water??? WTF???
Finally get back to DCA, and I ‘hope’ it was the FO making the landing and then he JUMPS on the brakes rather than tap checking em; cause if that was the Captain, it was pretty frikkin sad…
All in all, another “fun”, “exciting” trip… Yeah, right…
I needs me some recoil therapy tomorrow to put me in a better mood!!! Night all…
You been kicking puppies on your days off?
That sound like at least the fourth level of hell.
Gerry
OUCH!
We’re headed out early Saturday morning for Sea Trials after being laid-up in “cold storage” for 27 months!
I’m sure all the marine systems will be ready, but my group (what’s left of us!) has *maybe* a 50% chance of everything going smooth.
Agree about Delta. Last trip every gate I sat near had the agents calling for volunteers; flight over booked. How do you overbook a flight when you have computers?
Worse is US Airways. At least I’m not paying for the ticket and I am on the clock .
I hope your AC is working at home and you get a good night’s sleep tonight!
And I thought my week sucked…
Ahh yes, I remember those days, not so long ago. Don’t miss ’em a bit, even if it’s lower pay now.
Some “adventures” are better than others.
YeOldFurt
I’m afraid after the third or fourth screw up I’d have been trying to strangle someone!!
Wait, is this “light blogging”? Because I’m ashamed you’re still doing more than me.
Sounds like you had a “interesting” trip. Is Delta really worse than United? At United they practically spit on you as you board the plane to show just how much contempt they have for you.
“Recoil Therapy” — I like that term.
You should have just made a left turn out of Atlanta and come here.
Sorry you had such a crappy week and hope the weekend treats you much kinder.
I will never say I ever have had a bad trip after reading the clusterfIRETRuck you been through!
Glad you are back! Recoil therapy indeed!
The government seems to be actively trying to kill aviation.
Delta is helping in the effort.
When does the revolt start? Call me.
All I can say is it is a very good thing you didn’t have toenail clippers in your bag. Also, this is yet another reason to never travel with checked baggage. I doubt very much it would have kept up with you through all of that.
Damn it all friend… hell of a trip. Despite every reef fate tossed in your way, you got it done. Sounds like you earned a day at the range, and an evening full of tall cold ones and relaxation.
Makes my recent issues with Hertz Rent-a-Car-IF-We-Actually-Had-a-Car seem pretty tame.
Gerry- Just another ‘fun’ trip… sigh.
drjim- Good luck!
WSF- Good point! They always overbook, figuring 5% won’t show.
Linda- It was and I did 🙂
Robert- What can I say? 🙂
YOF- Ain’t THAT the truth!!!
Ev- The temptation was there, trust me!
45- To each his own 🙂 Write when you feel like it!
Andy- I’d take United in a heartbeat!
Snigs- I’m sleeping in… I had to be back for a late Fri meeting, otherwise that thought HAD crossed my mind.
Danny- It was just another ‘fun’ day at the oriface, ya know…
Keads- with 1911s no less 🙂
GB- I truly think they are, I didn’t see ANY happy travelers!
TS- You are correct! I have had them lose luggage on a DIRECT flight before!!!
CArteach0- I’m a stubborn bastard, what can I say 🙂
After a Horror Story with Delta 5 years ago, the Wife and I now call it “Evil Delta” and we refuse to use them except in the absolutely “Must Get There” cases. At least, She does. I refuse to Fly, unless it’s an “Absolute Must Get There” Scenario.
Oh, and Delta sucks. A friend just had a terrible experience and I’ve sworn off of them.
Nice trip to read about, glad I wasn’t trying to survive it – life is an adventure.
You keep at it, you will never wear out if you don’t retire.
Wait a minute, isn’t Delta the one swallowing all the other carriers?
Bubblehead- I’m at that point with Delta now…
45- Good!
Earl- I’m too damn old for ‘adventure’, I’m ready for peace and quiet 🙂
Delta SUCKS.
Atl SUCKS.
I have coupons for 150 off my next flight with Delta ( that I’ll most likely never use ), because of the last time, April, that I flew with Delta, which had a connecting flight out of…. you guessed it ATL.
Old NFO: Actually, on our quarterly flights out to LA we’ve found Delta to be decent. Can’t say the same for US AIR and don’t get me started on UNITED.
Yeah, they do almost spit on you as you board a UNITED flight and they sure as hell won’t connect you with your luggage when you get to your destination. Mine has always shown up at home 3 weeks later.
I like Frontier, but their seats are pretty close together so if you’re tall, you have to bend.
Ahh, the fun of flying with all these morons.
Relax and take some time off to shoot your new FNH…
All The Best,
Frank W. James
Matt- Concur
Frank- I’ve actually had GOOD luck with United, now having said that, I’ve probably just jinxed myself…
I’ll be shooting the FNH next weekend, and hopefully finding some affordable mags for it… sigh.
Aaah Delta. They treat you like you never left the ground. They treat you like dirt.
On behalf of my employer….I apologize for your crappy treatment. Yes I work at Delta, I am a mechanic at the jet base there. Please write a letter explaining exactly what happened if you don’t mind. Delta can’t fix the problems unless they know about it. I know it is asking much, but if you can provide the itenerary of your flights and what transpired. See what they will do to make it right. I being a non-rev have had great treatment, also not so good treatment and I am a Delta employee. The worse treatment seems to be in atlanta..I believe it has to be with the airport being at overcapacity. It is no excuse, but a possible explaination. Delta is trying to go back to its roots of being known for its southern hospitality and that takes time. Like I said, I am sorry for your shabby treatment, but please write, not e-mail(makes a better impact) what has transpired.
I thank you for your time and patience.
“MrG”
I have a vague memory that flying used to be fun. But I refuse to do it for work anymore. Way too much hassle.
Midwest Chick- Yep… sigh…
MrG- will do, for all the good it will do… The lack of water was REALLY strange though. 3 of 3 acft with no water???
PH- That was a LONG time ago!
For background, were the airplanes Boeing 757’s or were they MD88’s.
We have had problems with “foul odors” from the rear of the airplanes, it is a major customer complaint. it has been traced to the lav tanks, they are serviced regularly, but they are getting old. We have been pulling them out on PSV visits to replace them. Both 757 and MD88’s seem to suffer from this malady. Since we operate more 757’s than anybody and I think we operate more 88’s with the exception of American Airlines. Because of the LAV smelling issues, the lav’s are closed. I hope this explains the issue.