Air France. I have never had such a bad flying experience. The staff are rude and the planes are crammed and dirty. Transfering a Charles DeGaule is awful. Never again.

Posted By Ed Argo on August 29, 2007, 1:01 PM

Southwest Airlines lost my business when they completely destroyed my golf bag and clubs and completely absolved themselves of any guilt because i had, for the first time ever, signed their waiver for golf bags. They refused any compensation.

Posted By Scott Carlson on August 29, 2007, 1:15 PM

My complaint is about US Airways. I flew from Milwaukee WI to Key West FL. I needed to be there by 7:00 PM and took a flight that would get me there about 5:30 PM. There is no easy way to get to Key West, at least there wasn't at that time. It was Milwaukee to Charlotte NC to Ft. Lauderdale FL to Key West FL. When I arrived in Ft. Lauderdale, I want to the counter to check to see if they had an earlier flight, but they did not. She gave me my ticket and I stepped away from the counter. I noticed that my ticket said Ft. Lauderdale to Tampa to Key West, so I returned to the counter. I showed her my itineary from US air, and was told her that this was not acceptable because it would not get me into Key West for my event. I want to note that my original flight was still flying and on time. I was told that I was notified of the change, which I was not, at least not by mail, email or phone. If I had been, I would have contacted US air and made other arrangements to get me there on time. They refused to put me back on the original flight that I paid for, so I requested compensation for the "bump". They refused to do that. I finally had to take the flight that incurred yet another stopoff in Tampa and arrived to Key West about an hour after my event was over. I also wrote a letter to US air after I returned detailing everything and with copies of everything. No satisfaction there either. Bottom line, I cut up my FF card for US air and their partners and will fly anyone else but them.

Posted By Lee Ann Van Der Sande on August 29, 2007, 1:39 PM

Alitalia -
It's too bad the national airline of Italy is such a disgrace. My parents were stuck in Milan for 3 days because the flight crew just didn't show up for the Pisa - Milan flight. There was a near-riot in the Milan airport as security was called in to control the crowds. The most angry travelers? The Italians! We saw a man reach across the desk of an Alitalia employee and throw a monitor across the floor.

Posted By Laura Beckett on August 29, 2007, 7:56 PM

Iberia - They lost our luggage, their system of handling lost luggage is very poor. We made several useless trips back to the airport (and one to a luggage store) during our vacation and it took us over a year to get compensation (at least most of it; we gave up on the rest) for legit expenditures on clothing, both due to long delays and ridiculously strict requirements regarding receipts. We were treated coarsely throughout the process; they haven't a shred of commitment to customer relations.

Posted By Dan Jaffe on August 31, 2007, 9:22 AM

Hello, folks,
I'm sorry to hear so many sad stories. But I salute you guys for taking the time to share your stories. By getting the word out on the Internet, pressure will grow on the airlines to reform.
Regards,
Sean
Blog editor

Posted By Sean on August 31, 2007, 9:34 AM

British Airways - 2 people recommended not to use BA, AFTER we had purchased our tickets. British Airways didn't put us on their planes, but instead put us on a contract airline (FLYBE) which is a real cheapo airline, only we didn't pay el cheapo prices. BA screwed up the electronic tickets the entire way. Two flights were cancelled and when they rebooked they forgot to add my daughter only the paperwork said they had. They also gave away our assigned seats. We spent 45 minutes at the counter checking in and over an hour coming back due to a number of paperwork problems. Lots of fun with an impatient 16 month old to entertain. The flight itself was fine, but all refreshments cost money.

Posted By Trisha Smith on September 3, 2007, 6:23 AM

I'll second that: RyanAir. Because of a train breakdown en route to the airport, we got there fifteen minutes after the boarding window (45 mins, I think?) and weren't even checking baggage, but they wouldn't let us board. They told us we could just pay 60 Euros and take the flight the next day. What they didn't tell us is that we had to pay it while the plane we missed was still on the ground or we'd be paying the full day-of ticket price the next day. I carefully read their policies online when I bought the tickets because I knew the budget carriers have weird rules but knew nothing of this specific rule. What a RyanAir staffer carelessly admitted to me the next day is that this policy (at least then - 2004) was not posted anywhere - online or otherwise! How can they hold people to policies they don't post?! We ended up having to pay over $500 US to get back to Scotland to catch our international flight home w/i 24 hours. That's a bit more than 60 Euros...

Posted By Whitney on September 3, 2007, 9:09 AM

I don't recommend Continental for transatlantic flights. The seating is crammed and the in-flight movies are awful. And transferring between domestic and international flights at Newark is horrendous. I had great experiences on both Air France and United--Air France being my personal favorite.

Posted By Suzi on September 3, 2007, 9:23 AM

US Airways by far! If Doug Parker had not spent all that money trying to take over Delta Airlines he might have had some left over to try his flight crews in basic manners.

Posted By Joyce DeMuth on September 3, 2007, 9:43 AM

US Airways by far! If Doug Parker had not spent all that money trying to take over Delta Airlines he might have had some left over to teach his flight crews in basic manners.

Posted By Joyce DeMuth on September 3, 2007, 9:43 AM

I refuse to ever fly Northwest again. I got news that my grandmother was dying in Athens,Greece and I rushed to find ANY ticket I could in order to see her in her last moments. My flight was supposed to leave Newark at 6:00pm on Wednesday. Once at the gate, we were told there was a slight delay until finally at 10pm we were told that the plane "broke" and a crew was being flown in from Detroit to "fix" the plane. Supposedly we would be leaving at 6am the next morning. We finally left at noon the next day and flew into Amsterdam, which was part of my original itinerary in order to change planes and fly onto Athens. We landed in Amsterdam at 11:00pm Thursday night and it was too late for a flight onto Athens so we were put up in a hotel until the next morning. I made it to the airport by shuttle the next morning, where I was told that all flights to Athens on the plane I was supposed to take, were booked. I ended up in Paris. I finally ended up in Athens on Friday evening which by then it was too late to see my Grandmother. I will never ever fly Northwest again.

Posted By marina on September 3, 2007, 9:53 AM

Agreed with Laura, Alitalia is a disgrace and a nightmare to fly with. Lost my bag and never got it back, and the new york headquarters is most likely an empty building with no one in it...because no one ever answers phones, emails, faxes, or letters...I've tried it all! American Airlines is a close second.

Posted By Jen on September 3, 2007, 10:09 AM

I don't really have any airlines on my Don't Fly list; but have a few places on my Don't Go Back list on account of various disastrous or upsetting experiences. I also have complaints about rude airport or border officials in various places and stupid rules like mandatory onward tickets (in countries with land or sea access).
I have also had disastrous experiences with Amtrak arriving so late I missed an event and my plans were disrupted. This has also happened with several airlines.
Roger Williams, Boulder, Colo.

Posted By Roger A.C. Williams on September 3, 2007, 10:27 AM

ATA never...never...never...never..never...never...never
Flying out of NY in a snow storm every airline was cancelling. ATA said stay at the gate, we boarded and then sat on runway for 3 hours waiting...Ran low on fuel, had to go back to gate and disenbark. Told us to wait we would maybe get clearance. Two hours (now after midnight)..later said nope, we are not going. Try to find a hotel in NY in 20 inches of snow after EVERY other airline cancelled. Hah...found one hotel in a seedy part of town for $229 a night, in good weather it was $119. Told me hey it is our last room take it or leave it...should have slept on airport floor instead.
ATA .... I am Platinum on one airline, Gold on Another and Platinum on another....never flew them again and never will.

Posted By Glenn Mangold on September 3, 2007, 10:30 AM

United....never, never, never again. NEVER
United code shared with Delta at one time. As a Platinum and Crown Room Member I had early boarding and check in privileges and access to Red Carpet Club. At check in they told me I should not use Elite line for check in, because I was not an Elite Member , but this one time they would assist - agent said I only got early boarding.
When I tried to board with Elites, the gate agent stopped me and told me to get out of the line and wait my turn. My employees who were with me, were boarded ahead of me. When I got to Denver I received my beverage and turned around to walk away and the server basically yelled "hey you didn't pay your $5 ...btw the Crown Room has $0 charges so I was unaware..but the tone was that I was trying to get away with a free drink...I paid the $5 and definitely no tip. United was NEVER going to get another penny from me. I arrived at my destination and changed reservations to another airline to return home. I tried to help United because they were having financial difficulties and with my elite benefits I could travel and help them....See what that got me. Platinum on two airlines and Gold on another and spend $$$$$$ traveling as 75% of my flights are less than 7 days notice. Needless to say, 7 years and still to this day...not another penny has been spent with United as I have never been so humiliated for trying to cut in line and steal when MY airline knew the code share and elite sharing...and when I called United they said it was a new agreement and their people did not know. Well hopefully they will realize that not being prepared has cost them hundred of thousands of dollars and will continue to increase as I carry on this vendetta for life.

Posted By Glenn Mangold on September 3, 2007, 10:40 AM

Aero Mexico - their service was awful and they scattered families- including children- all over the plane without a care. Transferring in Mexico City was a nightmare.

Posted By Patrice Stevens on September 3, 2007, 10:56 AM

Air India. We flew from New York to Paris thinking we'd gotten a good deal on a cheap fare. Instead, the plane was old and filthy, the flight attendants were surly and unhelpful, the food was terrible, and the crew made no attempt to make passengers obey safety rules. On the way back, they confiscated my water bottle before I boarded the plane (after I'd gone through security) and there was a problem with the plane's navigation equipment, forcing them to circle over the west coast of Ireland while they figured out what to do. Worst of all (to me, at least), on the way to Paris, a flight attendant woke me up to serve me dinner (with a swift jab to the arm), ensuring that I wouldn't get back to sleep for the rest of the flight and that I'd be jetlagged when we got there. I learned my lesson--next time we'll pay the extra money to fly an American or European airline to France.

Posted By Konrad on September 3, 2007, 11:15 AM

hi. i'll never travel american airlines again. the staff from san juan - dallas and san juan- new york are the worst nightmare...they're rude ...they think the passengers are kids that should be treated with no respect what so ever..i was 7 years an american airlines platinum member...and the situation wasn't any better....don't fly american airlines to san juan puerto rico

Posted By lissette beltran on September 3, 2007, 11:24 AM

AIRTRAN - worst flying experience of my life and I have been flying since mid 50's!
It wasn't the flight getting cancelled, or the misinformation, but I have never met a ruder more disrespectful group of employees in my life. This was from the gate crew to customer service (by phone) to the baggage lady at White Plains where I ended up 8 hours later than I was supposed to arrive at La Guardia! She threatened that if I didn't get out to the airport, by myself the next day to look for my own bag, she couldn't guarantee when it would get there! I got my suitcase the day I checked OUT of my hotel and was told I was allowed $20 a day for clothes! I said I couldn't even buy underwear and was told to "find a local Walmart" UNBELIEVEABLE!
ABSOLUTELY NEVER AGAIN.
The response by mail from them "sorry, flight was cancelled due to air traffic controll." They didn't even reimburse me for my 1st class upgrade which I treated myself too.
Don't make the mistake of trying to save $. This cost me $300 in taxi fares. Try to get that back!
Debbie

Posted By Debbie on September 3, 2007, 11:24 AM

ATA (America Trans Air) is terrible which is too bad because they offer cheap flights to Hawaii. My first experience flying to Maui, the plane lost an engine en route from Chicago to Phx to pick us up, we had to wait almost 8 hrs. for another plane. We went home to wait but the poor people from Chicago had to camp at the airport. 2nd experience-we had boarded the plane to leave Phx for Maui, again, and we had to make an emergency stop at LAX for a technical problem. The rows are very close together making a 5 hr. flight almost excruciating not to mention scary!

Posted By Julie on September 3, 2007, 11:29 AM

I will never fly United Airlines again unless there is absolutely no other way. A group of disabled veterans were going from Fresno to Dulles, and were booked together. The gate clerk split up the group so only half went at the time of departure, and she kept the other half for another three hours. The first group had to wait three hours for the rest to arrive at Dulles, and their bus driver had to wait three more hours to pick them up. When they notified UA about the problem, there was no apology, not satisfaction offered.

Posted By Su Carroll on September 3, 2007, 12:01 PM

I have had bad experiences on pretty much ALL of the airlines; as well as good experiences. I think it depends on several "stress" factors- weather, length of trip, experience of flight crew, etc. I CAN say that I have never felt a sense of serenity at an airport, as you never know what will happen. Keeping my expectations low and being flexible is my solution.

Posted By Heidi S on September 3, 2007, 12:18 PM

My last three (3) flights on USAir had schedule changes-and not once did I get an email. I only discovered the flight time-changes when reviewing for the coming flights.

Posted By Mike on September 3, 2007, 12:32 PM

Continental Airlines/Express Jet d/b/a Continental Airlines. Sunday Connecting Flight from Houston, TX (IAH) to Lafayette, LA (LFT) - flight time about 40 minutes. First: Boarding delayed about 1 hour. We board and the plane pulls back from the gate and sits, without joining the takeoff queue for 30 to 40 minutes. Then the plane joins a lengthy queue for takeoff. After about 15 minutes sitting in the queue, the pilot explains that they must return to the terminal, as they are about to exceed the FAA mandated maximum pilot flight time allowed . The suspicion on my part and that of several other passengers is the crew intentionally delayed entering the queue so as to avoid flying (this flight was scheduled to take place on a holiday.) Despite personally witnessing several gates opening for other planes over the next 90 minutes, none ever opens for ours, and we finally deboard on the tarmac. Continental agent explains that no other flight crews are available to handle our flight and the flight has been canceled, but there is someone at the Continental counter who can help us. At the terminal, I find the counter and the line is at least 100 yards long, moving glacially. I learn from a fellow passenger that no other similar flights are running from the airport (it's now late at night) until the next morning and the next flight with available seats on Continental is Tuesday at the earliest (the original flight was on Sunday.) Instead of waiting in line, I rent a car and drive the 4 hours to Lafayette, hoping my luggage will be forwarded. Once in Lafayette I file a tracer online with Continental to track my luggage and also visit Continental at the Lafayette airport in person and provide them with a description of my luggage and the luggage tracking numbers. After about 3 days of haranguing the Continental staff in Lafayette for my luggage, they relent and take me (and other passengers from the flight) to Continental's luggage storage area. I immediately identify and retrieve my luggage. Continental rep once again notes my luggage tag numbers before I depart, so they can enter the correct information in their luggage tracking system. However, over the course of the following weeks and months, Continental continues to send me e-mail tracer updates on my luggage, the most salient information being that they are sure the luggage is in Houston, but cannot be found. Meanwhile, I contact Continental customer service to get a refund for the unused portion of my ticket. Continental representative explains that they cannot refund me, since I used the ticket. I ask how I could have used the ticket, since the flight was canceled by Continental. Continental representative maintains I used the ticket. I get a supervisor who works out that Continental actually does owe me a refund. When I get the refund, it is about 40% less than what was promised to me over the phone, with no explanation for the difference.

To sum it up, I have endured what I would call poor treatment from any number of airlines, but so much failure on so many levels all related to one flight makes me wonder about the quality of management. Now, if I need to travel to Lafayette, I fly to Houston or New Orleans and then rent a car to drive in to Lafayette. I also started flying Southwest and have been happy with their service, which sort of says it all.

Posted By Marc M on September 3, 2007, 12:35 PM

KLM. Cramped seats on an Intl flight (JFK to Amsterdam), en route to Paris. On the return trip, KLM added another leg to our orig flight (Paris to Amsterdam to JFK), which was Paris to Amsterdam to Detroit to JFK. Only in Detroit, we almost missed our flight b/c of an incorrect display of our flight gate on the "Departures" screen. Had to run 20 gates down to catch the flight. B/c we were out of breath from running and at the time the SARS scare was rampant at the time, they questioned me if I had it just because I was Asian. (Btw, I'm 5th generation Chinese; NEVER been to China in my entire life! I told the crew this fact & show them my passport.) Even so, I suffered discrimination from the flight crew AND the passengers. NEVER, EVER AGAIN will I fly KLM/Northwest Airlines again. I'd rather go by ship, train, car than to use that airline.

