NorthWorst

I have invented a new name for Northwest airlines, I now call them NorthWorst. Here is the breakdown of our travel up north to Michigan.

• We arrive at the airport at about 5:15 a.m. for a 6:30 a.m. flight. We figured since it was a busy travel holiday we wanted to allow enough time to get through security. The airport was deserted and we got to the gate by 5:30 a.m. There were about 10 pilots milling around the front desk, which seemed kinda odd. By 6:35 a.m. we were all still sitting around because there was no gate agent. Finally one of the pilots made a phone call and 15 minutes later someone came over to let us on the plane. Luckily it was a small plane and it didn't take long to board. We took off around 7:30 a.m.
• Our flight was going well, they even offered free alcohol on the flight because of their screw-up. Even though it was only 8 a.m. since it was free I felt obligated to have a vodka and orange juice. They told us we were going to arrive only about 15 minutes late because of a tail wind we were catching. This was good because we only had a short time in Detroit to catch our connecting flight to Lansing. After the time we were suppose to land had come and gone by 20 minutes, the pilot came on to tell that the flaps were stuck (up or down, I'm not sure which) and we were going to have to land fast. They said it wasn't a huge safety issue, but that there would be firetrucks meeting us at the airport in case there was any trouble, how reassuring. The plane finally landed, 10 minutes after we were suppose to take off for our connecting flight. It was a FAST landing, but luckily everything went ok.
• Beth took Reagan off the plane and RAN to the gate for our connecting flight, hoping we could still catch it. Because they were waiting for pilots our flight had been delayed only 15 minutes, so we were still ok. I waited for the car seat and met Beth down at the other end of the airport.
• A 15 minute delay turned into an hour, which turned into 2 hours, before they finally said it would leave at 2 p.m. We had had enough waiting, so about 12:30 p.m. we called my brother Dan to see if he could pick us up at the airport and lend us a car to drive to Lansing so we could still make Beth's family Christmas in Grand Rapids. We got to Dan's house around 1 p.m. where we called to find out about our luggage, they told us that the flight had since been canceled and we could pick our luggage up at the airport in Detroit. Since Beth didn't want to be without luggage, Dan and I went back to get it.
• By the time we got to the airport the flight had been canceled, because of computer problems on the plane. They also told us that they would not be able to give us our luggage and they had re-booked us on a flight for the following day along with our luggage. We went to the luggage office and they told us that we could spend $50 per person to pick up clothes and toiletries and our luggage would be delivered to my Dad's house in Lansing sometime the next day (probably). Then we went to see a ticket agent to make sure the rest of our booking hadn't been canceled because we were skipping a leg of our trip. They assured us it wouldn't be and after receiving a lot of attitude we also got $30 worth of meal coupons that were only good for the next 24 hours. Since the only place to spend the coupons outside of security was Caribou Coffee, we went there. I gave $5 to the person ahead of me, $5 to the person behind me, then spend $20 on coffees and chocolate covered pretzels for Dan and I.
• By the time we got back to my brother's house, we knew we would miss the Christmas party in Grand Rapids, so we hung out there and to let Libby and Reagan nap. They had both been such troopers the entire trip so far. We borrowed a car and drove over to Lansing, stopping at the Howell outlets so Beth could buy some clothes, she spent about $125 on new sweaters and shirts, then we stopped at Meijer and bought $25 worth of toiletries. By the time we arrived at my Dad's it was almost 8 p.m. We could have driven to Lansing from Memphis in less time and saved about $900.
• Our flight home went a little bit better. Since we still had Dan's car and needed to find a way to get it back to them, I called NorthWorst and asked if I would be able to skip the Lansing to Detroit leg of the trip and drive the car to Detroit. At first they said no that wasn't possible, but after a bit of explaining about the trip out there, they acquiesced. They told me everything was all set and that our flights hadn't been canceled. We left Lansing about 15 minutes before a big snow storm hit shutting down the Lansing airport. Luckily the storm didn't hit Detroit.
  
• We arrived at the Detroit airport with plenty of time to spare, which was a good thing. After checking our luggage at the ticket counter, the agent told us that our seats had been canceled because of missing a leg of the trip. She read in the notes how it had been ok'ed, so she was able to go in and re-book the tickets, but that took about 30 minutes. After that we had to go to the luggage office to turn in our receipts for the clothes and toiletries, the line there was outrageous. After waiting for almost 45 minutes we turned our receipts in and they cut us a check for $150 right there.
• The flight home was only about 30 minutes late, that was because as they were backing the plane out of the gate, they discovered there was a broken down plane behind us that couldn't be moved. After they got it towed we were able to back out and take off.
• When we arrived at the airport we called the parking company we used to come and get us and take us to the off site parking. They arrived almost immediately and greeted us with cold bottles of water for the 3 minute bus ride to our car. When they dropped us off at the car, we found the car dead. Nothing on it worked, from the car locks, to the rear gate, to any light. After using the key to open the driver's door and having the car jumped by the bus driver, we were able to load the luggage up and leave. While we were sitting there waiting for the battery to recharge and Beth was reading the owners manual, I some how knocked the parking ticket into the dash and it was un-retrievable. Luckily they were able to pull up our reservation and issue us a new ticket, great service all around from ParkIt Here. Later on we figured out what had happened is a passing airplane probably set the alarm on the car off and it went on so long that the battery died and the car went into "immobilization" mode.

Needless to say the Kurt's are glad that we won't be doing any traveling in the near future and look forward to being closer to family for the next holiday season.