A Fine Example of Misery, Thanks To New Millennium Travel Purveyors
This took all took place on one recent Sunday:
AirTran MSY/ATL – 20 mins late; no reason given; no apologies made; look of surprise by gate agent when I asked why; she said she had no idea.
AirTran ATL/RDU – 20 mins late; no reason given; no apologies made; ATL gate agent was surly, then indifferent when I asked where was the inbound airplane that was to make up our flight; she said she had no idea.
Delta RDU/ATL – Inbound aircraft arrived RDU 20 mins late due to “late crew in ATL” (flight came from ATL); left 40 mins late; no reason or apology given; arrived gate in ATL 55 mins late; again, no explanation.
Delta ATL/DFW – Boarded on time (30 mins ahead of departure); somehow got out of gate 20 mins late; no reason or apology given; managed to arrive DFW 40 mins late; no announcement as to why, just “The local time is one hour earlier than Atlanta.”
DFW Airport’s consolidated bus to consolidated rental car center at south end of DFW – waited 20 mins for bus to arrive; packed to SRO limit within 30 seconds of arrival; arrived at DFW off-airport car rental building just before midnight.
Hertz DFW – Despite being Gold & Presidents' Circle, name not on Gold board; Gold Service office closed at 11:00 PM; forced to go back inside & wait in long line of people with similar problem; lost 20 more mins; no reason or apology given; while in line, I phoned Hertz Gold line, where they confirmed that my reservation number was correct & stated for the correct flight number & time (I write those details down from many such bad experiences).
Hilton Garden Inn-Fort Worth – Arrived long past midnight; despite being a Diamond member, they once again (second week in a row) forgot to put my 2 Diamond water bottles in my room, but assured me that they were in fact here, forcing me to return to the desk to get them; no apologies; just a sullen glower from the desk clerk; so much for my exalted HHonors Diamond Status.
I really try to keep a positive attitude when traveling, and I approach the whole experience with a well-practiced Zen-like self-induced aura to protect my sense of privacy.
No matter: They have perfected the Chinese art of exquisitely fine torture. Whether you call it water torture (drip, drip, drip), or being nibbled to death by ducks, or death by a thousand cuts, the effect is the same. It’s maddening; I have no respect for these so-called "service" providers.
Delta, Hertz, Hilton, Northworst, Southworst, Hyatt, Avis, Continental, National, American, Marriott, United, Useless Air, they all seem indifferent to their customers.
This took all took place on one recent Sunday:
AirTran MSY/ATL – 20 mins late; no reason given; no apologies made; look of surprise by gate agent when I asked why; she said she had no idea.
AirTran ATL/RDU – 20 mins late; no reason given; no apologies made; ATL gate agent was surly, then indifferent when I asked where was the inbound airplane that was to make up our flight; she said she had no idea.
Delta RDU/ATL – Inbound aircraft arrived RDU 20 mins late due to “late crew in ATL” (flight came from ATL); left 40 mins late; no reason or apology given; arrived gate in ATL 55 mins late; again, no explanation.
Delta ATL/DFW – Boarded on time (30 mins ahead of departure); somehow got out of gate 20 mins late; no reason or apology given; managed to arrive DFW 40 mins late; no announcement as to why, just “The local time is one hour earlier than Atlanta.”
DFW Airport’s consolidated bus to consolidated rental car center at south end of DFW – waited 20 mins for bus to arrive; packed to SRO limit within 30 seconds of arrival; arrived at DFW off-airport car rental building just before midnight.
Hertz DFW – Despite being Gold & Presidents' Circle, name not on Gold board; Gold Service office closed at 11:00 PM; forced to go back inside & wait in long line of people with similar problem; lost 20 more mins; no reason or apology given; while in line, I phoned Hertz Gold line, where they confirmed that my reservation number was correct & stated for the correct flight number & time (I write those details down from many such bad experiences).
Hilton Garden Inn-Fort Worth – Arrived long past midnight; despite being a Diamond member, they once again (second week in a row) forgot to put my 2 Diamond water bottles in my room, but assured me that they were in fact here, forcing me to return to the desk to get them; no apologies; just a sullen glower from the desk clerk; so much for my exalted HHonors Diamond Status.
I really try to keep a positive attitude when traveling, and I approach the whole experience with a well-practiced Zen-like self-induced aura to protect my sense of privacy.
No matter: They have perfected the Chinese art of exquisitely fine torture. Whether you call it water torture (drip, drip, drip), or being nibbled to death by ducks, or death by a thousand cuts, the effect is the same. It’s maddening; I have no respect for these so-called "service" providers.
Delta, Hertz, Hilton, Northworst, Southworst, Hyatt, Avis, Continental, National, American, Marriott, United, Useless Air, they all seem indifferent to their customers.
posted by William A. Allen III | 8:45 PM
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