Posted By aldora on September 3, 2007, 1:05 PM

Northwest. From start to finish every step of the journey was as bad as can be and was only made worse by the rude attitude of the staff. I will never fly them again, even if they have the lowest fare. It's not worth it.

Posted By S. Mapp on September 3, 2007, 1:15 PM

American:

Didn't give us the right gate at San Diego and we had to run to get to the "other" gate. Even though Dallas was socked in they somehow got clearance to land in spite of a terrific storm, then found out all flight were cancelled and it looked like steerage on the Titanic. Turned out one commuter plane was leaving for Houston and somehow or the other my husband got us on it. Won't use them again. Also do not like AeroMexico because the pilots seem to think it's funny to bounce the plane on the tarmac. Are they even still flying?

Posted By deaudonnee on September 3, 2007, 1:26 PM

Comair. Totally inept. Unfortunately Comair serves as a feeder airline for Delta, which I think is a good operation being tarnished by Comair. This is especially applicable to the JFK hub. Avoid Comair going to or coming out of JFK. I've been flying commercially since the mid-50's as a young boy (DC-6 across the Atlantic), through the introduction of commercial jets (flew Pan Am trans-Pacific on a 707 in 1961) and the current airline passenger situation is the worst I've seen.

Posted By Larry on September 3, 2007, 1:32 PM

The best flight I ever had was on Thai International from Bangkok to New York, non-stop. The flight attendants were always passing out something to drink; I don't think they ever went to sleep.

Posted By don on September 3, 2007, 1:50 PM

Delta & ComAir is on my list of never flying again. After spending 36 hours in the Cincinnati airport in coming and going between Houston & Washington DC without any help on the part of the staff..worst service in the world. Delta canceled the return flight from Washington on Sunday night, and then the first flight in the morning ..after arrival at the airport. Then ComAir left us in the airport in Cinncinnnati until the last possible flight on Monday night..arriving in Houston at 2 AM on Tuesday morning. Most miserable flight ever taken in 30 plus years of flying. And to think at one time they were one of the best...but never again...and they can take whatever milage is left on our accounts and burn them.

Posted By Gene Adams on September 3, 2007, 1:52 PM

American airlines

We were told that there would not be any food served on a flight from Kennedy airport in NY to Las angeles, California. However we could buy food on the plane. There wasn't any food available on the plane and we were served only one drink of juice, water or tea or coffee nothing else. no peanuts, etc.

Posted By Norman Merritt on September 3, 2007, 2:14 PM

American airlines

We were told that there would not be any food served on a flight from Kennedy airport in NY to Las angeles, California. However we could buy food on the plane. There wasn't any food available on the plane and we were served only one drink of juice, water or tea or coffee nothing else. no peanuts, etc. a 6 hour flight

Posted By Norman Merritt on September 3, 2007, 2:14 PM

I just wanted to comment on spirit air, I have used them at least 5 times this year alone and have always gotten very nice service and a nice smooth(for the most part) ride. They to me are the best value(some fares were as cheap as $59.00) even tho they no longer serve free drinks or snacks(you can buy them tho)Other airlines cannot compare to there prices.

Posted By sharron on September 3, 2007, 2:21 PM

I booked a vacation package on spirit airlines vacations only to find out that I can not choose my seats or get boarding passes on the internet for my spirit flights. I have to go through the checkin line 3 hours before my flight and get my seats assigned at check in. So much for the convience of booking a trip all through Spirit. Don't us the vacations link on the spirit site until this is fixed.

Posted By Stuart on September 3, 2007, 6:01 PM

Northwest (or as we call it "Northworst") gets my vote for the worst in the air. This is not just from one or two flights--but sadly having lived where they were the major carrier--almost every flight I've been on was late, they have the worst seat pitch of any airline (I'm small and even my knees hit the seat in front), terrible service--and they are the only airline of any in the world, I've flown on that diverted my flight to land at a different destination (without any hijacking or bad weather involved)--to deliver passengers from a completely different flight that they decided to put on our plane. I avoid Northwest to the point that even if their fares are cheaper, I won't fly them. Now having read the comment from the Spirit exec, I will be sure to also avoid that airline.

Posted By Nico B on September 3, 2007, 7:14 PM

Alitalia-Hours late leaving Milan for Rome. Late from Rome to Palermo. Plane couldn't fly out of Catania to Rome. Late again to Naples from Rome. Sat for hours in Milan to go to Chicago. Each time the excuse was the same, if you could ever get anyone to talk to you,- "plane no work." We want to go back to Italy, but will not go on Alitalia or fly with them in-country.Extremly rude to people.

Posted By Charles E. Murrell on September 3, 2007, 10:02 PM

US Airways is the only one on my no fly. On a recent trip to Paris from Seattle they managed to be so late that we missed our connection and the new connection they had made. On the way back the service was not terrific and the flight was 1.5 hours late leaving because they had to replace 1, yes only 1, light bulb. Never again will I fly this airlines, even if it is $300 cheaper I would rather get there on time.

Posted By brenda on September 3, 2007, 10:15 PM

This is a comment to the lady who took Ryan Air from Mke to Mbj. Ryan Air is a charter operation; therefore you get cheap prices but you do not get back up service. In case of a mechanical, as was the case, you don't have an AA plane standing by. Stick with the Big Boys.

Posted By JoAnn H. on September 3, 2007, 11:10 PM

Air France. i have taken 8 flights with them and none have been trouble-free. the employees at Charles DeGaule smile as they lie to you about why you are spending the entire day at their airport.

Posted By Kathleen Fulmer on September 4, 2007, 6:39 AM

US Airways...

Everything about them was unprofessional. Flew to Athens, Greece with them and I wouldn't fly to Chicago with them (from Cincinnati).

Posted By Heidi Kreizinger on September 4, 2007, 7:52 AM

American Airlines have the worst service ever, they are so rude and don't care. I use to fly AA for over 15 years, on the last 5 years they been going from bad to worst. Price wise Delta, I'll give them a try. Last incident with AA after buying tickets web-site give information for upgrade when I call all the information was changed and even they want me to pay more , I'll prefer to loose all those miles accumulated than having to deal with that Web-supervisor again she was rude.

Posted By Iole on September 4, 2007, 9:56 AM

We recently flew nonstop from Chicago to Frankfurt round trip on Air India since the fare was $400 less per person for four tickets. Although the plane was a 747, it was very old. The vegetarian option on the outbound was good, but food was marginal on the return flight. Flight attendants on the outbound were attentive young men and very good, but on the return, the women didn't want to be bothered--they even served free alcoholic drinks two at a time so they wouldn't need to return. Two people seated near us were drunk and were finally refused additional drinks. As a result, they were obnoxious and used vulgar language most of the flight. I've used cleaner outhouses than the toilets on that plane! They smelled and were not clean even before we left Germany. I'm normally pretty easy-going, but this is the worst flight we have ever been on. The seats were very cramped and the people in front of us reclined their seats to within six inches of our faces making it impossible to get in or out. Never again!

We have flown to Hawaii on an eight hour flight on American and never had an experience like this one.

Posted By John W. on September 4, 2007, 10:32 AM

United is on our No-Fly list because of the way they treat low cost flyers. On two tripes we were changed from our seats to the ones near the restroom that do not go back!

When we asked WHY? we were told that we had asked for the seats! We had been confirmed in seats more toward the front and were assigned these seats when we checked in!

All efforts to ask for an apology or "something" was met with canned text emails saying that they would look into it and were sorry for any inconvienience. The fact that it happened twice proved that they did it.

John

Posted By John M on September 4, 2007, 11:26 AM

Air Tran. They lost my luggage because they put the incoming flight's number on outgoing baggage. THREE people worked on the baggage transfer and couldn't even figure out the proper flight number. The people in baggage claim and in their baggage center do not respond to calls, e-mails nor letters. Baggage is apparently gone forever.

Also, their area in Boston is flithy. If they were a restaurant they would be shut down. About one seat for every ten people. Yuck! never again.

Posted By Sandy Hogan on September 4, 2007, 11:40 AM

Air India. 9 of us flew from LAX to Munich, and back. The vegetarian meal outbound from LAX was pretty good, but on the return trip, the food was not good. But the WORST was the condition of both planes. Neither had been cleaned in a long, long time. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting. Filthy! We had gotten a good price on tickets, but it definitely is an airline that none of us will ever use again.

Posted By Judy on September 4, 2007, 12:21 PM

Air France! ! We flew Boston to Nice via Paris (CDG) a year ago April. Arrived in Paris only to be deplaned out on the tarmack, and onto buses that took us to the terminal. We arrived one hour late because lack of tailwinds re: the captain. He said that it was a problem all week. Needles to say we missed our connecting flight to Nice because we also had to go through security all over again because we deplaned outside the terminal. The booking people rebooked us on a flight to Nice from ORLY ! which entailed a major bus journey through Paris midday traffic. Yep... we missed that flight also because we had to go through the bowels or CDG to find our baggage which took almost an hour. We did arrive in Nice eventually.

The return to CDG 10 days later was fine. We spent 4 days in Paris before the next adventure began for getting back to Boston. We checked in 21/2 hours early, at "the wrong gate" Hmmm the gate was printed on our documents. We had about 4 checks while in line as to our destination with no comments, and they even checked our baggage, and sent it down the shute. Then they discovered that our plane was at a different gate/terminal. We arrived at the other gate, and were told that they were overbooked , and we needed to stand aside with about 50 other people! ! We ended up spending the night at an area CDG motel courtesy of Air France.

We had paid $425 each for the RT from Boston to Nice, AND they credited our credit card $750 each as compensation, THAT WAS GOOD.

Posted By Jim on September 4, 2007, 6:12 PM

I have not flown AMERICAN since I was 18: The counter attendant told me I couldn't fly from Minneapolis to Toronto for Christmas without a passport. This was in the late '80s when you did not need a passport to get into Canada. I was in tears, because I had no where else I could go for Christmas break. Fortunately, United honored my American ticket and flew me to Toronto and back. I will never ever fly American ever... no matter how cheap their flights may be.

Posted By Brenda on September 4, 2007, 6:16 PM

United IS my no-fly list. Years ago I was making a very tight connection in Denver that was many gates away, and the agent in Minneapolis told me she would call ahead so there would be a cart waiting for me. When I got off the plane in Denver, I asked the gate agent and he said there are no carts. When I told him I had to go over 50 gates and had less than 10 minutes, he said, "Well, you'd better get moving then, hadn't you?" I ran all the way and got there just as they were shutting the door. Spent an hour in line getting rebooked, which included getting assaulted by a lady in a wheelchair who rolled up behind me and insisted that SHE get re-booked first while hitting me with her cane, certainly one of the most bizarre travel experiences I've ever had (could have been a Seinfeld episode!). Then I spent the night in Denver at my expense. Thanks a lot, United!

Let's face it, though - all the U.S. airlines are pretty darned bad these days. The glamour days of air travel are long since gone - nowadays, it's just a bus with wings. Unless you're in First Class, in which case it's a bus with wings, very slightly better seats, and (maybe) a free drink.

Posted By Frank on September 5, 2007, 2:35 PM

Alitalia is a no fly for us. We flew it last June and they changed our seat assignments 4 times in Chicago; bumped my seat for an Italian. Lost wife and son's luggage in Rome for 1 day. Desk clerk in Chicago was not friendly nor helpful. Desk clerk in Venice was rude, disinterested, was not going to check in our luggage. On board food has really slipped since, 2001,2002,2003, 2005.I filed complaint with them with details in July. Not heard from them

Posted By Otto Fafoglia on September 5, 2007, 3:59 PM

Will never fly US Airways again, lost my luggage for 2 days at LAX. Said the luggage wasn't scanned there and had no idea where it was. I am diabetic and some of my supplies were in my bags, and my poor mother was cold because she had no coat for 2 days and then she got sick. They were horrible both ways, delays and such.

Posted By Michelle A Gruver on September 5, 2007, 9:05 PM

Virgin Atlantic has lost my business indefinitely. I was supposed to take a flight in March from JFK to Heathrow on a Friday night at 1045, but there just happened to be an unexpected blizzard that morning. Most of the airlines had canceled their flights for that night but Virgin did not and even managed to get the flight before mine to London out relatively on time. We boarded the plane at around 1045 Friday night and then sat on the runway right off the gate until 330 in the morning after they kept us sitting in our seats with seatbelts on because we were supposed to be taking off "any moment". Their speaker system was also very quiet and most of the time any reports by the pilot of the flight status couldn't even be heard. At 330 the plane moved out to the runway to finally take off, but instead we sat there until 545 when the flight was finally canceled and we pulled back into the gate after sitting on the runway since 1045 the night before. By the time they canceled the flight we were supposed to have arrived in London, and as a result my friend was already waiting at Heathrow to meet me after making the trip into London. When we got off the flight all they had to offer was a 20$ one time use voucher for the food court and a flight for the following day at 1045 pm. When I asked for a refund the representatives at the gate stated they couldn't give that to me at the moment so that I should instead take the new ticket and get one later from the front desk or via telephone. Virgin later stated they could not give me a refund because I had essentially given up my chance by accepting the new ticket, this after we sat on the runway for over seven hours. I really am disgusted with how they took advantage of that situation and were so delayed in making a decision to cancel the flight instead deciding to have us wait on the plane for seven hours only weeks after JetBlue had been hounded by the media for doing the same thing at JFK, and after that all they can offer is a one time use twenty dollar voucher for the food court?

Posted By Sara on September 6, 2007, 1:01 AM

Singapore Air last Dec. 2006, just after Xmas. SF to Singapore. With a stop in Seoul, Korea. 12 Hours non-stop with a baby shrieking @ the top of her lungs. Why no pacifier? How inconsiderate is that?Moody flight attendants only answered one of my 3 calls. (I'm a UAL Elite FFMP member)I had requested an exit row seat in SF after arriving 3 hrs early. You would think I had asked to fly the plane. Such condescending attitudes!!The ticket guy tried to tell me I would have VISA problems in Thailand (my eventual destination) Wrong! I've been there 3 times, this joker was trying to confuse me. The wine they served in economy tasted like "mouthwash". The attendants purposely hide the labels. The "Singapore Girl" crap you see on TV is All BS!!!My attendants were all guys. What a disappointment!!!I got my exit row seat finally in Seoul, but had been told in the Seoul terminal during our 3RD torturous security check of the flight, "not gonna happen"!!!Then, I had to endure a humiliating duplicated seat assignment, before I got my row seat. Finally, the flight attendant (female this time) snatched away my headphones from my hands rudely and roughly before landing in Singapore. I HAD HAD ENUF!!!I went to the nearest supervisor and aired my complaint. She (attendant) promptly came over & apologized to me. I said "that's OK". The Singapore to BKK leg was perfect. Great food,polite service. Even a few "Singapore Girls". Maybe SF/Sing. was a fluke. From the USA, I'll stick to ANA, JAL & UAL just the same. I know about SAR's great reputation. As far as I can see, The Japanese Airlines & Thai Air got them beat by a landslide. No contest!

PS:No, this is not a horror story like some I've read. But YOU try sitting on a bouncing plane with a shrieking baby for 12 hrs across the Pacific (& cheap wine to boot). Not a great way to start a 2 month vacation. Had a fantastic rest of vac. So, I did not write a letter of complaint. Usually, I'm not that type anyway. I mostly don't use the airlines services & I tell everyone, esp. my travel agent friends.

Posted By DSM on September 6, 2007, 3:38 AM

USAirways! Philadelphia is home base for us and is a USAirways hub, therefore we are largely captive customers. UsAirways airport employees are rude, surley and negligent in their responsibilities. USAirways passengers are treated like heads of cattle with no attempt at courtesy, much less pleasantries, and changes are not communicated to passengers. My husband and I do not fly often enough to qualify for their "Preferred" status, therefore we can no longer use our considerable Dividend Miles points for 1st class upgrades. They are just never "available", even when the seating chart indicates an almost empty 1st class compartment. As a result, Flying to the West Coast to visit our son has become an exhausting nightmare. Every other domestic airline we have flown looks good compared to USAirways.

Posted By Susan Wallace on September 6, 2007, 10:58 AM

It's funny, some airlines that people have rated bad are ones that I have had exceptionally good service. I think it all depends on the circumstances of that particular flight (i.e. weather, crowded holiday weekend, etc). I wonder how often some people who disliked some airlines flew the same route on other airlines to have something to compare it with. For instance I don't think that those who complain because there was no food on the flight realize that none of the airlines in the US feed passengers anymore. Personally though my no-fly list is United airlines - the worst.

