US Airways enters KRvW's "Never Again Club", with honors!
As anyone who actually reads this web site knows, I
travel quite a bit, both on business as well as for
pleasure (whenever possible). What's more, for
various reasons (primarily convenience), I tend to
fly mostly on one airline -- United.
Now, United isn't the best airline -- or the worst -- without a doubt. They have more than their share of warts. But, as an "elite" (1K) flyer on them, when something goes wrong, I tend to get it resolved pretty quickly and easily. Usually.
But I just got back from a trip to Rome yesterday. (See this link for some pix.) My customer tried to pinch a few pennies and I ended up on US Airways instead of United. Mistake #1.
I left Washington Reagan airport on the day after a northeastern US snow and ice storm. Not surprisingly, things were delayed. I'm completely understanding of the situation at this point.
But US Airways had, I'm told and have verified via news reports, recently upgraded one of its main computer systems. Not sure what went wrong behind the scenes, but at the front counter, it was pandemonium. The check-in line at DCA was hundreds of yards long. No kidding.
After a couple hours in line and nearly giving up, a couple US Air employees came through and grabbed those of us who might still make today's flight. I was among the lucky. Got to Philly just fine, but ended up missing the Rome flight.
Then -- and I have to give due credit here -- a couple of wonderful US Airways employees in the US Air Club helped me re-route my trip via Munich. Looks like I made it. But more delays...
I ended up in Rome without my bags and had to go to my customer site in smelly, dirty jeans/rugby without a change of clothes. Bags finally arrived late Monday.
But that still wouldn't get them into my Never Again Club (NAC).
On my return from Rome yesterday, I picked up my bags in Philly. Everything was on time. Two hours in Philly to catch my connection to DCA. No problem. Get to DCA and, you guessed it, no bags.
In fact, not only were my bags lost, but about 2/3 of the people on my flight were stranded without their bags as well. We waited pathetically at the baggage carousel only to have about 10 bags come out from our flight and then the carousel shut down. No more bags.
I just can't believe this. How could an airline be so blatantly mis-managed to make this kind of mistake over and over? It just boggles my mind and forces me to spotlight them here, for all that's worth ;-\, in my Never Again Club, with honors.
Oh, and I'm typing this the morning after I arrived home. No bags yet, and I'm waiting for my ride back to the airport to leave on yet another business trip (on United!). I've had to pull together a replacement dop kit and such, but I'll make it. And I'm confident that United will live up to my expectations, but who knows.
Now, United isn't the best airline -- or the worst -- without a doubt. They have more than their share of warts. But, as an "elite" (1K) flyer on them, when something goes wrong, I tend to get it resolved pretty quickly and easily. Usually.
But I just got back from a trip to Rome yesterday. (See this link for some pix.) My customer tried to pinch a few pennies and I ended up on US Airways instead of United. Mistake #1.
I left Washington Reagan airport on the day after a northeastern US snow and ice storm. Not surprisingly, things were delayed. I'm completely understanding of the situation at this point.
But US Airways had, I'm told and have verified via news reports, recently upgraded one of its main computer systems. Not sure what went wrong behind the scenes, but at the front counter, it was pandemonium. The check-in line at DCA was hundreds of yards long. No kidding.
After a couple hours in line and nearly giving up, a couple US Air employees came through and grabbed those of us who might still make today's flight. I was among the lucky. Got to Philly just fine, but ended up missing the Rome flight.
Then -- and I have to give due credit here -- a couple of wonderful US Airways employees in the US Air Club helped me re-route my trip via Munich. Looks like I made it. But more delays...
I ended up in Rome without my bags and had to go to my customer site in smelly, dirty jeans/rugby without a change of clothes. Bags finally arrived late Monday.
But that still wouldn't get them into my Never Again Club (NAC).
On my return from Rome yesterday, I picked up my bags in Philly. Everything was on time. Two hours in Philly to catch my connection to DCA. No problem. Get to DCA and, you guessed it, no bags.
In fact, not only were my bags lost, but about 2/3 of the people on my flight were stranded without their bags as well. We waited pathetically at the baggage carousel only to have about 10 bags come out from our flight and then the carousel shut down. No more bags.
I just can't believe this. How could an airline be so blatantly mis-managed to make this kind of mistake over and over? It just boggles my mind and forces me to spotlight them here, for all that's worth ;-\, in my Never Again Club, with honors.
Oh, and I'm typing this the morning after I arrived home. No bags yet, and I'm waiting for my ride back to the airport to leave on yet another business trip (on United!). I've had to pull together a replacement dop kit and such, but I'll make it. And I'm confident that United will live up to my expectations, but who knows.
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