Here are some excerpts:
“Please accept our apology for the difficulties you
encountered…We are truly sorry to hear we didn’t provide the level of service
you expect and deserve…What we can and should do is make every attempt to
minimize the inconvenience for our customers when we encounter operational
problems. We are disappointed that we didn’t do a better job….”
The letter went on to say my concerns and questions regarding
what actually happened on the plane were forwarded to their Risk Management
Department, and they would respond to me within 15 days.
Could I fight for more? Maybe. But the goal wasn’t to get
into a war with American Airlines. My goal was for them to apologize (they did),
for them to own their mistakes (they did), and for them to provide me with some reasonable
compensation to encourage me to continue as their customer (they did). I am
satisfied with their response, I will appreciate my next round trip to the
beach being on them, and I am considering the matter resolved.
 |
| Heroes all. The captain is second from the right. Our flight attendant is below. Photos by Jeni R. |
A Few More Things
I know many people reading this will be shocked to know I
have a few more things to say.
Accurate News Coverage
Without even
knowing most of the 46 other passengers on my flight, I think I can speak for
all of them when I say we were slightly offended by the only Peoria Journal-Star
article on our emergency landing. “An American Eagle flight … turned around and
made an emergency landing Sunday after a heat or smoke sensor went off, Airport
Director Gene Olson said.”
I don’t think I
need to say much more than, trust me, it was more than a buzzer. Here is a link
to a more accurate follow-up story from WEEK TV in Peoria, and it is appreciated: http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local/Peoria-to-Dallas-flight-forced-to-make-emergency-landing-226744231.html
Constant Screaming Helps NEVER
Another topic
discussed in the post-landing rehash by our little gang of four, was the
constant screaming by the person or persons in the back of the plane. First of
all, it was beyond annoying. Secondly, this was a time to focus on conserving
oxygen, not wasting our limited supply. Thirdly, it was beyond annoying. Yes, I
mentioned that twice.
Gotta Love a Scientist
This still makes
me laugh. When we were discussing our potential last thoughts, one of the gang
of four said she felt bad that she didn’t think about her family, because she
loves them dearly; and she wasn’t praying, which her church family would be
unhappy to know; but instead she was trying to calculate how many minutes of
oxygen we might have left. It amused me so much because I know and even love a
few scientists, and I could see them doing the same thing. We all went to our
safe place.
Some Random Items
I wish I knew the name of the young woman who let me use her
phone to text my girls. To the woman with the beautiful smile who was a trainer
for, perhaps, an insurance company, thank you again.
Someone in Row 8 videotaped the entire plane experience. I would
love for that person to post the video online.
Some of the younger people in my life have commented that
they don’t know how they would react in a situation like the one we
experienced. I have to say that I honestly don’t know what I would have done or
how I would have handled it if I were 20 or 30 years younger and/or I feared
leaving my small child. That would have presented a whole new level of
distress. I do know, however, that I still would not have screamed the entire time.
I am the queen of mechanical difficulties and flight delays.
I normally don’t react much because they happen so often in my life that I'm sort of the running joke of travel delays. This was different.
The staff at the UPS Store/Business Center (especially
Stephanie) in the Hilton Americas Houston and the bellmen (especially Cliff) in
the Hilton Americas Houston could teach classes on great customer service. They
saved my week again and again.
Moving Forward
I think, for the most part, I’m ok. My re-sprain of my ankle
is healing, and mentally, I think I’m generally pretty tough. I do have to say,
though, there were some “moments.”
During our group’s banquet at the conference, the power went
out, and the room went dark. My initial thought (to myself) was, “Oh, dear God,
what’s happening??” My brain knew it was not a big deal, and the rest of me
came to that conclusion shortly afterward, but it was a startling moment that
normally would not affect me in the least. I went to my safe place and texted
my girls. Leah sent me a picture of Matthew, my grandbaby. Crisis averted.
On the second leg of my trip home, I realized the flight
number was the same, 3176, and I was in the same seat, 5A. I did have to wonder
if someone was messing with me, and I did have to take some deep breaths and
talk myself through it a bit. I reminded myself I knew exactly where the
emergency exit was and I could jump myself right out of it.
This was an interesting situation, and I wanted to ask the
flight attendant, but I didn’t want to be “that” passenger (a very funny
Friends episode involving flying comes to mind), so I didn’t say anything, but here it is. There was no one seated in one of the exit rows. So what happens if there’s an
emergency landing? Who opens that door? I decided I would do one of two things,
either jump across and back one row and do it myself, or just go out the exit
door behind me and call it a wrap. It did concern me though.
Finally…
I’m alive, I’m grateful, I encountered a lot of wonderful
people, and I witnessed a lot of human kindness.
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