Posted By John on September 6, 2007, 11:47 AM

Hi, John,
Good point about how some good airlines have had some bad flights. Sorry to hear you had such a nutty experience on United. By getting the word out on the Internet,
You're helping to pressure the airlines to offer better service. Regards, Sean,
Blog editor

Posted By Sean O'Neill on September 6, 2007, 12:09 PM

Sean,

Agree with you wholeheartedly. As long as airlines can get away with shoddy service with impunity they will continue to do so. Thank you for bringing poor service to the light and hopefully the airlines will get their act together.

I was on a trekking trip to Patagonia a couple of years ago with some friends (most of whom worked in the airline industry). Of course I started griping to my friend (a gate agent for a major US airline) about the poor service and she just stopped me and said "there isn't anything you can say that I haven't already heard". I then asked her if her airline's management worries that people like me won't fly on it anymore and she just shook her head and said "they don't care"....
All the best,

John Dranchak

Posted By John Dranchak on September 6, 2007, 12:09 PM

I wish I had the option to never fly United again. Just last week, after a 7 hour flight delay, I arrived at home to discover that I had contracted head lice from the flight. United pretty much agreed that it was probably from the seat when I called to complain. I have always disliked that airline...now I have even more reason as I have had to spend more than $150 on doctors visits, the treatment, and not to mention the time I had to spend to try to de-louse my house.

Posted By Maggie on September 6, 2007, 1:11 PM

Northwest by far was the worst experience I have ever had.

They neglected to tell us about the flight delays that put me at my destination 7 hours late with 3 hours sleep before a business meeting.

The online booking center tried to discourage me from trying to fly standby because the flight was booked solid ( which of course was off base- There were empty seats all over the plane).

The gate staff was RUDE beyond belief and couldn't manage to make announcements about delays.

On the second leg of my flight the flight crew showed up 3 hours late (no announcement), decided to fly around Madison Wisconsin to avoid weather on my flight from Minneapolis to Desmoines. My 40 minute flight was 2 hours long.

Unbelievable. I will NEVER fly them again.

Posted By Andi on September 6, 2007, 1:14 PM

Southwest Airlines gave me and those seated nearby with a terrible flying experience. I will not go on another SWA flight. The cabin crew allowed two obviously drunk (staggering) middle age challenged cowboy male yahoos onto the flight between Houston Hobby and Las Vegas and continued to serve liquor to these foul-mouthed jerks throughout the flight. They were offensive, rude, and obnoxious. When I brought their behavior to the attention of the flight attendant (who must have been totally ignorant of the way they were acting) she said "What do you expect, it's Friday night and we're going to Vegas". I responded that I expected her and her colleagues to be more professional and to look out for the welfare and safety of all passengers. She stomped off in a huff with a "whatever" comment. I didn't have time to confront the pilot in command because I had a connecting flight but I did register my complaint with a SWA customer service rep once inside the terminal. Didn't get much LUV from him either.

Posted By John Indorf on September 6, 2007, 1:18 PM

Flight from Orange County to Philly connecting in Vegas on US Air three weeks ago. Upon landing in Vegas find out flight to Philly cancelled. Get in line with co-worker. Paid change/upgrade fee earlier that day to get to early meeting the next day. Get to gate agent, told they automatically booked me the next day to get there midday. Ask her to check other airlines since I just paid change fee and was told "The line is too long and I'm too busy to help you right now." Huh? Got on another flight when I insisted on getting a supervisor involved. You try to be nice and you get pushed around. No more US Air.

Posted By EJD on September 6, 2007, 1:20 PM

I will never fly Northwest again if I can help it. I live in Mpls which is a Northwest hub so, to get any where on a direct flight, it's almost essential to use them.

Well, guess what? I don't care where I have to change planes, I'm willing to go through the inconvenience to avoid the horrible customer service. I've never been treated so poorly. You're likely to get your head bitten off just for asking a simple question. God forbid you should approach the counter at all, you'll be treated with a heavy sigh and a snippy attitude.

This has been going on for year's with this airline and it took me several flights before realizing this is the way they operate. I can't honestly fathom how they're still in business.

On a general note, do the airlines not understand that we are customers? We can't continue to let them treat us like crap and get away with it! We're paying for a service and should be treated that way. Instead, they're acting as if they're doing us a favor.

Posted By Linda on September 6, 2007, 1:23 PM

United! Their flights are rarely on time and they cancel flights without giving you a reason why. Their "free" vouchers are a joke! I tried to use a $150. voucher on a trip for my son and they told me I could only use the voucher if I paid a fare of $324. The cost of the same fare on their web -site: $168...... What would you pay?

Posted By Gerri on September 6, 2007, 1:29 PM

I'm not particular about airlines but I absolutely refuse to use any of the low-cost travel sites ever again. I've used both Travelocity and Expedia and each time there has been a problem with my electronic tickets. Several times my flights had been changed without email notification being sent. I only caught it because I went on the website to confirm my reservations. Once I arrived at the airport the airlines had no record of the changes and spent an hour trying to work out the booking details between the two counters and their own customer service numbers. The last time I flew there were so many problems I ended up breaking down at the Sacramento airport security checkpoint when they confiscated my 3 oz. lotion and my husband had to go back to check a backpack with a souvenier bottle of Oregon blackberry sauce we bought at the Portland Airport before our first flight. It was an incredibly frustrating experience.

Posted By Adrienne on September 6, 2007, 1:30 PM

Virgin Nigeria - travel from Lagos Nigeria to Accra Ghana was delayed due to Virgin Nigeria computer arbitrarily cancelling my ticket, which the counter agents refused to acknowledge, never actually tried to get me on the next flight, had no standby capabilite, and basically tried to ignre me as I pleaded to them to allow me to have my seat and get out of Nigeria!

Posted By peter on September 6, 2007, 1:32 PM

UNITED - No way ever again.

Flying back from my grandmothers funeral in Baltimore, my United flight was supposed to make a stop at O'Hare and then continue on to Portland. Mid-flight, United apparently decided to cancel the second leg of the flight, but never thought to mention it to those of us on the plane. We landed at O'Hare and the flight attendants yelled at the 20 or so remaining passengers who didn't know the flight was canceled. United did nothing to accomodate us or get us to Portland.

I'm sorry they didn't go bankrupt.

Posted By BJ Wolter on September 6, 2007, 1:32 PM

US Air, better known as US Scare, has a 100% success rate with them of never doing what they claim they will do. They have never, in my experience, taken off on time, landed on time, served the right food, etc. Perfect score: NEVER. I pay more to NOT fly them because sometimes I want to get places. More than several times I've been stranded in airports by US Scare with rude, rude rude employees with no information to offer or a brain to deal with people. I will NEVER EVER fly them!

Posted By Michael Gast on September 6, 2007, 1:33 PM

I refuse to ever fly with NWA. The last two times we flew with them, we were delayed for hours because the plane had mechanical problems. There were 3 or 4 couples on their way to Miami to take a cruise. They never made their connecting flights. I am not sure if NWA ended up putting them on another airline. Plus they made us sit on the airplane for quite awhile before they let us know we weren't going anywhere.

Posted By Rhonda on September 6, 2007, 1:35 PM

I tend to be pretty forgiving when it comes to travel problems. I travel for work quite a bit, so I'm used to be delayed, stuck, etc.. However, by far, my worst experience was on AirTran. I was flying to Memphis, TN from White Plains, NY. They lost my luggage on the way to Memphis, then cancelled my flight on the way back. When I told them I was trying to get back to be in a wedding they re-routed me to Orlando, FL (the OPPOSITE direction). When I arrived in White Plains (5 hours later than I was supposed to arrive- missing some of the wedding festivities) my luggage had been lost again. No one had any idea where it was, and no one seemed to be even slightly apologetic. I was told my options were to wait around all day to see if another AirTran flight dropped my bag off, or I could come back in a day or so to check to see if it came in to the airport. When I spoke with a customer service person in Atlanta (one of my many stops) she advised me to call the main customer service line. She said the airline ususally provdes some sort of compensation for a cancelled flight, but when I called the number and told them my story the response was "So, what do you want us to do?" I mentioned that their employee thought there would be some compensation. The response was- no, we'll just log your complaint. I think if my call had been handled better I would have been less angry about the whole incident.

Posted By Alison on September 6, 2007, 1:35 PM

Dear BJ Wolter,
Sorry to hear you had such a nutty experience on United, especially at a time when you were traveling to your grandmother's funeral. (Sorry for your loss.) By getting the word out on the Internet,
you're helping to pressure the airlines to offer better service. Regards, Sean, Blog editor

Posted By Blog Editor on September 6, 2007, 1:36 PM

American Airlines (I gave up on Spirit and ATA and all discount airlines--except my beloved Jet Blue --years ago after having been trapped on flights for HOURS while they waited for 'real airlines' to allow them to use their gates)--but I had to take AA to Canada recently---besides everyone being rude (almost expected,) on the return trip, we were delayed in Miami for 6 hrs--and they kept having us line up at the gate like we were really leaving this time. No seats in the terminal (I gave up my seat to an old lady and sat on the filthy floor), only one food source (crap with a line a mile long) and when they finally bussed us out to our little puddle jumper on the runway, they took us to the wrong plane! I live in Naples and could have driven home in an hour, but was held hostage but the lack of information supplied by AA. Never again--and never through Miami for any reason.
What is going to happen when all of us Baby Boomers are old, disabled, unable to stand for hours or need real (polite and helpful) attention from airlines? Nightmare a-coming.

Posted By K Walsh on September 6, 2007, 1:36 PM

I'll never deal with NORTHWEST AIRLINES again, under any circumstances. I used their internet website to make a reservation. I selected my out and return flights. After that I was offered and joined their Frequent Flyer group. After that, I selected my seats for the flight. After that, I provided my credit card for purchase. All these activities were on the same login. Nowhere in the website did I see a disclaimer that the e-tickets were not valid, unless a confirmation was received. I later booked a good friend on the same flight. When I tried to check in, I was informed that I had no reservation. My friend did. The original ticket was about $250, and even though they had seats available, they refused to sell me passage for less than $1100.00, same day. My contention is that if their website was so ill-designed that I missed pressing the right button, after working with them on the net for 45 minutes, they should honor my request for an economical ticket, as a gesture of apology and good will. Since my good friend was traveling NWA, I arranged with AA to use my frequent flyer miles + supplement for a reasonably priced same day ticket. After reading all the problems other passengers have had with NWA, I believe they should change their evil ways if they expect to remain in business. Customer Concern should be a lot more than a catchy phrase.

Posted By Barbara Simpson on September 6, 2007, 1:37 PM

US Airways. They lost our luggage, and when they "finally" found it, it was ripped up with a broken handle and torn up pockets. When we called, they said "too bad." We've written letters and called people, but no one claims responsibility or even apologized. We've told all of our friends and family to not fly with US Air. They've all agreed and have paid more to avoid the hassle and unkind personnel.

Posted By L Mell on September 6, 2007, 1:41 PM

US Airways: As I've seen on other posts, they cancelled our flight to the Bahamas in May and never notified us, even though they said they did. Fortunaltly, my husband called a week in advance to confirm and found out. He got the last tickets on the last flight scheduled that day. We would have lost out on 1 day of only a 5 day vacation!

UNITED: I tell eveyone I know not to fly this airline. They made me miss my brothers wedding. We were flying to Medford Oregon from San Diego with a stop in SF. They cancelled our flight due to "mechanical issues" and the rest of the flights were booked. Some allowed standbys but we didn't make it on the first standby flight. We were #1 & #2 on the next flight and we checked in properly as indicated and made sure we were #1 & #2. 10 minutes later I look over and see the United worker at the counter give me a funny look. A minute before my husband saw the lady accept money from a standby passenger behind us (she pocketed it!!). We ran up and lo and behold they weren't accepting any standbys even though we knew 2 had just boarded that were behind us. My parents were on the plane and hear the standbys say they couldn't believe they made it on as standbys.

PLUS- they made us pay to get back to SD. So, it cost us $600 to go to SF and back. Never made it to my brothers wedding. We contacted customer service twice and they said "we we're lucky. They only reimbursed us $400 out of customer courtesy!" They didn't have to even do that becuase the flight was cancelled due to FAA orders. Apparenlty if it's "mechanical issues" as they first told us they would have to reimburse us since it's their fault. If it's "FAA ORDERS" it's not their fault so they don't have to compensate us.

Posted By Darcey Olson on September 6, 2007, 1:43 PM

Alitalia is the worst I have ever flown. After a horrendous delay between Copenhagen and Milan, we arrived in Mila and one of our two suitcases was lost. Alitalia was totally disinterested. We waited for that case four days in our Milan hotel and it never showed up. Phone calls from the hotel desk (in Italian) didn't help. We then left on a 13 day cruise out of Venice on the Grand Princess. Kudos to a very nice Italian speaking purser who spent our entire cruise trying to contact Alitalia to get our case forwarded along the cruise route. All he ever got was an answer machine. We then wrote letters, sent e-mails and faxes, and called Alitalia's 800 number in New York (you get an answer machine only). We never got the courtesy of a response. The bottom line, it was 3 months before our suitcase arrived at our home...with a $21.00 c.o.d. charge!

Posted By David Rock on September 6, 2007, 1:43 PM

I'll be concise about Air France though I could go on for hours. On a trip from San Francisco to Portugal through Paris, Air France: canceled one flight for a day, was late on every one of the other flights causing us to miss 2 days of a vacation, lost our luggage BOTH going and coming, had a wheelchair. attendant get lost in the airport in Paris, and refused to pay any of our claims. And we had purchased business class tickets. I hate them!!!

Posted By Bob Lee on September 6, 2007, 1:44 PM

American Airlines stole my honeymoon and I am lothe to ever fly with them again! I saved my miles and then bought more to pay for the rest of our tickets to Bali with a stopover in Hong Kong. Yes, it would have been the trip of a lifetime. The weekend before we were leaving, the bombing targeting Westerners happened. A friend working for the Secret Service advised us to postpone our trip, so we did (also after asking American). I sent the tickets back to American as requested and was told that they never got them. By then, it was past their time frame and they said, "too bad. You get NO refund and NO trip." I wrote letters and complained to everyone I could think of to no avail. Not only was I crushed to miss our delayed honeymoon, but American Airlines actually STOLE about $1000 from me in the points I had to buy. I am STILL furious about this but don't know where else to turn. Granted, it is not like missing someone's death, but it is something they could have easily taken care of. Ooohhh I'm still so MAD!!!!

Posted By Susie Risser on September 6, 2007, 1:56 PM

Northwest is on my do not fly list. I was going to China on a package tour with Pacific Delight tours on a one week trip meeting a friend in Beijing. Northwest cancelled my flight out of Memphis because the flight crew had not shown up. Because of heavy booking the next few days I could not arrive before the day before I would have to leave from Beijing so I chose to fly back to Dallas, my home city. In trying to obtain a refund I was never lied to and treated so rudely by Northwest office personal. I never recieved any refund after promises that I would. After a year of fighting with them I contacted Pacific Delight who gave me a refund for the Northwest portion.

On a slightly different subject I went on a Gate One tour to Vietnam this April. I was convinced by the Gate One sales rep that it would be worth paying extra to fly on Cathey Pacific as opposed to the cheaper chinese airline. I cant say that I would never fly them again but my experience was one of disappointment. Their seats were very uncomfortable and the service and food was below average. In my opinion it was not worth anything extra.

Posted By JOHN ROBERTS on September 6, 2007, 1:59 PM

Overall, we've had great experiences recently with Lufthansa, Frontier and Hawaiian, OK but not exceptional luck with United.

Two airlines which are on my personal never again ever list are British Airways and Delta. We've tried both several times in the past few years and never had a satisfactory flight. No need to bore others with the gruesome details, but if anything could go wrong, it did.

Posted By Steve Carter on September 6, 2007, 2:00 PM

I'll never fly Northwest again. A cousin I'm very close to was getting married in Singapore & I was a bridesmaid. Due to work, I could only arrive in Singapore about 11:30pm the night before the rehearsal dinner.

