Delta Sux

I grew up in Atlanta -- and Delta Airlines grew up with me. For years that was the only airline I'd fly -- and I flew it all over the country and the world. Even when I moved West, I continued my love affair with Delta even though it meant longer flight times and strange connections. But when I started traveling back and forth between San Diego and New York, Continental had a better schedule and I reluctantly switched.

These days I mostly fly air-Greyhound (Southwest). But this trip to Idaho made best sense if I took Delta. I was excited to get back and see how my old favorite was performing today. Boy, was I disappointed. Here is my litany of sins committed by Delta against me on this single itinerary:

I didn't make my outbound flight. I was late to the airport, true -- or rather, the cab was late picking me up. Still, I got to the airport 45 minutes before flight time, which should have been plenty of time under normal circumstances. But something was up with Delta at 5:45 am on Monday: the line to use the automated Kiosks was huge -- and so was the security line. There was an agent working the line and I asked her if I was going to make my 6:30 flight. 'Absolutely not,' she said, moving on down the line.

In similar situations I've seen agents pull people in danger of missing their flights to the front of the line . . . but not this time.

I went over to a chair, sat down and dialed Delta. I was routed to their customer service center in India. Now: try to communicate a six didgit confirmation number with Ps and Ds and Es in it to someone for whom English is a second language. It took several failed attempts until we switched over to flight numbers and my last name. The agent told me my fare on this flight would be valid for a year and that the return portion of the trip would not be affected.

I found a flight on America West that got me where I needed to be and I took it.

Today, I came to the Airport in Boise to check in for my flight on Delta. This time I was 2 hours early and Lo and Behold, they'd given my seat to someone else. The flight was oversold by 9 people. There really wasn't anything they could do for me. So I wandered back over to America West and bought another ticket, this time on a flight that doesn't leave for four hours.

I know Delta's taken it in the chops lately. I know they're struggling and they've had to find ways to economize. But I wonder if they wouldn't have been wiser to cut back on their schedule rather than on their service. I know it'll be a cold day in hell when I book with them again. And now I've told you . . . and you . . . and you.

Meanwhile Southwest continues to turn huge profits while building a very loyal traveler base. The planes are all full and everybody seems to be having a good time. I've also flown American a couple of times this year and they seem to be doing ok as well.

There was a time when they used to joke that Delta stood for Does it Ever Leave The Airport. Today I'd have to say it stands for Don't Expect anything for that Lousey Ticket, Asshole.

Poor old Delta. I find myself more sad than angry.