[damquat]

I fly about 8 times a month, usually internationally from New York (EWR and JFK) and I have had my fair share of problems but nothing like my experience flying from New York to Atlanta on Delta on Monday/Tuesday this week.

We were booked in first class on Delta 781 from LGA to ATL on Monday. Due to weather we received a notification that our departure would be delayed from 12.59pm to 3.30pm. That was fine and we arrived at LaGuardia around 2.45pm. Once through security and on our way to the gate we immediately knew something was not right. There was a distinct lack of boarding activity even though the plane was at the gate and empty. Around 4pm the captain came into the gate area to make an announcement (that was a first for me) he said he was sorry but there was a mechanical issue and the plane would be delayed a further 2 hours. Lots of groans - I felt horrible for anyone who was connecting through LaGuardia and had been waiting for hours already.

We ran to the Delta SkyLounge. Apparently being in first class isn't enough for Delta and they were more interested in my Platinum Business Amex. There was some dispute about the lounge check-in process so despite being at the head of the line when we got in, we were pushed back to the end of the line. I started to complain but was shot down pretty fast so we stood there and waited another 20 minutes. Once we got to the agent I asked if there was a plane she thought would leave prior to our flight with mechanical issues. She then said she would rebook us on 4pm that was now scheduled to depart at 6pm. She said she would only book us in economy because we had upgraded to first class. That wasn't true and after telling me there was no availability and arguing over whether or not we had booked first class tickets she relented and gave us what we wanted.

About 20 minutes after we re-booked on the new flight our original flight was cancelled. 30 minutes later they informed us there were more thunderstorms in the area and the ramp was closed. They said at this point there were 30 to 40 planes that were waiting to take-off. We waited another couple of hours and they cancelled the second flight. At that point I looked on-line and saw we could rebook on the 6am the next morning. So I rebooked and we headed to a hotel around 11pm. 4.30am Tuesday we were on the bus to LaGuardia. Even this early the terminal was already getting packed. We were on board and ready to go on time. I was looking forward just to see that Delta planes actually fly. The jet bridge was retracted. The plane started to move. Then stopped. The flight attendants realized there weren't enough seats for all the flight attendants. Brilliant. 30 minutes later, everything was sorted and we were on our way. I would make a general comment that 757s from the late 80's (this one delivered in 1989 and our return trip in 1988) are definitely starting to look and feel there age. The first class product on Delta was abysmal. I have been spoiled domestically by Virgin America.

We arrived in Atlanta on time a completed our meetings. We were booked on an 8.35pm flight back but we were so tired we decided to race back to ATL for the 4.35pm flight (the 5.35pm was already cancelled). We got to the gate with 25 minutes to spare and immediately noticed we were not going to miss the plane. The incoming international flight had not yet deplaned. Around 5pm the boarding process started and by 5.30pm we were ready to go the plane started moving. Then stopped. We couldn't believe it. It was another thirty minutes before we got moving again because the pilot said he was unable to retrieve plane weight information from the ground crew. I guess the ground crew was to blame but we were wondering why the hell the door was even closed in the first place if he didn't have that paperwork.

Once we arrived in LaGuardia we were delayed an additional 30 minutes because there was a plane parked in our gate. It was the nail in the coffin for Delta in terms of me ever flying with them again. The last time I had flown JFK to LAX to SYD and was impressed all the way. This was a totally opposite experience and one I will not soon forget. I just don't get the impression the ground crews in LGA and ATL care about their airline or their passengers.

All in all we spent 22 hours travelling for a 3 hour meeting in Atlanta. I wondered whether we should have taken a car. I realize Delta can't help the weather but coupled with the mechanical issues and the glaring incompetence of their ground crews they made a bad situation much worse.