I was suppose to fly out of Minneapolis in the afternoon. After 6 hours of delays, they announced we would not leave until the following morning. I managed to get an agent to get me a ticket to LAX (9 hours after the original flight was scheduled to leave), then a ticket on Singapore Airlines out of LAX. I finally get to LAX & Singapore Airlines didn't have a reservation for me on their full flight. I had to lug everything (including bridesmaid dress) back to the Northwest counter which was closed by then. Finally I managed to get a Northwest employee who put me in a hotel & got me a seat on the LAX-Narita flight.

I tried to get an free upgrade to business class so I could sleep but was met with lots of 'no'. One agent even said there were seats available but she couldn't seat me in business class because "they didn't have enough food". I explained to her I didn't care about the food, I just needed the extra seat space to sleep but to no avail. Luckily a flight attendant was very helpful & upgraded me. She even told me they had enough food & not to worry about anything. I was so exhausted I spent the LAX-Narita leg sleeping & the attendant had to wake me up right before we landed. She was the only helpful employee of the entire trip.

I ended up missing the rehearsal & rehearsal dinner & landed 12 hours before the wedding. Of course all my complaints to agents were met with "too bad, next" attitude. My written complaint received a standard apology letter and 1,000 miles. Pathetic.

Posted By Gwyneth on September 6, 2007, 2:05 PM

My husband flies every week for business. When he flies US Airways, his luggage NEVER arrives with him. He refuses to fly Air Tran. I don't think the exec at Spirit is correct. That may hold true for the occasional flier, but for people whose livlihood depend on air travel, they pick and choose who they fly with.

Posted By Laura on September 6, 2007, 2:06 PM

I WILL NEVER fly on Air France again! I flew to the 2004 Olympics while I was pregnant. They refused to give me an aisle seat even though I had requested it both in writing and over the phone prior to my trip! They also tried to serve me fish (which can be unsafe for pregnant women). My video screen did not work and the terminal in Charles DeGaulle airport was about 100 degrees and there was barely room to move! I will stay home before I give them any more of my money!!!

Posted By Monica Garris on September 6, 2007, 2:11 PM

Alitalia,
You'll never see me on your airline again. If you have to fly to Italy find some other way. From long delays sitting on the runway, to giving our seats away when we've arrived in time to board, to losing our luggage going and coming (about 3 days each time). I hope to never see them again.
I have to say I liked KLM except for the fact that their partner is Alitalia. I've never said it before but after that trip it was great to be home. And for me that says a lot.

Posted By Trina on September 6, 2007, 2:18 PM

I have flown NW for many years and all I can say, they are on my "no more" list. Cabin crews AND COUNTER CREWS ARE THE RUDEST PEOPLE EVER. The last experience was this past Monday and it will be my last time to get insulted and be made to feel that you should have stayed home.

Posted By Frely Shea on September 6, 2007, 2:29 PM

I am sad to say, United. I WAS loyal, flying >80k a year. Now, their service has degraded past the point I will tolerate it. Employees just don't care. AND their reservation 800# - outsourced to computers and India - is a nightmare. Dont try to actually USE your frequent flyer miles - they have made that a joke.
I will be building my miles on frontier and southwest, thank you.

Posted By Becky on September 6, 2007, 2:34 PM

For the worst food, EVER, Continental. I have flown them twice (OK, it was free on miles) and both times the lunch/dinner was a combination like this: disgusting pizza or pasta, potato chips or other carb snack, bread, iceberg lettuce salad and cake or cookies. ALL YUCKY CARBS. Worst service and all around experience: Spirit. There was food one could buy on the flight, but there was absolutely nothing available except for some expensive and sugary trail mix. Even the steward was embarrassed and said that there was nothing to eat for him! Worst service at the airport level: Air France, no doubt about it. Even all of our French friends admit it, although they like the planes, food and in flight experience a bit better. Worst airport experience ever: Logan International in Boston. I actually cried in the airport (OK I was having a bad day all around, with no sympathy whatsoever) but in NY I ran into someone from Boston who, when they found out I had flown out from Boston that morning, apologized to me for her despicable home airport, without provocation!

Posted By Qwendy on September 6, 2007, 2:38 PM

There are 3 airlines that I avoid now:
NUMBER 1 Spirit. My main complaint with them is charging for bags. Now if you don't tell them in advance,they will charge you $5.00 for the first bag. There is a $10.00 for the second, and a $100.00 for the third!!!! If you are a scuba diver, or going on a cruise, you will be taking at least 2 bags. When they first started this I complained to the check in agent. She was also not pleased with the system since it added more time to the check in to collect money, and also at the end of her shift. Also if you are leaving from Fort Lauderdale, get there early. The lines and crowds are incredible. They got too big too quickly!

Number 2 has to be United/USair. On my flight up to Ohio I had to make a change of planes in Phily. When I got there they cancelled my flight and I had to stay overnight, with no compensation. Last year I gave up my seat because of overbooking and got a voucher for a free flight. There were so many blackout days that the ticket was almost useless.

Number 3 is South West airlines. They won't confirm a seat for you in advance. You have to wait till midnight before your flight to put in a request that assigns you to a line. Since parents with kids traveling get on board first, all of the front seats are taken!

Now what airline would I highly recommend - American Airline. They have a great website,great flight times to the locations that I want to go. I really appreciate their advertizing upgrades when you check in. The only negative for this airline is their terminal in Miami. God help you if you have a problem walking! You will have a long,long walk to your plane once you check in.

Posted By Bob Kay on September 6, 2007, 2:45 PM

I've had bad experiences on several airlines. United once lost my luggage, and staffed their lost-luggage counter with an idiot who didn't know how to enter the information into the computer, so there was no way to tell when the luggage arrived.

Delta broke my suitcase, and insisted they don't take responsibility for handles. When I initially asked what to do about the broken bag, the response from their baggage person was "I don't know nuthin' 'bout that."

But US Airways is the only one to make my no-fly, absolutely-never again list. Like many American airlines, they charge for liquor, which just seems annoyingly cheap. Their food sucks, far worse than most airline food. You get a little cardboard box of stuff, with nothing fresh, and not even the cheese-and-crackers that usually accompany other airline meals. Breakfast - for a transatlantic flight - is one plastic-wrapped donut - and not even a GOOD plastic-wrapped donut. The flight attendant looked at me like I was crazy when I asked for milk to drink.

I've never had a flight go according to schedule - when we've landed on time or early we've been stuck on the plane until well after the scheduled arrival, leaving me running through airports. They don't bring around water, which stinks on long flights - especially when you've had to rush to connect, and can't buy water in the airport. They canceled one of my boyfriend's flights, but didn't bother to tell him until he'd re-checked his luggage and gone through security. AND they made no effort to re-schedule him until he got to the counter, which meant everything was full. Speaking of full, that's what their flights tend to be - to the gills, with lap babies and everything. And they run a lot of flights through Philadelphia, which must be one of the rudest cities in the world. They couldn't give flights away and make them worth putting up with all that.

Posted By Laura on September 6, 2007, 2:57 PM

I knew that I wouldn't be the only one who has sworn off of Northworst forever, but I swore off of them in 1969 and have maintained my boycott for almost 40 years now. At the time, I was in graduate school in Madison, Wisconsin, which had only two and a half airlines - Ozark had only one flight per day. On the fatal day, NWA left a bunch of us on the ground on a flight to O'Hare, and departed with 37 empty seats, since they decided that they wanted to save those seats for people boarding in Chicago. Since then, I have flown roughly 2M miles on other airlines, some of which are execrable (Aeroflot, AirChina, United), but I haven't seen or heard anything that made me regret my youthful decision to avoid Northworst.

Posted By TonyW on September 6, 2007, 3:02 PM

I will never fly Delta. They held me up once with unnecessary security, complaining that I hadn't arrived at the airport early enough which I had.Then another time they didn't understnd why I had to change my plans to acommodate my baby grandaughter's pneumonia and asked that I call back when she wasn't crying.

Posted By Gerry Petrak on September 6, 2007, 3:04 PM

British Airways is by far the airline with the caste system. If you are in a coach area, you are lucky if you see a flight attendant.

As for food, they usually run out of food that is on the menu by the time a staff member arrives "back here". There are no newspapers "back here".

When you arrive at a connecting airport, no one is at the counter...and it goes on and on.

It is totally demoralizing.

Posted By Roberta on September 6, 2007, 3:12 PM

What else? Northwest Airlines. They are the worst by far. When their flight attendants decide not to show up because this is the only way they can back at the airline for not honoring their strike demands, the customer suffers. Last month they had so many late planes and planes that didn't get off the ground that you would have to be crazy to book with them. Living in Minneapolis, everyone knows you don't fly with Northwest if you can find something else to get you where you need to go. They treat their employees in the same manner that they treat their customers...not good.

When flying to Europe, I fly Icelandair as it is a superior airline to anything that flies out of the US. The service and food is excellent. They do have one little problem. They are late a lot, but at least they wait until their connecting flights come in so that you don't miss your plane to or from Europe. But I always plan on being late. Also, they haven't lost my luggage yet.

Posted By Karen on September 6, 2007, 3:13 PM

Dear Jennifer Lo Prete,
Sorry to hear about your bad Mother's Day experience. And I think you raise an important point that sometimes because of routes there are few alternatives to an airline that provides poor service.
Regards,
Sean
Blog editor

Posted By Blog Editor on September 6, 2007, 3:18 PM

Delta from South America is truly bad. On a flight from Rio to Atlanta the only food served was a plate of luke-warm white rice, with a 1 oz piece of some dead thing. No flavor, no sauce, no vegetable. Nothing! Inedible!

Delta may rely on the local food services for their meals, but surely this is the worst. They could not even offer junkfood snacks.

Posted By Thomas Kiefer on September 6, 2007, 3:22 PM

A special thanks to John Grim and Captmsy for fact-checking the debate on the timing of airline deregulation--1978 and not during the Reagan Administration.
--Sean
Blog editor

Posted By Blog Editor on September 6, 2007, 3:24 PM

I hope that this isn't prophetic, because I'm flying through CDG AGAIN next month. It is by far the worst airport I have ever been in - tiny, dirty men's rooms and a complete lack of drinking fountains. This is my fifth trip there and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Bruce

Posted By Bruce on September 6, 2007, 3:24 PM

Northwest sucks. They started skimping on their service and amenities when they fell into a financial crisis. They then cut back on their routes and raised their prices for this lack of service. Rock bottom hit when they filed bankruptyand they cancelled any flight that was not full. This left many passangers stranded or forced to get a one-way ticket on another airline (meaning they now had go through the extensive security line). Ironically, their once deemed unbearble partners, like Delta, seems to have improved their service and provide amenties on board, and get to their destination on time. Scary.

Posted By Sara Lueloff on September 6, 2007, 3:29 PM

US Airways in Philadelphia has some of the rudest employees in the nation. They are completely disorganized, and you can assume that your flight will be delayed at least 80% of the time (and frequently canceled). I've flown US Air when they couldn't find the flight crew, didn't have anybody around to wave the plane into the gate, etc. You wait about 45 minutes for your bags once you land in Philadelphia. You need to allow AT LEAST two hours extra to get through security if you are taking a commuter flight. US Air is the worst!!!

Posted By Nicole on September 6, 2007, 3:31 PM

South African Air: our trip in July was the last time we'll fly SAA. They cram people into the plane, when they know that they don't have the cargo space to fly all the passengers' luggage. I heard from several airline employees that the airlines knows they will be leaving approximately 25 to 60% of the luggage behind. Three days after landing in Jo'burg we received our luggage (when you are traveling with firearms this is a HUGE deal because of all the red tape involved). Also missing three days of hunting, with no refund (at $800 per day), stuck in a Jo'burg hotel, with a rental car--all on our dime, is very upsetting. As this is a DAILY occurance, the employees of SAA didn't care and were even less helpful. When we went to retrieve the two firearms, the airport police kept us for hours and treated us like we were gun smugglers because the guns hadn't "come in" with us. We'll never fly SAA again!

Posted By Lesley on September 6, 2007, 3:36 PM

I have never travelled United Airlines ever since they were so rude to me on a flight from San Diego to DC several years ago. I had gone to San Diego to visit relatives and we decided to cross the border to Tijuana the night before the flight back, even with my trying to be careful of what I ate there I got sick with what turned out to be a very strong viral infection. On my flight back to DC I started to get a high fever and felt very ill. We tried to get the attention of the flight attendants and ask for help an aspirin or something to help lower the fever. They all refused and were very rude to us. When we landed and I tried to stand up I fainted and we had to call ambulance to take me to the hospital. The paramedics said that I had 108 temperature and were very concerned for me on the way to the hospital. There I stayed 2 weeks taking heavy antibiotics. Back at home I sent a letter to the Customer Service department of United to complain about how we were treated. They did not even acknowledge my letter. I don�t care about the air miles that I still have with them, I refuse to fly United!

Posted By J. Kent on September 6, 2007, 3:38 PM

Dear J. Kent,
What a horrifying story about inattention to your high fever while you were on the flight.

By getting the word out on the Internet,
you're helping to pressure the airlines to offer better service.
Regards, Sean,
Blog editor
Re: Your story:
I have never travelled United Airlines ever since they were so rude to me on a flight from San Diego to DC several years ago. I had gone to San Diego to visit relatives and we decided to cross the border to Tijuana the night before the flight back, even with my trying to be careful of what I ate there I got sick with what turned out to be a very strong viral infection. On my flight back to DC I started to get a high fever and felt very ill. We tried to get the attention of the flight attendants and ask for help an aspirin or something to help lower the fever. They all refused and were very rude to us. When we landed and I tried to stand up I fainted and we had to call ambulance to take me to the hospital. The paramedics said that I had 108 temperature and were very concerned for me on the way to the hospital. There I stayed 2 weeks taking heavy antibiotics. Back at home I sent a letter to the Customer Service department of United to complain about how we were treated. They did not even acknowledge my letter. I don?t care about the air miles that I still have with them, I refuse to fly United!

Posted By Blog Editor on September 6, 2007, 3:44 PM

My wife felt much worse than expected during her treatment for Cancer last Spring. We had to cancel an important trip to visit her parents and could have gotten multiple letters from her doctors. American Airlines response ? It doesn't matter the reason, it doesn't matter how sick she is, it doesn't matter if you give us letters from a Doctor. We will charge you $100 each to reschedule just like anyone else. I wrote to Customer Service expecting some sort of consideration....NOTHING.

I AM APPALLED and Disgusted with American Airlines

Posted By mike on September 6, 2007, 3:45 PM

Northwest Airlines for sure.
I don't know why their flight attendants have to be so rude. In a flight back from Japan on one of my trips home, a flight attendant came around with a large trash bag and started to collect trash after the meal. I had a candy wrapper and empty water bottle to throw away. When I tried to hand them over to this flight attendant, she gave me back one nastiest look and with aloof tone of voice and discriminating eyes she said, "Don't give me that! We are not collecting those!" as if she meant to say "why are you bothering me with your trash?" Although I didn't understand what was different between what she was collecting and what I had to throw away, all she had to say at that time would have been, "I'll be back to collect those later." She totally made me feel like I've done something wrong in a first-grade class! If I were alone on that flight, I certainly would have made a scene and told her where she can put her precious trash! One rude flight attendant can sure ruin the otherwise very enjoyable trip. This encouner was not the first and the last with their flight attendants. I now avoid any Northwest flight like a bad plague.

Posted By Yasuyo Pantera on September 6, 2007, 3:45 PM

Dear Mike,
First, I'm sorry to hear about your wife's cancer.
Second, sorry to hear about American's shoddy response.
You have every reason to be appalled!
By getting the word out on the Internet,
you're helping to pressure the airlines to offer better service.
Regards, Sean,
Blog editor

Posted By Blog Editor on September 6, 2007, 3:47 PM

Dear Bruce,
Sorry to hear you had such a nutty experience going through DeGaulle before.
We're getting a lot of gripes about that airport.
Be sure to have at least one full hour, *preferably 90 minutes* or more, for your layover, because you may have a really long transfer within the airport to make your connection.
Regards,
Sean,
Blog editor

Re, Your comment:

I hope that this isn't prophetic, because I'm flying through CDG AGAIN next
month. It is by far the worst airport I have ever been in - tiny, dirty
men's rooms and a complete lack of drinking fountains. This is my fifth
trip there and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Bruce

Posted By Blog Editor on September 6, 2007, 3:51 PM

Air France - Not only they lost my business, but I talked to all my family members and friends and pretty much everyone had bad experience with Air France airline. Starting with check-in people, to the crew members and phone operators - one word - RUDE. I called to check on my flight and the person answered the phone saying "WHAT!" She then stated that she was sorry and that she was expecting someone else...

