So much for the city of Brotherly Love!
I flew out to Providence Monday night to go visit Charlie and the gang at Andera and then I’m cruising up to Boston to go to Outstart‘s Strategic Customer Advisory Board.
Andera was pretty cool today and I’m looking forward to Outstart for the next two days, but Philly really let me down. The red-eye from Portland to Philly went ok, and we only landed a few minutes late. But after sitting on the tarmac for 20 minutes or so we finally got out of the plane and I had about 20 minutes to make my connection. We landed at gate B5 and my flight was leaving from F38. Just like in Home Alone, I’m running through the concourse, and racing to the shuttle to take me across the airport. I make it to the shuttle and then sit and wait for 5 minutes while they’re doing something that’s obviously more important than getting me to my connection on time. By the time I finally get to the F concourse and have ran the entire distance, I’m greeted by a closed door and a less than chipper flight desk lady saying,
I’m sorry, we’ve stopped boarding.
me- But I can see the plane right there.
her- I’m sorry, we’ve stopped boarding.
me- But the plane doesn’t leave for 7 minutes!
her-I’m sorry, we’ve stopped boarding. Let me get you on the next flight.
I get on the next plane which leaves two hours later, we wait for the flight crew to get there, which makes the plane another 30 minutes late and then we sit on the tarmac some more, which makes my already two hour late plane another 1 hour late.
Even the place I ate breakfast at was shockingly non-consumer friendly. It looked like they didn’t even want us to be in line! Anyways, that’s enough ranting. Just don’t flying US Air and don’t connect through Philly.
You’ve heard of Southwest Airlines, yes?
Oh yeah. Southwest is awesome. But they don’t have red-eyes and I need to fit my travel into some fairly specific times. Herb definitely knows how to make an experience. CU’s could learn a lot about creating member experiences by studying Southwest!
Hey Robbie,
I am so sorry you took USAir through Philly…. it’s one of the grossest airports I’ve been through. It’s run down, grimy, and things just have the feel that they are falling apart. Everyone who works in that airport is just going through the motions. They are there just because they need a job… that’s the feel of it anyway. I often have opportunities to fly through Philly because USAir is in United’s alliance… and I try to avoid it whenever possible.
Have fun in beantown!
Morriss
Southwest is worth the wait on schedules. I agree, the Philly airport is the worst.
On the other hand, the title of this post is a bit harsh; I was just in Philly on Friday, and the downtown area of Center City is really quite lovely. Looks like a lot of revitalization going on in the Philadelphia core.
Robbie,
I was in Philly last month and I’ve always felt that the airport is the first impression of any city. That’s why I’m always amazed when I go to a BIG one like Philly and it looks like you’re at the bus station. (PS – Portland, Oregon has the most beautiful airport in the US in my opinion with Minneapolis/St Paul running a close second).
Soutwest is always worth the wait – and if it’s in the morning you get donuts while you wait. It’s the little things these days, isn’t it?
Morriss – I agree. The downtown of Philly is really pretty cool.
You know, I never realized how much I took the Portland airport for granted! I always loved Portland but I thought it was just because that’s my “home” airport. But man, the more traveling I do, the more I love PDX!!
Robbie,
I KNOW! I used to rate airports by “which one wouldn’t suck if you got stuck in it”…Portland was always at the top of my list — but I could never really get stuck there cuz I lived there!