[jsfarber]

Today my wife was flying from SFO to MSN through SLC. Her first flight DL4465 arrived late in SLC and unfortunately she had to go from the D Gates to the B Gates to catch her next flight DL4585. She ran the whole way, and when she arrived at the departing gate, the gate attendant told her the flight left early. I'm guessing that Delta had a financial investment in leaving early. Or I can presume the pilot had a vested interest in leaving early. What is clear is that they left her behind. Maybe they make calculated decisions based on how many people they effect. What they might not have calculated was how much this decision effected our night. Without going into details about our situation, let me simply say that the extra five hour delay in arriving at her destination both cost us both money and avoidable trauma. I would have absolutely nothing to complain about if Delta left at their scheduled departure time.
What Delta couldn't have calculated was how I planned to spend my next few weeks. I've decided to tell 20 consumer websites about my dissatisfaction with their decisions and lack of passenger support, AND send an email to 1000+ email contacts. They chose the wrong family to do wrong. I first called Delta to state my dissatisfaction. A supervisor named Kim rubbed me wrong in her tone. When I completed that call, I called American Express and cancelled my Skymiles credit card. As far as American Express is concerned, had they honored my request to credit the $95 annual fee , I would have kept the card. I likely would have simply stopped using my card for Delta flights but continued to use it at Costco. How could I really use the card and reward Delta who gets a fee for every transaction I make? No, the right way to show that you have been harmed is to touch the pocketbook of the "harmer." Dropping my AMEX Skymiles card takes money from Delta. And I will use another carrier for at least the next two flights I make in April.
I'm sure there are many airline stories worst than this, but if I can encourage a few people to avoid flying Delta for their next flight, then I feel vindicated.
I'm hoping that Delta will offer a serious financial apology to my wife: Free Upgrades to First Class for this year's travel, Free use of the Delta Club Rooms (which she is unlikely to use so it would be an ideal freebie from their standpoint,) and perhaps 20,000 mile or a free flight.