Air France really needs to have a training done for all their employees, because they seem to lack people skills!

Posted By Anela on September 6, 2007, 3:51 PM

When I first started flying back in the 50's, it was a wonderful experience. Our seats were comfortable and the space around them enough to simulate sitting in my comfortable easy chair at home. Today everyone is flying, waiting, suffering with no adjustment on the part of the airlines to handle the hords of flyers. We would all be grateful, I think, if the airlines would stop treating us like sardines to be squeezed into the same available space as in the 50's, provide more flights, and more personnel to cut down on the terrible lines. I'm handicapped and can't stand for a long time. The airlines make no provision for a shorter handicapped line for people like us who can show they are suffering when having to stand in the regular lines. I sit on the floor when I can't stand it anymore. Not a very dignified position in addition to the other humiliations the airlines put us through. If they would just recognise our needs and treat us like human beings.

Posted By Stephanie Pincson on September 6, 2007, 4:11 PM

My worst experience was with Northwest, and I have traveled a lot! My young daughter and I were flying from Phoenix to Atlanta with a stop in Minneapolis. I had purchased several breakable antiques, and had them in a carry-on. I was also carrying a bag with an arrangement of small cactus's in a pot, and a plastic box with my daughter's new beta frog (in water). My daughter had a bag with her toys and snacks. The gate agent refused to let us go on with 3 carry-ons instead of two. Meanwhile, people were passing us on the plank way (?) with 2 bags each. I pointed this out to the gate agent, but she didn't care. She just didn't want us to have more than one carry-on each. A fellow traveler without a carry- on offered to take my daughters bag with toys and snacks, but the gate agent wouldn't allow it. My daughter was unfortunately the one to have to give up her bag, which I felt very guilty about. By the way, there was tons of room left in the overhead bins!

Posted By Joan Halligan on September 6, 2007, 4:13 PM

I will never fly United again based on the three strikes rule.

Strike 1 - Eighteen months ago, they lost my luggage for 4 days, returning it to me the day before I was set to return home.

Strike 2 - One year ago, they delayed me 3 days at my destination due to numerous weather delays then overbooking. OK - one day, fine. Two days - can three flights throughout the day beginning at 6 a.m. really be delayed due to weather? Three days - c'mon - Do I have "stupid" tattooed on my forehead?

Strike 3 - During my trip this summer, not only did they lose my luggage, they stranded me in O'Hare airport 3 full days and 2 nights - one day/night on the way to my destination and 2 days/1 night on my way home. They used every excuse in the book including weather, mechanical breakdown and no available crew. As if sleeping in the airport was not bad enough, I had to stand in a three hour line only to be told that there would be no compensation for my delay as long as they could get me to my destination - at some point in the future. (I did get my luggage after only one day - but I had to drive 100 miles to get it.)

While I was spending my vacation at O'Hare, I was appalled to read a WSJ article that basically said that my predicament was "business as usual" for the airlines in the summer. Was de-regulation really worth it?

Posted By Nancy on September 6, 2007, 4:42 PM

Dear Stephanie,
Thanks for taking the time to comment. As someone with a physical handicap, you raise a very important point. The airlines need to take better care for people with special needs!
--Blog editor

Posted By Blog Editor on September 6, 2007, 4:53 PM

If I refused to fly on all the airlines which have caused me major delays, missed connections, cancelled flights, overnight stays, lost and damaged baggage,etc., I would have difficulty going anywhere at all! There was only one airline that made me angry enough to swear to them, face to face, that I would never, ever, fly with them again. I don't need to give the name because it went out of business many years ago, I'm glad to report.
Most of my trips though, are uneventful,as I leave plenty of time for connections, and travel a day early to the Pacific if I have to connect with a dive boat. I would rather wait several hours in an airport, with a good book, than sweat about making a connection. The one gripe I have is with US Airways. I can't seem to get a wheeled bag to survive more than two trips with them. They must employ gorillas in baggage handling. They know it's a big problem because they don't reimburse the damage any more. It's better to pack two smaller, lighter weight bags, than one big heavy one.

Posted By Ralph Gray on September 6, 2007, 5:07 PM

Well I have to say that we all have stories bad and good but what it comes down too is that people buy the cheap ticket and expect it all.I have flown more inthe last couple of years and I see the way people treat the agents and flight crew and I have to say very sad.We buy from the discount .com you get just that.All the stories about broken planes do you want to fly on a broken plane ask youself that?Weather, when did the people who work at the airport control the weather?My biggest one is you book your dream vacation and try to leave the day of the ,cruise,train,bus and give yourself hours to meet your conection and then it storms and you misconect or get in late so whos fault is that,yours ,Gods.no it the airlines fault,Right?We need to look at air traffic control not just the airline but we also need to look at ourself first.You will fly again and you will fly the airline that has the cheapest ticket.Be nice people you get more with honey than vinegar.Be nice, smile and we all make mistakes, and you do not run the world so...just be nice.

Posted By Tony on September 6, 2007, 6:16 PM

Bottom Line:
Great experiences on KLM, Lufthansa and Southwest
------------
Terrible experiences on Delta and Air France

I have traveled all over the world to 50+ countries in all weather and holiday conditions. It was interesting to read all (well---most) of the responses posted here. While some people here had valid nightmare stories I did notice a lot of cry-baby stories ---poor food and didn't like the movies??? Please! Grow up!

I want leg-room (I am 6'1), clean plane, reliable schedules and my luggage safely cared for. That's it....

Of the over 25+ airlines I've flown...Air France >> has the RUDEST staff I've ever seen. They were very friendly to the French passengers (I observed their behavior very carefully)...hmmmm. In general, European airlines (I am not a strict euro-phile per se) are more professional than U.S. Airlines. Some of the people that U.S.-based airlines hire must have been gas station employee rejects!

I have particularly enjoyed my experiences with KLM and Lufthansa. Everything was great. No complaints at all. Most important for me was the leg room. BTW: the seating space on each airline is determined by the $$$-centric attitudes of the airlines NOT Airbus or Boeing. So blame the airlines for lack of room not the plane builders (I don't work for either Boeing or Airbus).

When flying Southwest I EXPECT to be treated like cattle; but cattle that are arriving on time...which they usually do a great job.

Just remember people.....do not sweat the small stuff, don't whine unnecessarily. Remember why you're flying...it's to get where you want to go not to act as though your flight itself was the vacation (it won't be...get over it).

Posted By Neal Schultz on September 6, 2007, 6:56 PM

As background, my first commercial flight was in 1958 (AA LAX-JFK -of course it wasn't JFK then) and have flown multi million miles both commercial & military since.

Of course there are bad days on all airlines, but some cross the line much more often than others. Sure there are nutty, drunk and strange passengers, but that does NOT justify the continued poor service often observed. Anyone who deals with the public should know and expect these sort of issues. Talk to any cab driver! (My dad was one)
I agree with the observation that US Air is one of the worst. An example of the type of issues that should never occur: On a flight from Phoenix to San Diego (yes, it was America Worst in those days)due to an extended delay waiting for connecting passengers, the flight was some 45 min late. Several came over just a few minutes late, but the airline waited for TWO passengers for over 30 more minutes. We took off and were over Yuma when the aircraft took a sudden turn to the north. A few moments later the pilot came on and said that "Operations" (America Worst) has directed us to Las Vegas. No other info was available. Upon landing there was one gate agent who said he knew nothing about the situation and left us in the dark. After an interminable delay during which the passengers (read:angry crowd) were about to riot -- four burly security guards were called to surround the counter. After that another agent said that there was to be one more flight that night,(about another hour plus later), but there were not enough seats for all of us.

I was one of the fortunate few who got on that flight. Why did AW do this?? San Diego has restrictive hours. If the flight had continued to SAN, it would not have been permitted to leave until next morning. So AW decided to s---- over all of the 140+ passengers on this 757 so they could get the $$$ from another bunch of victims the next morning. One of the passengers asked "Don't they call this kidnapping?" Those of us who did get to SAN that night were left without the usual transportation from the airport as taxis and shuttles ceased a couple of hours before & needed to be called -- assuming they worked at 3AM. Naturally, that was my last flight on US Air/America Worst.

I also have horror stories about Air France. We were denied boarding on a Business Class ticket from to Athens- a connection from a Delta flight from the US. But that's another story.

Posted By HDM on September 6, 2007, 7:24 PM

I live and work in Chicago. I travel to Phoenix, Tucson, and San Diego often.

I always fly Southwest. I am not a fan of their cattle-call loading system and would appreciate more leg room. Having said that, I must also say that the employees of Southwest have been pleasant and helpfull on every flight I have been on with them.

If Southwest would fly more places and offer advance seat selection I would never use any other airline.

Posted By tom o. on September 6, 2007, 7:38 PM

I will never, ever, ever fly AEROFLOT again. I took them because they were the cheapest from the US to India. Big mistake. We got stuck in the Moscow airport for 18 hours; we had to fight for meal vouchers (there was not even an ATM in the terminal) and they wouldn't even give us pillows or blankets. We were sleeping on a tile floor in Moscow, in January, and the heat was turned off. We were knocking on their office windows and they wouldn't even look at us. All they did was yell like it was our fault. AWFUL!

Posted By Barbra Resnick on September 6, 2007, 7:40 PM

I just finished filing a complaint with American Airlines. My Boyfriend and I booked flights 6 months ago in one phone call, each using our own frequent flier miles. and choosing adjoining seats. On the flight back we had checked in on line the evening before and verified our seats. We completed the first leg JAC- DFW and had to transfer. At that gate , my BF was passed through, but my boarding pass was taken and I was told " Oh , you've been dropped" by the Gate agent. A second agent who was at the gate said to the first one " But they are together"- motioning to my BF. The other gate agnt ignored her and said" Did you come in from somewhere ? ( in a tone that indicated I had done something underhanded). When I responded that I had and from where , she sighed, played with her computer , threw my original boarding pass away and handed me one she had generated that assigned me to a different section of the plane- in a middle seat ( I was booked into an aisle)/ The other agent continued to say " They are together," but was ignored. I asked " what does being dropped mean ?" and she gave me a dirty look and said this is all I can do. Very informative answer don't you think!

I boarded the plane and the seat I had originally had remained empty even after the overhead bins were closed by the FA. I asked if I could return to the original seat and was told that the Gate Attendant would have to release the seat. We then had a "mechanical delay" and about five minutes before our thirty minute delayed takeoff, a young woman came in the plane and sat in my coveted aisle seat. The FA never returned to address me. I did not ask the young woman to switch as the seat I had was clearly less desirable.

I realize some "snafu" happened while I was in transit to DFW , but if the gate attendant had only nicely said there was a seating problem and she had to reseat me - at least till she could work something out - or tried in any way to be nice about it, I would have felt much better. To this moment I still don't know why I was "dropped." I assume it's new speak for bumped. I resented being treated like I had created a problem or had done anything sneaky, when clearly AA had done both those things. Not only was I ignored and pushed around , so was the other gate attendant , who clearly felt something unjust was happening.

We have made reservations together paying separately on other airlines before and in those cases have always been assured that our reservations were "linked " in a way so it was known we were a party of two. I am also a bit suspicious that if AA had to swipe a seat ( maybe a higher paying last minute passenger) they chose to take the one from a possibly less assertive female passenger, rather than my BF who was in the exact same situation as I , but whose seat was never questioned.

Bad taste in my mouth- and AA has sent an automatic response telling me they'll "investigate". I'll bet the nice gate agent gets reprimanded for speaking up for me...

Glad I used up my "advantage " miles- some "advantage. They will be at the bottom of my choices( only a last resort) from now on- so if you book with AA with FF miles- be forewarned. Others have told me if we had not been "together" and if the second agent hadn't interceded . it was clearly AA's intent to leave me behind with no compensation whatsoever.

Posted By Louise Costello on September 6, 2007, 7:52 PM

Alitalia - Loved Rome but when we flew Alitalia from Boston to Rome, we found the crew, food, and entertainment to be very poor quality. Flight out of Boston was delayed when they experienced engine issues after we had boarded the plane. Due to the engine issues, the air conditioning was not running while they tried to get the engine started and it was a very hot day in Boston (well into the 90s). As the airplane started to get unbearably hot, passengers started to have issues with the heat. The crew was very apathetic to the situation. Never got the pillow and blanket for my daughter and me (even after multiple requests). The audio connection in my seat did not work (I doubt I would have watched the video content on the flight anyway since it appeared to be very low quality material). During the check in process in Rome our seats were moved (even though I had reserved specific seats six months prior when we bought the tickets and confirmed those seat reservations before our departure. The employee that checked us in did not seem to care that our family would be scattered across several rows. We ended up with no choice for dinner. We were provided one of the worst fish dinners I have ever received in my life with no apologizes for not having enough meal options for the entire flight. There was no video on the 9 hour flight due to audio problems with the video system. During our travels in Italy, we found the people warm/friendly, the food excellent, and the service very accommodating. None of these characteristics extend to Alitalia.

Posted By sdavi on September 6, 2007, 8:23 PM

I refuse to fly Polish LOT. I was born in Poland and I'd rather pay more for the ticket to fly with other airlines. I don't care anymore LOT flies direct to Poland. What an aweful experience! Rude staff!
Last Winter, my husband and I were flying to Poland to spend Christmas holidays with our family. First time after years. We bought tickets in advance, they weren't cheap, but we were happy to fly direct to Warsaw. On the day of the flight (2 days before Christmas Eve), we got a call our flight got cancelled. We were told our only option is to fly at the end of the following day with a few-hour layover in Prague or not fly at all. We were also told if we insist on flying direct - we can fly direct, after the Christmas Eve however. Literally. Just imagine how long was the wait at the airport to have a paper ticket issued. We paid for a direct flight, we flew with the layover. We have not even received a voucher for breakfast or a partial refund. Absolutely Nothing. Moreover while on the plane - the staff realized they didn't have enough breathing masks for the people who sat with children. Flight attendant made loud comments how people don't want to give up their seats. How about better planning?
They also refused to give passengers bottles of water - the air inside was very dry and it was very warm in general. When we filed a complaint - the airline customer service informed us they owe us nothing. That's the approach. Well, no thank you. NO MORE LOT!

Posted By Agnieszka Czajkowski on September 6, 2007, 9:31 PM

Delta is on the top and bottom of my no-fly list. My husband and I took a flight several days before Christmas to surprise my family since I hadn't been home for Christmas in 10 yrs. I'll try to make a long story short. The route was Pasco, WA to SLC to SFO. The first leg there was 45 minutes late, the arrival flight was 2 hours late. The return trip, Christmas night, was over an hour late arriving in SLC and that's where it stopped....literally! The connecting flight was supposed to leave at 7:20 PM, then 8:15 PM, the plane arrived at 8:30 PM. And, oh, by the way, before boarding, we were told that the restrooms on the plane weren't operational and that we should use the facilities before boarding. We boarded and waited for fuel. Another flight going in the same direction left at 9:20 PM, which, as it was, the last flight to leave SLC. Of course, while we are waiting, they are serving water, not that we could use the restrooms! The Captain came on several times complaining that they couldn't get a fuel truck. About 10 PM or so, the Captain came on and said that they still were hoping for fuel, but now the crew had exceeded the time limit for flying so everyone had to disembark. We got off the plane and all got in line for vouchers, and new flights which we were all promised would be first thing in the morning. The counter staff was overwhelmed and told us all to sit down. About 10 minutes later, we were all told to get in line again. When it finally came to our turn at the podium, the next available flight was the following night, which we had no choice but to book. Went downstairs to get luggage for the night, spent 25 minutes searching the tarmack with one of Delta's personel....finally told that it went with the other plane. By 11:30 PM, we are on a shuttle with 7 other people to a hotel. The people that we were riding with informed us that this was their 3rd bump and had been in SLC trying to get out on Delta for 3 days! We got to the hotel and had the shuttle take us back to the airport where after going to 3 rental car places, finally found one with a car and drove the 14 hours home! Sent several emails, receipts, etc to Delta for the missed flight, car rental fee, etc. They didn't care! Promised to reimburse for all, got $82 dollars........which didn't even cover the gas to drive home! NEVER AGAIN!

