Wichita - week 1
Customer service...what do you think about it these days?
Last week I traveled to Wichita for work. I knew things were going to be unpleasant from the time I checked in at the airport on Monday. My flight was running late which meant I was going to miss my connection in Dallas/Ft. Worth to Wichita. The good news is that American had one more flight that evening that I could get on...the bad news is that it didn't depart until 10:30 p.m.
Ugh...I had staying up late. I really do turn into a pumpkin at 9:00 p.m.
Oh well, it is what it is so let's make the best of it.
I got to DFW and took my time getting to my new gate. In fact, I rode that train all the way around. It was kind of nice not to be in a huge hurry.
Dinner time. What could be better than some Texas BBQ? Well, this BBQ wasn't quite what I was hoping for, but it was better than the fast food choices.
Then I walked around for a bit trying to get my daily 10K steps in. After that I was lucky enough to get a great seat for Monday night football. Seattle was playing somebody, I can't remember who but I had an interest in the game because Seattle is my fantasy team defense and I have Harvin as a wide receiver.
People kept coming over and sitting down next to me and wanting to chat. I met a very nice guy on his way to Alaska for an interview to be a nurse on some small island.
Another lady got on her phone and had a really nasty fight with her boyfriend/husband. Who argues like that over the phone in a public place sitting right next to someone who's just trying to mind her own business? I was happy when she left.
This guy apparently thought the seating area was a good place to brush his teeth. Gross!
You see the strangest things in airports.
Then my flight was finally listed on the screen at the gate so I went up to get my boarding pass. Awesome! I get to sit in first class for my 58 minutes flight to Wichita. I tell you it pays to be nice to the people at the gate. After all, it's not their fault your flight is late, they just get to deal with all the nasty people who take their frustrations out on them. By now my flight has been delayed until 11:40 pm. Oh boy.
1:51 a.m. arrived in Wichita airport and my rental car counter was closed. Avis and Hertz were still open, but they didn't have any cars left. I thought it was nice of them to stay open for the last couple of flights to get in that night.
I head out to the taxi stand with about 20 other people. Not a taxi in sight so I call. The taxi company tells me they're sending taxis...about 20 minutes later one finally arrives. The driver starts asking people where they're going so he can get a full van. Initially he passed me over, but then he came back to me when he only had one seat left. Hallelujah! As he starts driving off he starts telling each group what their fares will be. He obviously taking advantage of the situation, but at this point I'll pay whatever he wants.
2:30 a.m. arrive at my hotel. Had to ring the buzzer to get in, but I was pleased to find that they had my key already for me so check-in was quick. Great customer service at a great hotel! Set the alarm for 6:30 and jump into bed. About 3:30 a.m. the garbage men come to empty the dumpsters behind the building. It was a sleepless night.
6:30 comes really fast, I don't think I slept at all. The next problem is that I'm without a rental car so how am I getting to the FCB building? No problem, it's a nice day so I'm going to hoof it.
There is some beautiful architecture in downtown Wichita and there was lots of traffic so I felt safe.
Now for the bad customer service. American Airlines. My meeting ended a day and a half early so rather than hang out in Wichita I wanted to get on an early flight home. American advertises this $75 change fee for same day flight changes. So I call. $1000 plus a $200 change fee for an earlier flight. What happened to the $75 change fee? Well, that only applies if they can find a seat within the same class. Frustrating...bad customer service, and airline that could care less about its customers. It will be United for me from now on (after this week that is).
So what did I do? I rented a car from Enterprise and drove home. This wasn't all bad because I got to make a stop at Braum's in Salina. They made me a Cappuccino Chocolate Chunk yogurt shake without milk which made me really happy! Great customer service, great hamburgers and fries, and great frozen yogurt! Love Braum's!
So my bag is packed and I'm going to try it all over again this week. I'm traveling on Columbus Day, a holiday for me. I told my boss that I'm taking Friday off as replacement for my holiday and she agreed (surprisingly). Do you think that makes me greedy? My holidays are too valuable to spend one of them traveling for work.
