Feb 9, 2010
Delta Airlines: An exercise in understanding weather

I got lucky leaving Washington D.C. before the first snowpocalypse so I could spend the Super Bowl with my family. Little did I know that was the last time I would see any luck this weekend.
Colts lost. Got a flight cancellation phone call right after Addai couldn’t punch in that last possible shred of a hope touchdown. Then, was rescheduled on a terrible multiple connection flight with Delta putting me into DCA around midnight. So I called to reschedule for today.
Hold on, let me give you a little back story.
Before I left, the weather reports were growing taller than too tall Tim. So I moved up my flight and got out of DC first thing Friday morning. Around 1 p.m. later that day, they got hammered. And continued to get hammered. I figured I would be able to get back Monday morning after everything was cleaned up. Nope. Reagan International (DCA) was shut down for snow removal until 10 a.m. Monday morning. Eep.
Oh it gets worse. Then, thinking I would get out later Monday or first thing Tuesday (today), I start to read the weather reports. Snow. Snow for Indianapolis and Chicago. AND! More snow for the DC area. Via CNN: No relief for for snowed-under Washington
So here I am. Stuck in the Indy airport as my dad tries to navigate the roads to come pick me up. At least there is free wifi.
Then there’s Delta. The kiosk lady was not helpful as the other DC bound folks and Detroit bound folks behind me were all turned away. Apparently another flight got out but because she couldn’t remember how to put in DCA into the computer she missed the time period to switch me to that flight. Oh yes. Flights were getting out, but none for me.
Luckily the fine lady I talked to on the phone from Delta was super nice and got me on the flight for tomorrow (if that even happens). But most of all, she was understanding. She was thankful that I was calm and not yelling at her after she looked through the rebooking history on her terminal screen. I said, “This definitely sucks but I’m not the only one dealing with it.” Right then she said there was one seat left and it had been taken. But she worked her magic, called her manager, and said she had already started the rebooking so the seat was hers. I got it. Whew.
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