Posted By Annette E on September 6, 2007, 9:40 PM

Finally I get to speak my piece. Never ever ever will I fly on US Air again. they are rude and inconsiderate. On my 3rd and last adventure, I arrived at the airport early only to find that my flight had been cancelled and I was placed on a later flight, then at the gate we were shuffled back and forth from gate to gate while two agents at different gates kept giving information that the incoming flight had left the ground, had not left the ground, was on the ground, was delayed, oh lord, I was afraid to finally get on the plan for lack of confidence. Luckily I had a direct flight or I might never have gotten home. 4 hours late on a 2 hour flight. NEVER NEVER NEVER, 3 strikes and you're out. I think that proves I will give anyone the benefit of the doubt. Never did the frequent fliers miles credited. Trying to work with the on line folks to one step worse than the folks at the gate.

Posted By debbie on September 6, 2007, 9:50 PM

Amazing comments. My husband and I, both retired, used to loved travel. Not anymore. We really miss seeing our grandchildren but travel by air has become such a chore. You would think the airlines would want more passengers instead of fewer. Thanks everyone for sharing.

Posted By Judi H. on September 6, 2007, 10:47 PM

All American and European Airlines - Can the service, bad attitude, bad food (or no food), delays, lost luggage and overall bad experience be enough? I travel the Asia Pacific route over 15 times a year and I always try to fly with Asian carriers. It is no fluke that Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Thai and Asiana Airlines consistently get voted for best airline, food, decor, on-time record or something else.

The US based airlines always have OLD flight attendants who would rather be home than serving the customers. I have ran into some flight attendants who go to China on sourcing trips for pearls, fake bags and cheap clothing to sell on e-Bay when they get home. The worse part is they pull out their roll away luggage mid flight to compare with their colleagues the bargains they got instead of being more attentive to the passengers.

As for food, forget about it. There is no comparison between a properly prepared meal served on proper trays than the reheated mystery meat and soggy vegetables that always are served on US and European airlines.

It is hard to be a traveler these days, but sticking with the ones that are consistently winning awards has its benefits not least of all, less stress on long flights.

Posted By James on September 6, 2007, 11:43 PM

USAir should not be in business. Their customer service is sub par. I could not figure out how an airline corralled 200 passengers onto a plane that only carried enough food for only 20. What are they thinking? Then they get you to your first connecting airport an hour late, so there is no time to buy anything to eat from an airport vendor, you're running from one concourse to the other, hoping you don't lose any of your children, who are hungry...enough. USAir no more. It's not worth it, I'd rather row a boat to Hawaii next time. Then after all that, THEY LOST ALL OF OUR LUGGAGE!!!Our next trip is going to be a cruise. I hope we have better luck

Posted By Mona S on September 7, 2007, 12:56 AM

My husband and I will never fly American Airlines again. Why? Because of extremely rude flight attendants and gate employees.

We recently flew to Portland, OR and experienced the worst service we had ever experienced in our lives - on both inbound and outbound flights!

We received a "buy one, get one free" voucher for American through our credit card. They jacked the price up for us, so it really didn't feel like a deal. And even though we booked months in advance, we were given a very low priority on the seating list. It made me wonder if the staff knew that we were using a reward voucher because they seemed to mistreat other passengers using rewards/miles. Running a promotion, then mistreating passengers for using it - not very smart, is it?

My husband and I are extremely polite and understanding people. We often overlook bad service because we figure it's just one employee; maybe they're having a bad day or the company is unaware of the disgruntled employee.

We encountered five down-right wicked employees on this one trip. Completely unforgiveable.

Posted By Dawn Harvey on September 7, 2007, 6:32 AM

My many flights on Continental Airlines have been consistently cramped and the crews seem to be on a downward spiral as far as customer service and courtesy and it seems that they got rid of the crew that cleans the planes because the last 5 flights that Ive had I thought the planes where filthy. The seat back pockets are never cleaned out and the trays always seem to have some mysterious sticky stains on them. However, on the flip side, Id like to report that I recently had a wonderful experience on Frontier Airlines. I flew from Akron/Canton to Denver. It was the first time I had ever flown with them and I was very pleased with the friendly and entertaining staff and the extra leg room on the planes. The plane was very clean and comfortable. I will fly Frontier first whenever I need to travel to one of their destinations.

Posted By Sharyl Kriete on September 7, 2007, 6:56 AM

In May 2007 I asked a local travel agency, Madagascar Discovery Agency, to reserve round trip tickets from Antananarivo, Madagascar, to JFK. The agency made reservations for on Air France connecting to American Airlines flights. I could not change the ticket after my departure from Antananarivo on June 17.

The return flight from JFK to Antananarivo was booked on American Airlines Flight 44 scheduled to arrive in Paris at 7:25 a.m. on August 15, connecting to Air France Flight 908 departing Paris at 10:15. However, American Airlines Flight 44 departed JFK about 3 hours late and arrived in Paris at about 10:45 the morning of August 15 so I missed the connecting flight on Air France.

I bought the original ticket as part of a single itinerary, reserved together and paid by a single check. However, after I missed the connection, American Airlines informed me that the ticket for American Airlines between JFK and Paris was a “separate contract” from the ticket for Air France from Paris to Antananarivo. Consequently, according to American Airlines, even though I missed my connection because the American Airlines flight was late, American Airlines had no responsibility whatsoever for my onward flight or anything else.

According to Air France, since I had “separate contracts” for the two legs of the flight and had a ticket that could not be modified, when I missed my flight, the original ticket I had bought was no longer valid for travel on the leg from Paris to Antananarivo. Air France agents kindly offered to sell me a ticket on their next flight to Antananarivo, on August 17, for about $3,000 US.

According to agents for both American Airlines and Air France, my only option was to purchase a new onward ticket from Paris to Antananarivo. Since I had urgent business in Antananarivo, and apparently no other choice, I then bought a ticket from Paris to Antananarivo leaving later that day (August 15) on Air Madagascar for 1,592 euros, or about $2,400 US dollars.

I'm hoping against hope for action.

I might add that the Air France agent in Paris accused me of acting in bad faith when I didn't buy my onward ticket from her!

Posted By Maryanne Leblanc on September 7, 2007, 7:57 AM

I agree that Air France takes the cake when it comes to poor and rude service. This has been particularly true when I have missed connections (their fault) and the like. However, in many cases the rudeness with other airlines lies with the customer, who is NOT always right. It is amazing to me that people can be incredibly rude and expect good and courteous service in return!

Posted By Andrew Johnson on September 7, 2007, 8:36 AM

Continental Airlines July 2007. Arrived in Antigua on July 27th with an infant bags didnt arrive until August 1st. No help from Continental ground crew in Antigua had to travel back and forth to the airport several times because I could never get someone on the phone to say whether baggages had arrived.

Posted By Ronia Charles on September 7, 2007, 9:24 AM

I have to say I am thankful after reading all of these posts. I primarily fly Continental and have for 20 years (Elite member for 20 years this year). Sure, I've had delayed flights, lost luggage when it was important (for a wedding), rude flight attendants especially on the Newark to Tokyo direct flights. These seem to be the "senior" flight attendants and either because of their age or their proximity to retirement feel they can be rude. I still fly Continental, because overall they have provided me the best service at a reasonable rate. Not the best rate - but you get what you pay for.

I won't every fly Air Jamaica again. In addition to the delays, no communication, they lost my luggage enroute for a scuba trip, no compensation, wrote down the wrong number to call for status, and then blamed me for not making a trip back to the Bonaire airport *during my vacation* each day to see if my luggage came in. I will also NOT travel (unless I have to) Air Tahiti. While I encourage all to visit Tahiti as it is absolutely gorgeous ...the trip was tainted being without luggage for 4 days of a 10 day trip, including scuba / snorkel gear, my contacts, clothing, swimsuits etc. I never got a return phone call from the airlines about the luggage. They claimed it was Continental's fault and that no one could find my luggage in LAX where we changed planes/air carriers. Word to the wise - do NOT let one airline check your luggage through to destination with another airline unless they are partners that share computer systems, etc. ESPECIALLY for overseas flights. After calling Air Tahiti local and LAX for hours, I finally called Continental. I actually ended up calling both for 3 days. After the 2nd day, Continental went on a search of the LAX baggage area - found my luggage in the Air Tahiti area - and sent it along. While I don't know who's fault it really was - at least a person answered at Continental vs. a machine at Air Tahiti and CO told me they were working it. I feel confident that if I had not been calling them every day, I still would not have my luggage. I received NOTHING from Air Tahiti for my loss. We spent $400 (did I mention Tahiti is expensive) for Wal-mart quality clothing: 1 swimsuit each, 1 pr shorts each, 1 pr flip flops each, and 2 tshirts each. No compensation - no "I'm sorry" - nothing. Luggage showed up in Moorea at 10am the day we departed (thankfully later that afternoon) for Fakarava to start our scuba trip. So - yes - we did get the dive gear just in time ... and my husband waited until we received luggage, got into our own clothes, and had a wonderful meal Christmas Eve before proposing to me under the stars on the beach. Happy ending ... but totally ruined the first 4 days in paradise and tainted Moorea forever for us. I hope another airline flies to Tahiti in the future - as I want to return but don't want to lose luggage again or reward that airline with return business.

On the rest ... I consider it a hazard with the amount of travel I do both personally and professionally. I do find you get better service when you become a member of their frequent flyer clubs (I have 6). And YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

Posted By Dawn on September 7, 2007, 9:53 AM

I started reading many of the posts but got bogged down by the shear number. I did however find a few interesting ones and would like to add my comments. I will always try to fly Delta first. After being stuck three times in Minneapolis by Northwest I will avoid them at all costs. On one occasion our NW flight left late due to minor mechanical difficulties so we were told they were rebooking us to SLC on a slightly later flight since we would miss our connection. When we arrived in Minneapolis we were told that there were not enough seats available for the 12 of us who were supposedly already rebooked. We were then put on a flight 5 hours later, which ended up being cancelled due to weather, even though other airlines were flying into SLC at the same time. Now we were rebooked an additional 24 hours later and we were not given any vouchers for a hotel because this flight was cancelled for weather, even though the original delay was a mechanical problem. I went to a Delta agent who took the time to explain to me how to get my tickets back from NW and she would then reissue me tickets on Delta. We ended up leaving about 2 1/2 hours after the cancelled NW flight on Delta and were able to also hang onto the SUV rental we reserved for our vacation. The Delta agent really went out of her way to help us. (This trip was over the Christmas holiday season, but the NW employees did not seem to be in the spirit of the season.)

Posted By Anne on September 7, 2007, 10:37 AM

CONTINENTAL YUK!
My husband was booked on a flight from Newark to Boston. It spent 5 hours on the tarmac and he hadn't brought any supper. He is a diabetic with a history of seizures and they claimed that they didn't even have a coke to give him. He called me on his cell and I called the airline. The airline claimed that they had no way to contact the plane ( which of course was patently rediculous). I suggested they try a cell phone which really annoyed them. Of course they had food or drink - I'm quite certain first class could get a coke. If he had a seizure what were they planning to do then? I have never flown them since.

Posted By kerry Carey on September 7, 2007, 11:30 AM

CONTINENTAL! I'm generally tolerant of the inevitable delays associated with flying and have forgiven many airlines for the inconveniences, but my experience with Continental was one of the worst things that happened to me in my entire life. And when I found out it was due to a longstanding problem that they've simply chosen not to address, that was the final straw.

My husband and I went without our luggage for our ENTIRE honeymoon. We flew to Antigua from Newark, and our bags never did. (Ronia, I feel for you, sounds like we had very similar experiences). We were told by several Continental representatives that "oh, that flight is nearly always over the weight limit, so we almost never bring down all the luggage." Apparently, this is a chronic issue such that they routinely wait until the end of a week when they've got a week's worth of luggage stranded in Newark, then fly down a separate plane with luggage and no passengers!

We were given no sympathy, NO response to our several letters of complaint, and certainly no refund. If this is a chronic problem, as so many reps acknowledged, then they need to do something about it!!! Don't book so many passengers, or else don't allow people to bring extra luggag! (On my flight, the ONLY passengers whose luggage arrived were a group of ten people relocating to Antigua who had paid a huge extra fee so they could each bring FIVE oversized bags (they checked in more than 45 minutes after me, by the way). Those should've been lowest priority, but Continental obviously made the decision to take the extra cash instead of providing proper service to everyone else.

Posted By Erica on September 7, 2007, 11:47 AM

Wow... I travel a lot for work, mostly internationally and mostly throughout Europe and Africa, and personally my husband and I travel mostly cross-country and to the Caribbean - and I'm counting us as lucky that we've not had all these bad experiences! We can still be bought, so there's no "never again" airline for us, but we've had some notable experiences to add...

Northwest - generally we have had good experiences with them but one time (on tickets we paid for with miles) we were very publicly and rudely ousted from emergency-exit seats because my husband at the time had a limp. Which was embarassing, but also - he was perfectly capable of the emergency exit duties, so I wondered if it's even legal to do that they did... complaint letter vetted us nothing, not even an apology. Also, during the President's Day snowstorm in 2003 that hit the DC metro area, they were the only airline that wouldn't cancel its flight (to Amsterdam) out of Washington Dulles, so you had people (like me) struggling and risking our lives to get there to make the flight, sliding all over the highways etc... and then, no sooner did I check my bags and they take them - they cancelled the flight, thus making me go and wait for them to bring me my bag again on the baggage claim floor, then have to try to make it back home again on the snowy and icy roads, at this point now in the dark.

Delta... I flew out west (home) for Thanksgiving on Tuesday before on Delta, connecting in Dallas or Houston, can't remember which. Plane circled for two hours over without explanation, then we had to divert to some dinky place as we were out of fuel, then back to the original landing airport, but then we had to circle again because now we had fuel and other airplanes didn't so they got to land first. 4 hours late because of this, I missed my connections and they told me there was nothing they could do, their flights were booked solid for the next six days! I made a scene, insisted, etc. and finally after an hour of this they put me on an America West flight.

Speaking of America West - hubby and I were in Las Vegas over New Years 2003-4, supposed to come home Jan. 2nd on the redeye (to fly back east). For three solid days that flight was cancelled. Each evening we went to the airport, were told it was cancelled, collected our hotel and meal vouchers and went back to the hotel, which was right off the Strip. This isn't actually a complaint - we had a marvellous time, extended by and courtesy of America West, but if we had something we needed to be back for it surely would have been an issue. Oh and they upgraded us to first class en route back... first in the US isn't all that, though.

SAA - Again I was one of the lucky ones but I am telling this as a word of caution... I was just in Aug. in a conference in Botswana (where everyone has to switch in Jo'burg and take a SAA puddlejumper) and about half of the people didn't get their luggage when they landed, about half of those had to wait more than 2 days to get it, and one person is still waiting. We have been told that the luggage never makes it and there is a theft ring among the baggage folks at the airport, and to expect not to get your things, maybe to never get them. What a sorry state!

Lastly, there's SABENA, or Such A Bad Experience, Never Again - I am surprised no one wrote in about them. I found the attendants rude (and I do speak French) although they had snazzy uniforms, but what was the killer for me was this: I was coming home after more than a year spent overseas in school, and I was next to this person who had brought his cat on board and the cat was in a duffel or some cat carrier looking like a duffel, under the seat in front of him. I love animals but am asthmatic around cats. Well, about 2/3 of the way through the flight he took the cat out and was passing him around, over me (I had the aisle) so the flight attendants could pet him (the man not the cat), other passengers, etc. My eyes got red and watery as they are prone to do, and the rest of it began - the sneezing, the coughing, etc. and I knew I needed to do something. When I asked the attendants for antihistamines they told me they refused to give medicines on the flight. When I asked if they could ask him to put the cat back under they gave me a big lecture about how the cat is suffering and should be free. When I then demanded that they change my seat so that I could breathe and try to recover before my family saw me, they obliged but made me wait another 45 minutes before they got me a different seat.

