This trip was a rollercoaster of travel experiences, filled with both pleasant and unpleasant moments. While some airlines went above and beyond to ensure my comfort, others left me feeling frustrated and disappointed.
First, the temperatures on the ANA flights were consistently warm, creating a sense of claustrophobia. The lack of air flow made the cabins feel stifling, especially in the packed conditions. Although I wasn’t the only one who noticed the discomfort, the central air conditioning system meant there was no way to adjust the temperature to my liking.
A Journey from Good to Bad
The first leg of my journey from Washington D.C. to Paris was quite enjoyable. The crew was attentive and helpful, creating a positive atmosphere. However, the flight from Paris to Mumbai was a stark contrast.
The flight was overcrowded, with limited overhead storage space and a lack of responsiveness from the flight attendants. One crew member even showed a lack of courtesy by clumsily handing me a glass of water, splashing some on me, and offering no apology. The cramped conditions and lack of attentive service made for a long and unpleasant flight.
A Costly Fee with No Service
At Guarulhos Airport, I was forced to pay an outrageous €100 fee for each of my teenage children traveling on economy premium on the same flight as my wife and I, who were flying in business class. Air France claimed the fee was necessary because my children were in a different class and would require additional care from the flight crew. However, this was a complete lie. My children are independent travelers, and they received no special attention or assistance throughout the flight.
Furthermore, Air France made us wait for all other passengers to deplane before we could leave the plane in Paris. This ridiculous delay almost caused us to miss our connecting flight to Malta, adding another layer of frustration to our already negative experience with Air France. This practice seems designed to penalize those flying in premium classes, rather than encouraging them to choose Air France. They lost a customer that day, and they won’t be seeing me anytime soon.
Delays and Disruptions
My subsequent flight with United Airlines was plagued by delays and cancellations. The first flight was canceled due to a “maintenance issue,” leaving me with a frustrating connection through Chicago. The connecting flight was also delayed because the plane from the canceled flight hadn’t been removed from the gate, causing further delays.
The stress and inconvenience of the delays and cancellations made the journey a nightmare, highlighting the importance of reliable flight schedules and efficient ground operations.
More Delays and Frustration
Even my five-hour layover in Phoenix turned into a seven and a half-hour ordeal. The initial delay was due to a plane arriving late, followed by a wait for an air test. Then, we discovered a flat tire on the plane, forcing us to remain onboard while the crew changed the tire. This unnecessary delay was a testament to poor planning and communication.
My final flight with Air Canada and Delta was another frustrating experience. When I arrived at the Air Canada check-in counter, they couldn’t find my flight number on their system. After a confusing exchange, I was directed to the Delta counter, where I encountered a painfully slow and inattentive check-in agent.
He took his time with every question, seemingly intent on delaying my check-in. When he finally printed my boarding pass, he informed me that I was “lucky” they were letting me on the flight because it was only 55 minutes before take-off and they typically close the gate 60 minutes before departure. This was clearly a deliberate attempt to cause me stress and anxiety. It was a disheartening way to end a trip filled with delays and unpleasant interactions.
