It started out with my flight to Atlanta this morning. Aside from having the least amount of space on any aeroplane known to humankind, rude cheque in staff at the airport, no class, and our snacks in flight were sponsored by hotels, and having bad service on the flight, that was the GOOD part of the trip. After arriving in Atlanta and waiting a while for my connection, shortly before boarding they cancel the flight into Washington Reagen National Airport. Okay, we all need to rebook our flights and wait in a long line. We do not get to talk to any employee about this, they simply scan our ticket and print us our info for our next flight. Luckily I am told I make it on to the last flight of the day to Reagen. After my gate being changed a dozen times in the next few hours I hear that so far Delta has not ran a single flight between ATL airport and DCA airport from the earliest flight to present and ALL OF THEM had been cancelled so far, but they were pretty sure the rest of the flights would fly out. WRONG! At about 5:30-6PM sometime they announce ALL flights for the day had been cancelled into Reagen and we needed to go to customer service to rebook. After RUNNING along with thousands of others to reach customer service to rebook I reach the line. With a long line still in front of me I am informed that ALL flights for the day are full into Washington-Reagan, Washington-Dulles, AND Bultimore! At least on Delta. We would need to leave security and return to the main ticket counter where you cheque in to rebook our flights. I met a girl from Germany at customer service, and an 18 year old who attends college in Arizona who was travelling for the frist time alone who was scared and crying. Neither had any idea how to get to the main ticket counter, and having previously lived in Georgia and knowing that airport well, they followed me to the main ticket counter where we waited nearly an hour and a half! The college student rebooked into Richmond Virginia that night which worked out better for her anyway, and I believe the girl from Germany ended up renting a car to drive to Washington DC. When I got to the counter the lady said they had nothing I could fly to the same day unless I wanted to go to Virginia Beach, Newport News, Norfolk, or Richmond. She confirmed me on a flight for the next day and told me that even though I was in Atlanta for the night the airline would not be providing any hotel credits- that would only be available to rewards members in the amount of 25% off. In fact, even though I was confirmed for the 6:45AM flight to Reagen, the airline had the right to bump me off of that flight if a rewards member needed that seat. They wanted to make sure all the rewards members made it to their destination first (of course they don't want to pay any more in hotel stays than they need to). She said I was free to try another airline and to ask US AIRWAYS or AIRTRAN AIRWAYS to see if either of them had any open flights to Reagen, Dulles, or Baltimore. She said doing this however I would lose all money I had put towards my Delta ticket, because Delta tickets are not recognised for credit by anyone else. But unless I wanted to wait a few days in Atlanta with no hotel, that would be my best option. UGH! Well US Airways was not an option as their only flight was departing in 30 minutes, so I proceeded to the opposite terminal to ask AirTran if they had any flights open. They do have a 10:15PM flight expected to leave to Baltimore with plenty of seats available for $257! However this flight can only be booked over the phone they say. After calling the parrentals and explaining the situation they agree and decide it is best to buy the ticket, only the lady from AirTran says the flight can not be booked over the phone less than 4 hours before the flight takes off. Then they decide to try to wire me money through Western Union to purchase the flight at the airport using cash. The Western Union outside the security however is closing shortly and I am not able to re-enter security to get the money because... TA-DAH... I don't have a confirmed valid flight for that day! The money will not go through anyways. I likely ran across between the terminals over and over in the next short time. In the last two minutes before the last possible minute I could cheque in for that AirTran flight, my father has success booking the ticket online. I have success getting out of Atlanta that night, and arrive in Baltimore just after midnight followed by an hour car ride to my destination. My bag of course does not arrive until the next day's flight that the airline requires it sends it on. But whatever... After a full day of chaos I am OUT of Atlanta... & I was beginning to forget how much I hate Georgia. I discovered later that it was ONLY DELTA who cancelled flights into DC that day and ONLY into Reagen. The other airlines made by with as much as a 30 minute delay. And this was all due to a dusting of snow?!? (just a couple inches)... REALLY. No other airline had ANY issues, nor did any other airport. Delta has really gone to shit! It has gotten terrible. I am really praying they go out of business and telling everyone else, if my story isn't enough encouragement, BOYCOTT THEM! I am, even if I have to pay double for any other airline. Heck my one way to Baltimore was about the cost of my entire round trip! Thank God I'm flying back on American Airlines.
RAYE
