Northwest Airlines Bankruptcy

Northwest finally declared bankruptcy on Wednesday. Thursday is my next flight with them, their first day operating after declaring bankruptcy. I am completely scared! I am betting on not getting home tonight and worst of all being stranded in DTW. To compound the bankruptcy issue, my connecting flight is on Mesaba. Two big issues here; 1) See my Mesaba thread 2) Northwest owes them 20+ Million which they failed to make their payment this past weekend and Mesaba has threatened to take their remedies.

Surprising Service

Tonight I flew Northwest and had surprising service on both of my
segments. On my first flight to DTW I had fabulous service up front
with Vivia who took care of us and kept an eye on things. She was quite
nice. On my second segment, I was completely taken back by the flight
attendant that gave me an amenity coupon for 500 miles since I moved my
seat (to a yucky bulkhead) so a older couple could sit next to each
other in row four. Last time I had an issue on a Northwest flight, it
was like pulling teethe to get a few miles to make up for my broken seat
in business class.

Mobile Phones

Yes, I love technology. Especially mobile technology for road
warriors. I like being connected to those "around" me, no matter where
I am, it puts me at peace. However, I really dislike the lack of manners
around the use of mobile phones. I am completely against the use of
mobile phones in the air on planes. This is quiet time. Cramped
quarters like church are no place for me to listen to your personal
issues. I thought it would be interesting to chronicle the mobile phone
issues and more entertainingly the conversations I can't get away from.
I for one have a very loud mouth, ask anyone who knows me. But I do
know how to be discreet, and I certainly don't want you knowing that
much about what is going on in my life. My ego doesn't need that kinda
boost.

Might I also add a little plug for that Comedy Central / BBC show "Trigger Happy TV". You really must see it. They do a recurring skit
with mobile phones. They take this truly giant size mobile phone with
them to all sorts of quiet places, it has this huge nokia ring to it.
The guy answer the phone with a shout and keeps on going. Visualize
this in the middle of a play in central park, or better yet at the
opera. I bust a gut every time I see this. Why because it is so true
that this does happen!

Such as tonight in the airline club. I was in the "Quiet Zone" where
you aren't supposed to use phones, so people can peaceably read a book
or watch a TV show. However, I got to listen to Bob brag to all his
friends that for the Toro open that he is now chairman of the club and
event. Like I or anyone in that room really cared that he was the
chairman. He didn't have a clue what being chairman required of him for
the event; what a dufus. Bob, you have a loud mouth, no manners and
can't read, I would be scared of any organization you represented!

Signage in these quiet areas really needs to be increased for those
lacking complete manners and the ability to sense that what they are
doing is wrong. A few more helpful reminders that most other people
don't really care about your issues and really shouldn't have your crap
forced upon them!

I really hate Mesaba Airlines

They truly must be the worst airlines around today! The last flight I
took with them they dropped me off in the wrong city at two o'clock in
the morning where there are no taxis and said find your own ride home.
No apologies, no nothing. Tonight, yet again out of Detroit their gate
agents are the worst. No information, no customer service. The last
time through Detroit our flight was delayed, but there was no one around
to tell us or help out. One girl would stop by the counter every now
and again, then leave. The whole while providing no information. Maybe
it's just a Mesaba thing, or maybe it's just a Detroit thing. No, I
really think it is a combination of two bad things making something even
worse.

They're just not nice and friendly and that really bothers me.

Airline Flight Tools

Northwest now has the ability to fax your boarding pass for their
on-line check-in. What a fabulous idea, e-check in the night before at
your hotel and twenty minutes later your boarding pass is at the front
desk. Quite nice.

Airline Clubs

Philadelphia - The Delta Crown Room in Terminal E. It is outside of
security which is kind of interesting. I have a Northwest World Club
membership, so I can get into the Crown Room when I am on a Delta flight
or a codeshare. But this time I asked really nice and they scooted me
in. Thank you very much! The club is kinda small, not too good of a
view of the runways which I like to watch. The chair I am in doesn't
really agree with my bottom side. The service has been quite nice. The
announcements about flights by the staff have been fabulous. The
munchies aren't that good, they are very salty and not a lot of protein;
though the cab isn't too bad.

Back to flying...

Well I haven't flown in the past four months, so flying tonight was kinda strange. Not much has changed. I got on my flight in Green Bay and it was the same folks at the gate, and the same passengers I usually see on the plane. I even bumped into a colleague during my connection in Detroit. What a small world it is. No major changes in TSA or the process, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. There was a newbie checking IDs so she was all too thorough looking for expiration dates on the photo IDs, she couldn't keep up with the X-Ray folks who were always waiting for her to send the next person down... Still it took less than 15 minutes to get through security. My bag almost got snagged for a hand search, that would have been my luck for a first trip back, but all was golden, no issues today.


Wow, what a bizzarre process!!! Tonight I landed in Philly and took a shuttle service to the hotel. To get a commercial ride out of PHL you have to go to the transportation desk, check in, give them your name, then they give you a coaster pager, like at the restraunt, and then when the pager goes off, you go back to the desk and then they tell you where your ride is. This is such a strange process! Overall, though I would have to say, that it is probably a net even on time. I only ended up waiting about 10-15 minutes for my coaster to blink at me.

Until the next trip....