By the way - when I fly through Amsterdam or Jo'burg or CDG - no way do I let them give me just an hour between flights! I know they say it's a "valid connection" but I don't care, I will take the earlier flight and read or shop or something, it's not worth the stress of making connections.

Since I've just flamed a bunch of airlines, I want to also give a couple of props where I think it's deserved... especially since some of it is relevant to other airlines named here.

Air France - I've actually never had a problem with them (well, once my bags came in on a later flight but that's not really a problem), and I would take the Washington-Paris flight on Air France over any from an American airline in coach - the facilities are better, the food is better, the wine definitely so... and one time in Strasbourg, I had some food poisoning, and was just so, so sick all night, wasn't even sure how I was going to hold it together to get home but was desperate to get home (it stinks to travel when ill!), I managed to fly from Strasbourg to Paris okay, and then I think I realized that I would be okay, but still, I wasn't feeling great of course and there was always the chance that I had misjudged... so I asked for an aisle near the toilet and they obliged. When the plane boarded (they all exit and then take the bus to the plane, I don't think this is an airline issue, I think it's just how different airport facilities run), they checked our boarding passes again, and the gate agent snatched mine out of my hand and gave me another one with my name on it. I protested, since I really, really needed that aisle seat, and she just replied, "it's an aisle, take it, trust me". Somehow I had been upgraded to business class! It was exactly what I needed, when I needed it.

Aeroflot - I flew this past summer on a three-leg trip, ending up on the Black Sea in Russia, and I flew on 3 different airlines each way - United, Lufthansa (through Frankfurt) and Aeroflot. I was in business the whole way. I have to say that Aeroflot was the best of the three - the best service, the best food (chicken Kiev!) - I was very, very impressed!

Air Ivoire and Air Niger - I flew the former before the current war so I can't speak for today, but I had finished a book and left it in the seat pocket of the plane, thinking someone else could take it and read it. One of the flight attendants chased me through the entire airport out the other end, to catch up with me - to give me my book back! That kind of dedication and customer service you just don't fine anywhere! Air Niger I have to give kudos for being honest and upfront about things. I was on the Niamey-Lome flight (1 or 2 times a week only) and the little plane went on the tarmac, then stopped. The pilot got up, faced us (we were in the cabin of maybe 10 school-bus-type seats) and told us, "I'm sorry but we are having some radio problems, we are going to fix them now and then we will go." And we got off the plane, sat on the tarmac and they had people come and fix the problem, then we got back on the plane an hour or so later, and off we went! The cabin wasn't pressurized but the hostess passed out taffy-type candy to chew on descent and I of the blocked eustacian tubes, who have to wear those "earplanes" or else I suffer to the point of passing out, chewed my taffy (no earplanes on this trip) and was just fine on the descent!

Posted By Lera on September 7, 2007, 11:55 AM

NORTHWEST
I pray any transatlantic flights will be KLM, rather than NWA. The difference between cabin crews is remarkable. Too many of the NWA crew chat loudly among each other, gripe about labor problems in front of passengers and seem indifferent when asked for help. I normally put up with a lot, so I understand the challenges they confront and we endure. I wish, however, that the cabin staff on NWA were as polite, profession and friendly as the KLM crews.

Posted By Jim Sack on September 7, 2007, 4:12 PM

AirTran. I spent many years flying from east coast cities to west coast town, and if the long flight was delayed, United held my fellow passengers in seats so we few could get out quickly and dash to catch our [last of day] plane. In contrast, when Airtran was late into Atlanta for our connection they 1). didn't provide us with gate # for our next flight, 2) didn't expedite our getting off to get best chance to run for connection, 3) didn't hold the connection plane, even tho they had a bunch of their customers rushing to try to catch it, and 4) lied to us, while we stewed for 5 or 6 hours, asserting there weren't any flights on the route on other airlines -- but of course there were and they were just holding us up to protect their revenue.

Posted By Richard Frankel on September 7, 2007, 5:26 PM

Iberia and American Airlines. I don't have the energy to type all of the horrible service and treatment I have received from these airlines.

I have had very positive experiences with Alitalia, KLM and Northwest.

I have a trip scheduled with United and Air Lingus. Now, I am having anxiety about having to deal with airports and airline employees again!

Posted By Dana Dees on September 7, 2007, 8:19 PM

US AIRWAYS ! This is a great blog but I'm sorry folks, there can be no equal to this travesty for air travel. A Philly ex-patriot, still with roots there, I have traveled millions of miles around the world since 1982, with unfortunately a good portion in their system due to lack of alternatives.

Even if discounting the somewhat understandable situations ensuing from the inevitable weather and equipment problem delays, this is an airline that:
1. has the most ignorant agents and disorganized reservations system I have ever seen of any airline in any country;
2. has mostly rude and disenfranchised flight attendants;
3. has the worst and most corrupt baggage handlers;
4. has consistently ranked in the worst on-time performance since Moses was a road guard.

In each of these four areas above, the storylines are almost comical, if not beyond incomprehensible. Who could ever forget the Christmas debacle just a couple years ago, when the baggage handler sick-out left holiday travelers without luggage for more than 5 days; or the canceled reservation incident that was so widespread, it cost millions in public relations triage; and most recently, the firing of scores of baggage handlers and other employees in an overtime fraud scandal.

The comical part?-- I have personally witnessed shouting matches between airline attendents in-flight; arguments between supervisors and gate agents; and just recently, a fight between a TSA screener and a reservations agent because she was checking bags that were too heavy.

Sadly, I remember their early days as regional Allegheny Commuter, which was a dependable airline. Then came the growth into US Air, the merger with Piedmont, the alliance with British Airways, and now of course, the reservation partnership with America West. Of course, I presume each and every one of these moves have been an effort to improve, but all have resulted in disaster. Why this airline is just not SHUT DOWN immediately and the routes sold remains a mystery.

Posted By JC on September 8, 2007, 10:46 AM

My family and I flew Luthansa to Florence, Italy in late July and had the best flight ever. They left on time, wined and dined us with excellent food and drink which was all without cost even in coach. They even wined and dined us on the short flight from Frankfort to Florence. On the way home, they v on the 0ne hour and fifteen minut flight from Florence to Munich. The cabin crew was wonderful and courteous at all times. I would reccommend any to fly Luthans. They put american airlines to shame, especially USair that gave you a water cuplet on our flight from Boston to Asheville, NC.

Posted By Michael S. K. Mitchell on September 9, 2007, 7:56 AM

I fly to Prague about once a year. I have had good experiences with KLM, Austrian Air, and, of course, Czech Airlines. A couple of years ago, the only flights I could get were with British Air. It was a nightmare. Every flight was late, coming and going. When I returned, my luggage was lost at Heathrow. I filled out the necessary forms and then started calling BA. No one was able to tell me anything for over 2 weeks. I wrote letters. Finally, I got a cell phone call from a man at Heathrow, saying he had found my luggage with no tracking tag, just my personal ID. He would send it to Dulles. When it got there, it was sent to the wrong address and lost again. Another two weeks later, I got a call from a DIFFERENT airline saying it had shown up on THEIR carousel, they did not know how. I told them not to touch it,and drove to Dulles to pick it up myself (100 miles roundtrip). My complaints to BA resulted in a $200 coupon for future BA travel !!! Needless to say, I never used it. I always try to travel to Prague by Czech Airlines. I think they provide the most ontime service and their flight staff is polite. If there are problems, they are solved quickly and professionally.

Posted By Harry Klugel on September 9, 2007, 1:18 PM

I have just spent an hour or so skimming through this blog on worst airlines, and have reached one conclusion: you have a pretty good chance of a bad flight on any given day on any given airline.
After 40+ years of business and personal flying, I have had both bad and good experiences with almost any airline you care to name,including some now defunct (e,g, Pan Am & Eastern).
In some cases, it is the airport (Schipol in Amsterdam had an initial security screening that was completely chaotic a few years ago).
My recent experiences with Virgin Atlantic, British Air, Air Canada, AirTran, and United have varied all over the lot from great to miserable but I can't recall any case where the problem was directly due to an action by an airline employee. Their computer system, yes. The employees were usually doing their best to stay cool while trying to handle a large volume of people in a very short time.
The main problems we have with air travel in the US stem from two factors: 1,everyone wants to go at the same time. As a result, the airlines overschedule the preferred times. Why the FAA and the individual airports allow this is anyone's guess, but to schedule 100 aircraft to depart in an hour when the physical capacity of the airport is say 80 planes is obviously going to lead to 20 or more planes leaving late every day. (One definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result.)

Factor 2: We don't have enough airports. Of course, it goes along with this that no one wants an airport in THEIR backyard, so new airports don't get built. Or when they do, we build them close together so we compound the air traffic control problems.

Finally, I remember the days when the 707 was the biggest thing flying and many planes still had those funny little whirly things on the engines. A planeload of people was maybe 35-45. Today, we routinely expect to see 150 tp 350 people deplane. This has complicated the logistics to the breaking point - just think how much better the 500+ Airbus 380 will make things.
Good Luck to all of us, we're gonna need it.

Posted By Alan Joyner on September 9, 2007, 1:46 PM

I will not fly United ever again. I was travelling from coumbia, sc via dullus to boston, ma. That flight was more than an hour late leaving columbia, sc. we were not notified that the flight was late. the information has not been changed on the board. I learned later that flight is always late because the gentleman I was talking to said he takes that flight every week. I had not problem getting to Columbia, SC -- getting back was the problem

Posted By Barbara - Boston on September 9, 2007, 2:07 PM

Worst airline? I'd say United and USAirways are tied for worst. Whenever I fly either of them, I book 2 flights earlier than I need to arrive on time, and sometimes that's not enough. Neither airline is good at communicating reasons for delays - I generally track down the flight crew to find out what they've been told. Unfortunately, most of my flights are between PHL and ORD, so I'm stuck with both of them.

Posted By Susan on September 9, 2007, 4:40 PM

AIR FRANCE! Never never again...we got booked on them because of the tour company we were with...what rude, crude staff! And, the construction at DeGaulle! Simply put...staff REFUSED to help us...we missed plane, were in a temporary building with no where out, rode a bus on the tarmac that seemed to go in circles....on the plane they could have cared less if we were dead or alive!! And I now notice that our tour company doesn't use them any more either! Smart move for all concerned!

Posted By Billie on September 9, 2007, 5:21 PM

I wouldn't even let my dog fly on Northwest after the way they treated us at the end of June. First, they canceled our noon flight from Hartford to Detroit without telling us. "Sorry," they said (4 hours after it left), "but we rebooked you on the 6 a.m. flight." They put us in a fleabag motel overnight and gave us two meal vouchers that we could not use because they were only good inside the airport's security zone. Next day, our new flight was late departing because the flight crew did not show up. Once we finally got to Detroit, we found our flight to Traverse City was also delayed because of mechanical problems. Then bad weather hit and we were trapped at the end of the runway for three hours. "Sorry, folks, we cannot leave now because we burned up most of our fuel while sitting in line. We have to return to the gate to refuel. Oh, and we cannot refuel until the bad weather passes over." We finally arrived at our destination after 36 hours -- two flights that should have taken 3 hours in all. Northwest is the pits!

Posted By Jim on September 9, 2007, 10:35 PM

I absolutely disagree with the exec who said the only thing we care about is the cheapest fare. Of course, I love to find a great deal. But the airline I refuse to fly is Delta. This story is pre-9/11, when airlines at least made a pretense of offering good customer srevice:
After teaching in Italy for a year, I was on my way home (with Missy, my cat)when I learned of a strike on my carrier, Air France. They were helpful to me and got me re-routed on code-sharing carriers, which meant an additional stop. I went to Belgium on Sabeena airlines-no problem-then to
Atlanta, where I would fly home to LA on Delta. As I left the plane, I was given a transit boarding pass. When I went to check in they told me the pass they had just given me was not valid. I was referred to an information desk and asked the Delta representative there "Can I..." "NO" he interrupted, loudly. "I need..."NO" he repeated."My tick.." "NO NO NO!!!".And so it went, no questions allowed at the info desk that I had been directed to. Finally, he grabbed my ticket and announced it was not valid. As I started to question how the ticket that had carried me from Italy to Belgium to Atlanta was not valid for the rest of the trip, to LA...the NO's started again. I still can't believe how he acted, and how it made me feel.And worse, there was no other Delta Rep to talk to, except for the lady at the check in, where there were at least 50 people ahead of me. I got in line, and was worrying about my connection when the people in front of me told me to go ahead of them,as did many others (Ok, so Delta passengers are nice...)But when I got to the front, the Delta rep there said, " I saw you cutting in line. You need to get in the back of the line. I won't help you". The people behind me (and the others behind them) told her that they had all let me go, as my flight was very near departure. She then took a look at my ticket and said" It doesn't matter. You need to take a tram and go to the other side of the airport. There's no way you're getting on this flight."
Frustrated, I sat down and watched my flight board. I looked at my transit boarding pass, and thought that that the NO man must be mistaken about it. So I took it to the boarding area and gave it to the girl who accepted it without any problem.As I sat in my seat, exhausted from the ordeal, here came the NO man, with a large security man. "That's her!" He yelled, pointing at me. "Remove her from the plane!She doesn't have a ticket!" All of the passengers turned and looked at me. I felt my hands dig into the armrest. "Yes, I do", and handed it to the security man.As the NO man glared at me, the security man said, "oh, it's valid. It's a code sharing ticket. Ok, no problem" The NO man then noticed my cat carrier and said,"oh, it figures! She sneaked a cat on board...I'll bet you didn't pay for her, either!" The security man saw the notation of fees paid for an in-cabin pet on my ticket, and said that she was ok. I looked at the NO man and said "I don't know why, but you really didn't want me to leave Atlanta" He glared again and said" No, I really can't wait for you to leave!" and stormed off the plane. The security man said, "He's just doing his job" and left. I was so upset, I was shaking. The woman behind me-a member of the US army-tapped me on the shoulder and handed me her name and address. She said "I have never seen anyone treated as badly as you. That was inexcusable" Several others near me nodded in agreement. "Here's my contact information if you ever need it", she added.
As I went to the restroom, I was still trying to keep under control,when a flight attendant said a simple, "Hi, how are you?" Her unexpected friendly words were met by tears that I finally let run down my face, in the dark back of the plane.I will say that she was genuinely concerned, and asked me for the name of the man. In the stress of the situation, I had forgotten it. But she asked me to describe him. As I did, she said, "oh,honey, I'm so sorry. I don't know his name either.But I know who you're talking about. You aren't the first one that he has made board this plane in tears." She gave me a little hug,and said, don't worry, it's ok now, and you'll be home soon." And after one year away, topped off by that nightmare, I was ready for that.

Posted By Lorrie on September 9, 2007, 11:30 PM

United is the worst as far as I'm concerned. I had to be in Pittsburg to pick up a car that I had bought. I chose a flight that would arrive early to meet the car seller. Not only did I get bumped twice from my flight from North Arkansas, but when I got there THE NEXT MORNING, my digital camera was missing from my bag. United refuses to answer my calls or e-mail. This isn't the first time they have given my family and me poor service, but it's the last time we will patronize them! For us, ANY carrier except UNITED.

Posted By Myra M. Cox on September 10, 2007, 2:03 PM

DELTA ,although a reasonably well run airline
(except for the higher than normal fares out of CVG). After following the instructions of a local Delta agent for transferring SKYMILES, upon returning from the trip my wife was informed DELTA was cancelling the remainder of her SKYMILES
(over 62,000) because of no
activity.After several letters and calls and 2 years we still get the same answer,basically
TOO BAD.

Posted By sid galbaugh on September 10, 2007, 2:47 PM

WOW! I have never flown before but wanted to read about which airlines have the best/worst reputation so that I could choose wisely when I fly in the spring. After reading all of these stories I am terrified to fly anywhere since I don't know the ropes about flying. Looks like I will have to do my homework about how things work in an airport cuz I don't think I am going to find anyone who cares enough to help a first time flier! I feel so sorry for those of you that had such terrible experiences that could have been prevented!

