My Delta flight was a joy from the moment I checked in until we landed. The flight was comfortable, the staff friendly, and everything ran smoothly. But then, my experience took a drastic turn for the worse. I was shocked to learn that the wheelchair service I had requested was not free, and I was forced to pay the wheelchair attendant. I was especially upset because I usually tip generously for this service, but this employee was insistent on being paid upfront. When my daughter arrived to pick me up, the attendant, still dissatisfied, demanded payment from her. I guess he assumed that since my daughter arrived, the service was now a paid one.
Splurging on First Class: A Story of Missed Bags and Lost Time
We decided to treat ourselves to first class on our next flight, hoping for a luxurious and stress-free journey. The seats were spacious and comfortable, as we had hoped, but unfortunately, our flight was delayed because the flight crew arrived late to the airport. The delay was incredibly frustrating, particularly for passengers needing to make connecting flights. We felt bad for them, as they were left scrambling to catch their onward journeys. Adding to the chaos, our checked luggage, four bags in total, was mishandled, with one bag going missing. While the baggage claim staff were helpful and empathetic, it took almost two hours to locate the lost bag. We eventually had to drive back to the airport to retrieve it after it was found several hours later. This experience definitely left me with a sour taste in my mouth. Splurging on first class seems like a bad idea when it comes to Delta, as we were treated to worse service and encountered more delays than we would have expected.
Nightmare in the Skies: Norse Atlantic Airways – An Airline to Avoid
Norse Atlantic Airways is hands down the worst airline I have ever flown with. The horror started right away when they forced me to check my carry-on duffel bag because, in their opinion, it wasn’t a “personal item”, despite fitting perfectly under the seat. Not only was I charged a ridiculous $125€ for checking the duffel bag, but my wife’s checked bag cost another $125€, a whopping $250€ for two bags! That’s a blatant rip-off.
The ordeal continued on the flight when the airline attendants caused a massive delay by arguing with a gentleman in a wheelchair over his scooter. The gentleman had all the necessary paperwork and had been previously cleared to bring his scooter onboard, but for some reason, the crew caused a huge scene. They finally relented and allowed him to stow it above his seat, but not without causing unnecessary stress and humiliation.
You can’t even get a glass of water on this airline without paying, and even snacks and blankets are extra! It’s like they’re trying to squeeze every penny out of passengers. People were desperate enough to fill their empty water bottles in the bathroom sink! To make matters worse, the temperature on the aircraft was freezing cold, as if they were intentionally jacking up the AC to force people to buy blankets for $7€. Passengers were huddled up in layers, changing clothes in the bathroom, and digging through their checked bags for anything to keep warm. Imagine enduring an 8.5-hour flight from Rome to JFK in that kind of environment!
They even had the audacity to turn on the lights mid-flight, interrupting a red-eye flight, just to sell duty-free products. I don’t think there’s a single thing about this airline I would recommend.
A Reclining Seat Creates Chaos: A Disorganized Flight Experience
The boarding process was disorganized and stressful, setting the tone for the rest of the flight. The airline’s business model boasts of seats that recline more in economy class to help passengers sleep. However, the passenger behind us apparently didn’t understand this concept and aggressively shook our seat, claiming we were reclining too much. We immediately called over the flight attendants to help de-escalate the situation, but they were unhelpful. The passenger continued to harass my wife throughout the 8-hour flight. This is unacceptable and a clear indication that this airline is ill-equipped to handle issues that arise from their own business model. They need to do a better job of training their staff to handle such situations, especially when they are promoting their reclining seats as a perk.
