It started out so perfect. A smooth ride to Miami Airport. A pleasant snack in the Delta room. A first class upgrade thanks to Eric. We had just settled into our comfy seats and pulled back from the gate when the Captain informed us Engine #2 wouldn't start. They would fly a part in from Atlanta. We would be delayed 3 hours. We would miss the only flight from Minneapolis to Anchorage.
The world's most incompetent Delta employee worked feverishly for two hours to make our lives as miserable as possible. "Everybody's going to Anchorage!" She smiled. No kidding. We could take 3 flights and get there in 2 days. Luckily, Eric, the seasoned traveler, worked his phone to find an Alaska Airlines flight from Ft. Lauderdale that would get us there in the morning. The Delta employee cheerfully "booked" us putting two reservations in Ryan's name, putting me on a separate reservation and omitting Eric entirely. And they couldn't get the luggage off the plane, but assured us they'd get it to Anchorage ASAP.
Off to Ft. Lauderdale we flew in an overcrowded Super Shuttle in the beginning of rush hour traffic.
We made it to the flight and were able to fix the tickets, and went from our first class upgrade to the last row of seats, which didn't recline, and were next to the toilets. But the flight attendants were so nice to my family and gave the kids electronic games to play with. And we were going to make it Anchorage in the morning. I was so happy I didn't even mind the baby in the seat next to me who kicked me for 6 hours.
This story would have had a happy ending if Delta would not have also messed up the "complimentary hotel". After landing in Seattle at 10:30 pm, searching in vain for a Delta Customer Service desk with a live person, we decided to camp out in the airport for the night. While not the best night of sleep it was probably better than what the Iditarod mushers will have for 9-13 days in sub-zero temperatures with a pack of dogs.
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