∞ 20220405
So, since the last entry I have been to Washington state, Illinois twice, and South Dakota (though I landed in Nebraska and stayed in a hotel in Iowa). I find myself now in Panama City, Florida.
My normal airline is United. This is because my local airport only has United, and only one destination: Denver, Colorado. So all my flights have a minimum of two legs.
I needed a flight to Panama City this week, but United from both Denver and Salt Lake City (the two major airports closest me) had no available flights. So I booked a flight on Delta from SLC leaving at 0955 yesterday. I woke at 0345 and hit the road at 0400 to Salt Lake. I arrived at the airport at 0657, but I had that hour extra buffer included for anything out of the ordinary, so 3 hours prior did not bother me. What happened next did bother me though.
As the time for bording aproached, the gate agent announced that, "we do not have a captain or first officer for this flight." Well, that is just fucking awesome. So we wait and wait and wait. Then it is announced that we have found a crew, and will be taking off at 1130. Well, this means that in Atlanta Georgia, I will miss my connection to Panama City. So I rebook the second leg. The only choice is a flight that arrives at 2200. After landing and renting a car, getting my luggage, I managed to check into the hotel at 2300. A legit 18 hour travel day. An entire eight hours added because, while we passengers are demanded to keep schedule the companies charging over a thousand dollars for round trip tickets are not required to do the same.
United is far from better. The only reason I still prefer flying with them is that I have top tier airline status. This means I get upgraded to first class very often, and if I complain about delays they issue 1000s of airline miles as compensation. Plus they have Baileys Irish Creme for my coffee and it is free. Delta does not have this and I miss it when I must travel with them.