Wish me luck.
Last week I traveled to Wichita for work. I knew things were going to be unpleasant from the time I checked in at the airport on Monday. My flight was running late which meant I was going to miss my connection in Dallas/Ft. Worth to Wichita. The good news is that American had one more flight that evening that I could get on...the bad news is that it didn't depart until 10:30 p.m.
Ugh...I had staying up late. I really do turn into a pumpkin at 9:00 p.m.
Oh well, it is what it is so let's make the best of it.
I got to DFW and took my time getting to my new gate. In fact, I rode that train all the way around. It was kind of nice not to be in a huge hurry.
Dinner time. What could be better than some Texas BBQ? Well, this BBQ wasn't quite what I was hoping for, but it was better than the fast food choices.
Then I walked around for a bit trying to get my daily 10K steps in. After that I was lucky enough to get a great seat for Monday night football. Seattle was playing somebody, I can't remember who but I had an interest in the game because Seattle is my fantasy team defense and I have Harvin as a wide receiver.People kept coming over and sitting down next to me and wanting to chat. I met a very nice guy on his way to Alaska for an interview to be a nurse on some small island.
Another lady got on her phone and had a really nasty fight with her boyfriend/husband. Who argues like that over the phone in a public place sitting right next to someone who's just trying to mind her own business? I was happy when she left.
This guy apparently thought the seating area was a good place to brush his teeth. Gross!
You see the strangest things in airports.
Then my flight was finally listed on the screen at the gate so I went up to get my boarding pass. Awesome! I get to sit in first class for my 58 minutes flight to Wichita. I tell you it pays to be nice to the people at the gate. After all, it's not their fault your flight is late, they just get to deal with all the nasty people who take their frustrations out on them. By now my flight has been delayed until 11:40 pm. Oh boy.
I head out to the taxi stand with about 20 other people. Not a taxi in sight so I call. The taxi company tells me they're sending taxis...about 20 minutes later one finally arrives. The driver starts asking people where they're going so he can get a full van. Initially he passed me over, but then he came back to me when he only had one seat left. Hallelujah! As he starts driving off he starts telling each group what their fares will be. He obviously taking advantage of the situation, but at this point I'll pay whatever he wants.
2:30 a.m. arrive at my hotel. Had to ring the buzzer to get in, but I was pleased to find that they had my key already for me so check-in was quick. Great customer service at a great hotel! Set the alarm for 6:30 and jump into bed. About 3:30 a.m. the garbage men come to empty the dumpsters behind the building. It was a sleepless night.6:30 comes really fast, I don't think I slept at all. The next problem is that I'm without a rental car so how am I getting to the FCB building? No problem, it's a nice day so I'm going to hoof it.
There is some beautiful architecture in downtown Wichita and there was lots of traffic so I felt safe.
Now for the bad customer service. American Airlines. My meeting ended a day and a half early so rather than hang out in Wichita I wanted to get on an early flight home. American advertises this $75 change fee for same day flight changes. So I call. $1000 plus a $200 change fee for an earlier flight. What happened to the $75 change fee? Well, that only applies if they can find a seat within the same class. Frustrating...bad customer service, and airline that could care less about its customers. It will be United for me from now on (after this week that is).So what did I do? I rented a car from Enterprise and drove home. This wasn't all bad because I got to make a stop at Braum's in Salina. They made me a Cappuccino Chocolate Chunk yogurt shake without milk which made me really happy! Great customer service, great hamburgers and fries, and great frozen yogurt! Love Braum's!
So my bag is packed and I'm going to try it all over again this week. I'm traveling on Columbus Day, a holiday for me. I told my boss that I'm taking Friday off as replacement for my holiday and she agreed (surprisingly). Do you think that makes me greedy? My holidays are too valuable to spend one of them traveling for work.
Wish me luck.
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