It’s so frustrating when a trip that starts off smoothly takes a turn for the worse. My recent Delta flight was excellent from the moment I checked in until we arrived at our destination. However, my experience was marred by an unfortunate incident involving a wheelchair.
Upon landing in Boston, I requested assistance to reach the baggage claim. The wheelchair attendant informed me I had to pay for the service. I was shocked because I always assumed it was a complimentary service and was used to tipping for good service. The attendant insisted on payment and when I refused, he demanded payment from my daughter when she arrived to pick me up. She paid, believing it was a new policy. This was an unpleasant and unexpected expense.
Things didn’t improve when we decided to treat ourselves to a first-class ticket. While the seats were spacious and comfortable, our flight was delayed due to the flight crew arriving late. This caused a ripple effect, forcing many passengers to scramble for connecting flights. It was heartbreaking to see their frustration. To add insult to injury, one of our four checked bags went missing. While Delta’s online support wasn’t helpful, the baggage claim staff were kind and sympathetic. Despite waiting for almost two hours, our bag remained missing. Luckily, they found it a few hours later, and we had to drive back to the airport to retrieve it. This whole experience has left me less enthusiastic about splurging on first-class travel. It seems like we received worse service for a higher price! Unfortunately, we don’t have many options since we have family in Atlanta, and Delta is our main carrier.
Unpleasant Experiences with Other Airlines
My recent travels haven’t been filled with only Delta disappointments. I had several unpleasant encounters with other airlines as well.
During my check-in with a different airline, I was informed that the baggage weight limit was 23 kg, which is a little over 50 pounds. The agent insisted on a 50-pound limit and when I pointed out the 23kg limit, she confidently declared it was 22kg! I was completely bewildered! Was she poorly trained or just ignorant? I was unsure, but it left me feeling uneasy.
Later, on a different flight, I had a frustrating encounter with a teenage girl sitting behind me. She kept pressing her feet against the back of my seat, despite me turning around multiple times to signal her to stop. I didn’t want to make a fuss, so I just leaned forward and tried to ignore the discomfort. The entire flight was a series of minor annoyances, culminating in a sense of frustration and disappointment.
I recently booked a flight with British Airways, only to have my boarding pass revoked due to a system crash. The airport staff were unhelpful, and the new staff member accused me of being late for my flight, which was false. I had arrived an hour and ten minutes early! After waiting for three hours, I was forced to book a train home, which took another four hours! This experience was incredibly stressful and inconvenient. I had been traveling for three months and was looking forward to returning home, only to be met with this chaotic mess. I won’t be flying with BA again!
Business Class Flight Fail
My most recent travel experience with British Airways was incredibly disappointing. While I booked a business class ticket, I felt like I was stuck in economy class. I was so used to the amenities and service offered by United Airlines’ Polaris class, that BA’s business suite class felt very underwhelming.
The lounge in Las Vegas was basic and overcrowded, and the one in London Heathrow was a bit better but still didn’t measure up to the Polaris lounges. The boarding process was chaotic, with no clear guidance on boarding groups. The suites were nice, but the padding wasn’t comfortable for sleeping. While the crew was friendly, their service was limited. There was only one tray service for dinner, which wasn’t like the usual drink-first, dinner with multiple wine pours, and dessert experience I’m accustomed to. United Airlines might not be known for their service, but compared to BA, they are super attentive. After that one dinner tray service, I never saw anyone checking in to see if I needed anything else.
The arrival experience at Heathrow was equally chaotic. We were shuttled back to the terminal on busses, which was surprising for a long flight. The bus for First and Business class was completely packed, and the driver was yelling at passengers to squeeze in every available inch before taking us to the terminal. By the time I finally arrived, I felt like BA had overpromised and under-delivered on the business class experience. It felt like a mediocre economy class experience in a fancier shell, and I felt like they didn’t really care about their customers. This entire experience was a huge letdown.
