My View For Awhile: ORDEAL WITH @DELTA

Now for a couple of flights, one shortish and one longish.

Not much going on at this airport today.  Parking and check in and security were a breeze.

It is a fairly quick trip to see friends.

It’ll be hot, but it’s a dry heat.

UPDATE

And so it begins with the Delta shuffle.  I was already upgraded to a seat I chose but they moved me to a different seat in the same class but the 1st row – which in general I don’t like.  Strange.  Perhaps it was an equipment change.  The tail number ended in an EV which I don’t recall seeing before.

It’s a CRJ200 equipped with the deluxe Vicegrip Squeeze Seat™ option for the 1st row, as antipicated.  And because it is the “Comfort” section – yes it really says that – in our row we have a conforting immovable bulk head in front of us which prevents any  comfortable stretching out of legs.


Happily, this is the – heh – shortish “leg”.

UPDATE:

Variation in announcements – this flight is operated by SkyWest it seems: We’ve been instructed that we cannot consume our own alcohol.   I guess I’ll have to consume my neighbor’s alcohol instead.  Sheesh!  This might get a little sporty.  I hope he brought the good stuff this time.

UPGRADE… er um… UPDATE:

While MSN was like a desert, MSP was crazy busy.  It reminded me of LGA on a bad day.  Tables and dining areas crowd the gate at the end of G.


Of course my gate was at the opposite end of the airport at the farthest end.  Who else has this karma?


This is more like it.

And now…

Before getting back to me Kindle … or nap.

Oh…  there’s this.

I discovered a new app feature. You can track your bag and see it on a “map”.


I’m still waiting for an update, however.

They are closing the door and there is NO UPDATE on the location of the bag.  Thanks Delta, again, for failing to perform.   Now I get to wonder.

UPDATE

Delta screwed up my bag.   They didn’t load it.  It’s going to ATLANTA.  I’m not going to Atlanta.

UPDATE

I’ve arrive at my destination, but my bag did not.   I’ve been dealing with Delta ever since.  I believe it is on the way to where I am, but they have not been especially interested in “making me whole”, as it were.

BTW… here was my tray table.

17_08_13_Delta_Premium_tray_table_3A_DL899

If it looks as it it might have been sticky… I assure you that it was.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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22 Comments

  1. graytown says:

    That’s some spiffy terminal floor covering.
    Ceilings look a little low though.
    SkyWest is a huge “regional” airline that flys the smaller jets on shorter routes for several of the major airlines.
    Safe travels Fr Z

  2. Charivari Rob says:

    “…bad day at LaGuardia”?

    When was the last time there was a good day at LGA?

    I haven’t flown to/from there in years. Passed it on the road many times (perpetual construction) and did dropoff/pickup once or twice, but that’s it.

    When I did fly from there (~20 years ago), I had no problems, but it was at decidedly off-peak times and I have the impression that my experience was more pleasant than the vast majority of those who flew to/from there.

    I was long-distance dating my future wife in Boston and would occasionally do the one-day or overnight air trip. Back then, Continental from Newark or Delta from LGA would run $50 weekend fares on their Boston shuttle flights (ridership was much lower than during the business week). I could drive to LGA (paying a couple of tolls), park in front of the building (shuttle was running from the old Marine Aviation Terminal then), and walk in. Still a little more expensive than gas, etc… driving to Boston and back, but could save a lot of time and save wear&tear on my car & myself.

  3. DamianF says:

    Delta is winning. Fortunately I get United this coming Friday.

  4. acardnal says:

    Time for you to try bilocation, Father Z.

  5. Joy65 says:

    I’ve NEVER flown in my life and I don’t plan to. With my “Luck” something would go wrong if I did.

  6. SKAY says:

    Bag situation–awful!!

  7. HobokenZephyr says:

    Well Father, just remember that to get to Hell on Delta you have to connect through Atlanta!

