I have always flown on Southwest Airlines for my travel needs. So when I found out I had to fly on Delta for a business conference, I was not exactly thrilled. Aside from having to pay for my luggage (yes, even carry-ons), I never really cared for their hospitality.
I was flying from Tampa, FL to Atlanta, GA, and from Atlanta to Huntsville, AL. The first one hour-and-something flight was fine, save for a slight delay. However, the second hourlong flight was TERRIBLE.
First, Delta has assigned seating. I always choose window seats; it’s not everyday one gets to see his world in miniature. So, naturally, I was a little bit upset that my seat was already occupied. I was about to ask for him to move, but decided not to when I saw that the man looked… shady, to say the least. Not wanting to mess up the seating assignments any further, I took the seat next to him/mine. No sooner did I sit down was I presented with an awful, almost illegal smell. The man smelled and looked like he just smoked a pack of cigarettes, at least a few blunts, and then topped it off with a few swigs of whiskey.
I was not sitting for more than a few minutes and I was completely overwhelmed with his stench. I was afraid I would show up at my meeting with bloodshot eyes and reeking of smoke.
After leaving the gate, the flight attendant removed two small children from the front two seats, leaving them empty. Seeing no one else sit there, I decided to make my move to the front. I settled in, and thought that I would have a smoke-free flight. However, the attendant jumped up, telling me I had to immediately return to my seat, and that the other children were moved for weight reasons. Horrified, I returned to my seat next to the shady man, and he stared at me like he knew why I left.
However, the attendant saw that I was only a few seats back, and told me I could return to the front, thinking I had come from the back of the plane. At last, I could enjoy the trip in peace!
The rest of the flight was enjoyable, more or less. It was the longest hour and 3 minute flight of my life, though with the time change THE ENTIRE ORDEAL LASTED NOT LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES…
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So now I am returning from the aforementioned business trip on Delta Airlines. Thankfully, the return trips were less eventful. I got an extra hour and a half delay added to my three hour layover in Atlanta, and they moved my gate down about 10 numbers.
I did not think twice about the gate change until I finally got home to Tampa. My bag was not waiting for me there. Groggily I went to the Lost Baggage department, who told me that my bag decided to see the World’s Fair IN SEATTLE for a few extra days without me. He said this happened because of the gate change.
Two very long days later, my bag showed up at my doorstep, in worse condition than I left it in. It was searched and all of my items, cloths, books, souvenirs, etc were thrown about, some damaged, and spilled about the bag. Needless to say, I had to buy new luggage.
And to think, Delta charged me (and everyone else) $15 for any type of bag.
I can’t wait to go to my conference again next year.
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