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Posted by tgl on 2006-08-07 19:51:30 +0000

I am not alone!

Posted by MF DU on 2006-08-07 20:43:49 +0000

I have never heard of an instance where an airline takes enough ownership of a problem to issue courtesey plane tickets. I was held overnight in DeeeeeTroit once and I even had to pay for my own room. TRADITION!

Posted by Miriam on 2006-08-07 21:13:44 +0000

What's funny is that I was thinking of writing them a complaint letter, but I'd bet the other folks on the flight already did that. It was seriously awful. The flight was on the tarmack in Philly for 2+ hours without air conditioning in 90+ heat before taking off for Midway...but we didn't make it there. We were diverted to Indianapolis, where they made us sit on the plane, at the terminal, and wouldn't let us off (we'd been on the plane for 5+ hours at that point) to eat or stretch our legs. A baby on board had run out of diapers and shit his mom. Finally they let us off the plane to eat and stretch (which was good since we were there for 2+ hours). I left the terminal to get a sandwich (the food court was just outside the gate area), since all the restaurants in the terminal were closed. Luckily for many, the bar was still open. Unfortunately for me, a woman in the row behind me took advantage of that. By the way, the airline didn't offer to buy us dinner. When we got back on the plane, we sat on the runway for another hour or so, then flew to Midway. I caught a connector to Nashville over an hour later, and when I got to the airport picked up my bag from the claims office (it got there SEVERAL hours earlier). I then went out to my car, called the emergency road service folks, and had my front driver's side tire pumped. I got home at 2:30am Central Time. Left my hotel in Philly at noon Eastern Time. Still recovering.

Posted by tgl on 2006-08-08 12:29:06 +0000

Miriam took the free ticket in exchange for her seat, it wasn't a ticket to rectify a problem. I think I've been on flights (usually the last one of the day to Manchestair from Deh-twah) were that has been offered, I don't think I've ever accepted. Hope you made it to the Landing Strip.

Posted by tgl on 2006-08-08 12:33:22 +0000

Sounds awful. Next time, take the train. Philly to Knoxville? I can do that drive in 10 hrs.

Posted by tgl on 2006-08-08 12:34:43 +0000

NWA should name the DTW-MHT flight "French Connection".

Posted by MF DU on 2006-08-08 12:49:35 +0000

NWA. CHORTLE. I wasn't clear that a ticket was taken in exchange for a seat.

Posted by tgl on 2006-08-08 13:02:02 +0000

Erm, maybe she did get free tickets, as I see that there are two votes for "apology tickets from Southwest". Incredible.

Posted by MF DU on 2006-08-08 13:04:09 +0000

Wow. As far as airlines go in my experience, your shit has to be more bungled than normal to offer anyhting more than a snarl or a small package of nuts that should be carbon dated.

Posted by Miriam on 2006-08-08 18:19:21 +0000

There were a total of three free tickets from this experience. The first one I got after volunteering my seat on the original flight which went to Raleigh and entirely avoided the Midwest and would've gotten me home on time. The two others I got in the mail yesterday.

Posted by Miriam on 2006-08-08 18:20:19 +0000

I've gotten free tickets and vouchers for travel discounts off future tickets many times before. I always write a letter; this time I didn't have to!