Posted By Taylor on September 11, 2007, 12:02 AM

Well, I have two...Northworst and American, and for two different reasons. Northworst due to a situation that happened to me almost 10 years ago. I was connecting through Detroit on the way to North Carolina. When we arrived at the gate, the plane just sat at the gate without opening the door for almost a half hour. By the time we deplaned, my connecting flight, which was at the complete other end of the airport of course, was due to leave. The agent at the gate where we deplaned would not find out if the flight had closed, he told me "just run". Well, that's easy to say, but I had a carry on and my cat with me, which doesn't really facilitate speed on the concourse. Of course the flight had gone by the time I got to the gate and the other agents were equally as rude and non-helpful. I was given the choice of staying in the airport for the night, with the cat and no supplies for the cat mind you, or flying to Cleveland then on to North Carolina. Needless to say, I eventually got there, but I have never flown them ever again.

The second offenders are new to my list. American Airlines really really really made me EXTREMELY angry last month when my disabled mother was bumped from a flight that she had a boarding pass in her hand due to the fact that there had been bad weather that day so there was extra luggage on the flight and the plane was overweight. So, rather than taking a paying, ticketed, living breathing customer home at 11:30pm after sitting in the airport enduring delays all day, American Airlines and their brilliant staff chose to transport baggage. Oh, sure, she and the one other lucky winner were sent to a hotel where she got all of 2 hours of sleep before having to go back through the rigors of checking back into the airport the next morning for the first flight back home, but tell me, why couldn't those extra bags have gone on that first flight out that morning and my mom have been on the flight that she paid for and had a ticket in her hand? American does not even have a customer service phone number you can call anymore, only email, conveniently. The only response my mother got from American was that they do the best they can to accomodate all of their customers...yeah, right. Well, I will not be one of those customers, that's for sure. My blood still boils thinking about it. And her ticket was not a cheapo ticket, either....

Posted By Cindy on September 11, 2007, 3:18 AM

My story is a bit more disturbing than a canceled flight. On a Delta Airlines flight to Israel I felt something sharp in my mouth while eating fruit salad and pulled out a very dirty acrylic fingernail! The flight attendant was right there when it happened and she just rolled her eyes and had the audacity to ask me if it was mine!! I promptly went and got sick! I wrote Delta a letter when I got home and their idea of "customer service" was to pass the the buck! They said "it was not Delta's responsibility, it was their food service company's". Right! I didn't buy my ticket from their food service company, I bought it from Delta. The flight attendant didn't even offer to bring me a fresh uncontaminated dinner. I have since learned she also broke company policy by not writing up a report.
You can get bumped off a flight and they give you a free ticket, but if they potentially expose you to a whole host of communicable diseases ..they don't even apologize!

Posted By Linda on September 11, 2007, 8:28 PM

I will never fly Air France again.
We had a connceting flight from athens to paris and then on to Houston--they had a bomb scare on the tarmac in paris--so our flight from athens was delayed by about an hour.When we arrived in paris and ran 2 terminals over to get to our connceting flight they told us we couldn't board (it was still 30 minutes before departure) because they were missing 8 passngers and were undergoing a security check! I told them we were part of the missing passengers from
Athens but we were now here- they refused to let us board--they left without us and we had to fight with the customer service to get us on another flight so we could make our daughters college weekend.

The only airline I like to fly in the US is Southwest Airlines/ They have the best leg room and the flight attendants and employees are consistently helpful. I don't mind their boarding system--becuase it gets you on and you can decide who you sit next to. They actually care about you and they have held a plane for me when my connecting flught was late. I will always pick Southwest Airlines as my first choice.

Posted By martha fiss on September 11, 2007, 10:49 PM

I will never fly Delta again because I made a complaint about a rude employee to customer service and it was never acknowledged. I suppose that good customer service is not important to them.

Posted By Linda on September 14, 2007, 9:08 AM

My no-fly list is
1) Northwest
2) American

Posted By Michelle on September 14, 2007, 9:38 AM

Delta a nightmare for us, cancelled flights, no assistance, rude attendants. Wonderful: Jet Blue and Aer Lingus. Jack Gaffey

Posted By Jack Gaffey on September 20, 2007, 11:45 AM

Delta - I was on an overnight flight to the U.K. and the attendants turned off ALL the lights from takeoff to touchdown. My overhead light was not working and I could not even read and I had to eat my meal in total darkness. On another occasion, we were left on the runway for 2 hours and they would not even give us water for our 4 children....I would never fly them again even if it was free.

Posted By Elen Crouch on September 20, 2007, 1:13 PM

Our worst flying experience was on an Air France flight about 6 month ago. We were transit passengers in Paris' CDG and had boarding passes for our next flight to Boston. We ran for half an hour between terminals D & E, passing all kinds of security/passport/etc checks trying to make this flight. At the gate the guards did not let us board, even when the plane was still at the gate. We spent the next 24 hours in CDG waiting for the next available flight to Boston.
Because of Air France's fault, we went through a lot problems, missed a work day, called our employers, arranged our pick up at the airport.
We are very disappointed with Air France and how they handled transit passengers, sold tickets with absolutely no reasonable connecting time in CDG, and ignored numerous customer complaints. Since March 2007, we sent many emails/faxes/letters to Air France US & Paris offices without any answer.
It's really sad that AF declares itself 'the best airline' on the company website, but cannot provide an acceptable service on the ground while maintaining a good service on board.

AF passengers from AF#1205/#332, March. 4th, 2007.

Posted By Irina Donskaia on September 22, 2007, 8:52 PM

just read your e-mail today, and we just returned to New York from Disney, Orlando,FL. The airlines have people by the you-know-what! We had made our return flight reservations for Saturday evening so we could enjoy the last day at Disney before flying back home. I called the 800 number the night before to confirm our flight reservations and everything seemed fine. In the morning we had the hotel take our bags so that they would be taken to the airport and with that get our boarding passes. After waiting a considerable time they told us they couldn't get my husbands pass printed and that after numerous changes by Delta, we were now supposed to fly out at 1:10 pm. instead of 5:30pm and also have a 3-4hour lay-over in Atlanta,Ga. After getting both boarding passes, and flying to Atlanta, we sat and waited, while being directed to different gates four times, and then there was mechanical difficulties so we didn't actually leave Atlanta until 7:30pm for our final destination. We lost a whole day, and any park passes for Disney or any meals we were entitled to were just lost. There's no compensation, no customer satisfaction whatsoever. Oh, if you want to change your flight plans, you have the privilege of another fee. Thank you.

Posted By Carol Messina on September 23, 2007, 9:05 PM

I will never fly DELTA again. I was going home for the holidays and happen to be the owner of a 25 pound dog. What does that mean? It means that he has to fly in the cargo area. Well, that right there cost me $425. My seat only cost $350. Well, I paid it so I shouldn't complain right?...Wrong. I was flying into Manchester, NH and due to weather problems, I was rebooked to a flight that would have been in at midnight. I was originally supposed to be in at 5pm. Because of my traveling "companion" I talked to them and we rebooked to a 5 pm to Boston. That worked for me. They assured me that all of my luggage was transferred and it would be put onto my flight. Great! Well, I got there at 5 o'clock exactly but my luggage didn't. All the computers sadi that it was there, but trust me, it wasn't. Remember the dog? Yeah, he was luggage and he was lost. LOST?! HOw do you lose a dog? It's not like they all look alike. Well, after a lot of computer work (atleast the women working with me were concerned) we finally found out that ALL of my luggage was in Manchester. All I had to do was go get it. For those of you who don't know, that is an hour and a half drive, if you are lucky. When I finally got there the crate was just sitting behind the counter and the girl there must have "had a long night" because when I told her that I was going to take my now whining dog home, she told me that I had to wait in line behind the other customers before I could get him. Needless to say I told her no and took my dog home. I used to like Delta, but they lost my dog and then tried to charge me twice for him..another long story, I finally decided that I will never fly DELTA again.

Posted By Amber on September 25, 2007, 11:16 PM

Northwest:

I will never book on Northwest again. After making a reservation using our miles in April for a trip in November. Northwest has changed our time schedules at least once every three weeks. We now have a 3hr and 45 min layover in Atlanta on our way home. It took Northwest five weeks to respond to an email sent to them. Lousy service seems to be their new motto.

Posted By Nancy on September 27, 2007, 12:25 PM

Sounds like Delta should just fold up business and go away forever (and thanks for the terrific YouTube video... what's amazing is that the passengers in that 10-hours on the plane disaster didn't all stand up in unison and start yelling their heads off! Probably too exhausted, hungry and sick.) If they're at all associated with UNITED AIRLINES, they can both get lost. Rude, incompetent, inconsiderate, sloppy service and most likely to keep you from ever arriving anywhere on time. We pay way too much hard-earned money for such crap. When it comes to flying, I will never "fly United" again.

Posted By zee on October 1, 2007, 12:07 PM

I do everything in my power to avoid flying Southworst. Their systems aren't updated and if your name vaguely matches that of someone on the watch list, you can't check in online and are relegated to middle seat purgatory. Funny that they know my DOB from my Rapid Rewards #, but they can't match that with my name when I check in?? Lame.

Posted By juan on October 1, 2007, 3:55 PM

I will no longer fly Southwest, even if I have to crawl cross-country though broken glass to get somewhere. On a flight to Germany, they switched our 747 on the first, US leg for a little commuter plane, saying the flight was sparsely booked. But, they would not let us board with ANY carryon luggage, other than a purse. So, I was forced to hand over my very small carryon containing my diabetes meds and instruments.

I actually watched as the baggage handler dropped my carryon, watched as my diabetes kit fell out, and watched as this moron kicked it under the plane. I started screaming bloody murder to the single flight attendant. She wouldn't listen and wouldn't let me go get the kit myself. I would have had to assault her to get off the plane. She finally threatened to have me arrested if I didn't sit down and shut up.

When we got to our destination, of course the kit was gone, but Southwest refused to acknowledge it, as my "bag" itself was not lost, just some of the contents, so, no claim. I mean, I got BS from every single Southwest person I talked to, right up to corporate.

Luckily, I always carry spare paper prescriptions when I travel, so I was able to replace my kit in Germany - at my own expense, of course.

I sure hope these clueless idiots go out of business soon.

Posted By Dave on October 1, 2007, 4:01 PM

We had an abominable experience with American Airlines when we flew from LAX to Paris-CDG in July. Our flight from LAX to JFK was delayed for 2 hours because they overfilled the cargo hold which wasn't discovered until we were about to take off, so we had to return to the gate where they unloaded this gigantic container that looked like it was about 12 feet by 12 feet. By the time we got to JFK, we were 2 or 3 hours late which made us miss our connecting flight to Paris, which happened to be the ONLY flight to Paris for the next 24 hours, so they put us on a flight to Heathrow where we then had to spend about 4 hours trying to board an Air France flight to Paris. We finally arrived in Paris over 12 hours later than we were supposed to, and what a surprise, it turned out that they had lost everyone's luggage, all 30-something of us who had flown from LAX. It took about 3 days for us to get our luggage back. When we contacted American Airlines about the incident, they told us we were lying about the delay being due to excess cargo, and instead attributed the delay to "the weather." They completely refused to compensate us in any way or upgrade any of us as a way of apologizing, even though the flight from JFK to Paris had an almost empty first class section...

Posted By Mehera H. on October 2, 2007, 1:08 AM

my daughter in law was held over on a northwest flight in august. she had her 8 mo child with her. Her flight was to flight out at 8 pm to salt lake city. Her flight was finally cancelled after all the restaurants were closed at her layover in minneapolis. She had no food, no drink or room for herself or our granddaughter. The staff was rude and left her stranded. she called her husband here in michigan to try to locate a hotel for her. The closest one he could find was 20 miles away. Finally a bus driver gave her a ride to a hotel he knew of and the hotel staff found a banana for our granddaughter. i understand flights can be cancelled but they should try to accomodate their clients. This is unacceptable behavior!!

Posted By linda maneke on October 4, 2007, 11:29 AM

I used to be a loyal Continental Customer - no longer. In the last year I have been booked on Continental 14 times because one of my clients uses them. Out of those 14 flights, 10 were delayed an hour or more with little or no explanation, twice flights were cancelled due to equipment issues, and twice flights were cancelled because the crews for those flights did not arrive because of other equipment issues elsewhere. Even though my clients "require" their consultants to use their preferred airline when travelling for them, I have informed my client that I will no longer fly Continental and if that means passing on an assignment, so be it.

Posted By Tony on October 8, 2007, 6:02 PM

Delta and Air New Zealand. I got food poisoning on a Delta flight from Cincinnati to Honolulu. Since I didn't eat anything for the first 7 hours of the flight and then ate a soggy turkey sandwich an hour before landing, it must have been the food they served on the plane. I got violently ill by the time we landed and was extremely sick for about 24 hours. Delta, of course, denied any responsibility or liability. And if there was anything wrong, they said, it was the caterer's problem, not theirs. I would never fly Delta again, but in Cincinnati, they are the only option.

On another trip, we were scheduled to fly from Wellington, New Zealand, to Auckland and from there to Honolulu. On the morning of departure, there was heavy fog in Wellington and the flight to Auckland was canceled and so we missed the connecting flight to Honolulu. A woman at the counter gleefully told us that the next flight to Honolulu would be three days later (they only fly that route 3 days a week) and there was nothing that could be done about it. So I called Air NZ and was booked on a flight to Sydney later that day (after the fog lifted) and from there to Honolulu. I was instructed to get our tickets changed at the counter in Wellington. Well, the woman at the counter in Wellington refused to reissue the tickets, insisting that the airline would lose money with this routing. I eventually got her super-
visor, who also refused to reissue the ticket, even though we were already booked on those flights. She claimed the phone rep made a mistake and in any event, the company would lose money on the rerouting. All of this took a long time (standing in line, arguing with agents) and so we missed the only flight to Sydney and we ended up staying in Wellington and missing 3 days of our Hawaii vacation. Air NZ never responded to my letters, much less apologized. I would never fly them again, but they are the only airline to NZ from the States and my son and his family are living there and I do want to visit them.

Posted By Ellen Dugan on October 15, 2007, 12:23 AM

I have been flying domestically and internationally since the 1980s but havent been on a plane in over a year. Why pay to have a stressful experience? I have watched as the airlines in the United States reach a state of such disrepair its another shame for our country. Years ago we could pride ourselves on service, efficiency, civility...now we need to fly Asian owned airlines to receive any type of service. The airlines keep making excuses why they need to get bailouts from the government (our tax dollars) yet they are not looking in their own backyard in terms of why people are not flying them. As a researcher I also blame statistics...the compilation of numbers only tells half the story. Actions are based on numbers yet numbers cannot give a valid snapshot of what is really occurring. It saddens me that such a great experience has turned into such a nightmare for the majority of travellers. And no, it is not because of terrorism even though that is the scapegoat for everything nowadays

Posted By Mark on March 27, 2008, 12:56 PM

What would happen to you people if you really had a PROBLEM? Why is it that the majority of people who enter an airport loose sensibility and brains all at once?

Posted By Sam Sam on April 7, 2008, 2:59 PM

Aeroflot. I had connection flight in Moscow (both flights were by Aeroflot) and they broked all my sutcase locks and stall phone and Ipod.

Posted By Maya on July 12, 2008, 8:57 AM

US Airways, by far. I was flying Tampa to Raleigh with a stop in Charlotte and of course, they lost my luggage. When I went to the baggage office they made me wait outside while they dealt with a different customer and then treated me as if this was regular and routine. Apparently, they frequently have luggage lost.

In my experience, US Airways ranks up there with PanAm and we know what happened to them!

Posted By Alison Reddick on November 18, 2008, 6:39 PM

Northwest Airlines is the worst! The flight was delayed for mechanical reasons in Denver for 2 hours. Then in Minneapolis for 2 hours--for mechanical reasons again. While I don't want to fly in a plane that is unsafe, I don't think it is fair for the pilot to leave the gate (pull a few feet away from the gate) after passengers began insisting that they wanted to have the door opened and they wanted to get out. I missed my flight to Paris and couldn't get rebooked. And, when I tried to get someone at Northwest to, at least, send me back home, instead of stranding me in NYC, they said "of course...for an additional $800." I will never fly Northwest again and I have made it a point to tell all my friends about my bad experience.

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