Soaked Luggage, Dampened Spirit

October 26, 2009

in Luggage Stories

Last summer, I went overseas. This was the first time I had flown by myself. I first flew into JFK from Atlanta. The departure was delayed, and then once we arrived at JFK we had to sit on the tarmac for a little over an hour. After everyone finally got off the plane, we waited for our baggage. But, it had started to rain, and for safety reasons the baggage handlers couldn’t finish taking the baggage onto the airport. They didn’t do anything to protect the baggage that was exposed to the rain, and it rained for over an hour. I had a connecting flight to Heathrow two hours after landing in JFK, and when it was time for me to get to the gate, I still didn’t have my bag because it was outside being rained on. Lucky for me though, in true JFK fashion, my connecting flight was delayed. I finally got my bag from Atlanta, and it was soaked. My clothes felt like I had dumped them in a swimming pool, and the airlines refused to do anything about it– they wouldn’t let me file a claim because it was left in the rain due to the workers’ safety.

Finally, after getting my soaked baggage, trying to dry part of it in the bathroom using the hand driers and paper towels, and then stumbling around the airport in search of something to eat (I hadn’t eaten in eight hours), I found out my flight to Heathrow was CANCELLED. The next flight was scheduled for twenty-four hours later. Again, the airline refused to do anything about it. I didn’t get a meal or hotel voucher. I spent the night at JFK, sleeping usually for no more than an hour at a time. When I finally boarded my next flight, it was on an old, cramped plane, and children were running and screaming up and down the aisles. Even worse, I had a middle seat. I had to try and sleep on top of my seat tray.

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

Annon October 28, 2009 at 4:04 pm

I can tell that this was the first time you ever flew by yourself.What did you do? beg mom and dad not to make you an unaccompanied minor for this trip?

Stuff happens during bad weather and no amount of complaining is going to make an airline risk the safety of it's employees just so that you are not incovenienced.

As far as your flight being cancelled, the airlines do not have to give you a hotel room or food vouchers if the cancellation was due to bad weather.

Waa, Waa, Waa, the plane was old and cramped, the kids were noisy AND you had a middle seat.

No more flying solo for you sweetie, you definitely need the protection of a FA to make sure you are well cared for and arrive in one piece with your luggage intact. 🙁

Reply

tinkler November 4, 2009 at 1:07 am

"My clothes felt like I had dumped them in a swimming pool…"

Could they see your nips?

Reply

sss January 11, 2014 at 8:32 pm

Annon needs to shut up you probably can't even afford an economy class ticket

Reply

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