Lambert Airport, Canadian Men – Yay; Northwest Airlines – Boo
So much for maybe not blogging on vacation – I didn’t even make it two hours before I started drafting this in my head. But I was inspired … and I’m stuck on an airplane.
And just so you know, I don’t think this will be the last post because I was reminded when I saw/heard him in my Minneapolis layover waiting area that I’m definitely inspired by cute, mild-mannered Canadian men and their adorable accents. He’s a tall, Kennedy-esque hottie from Edmonton who … is seated in my row because there is a God!
But I digress. I’ll start with the kudos. I’ve never been impressed by the main terminal at Lambert airport. But my check-in was simple and security was breeze this go round – the agents were even pleasant. Then came Diane at the Terminal A CPK. She was fun and efficient – a good combo for starving flyers waiting in long lines for food. I really wanted a banana and they were out. Diane was frazzled by all the people crowding her register and she could have easily said “I don’t know” or “no” when I asked if they had more. Well, actually she did say both of those things … but lo and behold then she quickly said, “wait a minute … I’ll go check.” And she promptly came back with a dozen of them. She went above and beyond, which I’d say is unusual for airport restaurant workers, and I truly appreciate it.
Now for the rant … dear Northwest Airline and all other airlines besides Southwest (American Airlines, US Airways, United Airlines – I’m talking to you): Efficient, assigned seating was the one thing you had going for you — I hate the cattle call, although it’s much better now. Now that you are ridiculously charging $15 for the first checked bag, pretty much everyone is trying to shove too many bags in the overhead bins, creating a BFCF of the boarding process (BF stands for big fat – and if you don’t know what CF is, e-mail me and I’ll fill you in).
Also, my flight to Canada (not overseas mind you) cost $550 – freaking robbery if you ask me – and it completely pisses me off to be forced pay a fee to check my suitcase – seriously!!! Maybe you could waive the fee for flights over $350 or something.
Plus Southwest’s magazine is better than yours, their flight attendants are more entertaining, they don’t charge $3 or $5 for a snack and their planes are clean and shiny, which I realize is cosmetic, but it makes me feel safer. Southwest was not an option for this trip, but you’d better believe when they are, I won’t choose you.
Of course, now that I think about it, Southwest probably has fewer Canadian flying their friendly skies, but next time I’ll have to travel during the day (it’s so dark, I can hardly see the cutie asleep across the aisle) so I get my money’s worth!