TimeOut

ThomasM
[PuristS]
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Where do I begin?

Hi, Michael,

Sorry you had to endure that.  Over the past several years I've averaged 250k miles a year or more (true airmiles) with generally about 4-6 round trips per month.  I can't say I've seen or experienced everything, but

* we had to make an unscheduled landing where one of the passengers was taken off in handcuffs. He tried to smoke in the lavatory and they were afraid he was trying to set off a bomb. Seriously, they off loaded everyone and couldn't find his check in luggage...yeah, we watched from the plane, then the departure / arrival gate as the guy was hauled away in handcuffs.  This after all scheduled flights had left that airport (Austin?)

* not enough space to list the more-than-3-hours on the tarmac delays due to weather, in many cases BOTH on original flight (London, Geneva) AND JFK or BOS. Total tarmac waiting time? 12 hours. I think there is a FAA rule against this, but how were we going to fight it?

* Flight leaving Budapest late, which made it get to JFK late (if on time, JFK still open) after it was closed due to severe weather. Re-routed to BOS, no accomodations because problem due to weather. Airport hotels full so had to find a taxi to off site hotel; plane full of Hungarian passengers, many of whom did not speak English, and I'm not pushy enough to force my way to front of line or push back when others pushed their way in front of me.

* flight late coming in to Geneva, so obviously my flight out was delayed. Mechanical difficulties. I needed to get to EWR to catch a flight to Mexico City; I asked them if they had a direct or other route to MEX, I didn't really have to go through EWR and I really needed to get to MEX for a meeting (others flying in for an international meeting)  They assured it would be fine, I would have plenty of time for my connection.

* Of course, I landed EWR with 15 minutes for my connection. Did Continental ground crew care? Are you naive enough to think yes?  HOURS later (and they tried to nick me for change fee!!! ended up downgrading me for only seat available) I cancelled my onward trip and just wanted to return to LAX. You'd think that would be easy, right? Since MEX LAX was part of my original itinerary and it was their screw up? NOOOOO...Overnight at my expense in a downtrodden HoJo near EWR for my next morning flight to LAX. And of course, the incidental costs of the missed meeting are my problem...

I could go on and on and on...

There are good experiences too, of course, but most are just bearable...

Glad to have you back and online.

TM