[Jsiegfried]

Our US Airways flight leaving Alabama to Charlotte was delayed by a half hour. This was a problem, since we only had half an hour to make our connection to Cleveland. We made it to Charlotte with about 7 minutes to get to the original Cleveland bound flight (flight #2676). My husband ran ahead while my son and I waited for gate checked bags. My husband got to our flight and told them that we were there, just waiting on bags. We got the bags and RAN. As we were running, the pilot came out and told my husband that he was leaving, he didn't care how close we were. My husband told him that I was literally less than a minute away - he was on the phone with me and I could SEE THE GATE - about 50 yards away. The pilot told my husband that he was not waiting, he wanted his 'wheels up'. I was about 20 yards - not even 20 seconds - from the gate when the pilot shut the door in my husbands face! We stood there and watched while the door of the plane was closed and the plane left 5 MINUTES EARLY!!!!!! We went to customer service and the smug, condescending, uncaring women behind the counter were mean and sarcastic as they looked at us and basically said 'sucks to be you, too bad'. Their programmed responses gave no indication that they considered us to be valuable customers who's business they appreciated - exactly the opposite - we are just 'one of thousands that this happens to every day' they told us. I was appalled. What an astounding lack of respect from the pilot and then customer service. I would love to know how the pilot would feel if his family were treated so shabbily. We had to then sit in Charlotte for almost two hours waiting on the next flight - all for a mere 20 seconds! To have the door literally closed in your face was a clear demonstration of the diminishing regard for customer service that seems to be rampant in the airline industry - but U.S Airways now tops my list of airlines that I will do my best to avoid. Try hiring some customer service reps that actually care about customer service.

[Gromit801]

Also sucks to allow only a half hour for a connection. Better planning would have avoided all of this.

[jimworcs]

Frankly, US Airways were remiss in selling a ticket with a 30 minute transfer. This is guaranteed to generate stressed, anxious passengers and increases the liklihood that the luggage will not make it. They should programme their computers to block any transfer of less than 45 minutes, longer in places like Chicago.

[Gromit801]

There's nothing in the OP saying they bought their fare from the airline, Orbitz, Travelocity, or anywhere else. In fact, I would be willing to bet it was booked through a third party web site.

[Zoey]

Frankly, this is the first time I've seen this happen to anyone. It truly represents how low airline companies have stooped with their "customer service".

Truthfully, I think the fault lies within the airline company. Delays are always prone to happen. I think the pilot's urge to go was because of the 'ticking clock' I recently read about. I think airlines are pressuring the pilots to maintain, if not improve, the percentage of on-time flights.

Once the check-in compartment of the plane closes, a "clock" starts ticking. Another "clock" starts once the plane pushes back from the jetway/gateway (whichever one you wish to dub it).

So yeah, I guess that there's no such thing as customer service anymore, and that airlines will do anything to augment their cash flow at the expense of the customers they pledged to serve.

[brookekeith]

really a pilot shut a door in his face? pilots are sitting in the **** pit when the door is closed. i will not waste anymore time pointing out blantant lies in this complaint and second giving yourself 30 minutes to connect in CLT is your fault period. you need an hour it is a HUB what do you want. Also pilots don't close out flights gate agents do? you have so many lies in your complaint i can't