  8. Kathleen10 says:

    LaGuardia? Never again.
    I’ll be on Delta to Atlanta Thursday, I’ll pick up your bag. :)

  9. Sandy says:

    Flying across country next week on Delta. I’m usually pleased with them. It’s costing more to get “Delta Comfort” so they better not change my seat! Joy65, I don’t blame you! I really, really, dislike travelling anywhere, but have to go check on dear Mom.

  10. Dr Guinness says:

    Sorry if you’ve covered this, but it seems like you always have such a bad time with Delta… Why not change over to another carrier?

  11. jflare says:

    I remember moving from Germany to the US. De Gaulle in Paris had fog for some time, so my plane from Nuremberg delayed by a few hours. Once at De Gaulle, the airline switched me to another flight because mine had already departed. Sadly, they did not remember to also move my luggage. I wound up arriving in Atlanta with the clothes on my back, and not much else. After staying in a hotel overnight, then catching the next flight to my destination, I learned that my suitcase still had not caught up. I had the choice of re-wearing the same clothes (now two days worn) or buying something else.
    My luggage FINALLY caught up after about 1 week.

    I do hope, Fr Z, you had a change of clothes in your carry-on.

  12. The Egyptian says:

    like this poor couple
    https://goo.gl/images/UnWrcV
    pays to have a sense of humor

  13. Marion Ancilla Mariae says:

    Sorry to hear about your lost luggage, Father.

    I’ll be flying next weekend, and your ordeal reminds me to roll up and stash a fresh shirt, a pair of knickers, and socks in my carry-on. Just in case.

    A propos of nothing except travel generally, and nothing to do with Father’s lost luggage . . . but for those who may be interested, a friend who flies around the world *all the time* for business, tells me that he always dresses in a suit and tie and comfortable, but business-like shoes when he travels. Also freshly-shaved, hair neatly combed, very dapper, etc. He says he receives better treatment from personnel with the airline, with shops, restaurants, hotels, etc. His employer’s travel advice suggested this. It seems that many people unconsciously pay more attention more quickly to someone who is well-dressed and well-groomed, and they are more likely to listen to them, and to provide extra services to such a person (if that person is also polite and pleasant to the staff), and to follow up and see to it that things go well with them.

    I have tried this approach, and have found it to be true . . . at least for me. (Even with the folks from the TSA. ) My one departure from “well-dressed” is that I do wear athletic shoes (clean and in excellent condition), but this doesn’t seem to detract from the overall picture.

    Just FWIW.

  14. Cafea Fruor says:

    This is exactly why I only fly with a carry-on bag. The only time I check a bag is if I’m forced to gate check that carry-on. Some people think I’m crazy for that, but then I’ve never lost a bag.

  15. Fr. Bryan says:

    Ugh! And I am flying Delta on the first leg of my trip to the Holy land this fall. Does not inspire confidence.

  16. APX says:

    Time for you to try bilocation

    Agreed. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the only way to travel.

  17. APX says:

    Just wondering, though, why do people keep flying Delta since it’s so terrible?

  18. hwriggles4 says:

    I don’t think Fr. Z is flying to catch a cruise ship, but for those who are in the near future here is my 2 cents:

    Fly to the port the day before. This will be an asset in unexpected circumstances, such as flight delays. Years ago my luggage got left behind on the way to Seattle to catch an Alaskan cruise, and I was very grateful that my luggage was delivered to my hotel in the middle of the night.

    The last time I went on a cruise my friends and I flew in the day before, and were glad we did because due to weather conditions the ship disembarked three hours earlier than expected.

    Sometimes things happen – make the best of it.

  19. Traductora says:

    I generally have good flights with good staff on Delta, and I fly a fair amount, both domestically and to Europe. That said, I hate, hate, hate the bulkhead seats. Maybe they should make a little niche in them to stow your bag…and your feet!

  20. Charivari Rob says:

    What does the Delta Defectibus say about this situation?

  21. JeffTL says:

    That’s what it stands for – Dispatching Everyone’s Luggage To Atlanta.

  22. Luvadoxi says:

    I totally think they should give you all the miles your bags fly. It’s only fair.

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