tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71924012054278407872012-02-16T22:34:25.696-05:00Zuluzimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750848179775391292noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7192401205427840787.post-62636045215633414582008-04-21T15:14:00.007-04:002008-04-27T07:47:32.992-04:00I have flown on many airlines including foreign ones, but our non-stop trips last week - New York to Las Vegas and return - on Delta Airlines was the worst. Booking Online, there was a little note at the end that offered to also issue Boarding Passes. My question: "Why would I want Boarding Passes when I have to check our luggage anyway?" My answer came when we checked our luggage: when THEY have to give you the Boarding Pass, you are now charged $3.00 per suitcase - plus tip (the attendant reminded us). If you get the Boarding Pass Online, you're not charged (except tip). Even though the weather was fine and there were no plane problems, we still left an hour and fifteen minutes late.<br />The plane was a Boeing 757 - seats 183 (in Coach); with an 18-inch aisle between six seats. The reason American auto manufacturers lost market share to everyone else is mostly because of performance, reliability and comfort; American plane manufacturers are losing to European ones for the same reason. This plane, which Delta apparently has a lot of, is rickety, the seats (obviously meant only for the comfort of small children) are tight with little leg room; for a six hour trip each way, you really need a pill to knock-you-comatose so you don't have to experience the discomfort. They also charge you $2.00 for earphones so you can follow the movie on the 8-inch screen on the ceiling in the middle of the seats. Our earphones did not work; instead of replacing them, they gave us a refund.<br />Delta advertises "In flight services" for these long trips. We therefore assumed that this would include a meal. "Dinner" was at offered for a charge. We each bought the veal-parmigiana-on-a-roll sandwich at $8.00 each. This turned-out to be a cold (previously frozen) sandwich. For water, it is poured from a large bottle; bottled water is only given to first class passengers.<br />The FAA - another of our useless government agencies - has no standards of how passengers should be treated on airplanes. Recently, with approval of the FAA, Delta and Northwest Airlines will soon be merging to become the largest - and most mediocre - airline in the world. Thank you FAA Board Members - we love airline nightmares.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7192401205427840787-6263604521563341458?l=angstunlimited.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Zuluzimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13750848179775391292noreply@blogger.com1