My Delta flight was a pleasant experience, from the moment I checked in until I arrived at my destination. However, things took a turn for the worse when I needed assistance. I requested a wheelchair, and the employee who met me at the gate in Boston demanded payment for the service. I was astonished, as I thought it was a complimentary service offered by the airline. I always tip generously for excellent service, but this employee insisted on payment and became aggressive when I politely refused. To make matters worse, when my daughter arrived to pick me up, this employee demanded payment from her, who, feeling pressured, reluctantly paid. This experience left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I’m still perplexed by the unexpected charge.
First Class Flight: A Mixed Bag
We opted for the luxury of first class on our Delta flight. The spacious seating was a treat, but the flight crew’s tardiness caused a domino effect of delays. We experienced a significant delay, which forced numerous passengers to scramble for connecting flights. The situation was stressful, and I felt deeply for those affected. To add insult to injury, we checked four bags and found one missing upon arrival. The online support was inadequate, while the baggage claim staff, despite their compassion, couldn’t locate our bag. We waited for almost two hours, only to have our luggage reappear several hours later. We were forced to drive back to the airport for its recovery. This incident has made me re-evaluate the benefits of first class travel, and I am not sure if I’d splurge on it again soon. Though I am not a big fan of Delta, their ATL hub leaves us with limited options. This should have been a smooth flight, but thanks to the flight crew’s tardiness and the baggage mishandling, it turned into a stressful ordeal.
Norse Atlantic: A Flight From Hell
Norse Atlantic is undeniably the worst airline I’ve ever had the misfortune to travel with, and I’ve flown quite a bit. From the outset, they forced me to check my carry-on duffel bag, despite my backpack being a designated “personal item” that easily fit under the seat. This isn’t a usual occurrence, and the airline charged a staggering €125 for both the duffel bag and my wife’s checked bag, totaling €250. The absurdity didn’t end there! We were delayed by 45 minutes due to a dispute with a wheelchair-bound passenger, who was using a scooter that the airline had initially allowed. They insisted that it wasn’t a personal item. After a lengthy debate, they finally relented, realizing they were wrong since his scooter wasn’t battery-operated and he had all the necessary paperwork. The situation was handled poorly and unnecessarily stressful for everyone involved.
But the unacceptable practices didn’t end there. Every single item on this flight, from water to snacks to blankets, was for sale. Even water! It was shocking to see fellow passengers lining up to fill their empty water bottles in the bathroom sink. The airplane was freezing cold, seemingly intentionally so, forcing passengers to buy €7 blankets. People were changing into layers in the bathroom and rummaging through their luggage for warmer clothes. The timing of the lights turning on for their “duty-free” sales during our red-eye flight was nothing short of ridiculous and generated heated discussions among passengers waiting to disembark. This airline is profit-driven at the expense of passenger comfort and basic necessities. I would never consider flying Norse Atlantic again, even if they paid me.
Uncomfortable and Untrained
The boarding process was chaotic and disorganized, adding unnecessary stress to an already tense travel experience. This airline’s business model prioritizes tight spaces but offers reclining seats to enhance sleep in economy class. However, the passenger behind us didn’t understand this concept and aggressively shook our seats, claiming we were reclining too much. We called upon the flight attendants to mediate, but their lack of intervention left us frustrated. The passenger continued to harass my wife throughout the eight-hour flight. The airline needs to better train their staff to handle these situations, especially if they promote their seats as more reclined, which is a key selling point. This was a terrible experience that could have been avoided with proper training and a more customer-centric approach.
