[PHXFlyer]

Originally Posted by Butch Cassidy Slept Here

I would suggest you review the rules of this site and register, as an airline employee, before making any more posts! I haven't reviewed all your posts. But I suspect most, if not all, are in defense of the airlines. Finally, if you're not an airline employee, you're closely related to one.

Wrong! I am the highest level elite on 2 US based airlines and fly approximately 150,000 miles per year. This is not including bonus miles for status, first class tickets, or credit card purchases. 150,000 represents actual flight miles logged. While most of my flying is on SkyTeam partners, I do occasionally fly airlines which are members of Star Alliance and OneWorld.

Being a frequent flier I have had almost every experience imaginable with various airlines. My knowledge comes from experience as a customer. I am not an airline employee and as far as I know none of my relatives are. A guy I went to school with worked for AA back in the 90's at their headquarters in Ft. Worth however I don't think he ever set foot in an airport except for the occasional leisure trip.

When I discovered this forum I realized that many of the posts were complaints about issues which I agree are annoying and cause inconvenience however when people are traveling, especially those who do not travel a great deal, they feel singled out. "The thunderstorm/snowstorm made ME miss MY flight and I was stuck in the airport" or "I was late for MY connecting flight and the airline refused to hold the flight for ME." What they don't understand is that if there is a thunderstorm/snowstorm, there's many in their same situation. Holding a flight for them would inconvenience the 100+ passengers who were on the plane and in their seats on time. When a complaint is legitimate and obviously not enough was done to accommodate them then I'm the first to point this out.

The purpose of contacting

RichmondAirport's management would be to obtain evidence (their statement about the weather on the departure day in question) as to weather conditions. Why do you feel said airport management is unable to supply this information?? Once this information is obtained, it could be compared against a response, from Delta, to the same question. Thus, it's possible, Delta could be caught in a lie.

In the US airport management has control over the facilities, leases the gate space to the airlines, awards contracts for food and beverage services in the airport, etc. Contacting airport management would get no information about weather that day. The correct source would either be the National Weather Service or the FAA. Also remember that weather could have affected the aircraft at it's origin before Richmond or there may have been weather issues at Atlanta or anywhere in-between.

With their credibility damaged, this man would then be in a better position to press his claim with CAA and/or EU authorities.

There you go again with the CAA and EU. They do not regulate rules and compensation for delayed or canceled flights which originate in the US even if it's destination is in the EU.

As to the RIC - ATL portion of this man's ticket not being subject to EU regulations: First, I'm assuming this man did NOT buy seperate tickets for each segment. Accordingly, this would be a single trip for the purpose of the Warsaw Convention--BOTH segments, under international law--are considered to be "international" flights for the purpose of physical injury (there was no physical injury here.) Thus, if BOTH flights are covered under the

Warsaw convention, the EU and CAA probably, also, recognizes the RIC - ATL segment as being covered under their regulations.

As stated above, for a flight originating in the US the EU/CAA rules do not apply. The correct government agency to contact would be the US DOT.

The purpose of warning this man about a possible bogus police call, by Delta employees, was simply to accomplish just that--a warning. I'm not trying to prove a court case. This, Phx Flyer, is where you REALLY come-across as an airline employee, or friend/relative of one!

I merely pointed out that you were relying on information from another post. Have you had first hand experience with this? I have been in the presence of disturbances caused by irate passengers. Authorities are only called when the passenger is out of control, intoxicated, threatening, or any combination of these AND usually only after the passenger was warned that their continued behavior would result in a call to the authorities. I have NEVER seen anyone taken away by police for calmly and politely bringing a complaint to the attention of an airline employee. Those that post here "I never raised my voice, I was completely polite, calm, etc. BUT all of a sudden I'm in handcuffs" are out and out LYING!

The reality is, Phx Flyer, that most US-based airlines simply can't be trusted to, on a regular basis (WITH allowance being made for weather,) maintain schedules that avoid EU penalties (where applicable.) Likewise, the same can be said for reliable baggage handling. Continental MAY be an exception to this rule. That is why I urge anyone traveling to/from Europe to consider Lufthansa, even if it means going out of one's way. Lufthansa, even during these hard times has turned a profit. Yes, I know, Phx Flyer: You're going to lie, and say that profit consists of massive subsidies from the German government!

I completely agree with you. Lufthansa is a well run airline with a reputation for excellent customer service. Can they please 100% of their passengers 100% of the time? I could care less if they get government subsidies or not. I'm not a stockholder. Our own US airlines received government money after the terrorist attacks of 2001. In hindsight some of them should have been allowed to fold. Some did. With the current global economy many business will need to re-think both their short and long term strategies for remaining profitable. The airliones are no different.

Phx Flyer: You think you're helping your friends, the US-based airlines, with your rants. Guess what? You're, really, helping us--the abused victims/customers.

Rants? Really? Friends at the airlines? There are agents and flight attendants I see on a regular basis who I am friendly with, but friends? No. Abused? Really? What are they doing to you? Forcing you into your seat, strapping you in and beating you for the entire flight?

Your thinking (or, the lack of it!)

Ah, a personal attack. Had to lower yourself to that did you? Your credibility, at least with me, is now ZERO.