With the A/C malfunction, my recent USAirways flight from Charlotte to Reagan airport was cancelled. This was the first leg of my flight destination to Burlington, VT, my ultimate destination being Plattsburgh, NY.
Thinking I would be a 'savvy traveller' instead of waiting in a long line at the gate to be rescheduled, I sauntered to the nearest phone and telephoned USAirways. Even the agent I got on the phone had not yet known the flight had been cancelled, only delayed. On further checking, however, she learned that had been, then went on to reschedule me on a later flight to Burlington, VT through LGA, even giving me a new confirmation number. Did I ever feel smart! Then I went to the ticket counter, as directed, to have another one issued.
Guess what?? The agent there told me that the 'phone agent' never scheduled me on that flight! Unbelievable. And there was no longer space to Burlington. I told her my ultimate destination was Plattsburgh, NY.
Becoming quite antsy because I knew my Plattsburgh friends would soon be leaving home to make the 1.5hr drive and ferry ride over to pick me up, the USAirways agent mumbled "someone's having a good day." "Me? Really? Why?"
"I can get you on a flight to Boston, then a commuter plane directly into Plattsburgh," she said, with one other stop in Vermont." "Wonderful, I'll phone my friends right away....do you have a phone card, please?" (I'm one of those rare people who don't have a cell phone) Twice I was given phone cards that had expired and were useless. By that time, probably eager to get rid of me, since I also requested a meal card, they offered their non-pay phone so I could use my own phone card.
What can one do to guarantee that a telephone flight reservation has been truly made? Get the agent's social security number? Doubtful. Perhaps a name and location at least.
At any rate, the bogus reservation was more than compensated by the thoughtful creative agent who went out of her way to get me to my destination. Otherwise, I would not have been able to leave until the next day, cutting my visiting time in half. Even the small commuter aircraft flight was lovely over the hills of NH and VT!
