[stephiedib]

Flt 720 is a direct flt from Charlotte to Rome, Italy. When we were over the Atlantic, east of Cape Cod the pilot announced that there was a noxious odor in the rear of the plane that had affected 5 crew members. The pilot advised us that there was a replacement plane and crew waiting for us in Philadelphia. I immediately realized that if we were in any danger we probably would have landed in Boston -- so the concept of danger has no impact on my comments.

Going back to what the pilot told us about a plane and crew? Not so! We were disembarked into a lounge with not enough seats for everyone, NO bathroom, NO water, and NO telephone service for us to call family -- and when we asked for these items we were told NO. And the plane and crew was NOT WAITING FOR US. We were told that there was a plane in the hanger but it had to be cleaned and stocked with food, etc. And that a crew had been called in == so did the pilot lie to us in=flight or was he lied to by USAir operations? Finally, they announced that the police would form a human barrier so that we could exit out to the bathrooms, and water and snacks were brought in. Never did get a phone so that I coud call my nephew and tell him not to come to the airport in Rome! We were there probably about 3 1/2 to 4 hrs hours. We were supposed to arrive in Rome about 9 am == instead we arrived about 3:30 or 4 pm. After a dinner (on the original plane) that was beyond terrible and the equivalent of an appetizer, you would have thought that USAir would at least have served a more substanial breakfast for some good relationship building -- but instead, we got the normal one muffin top (not even a whole muffin), OJ, and coffee or tea! Well, at least they did offer free headsets. As to the noxious odor, the pilot did something with the ventilation system -- what I do not know -- but I do know that my eyes burned immediately afterward -- a medic onthe ground flushed them out, and it really helped, but I couldn't get 2 aspirins for the low-grade headache I had developed unless I went to the hospital! What has arline travel come to????