Delta Airlines, the unfriendly skies....again

[Florence]

Just incomprehensible!!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2012/12/13/marine-double-amputee-gets-help-from-fellow-vets-angered-by-delta-airlines-treatment/

[SteveinMN]

There was a time when Delta had an excellent reputation for customer service. People went out of their way to fly that airline. Northwest, however, has never, in my experience both flying on them and as an employee, ever gave a d--n about customers (or employees, FTM). Human beings were accommodated only because they were needed to pay expenses. Sadly, it surprises me very little to hear that this airline would humiliate a customer like that. :(

[sweetana3]

One of our nationally known quilting teachers had her laptop and sewing machine crushed on a United flight. They were carryon but becuase someone had taken her underseat space with a duffel and the crew wanted to leave NOW, she agreed to gate check the bags. When she retreived them, the laptop was smashed and the sewing machine had the table and motor broken off. They must have dropped them to the ground.

She got national attention due to the thousands who follow her blog and website. It should not have happened and the crew should have resolved. But who knows the pressure put on the crew to get off the ground on time since this statistic is followed by management and kindliness is not.

ps: because of her status, she got full reimbursement but her custom sewing machine could not be duplicated exactly as it was a custom painted antique.

[Wildflower]

So disrespectful. So sad. :(

[gimmethesimplelife]

I remember years ago - in 1987 - i flew Delta from Phoenix to Boston when my father passed away, and it was a very pleasant flight both ways. This was back when flights were not full, flying was fun to some degree, food was still served, there was no TSA, no fees for baggage, and oil was still cheap. A lot has changed since then and now the only airline I will fly is Southwest and I will not take anything valuable with me when I fly period. If I were going to fly outside of the US, I would not fly one of the legacy carriers - I would fly a foreign airline the whole way, and if I had to, I would get myself to Mexicali to do so - fly a Mexican airline out to wherever. This is how little I trust or want to have anything to do with US airlines today. But i will still fly Southwest as long as it remains (somewhat) human. Rob

[sweetana3]

We strangely flew American during their "I may strike" period. However, it was a wonderful flight both directions. The flight attendants were even funny which used to be only on Southwest. We were over an hour late taking off due to a big medical emergency on the arriving plane and they managed to hold the connecting flight for the three of us who needed it. (Might have helped a little that we were first class and could make it off the plane and run to the next gate.)

I also will try hard to not fly an American airlines overseas. We have taken Eva Airlines (Taiwan) from San Fran to Bangkok and it was terrific. For Japan, we are going Air Canada and only because of the direct route, business class, and the sale fare I got. Otherwise we would have gone Eva.

[gimmethesimplelife]

We strangely flew American during their "I may strike" period. However, it was a wonderful flight both directions. The flight attendants were even funny which used to be only on Southwest. We were over an hour late taking off due to a big medical emergency on the arriving plane and they managed to hold the connecting flight for the three of us who needed it. (Might have helped a little that we were first class and could make it off the plane and run to the next gate.)

I also will try hard to not fly an American airlines overseas. We have taken Eva Airlines (Taiwan) from San Fran to Bangkok and it was terrific. For Japan, we are going Air Canada and only because of the direct route, business class, and the sale fare I got. Otherwise we would have gone Eva.I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who feels this way about taking foreign carriers over US ones.....I did however find a carrier that is somehow hooked up with Southwest Airlines called Volaris, which seems to be the RyanAir of Mexico.....I might give them a try for Mexico if I ever fly down again, as they fly out from Las Vegas not too far away from me. Rob

[SteveinMN]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who feels this way about taking foreign carriers over US ones
No, you're not the only one. Years ago, when I was a Northwest employee (and, therefore, flew NW all the time), I had occasion to fly Aer Lingus and Alitalia during the same year. The (positive) difference in customer service astounded me. Once I left the company, I would try to fly Northwest to keep the spending local and keep my friends employed. NW also tended to have more non-stop flights to wherever because MSP is a hub (though they overcharge handsomely for the convenience). As time has gone by, though, I've gotten to the point where NW/Delta is the last airline I want to fly on (well, except maybe Spirit). Now I try to fly Sun Country (local) or Southwest (if they fly where I'm going). if I'm flying internationally, I look to other countries' airlines for better customer service and better employee morale. There's just some connection I see between kicking the stuffing out of your employees all the time and believing they'll still treat customers nicely that U.S. airline management doesn't seem to get. >8)

[Tammy]

Southwest for us too. We don't even compare prices .... Just buy southwest tickets and be done with it.

[dmc]

I'm glad I own my own plane. No more being herded like cattle at the airport. No more being treated like a criminal by the TSA. No more being at there mercy as to time schedules.

At least for now, I'm sure the time will come when we will lose this freedom also.