[lmottle]

While taking off from PHX to ORL #567 on 10/19, we heard very load bang during take off, but we flew eastward to almost ALB. Then captain told us we had hit a bird on take off and had to fly back to PHX. they couldn't figure that out before flying us 1hr 15min in air? Why not go to ALB just a few minutes away? So, back to PHX, wait for new plane from Minnesota for 4 hrs, and then they told us the crew with the new plane had already done their max time for day and they had to call in new crew- another 2 hrs to wait!. They didn't know that earlier? So, 7 hrs after original departure time, we took off. For our hassle, we did get a $10. lunch voucher, free drinks on plane, but no extra flying miles for being in air for 2.5hrs for nothing. (I did ask, trying to be funny, but they didn't get the humor.)
And if that one wasn't bad enough, 12 days later, in ORL, flt 415 to PHX had a part broken in cockpit they couldn't fix, so had to wait for a new plane again- from phx no less, and at least this time a new crew was called in on time. So that delay was only 6.5hrs! But no food vouchers for us, as they said they don't do that (although got one 12 days earlier?). They did put those people who had transfers into hotels in ORL or PHX at their choice, but for those of us just going direct, we just got a 6.5hr wait, no food vouchers or free drinks, nothing! It cost me a lot with these delays- shuttle services previously arranged on both ends had either stopped working after midnight or I had to pay a lot more for service so late into night.
Of note, there were 2 other flights out of ORL on Nov 1st with maintenance problems that caused delays for flight to Charlotte and Atlanta!