[mjgf]

Flight 395 NYC-bogota Flight 396 Bogota-NYC

Outgoing flight:

-They have the same line for all international flights from JFK so your check-in time may take hours so you need to be at the airport about 3h earlier or you may easily miss your flight

-There is no preference or help in the long line if you are traveling with infants/small children.

- I had to go to the gate aprox 1.5 h earlier. When called to board, they put me and my child in a bus, I had to wait until everybody boarded, standing with my child, to go to the plane. After finally getting to the plane the flight was already delayed and it took 1+h longer to take off with us sittiing on the plane already.
When asked the flight attendant said that flight is delayed 1 h pretty much everyday!!!

Return flight:

If you think the outgoing flight was bad. read this: Outrageous!!!

Schedule time: 8 am: Needed to be at the airport at 5am, again with my 2y/o daughter. Counter closes at 6:45am, later than that you miss your flight. Long line again, I finallly got checked in after 1+H and was instructed to go to the gate immediately.

At the gate: Long line, standing (outside an empty waiting room-no sense!). Boarding time: 7:50 AM (1H+ WAITING TIME again). Finally sat on the plane at 8 am (flight already delayed). So far check-in and boarding time: 3h. Traveling with child and my husband, no seats together.

On the plane: Flight already delayed, sitting, waiting. Aprox 30 min later they told us the aircraft was to heavy, and would need to take part of the weight off. Guess how long we waited: 3 HOURS TO TAKE OFF!!!! Seating on a plane seat with a 2 y/o!!! At that time she was completely angry, hungry, and screaming like crazy, who cares?? The passengers around us, of course, but no consideration from the crew at all. When asked for drinks the flight attendant offered just water because the supplies were limited even for the child!!!

Finally took off after 11 am and hear about the boarding service: There was a meal included in the ticket's price and you know what it was? Croissant with egg and yogurt!!! for lunch!!! (doesn't it sounds like a breakfast left over?) and on top of that when asked for a meal for my child what I got: a fruit tray!. My child wasn't even offered the croissant and there was no food alternative for her or us whatsoever not even for purchase!!! Let's mention that when you book the tickets a 2 Y/O pays a FULL PRICE TICKET and THERE IS an option for meal request that includes kids!!!

Finally landed in NYC and when you think the nightmare is over guess what? went to the luggage carrousel and the bags are not there!!! They had been taken off in Bogota (2 bags for 3 people completely within the weight allowance of less that 45lbs and didn't get there because of aircraft overweight issues!...DELTA What else were you guys carrying? Something more profitable than a family's luggage?). Alternative: Go to the baggage claim office and file a complaint.

At tha baggage claim office: 1 hour line again because obviously ours wasn't the only luggage taken off that plane. At least another 20 people and when finally talked to somebody they said: Don't worry your luggage will be delivered to your home in 24h. Let's mention that the luggage left behind has happened already 3 times to me or somebody from my family has traveled with DELTA and never when other airlines.

When finally out of the terminal we needed to go to Philadelphia. If we had landed on time, we would've taken a bus/train service. However, it was already Sunday 7:30 pm,in NYC after 14+h trip time without your luggage and with a hungry, screamy 2 y.o? What are your alternatives? Crying was mine and then a cab express service back home.

After all this, the next morning, when contacting customer service same quality of service. Call waiting times over 30 min, rude people, hardly an apology and no information. Of course the bags won't be at home in 24h and best case scenario within the next 2 days.

Anybody concerned because of extra expenses? Of course not. I was told DELTA won't recognize anything unless the delay is longer than 4h. (Thank you for holding me off on that plane for just 3h!!!), They don't care if you are having problems at work for not having your luggage on time "there is nothing they can do". Any vouchers or miles? not even offered to me this time (althought even if given I'm not crazy to use them with Delta again).

So, bottomline, the worst trip ever, I think this kind of behavior goes beyond anybody's limits of tolerance and must be discouraged. If Delta is going through hard times by giving passengers eggs in an international flight and treating people, especially children, like they did with us is not the way to recovery.

So please for your next trip please pick some airline that cares about people!

[jimworcs]

The Delta experience.. avoid at all costs.!

[countrynewsman]

I hear some States want to do away with lethal injection as a form of capital punishment. Instead, they've opted for a round-the-world flight on Delta. Nah...wouldn't pass muster. It goes against the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution that addresses cruel and unusual punishment.

[The_Judge]

I see from the RSS feed that DL is closing all foreign Customer Care offices and relocating them back to the U.S. Finally, a smart move. At least customers can understand the person on the phone when they're told they aren't getting any compensation.

[jimworcs]

Delta has "customer care" offices? Are you sure? I have never heard of Delta caring for a customer...

[The_Judge]

Oh.....did I mis-type that?? I think so. I meant to say "Customer?, who cares?" offices.

[jimworcs]

That's more like it!

[reham_kouzman]

thanks god that u got ur flight , for me and my infant baby one year old they didnt let us get the plane because its overbooked and we were in airport 3 hours before the flight time.
its horrible and nightmare to fly with delta anymore , no one has even the simple skills to be even as human being. they with all customers in rude, nasty and unporfessional way whatever they old , child , women or whatever... so bad .

[mars6423]

i dont want to sound mean or anything, but i dont see why passengers with young children should get priority in the check-in/bag drop line, its part of the process and everyone has to go through it

it seems that a 1hour waiting/boarding time is pretty much standard, i came over to singapore from nyc and both flights were 1hour before departure (however, singapore airlines a380 so its more understandable that it takes more time to board)

i dont know about delta but at least with virgin atlantic and singapore airlines they bring the drink cart when there is a delay and everyone is seated, singapore airlines comes around with hot towels at the begining of the flight while your taxiing to keep you refreshed which id like to see on other airlines

and yeah it sounds like your food with delta was not close to acceptable, that is outragious that they would provide a child with just a fruit plate and no alternative

i can see that the american based airlines (delta, continental....) have been getting worse gradually, while if your traveling internationally many airlines are working to improve so that they can keep your business...virgin atlantic with their hospitality, singapore airlines with their flight attendants, entertainment, and great food even in economy (beef steak, mashed potatos and some other stuff for dinner, and egg fattita, hash browns, chicken sausage, fruit, for breakfast, and i am not a plane food person but i ate their meal like no tomorrow)

i am sorry for your delta experiance from what i have gathered they have a whole bunch of complaints and dont work to fix them......i suggest if you fly internationally use an international airline even if it costs a little more