Jet Blue fails; United comes through
Trip Start
Jan 28, 2002
1
76
126
Trip End
Jan 08, 2010
Wawona, California, United States
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Originally, I was scheduled to stay in Brockton on Thursday night, attend a meeting Friday morning at the central office, then rush out to the airport for a 2pm flight. Because of the travel advisories, however, the New York partners had decided not to make the trip, so the meeting became a phone call. I decided to move to the Hilton at Logan, take the phone call from there, and so not have to worry about traffic and making my flight on time. And it was a good thing I did ...
because my colleague's flight, at 7:45pm last night on Jet Blue was delayed until 12:10am. So she came over to the hotel, we went to dinner, then we watched tv together until it was time for her to head back to the airport. I told her if anything happened, to give me a call.
Then I went to bed ... then, at 12:30am, my cell phone rang. It was my colleague ... her flight had been cancelled. So, of course, I told her to come back over and sleep on the divan in my room. While she waited for her checked luggage, I started going online to find her another flight out ... as JetBlue told her that they would not be able to get her on another flight until Monday or Tuesday, maybe Wednesday (note: it's Thursday night!) Of course, everything was booked, but we finally settled on a solution: she would take the train to Philadelphia, then fly out Saturday afternoon to San Francisco. It was the only was to get her home for the weekend. The moral to the story: don't fly Jet Blue because they have no back up plan. And they're not even cheaper.
So today, I took my phone call, then went to the airport early, thinking I might encounter long lines. I check on -- no problem. I go to Legal Seafoods for lunch. Have no trouble through security. Arrive at the gate just as they're beginning to board. As I get on, they have a new seat for me. I say, I have an aisle, exit row ... this had better be a good new seat. The gate attendant says, "You won't be disappointed." So I got upgraded to first class. Hurray.
The flight to Denver was on-time, and the weather was smooth. I enjoyed the first class accommodations: the wine, the good coffee, the warm chocolate chip cookies ... and so do a bit of work (my policy: I work on the plane when I'm upgraded; don't when I'm not). Denver looks windy, and there are a few snow flurries, but planes are clearly taking off and landing, so I'm not worried.
But I should have been. When I get to the Departures board, my 5:30pm flight to Fresno has been delayed one hour. Not too bad, except that the aircraft is still sitting in Lincoln, Nebraska, waiting for winds in Denver to die down, so it can land, being a small plane. Soon, the 6:45pm estimate becomes a delay to 7:30pm. Then, we're given a gate change, which is often a good sign. Soon, 7:30pm becomes 8:10pm ... I'm getting very worried ... but then the equipment arrives. Since I've been sitting next to a flight attendant at the gate, I think we're ready to go. Plane here. Crew here. But we don't board, and it's after 8:15pm. Now, they announce we're waiting for crew ... but no new time is given. Instead, the board reads, "Flight closed." This lasts for a while, then, around 8:45pm, teh board shows a 9:00pm departure. I hear one of the pilots say, "At least they're on the ground," so I think we must be getting close.
But it's 9:30pm befoer the pilot and second flight attendant arrives. Turns out that one of the two pilots in the waiting area is done for the day and is just a passenger. At 10pm, they close the doors and we take off -- finally.
It is not a comfortable flight. Not too bumpy, but my seatmate sprawls. I pretend to sleep but don't. We land a little after 11pm. I call Paul as we taxi, but his phone is off. Hmmm.
As I go towards baggage claim, my cell rings. It is Paul -- the United flight status said my flight would land at 11:30pm, so they decided to go see a movie. He left before the flick ended but was aiming for 11:30pm at the airport. No problem -- I didn't have to wait too long for him. Hurray. I made it! (To Fresno anyway). We drove back to the theater to get the kids (plus Marin), then we went up to the cabin. Finally. Arrived a little after 1am. Unpacked. Then to bed. Whew!
