Our flight was delayed multiple times and then canceled at almost 1 in the morning. We are a family of 7, traveling with 5 young children. When the flight we were supposed to fly on finally arrived after waiting all day after an international flight into JFK we were informed our flight was in need of a copilot and once they located one we would take off. Then our flight was cancelled because the copilot was over his hours and they couldn't locate another. They knew before taking off from the previous location that the copilot would be unable to fly. They could have communicated the cancellation of the flight hours in advance. Once they cancelled and the pilot and copilot got off the flight, they joked about it. While there are understandably limits on flight time for pilots, they can still handle the situation in a professional manner. The late cancellation resulted in angry passengers that required police intervention in the airport. It also occurred so late and included other delta flights that after trying 15 different hotels, we were unable to secure a hotel room, they were all booked. No rental cars were available in the area either. We ended up staying in the airport with the 5 children. We made it home after 54 hours of travel with maybe 2 hours of sleep. Our luggage was lost and had to be claimed at the airport at our final destination. This was the worst trip I have ever taken and the worst airport I have ever spent time in. I met two individuals in the airport that were kind and helpful; Tonya Maingot Williams from the can we hel desk that worked to help get us rebooked and home, as well as provide us with care bags for our extended stay in the airport. The other individual was Danielle from Buffalo Wild Wings that was so very kind when we found a place to take our family we were traveling with to eat, all 11 of us and we were able to sit down together to enjoy a meal during such a stressful time.
My flight home from Knoxville, TN, included a layover in Atlanta. I boarded the aircraft in Zone 5 and although there was limited overhead space, I was able to put my 'backpack' style roller-bag above my seat. Unfortunately, due to continued bad weather, we had to deplane. There were many people who would have missed their connection, so they rebooked. When we were re-boarding, the gate agent welcomed zone 5 and then made an announcement: All roller-bags for zone 5 passengers and higher will need to be gate checked. I promptly pushed the telescoping handle in and held my bag like a backpack. I was able to bring it on board, which was a relief. Upon entering the aircraft it became apparent that there was easily 40% open overhead space. There were audible signs of angry passengers who felt duped into checking their bags when in fact there were noticeably LESS passengers on the aircraft and TONS of overhead space. I'm not sure what kinds of parameters are used to determine when to cut off roller-bags from being brought on board, but it seemed deceptive and underhanded to have so many people get stuck checking their bags when clearly there was ample room for at least one more zone.
No Internet, no backseat screen, no nothing. I bought a Delta ticket and ended up on American Airlines. How did that happen?
delta wifi wouldn’t work boarding was not in sequence flight crew spent most of their time on the phone with the lights off pretending no one wanted or needed anything
Flight from MEX to ATL had to divert to Tampa. When we got off the plane, there were non directions on what to do. Nearly 30 minutes just standing around. Finally told to go through security with no boarding passes, and turned away. Then told to to go back. Took forever to leave Tampa for ATL. Missed my connection to Harrisburg.
Every single flight that we got on was delayed by several hours or more. I honestly didn’t think we would get out of Atlanta because our flight was supposed to leave at 7:59 and it kept getting kicked back further and further. Delta stands for Don’t Ever Leave The Airport!
Three adults, three children. They did not give us seats together. Two seats together, in row 23, one in 13, one in 14, one in 10, and one in 17. When we got on the plane, the crew tried to ask people to move but basically threw up their hands. One person moved so we had two pairs of seats together. The 1.5 year old sat on a parent's lap (despite having paid for his own seat).
Everything was great. The big planes could still stand to have a bit more leg room. Crew was amazing!!
The pilot was excellent - he flew us around a storm and even though predicted it would be a bumpy ride - was able to avoid all turbulence and land us safely with only a 15 min delay. Kudos!
Delay at gate caused a flight change for our connection, hotel stay, and lots of standing and waiting in lines which hurt my feet and was unpleasant as people were grumpy and yelling. Delta worker Nestor Espinosa was very helpful! Others were apathetic (tired I’m sure!) but weren’t clear with instructions and didn’t give both of me and my travel partner the same food voucher etc.