Got to the check in desk with 1 hour to spare to be told that my connecting flight at 1840hrs had been cancelled and that I would be downgraded to coach and placed on the following flight at 2130hrs. I was even less impressed that they would not refund the cost of the difference in price between first and econ. IT is not the money that bothered me, but the principle of getting what you pay for.
Anyway, I then discovered that there would be no lounge access, unless I payed which is most disappointing when you pay for an upgraded ticket. I went to the US airways lounge which was clean, quiet, with a bar and computer terminals, but little else other than a TV. Food consisted of a selection of nuts. If you want to eat you have to leave the lounge and buy from the terminal, but you are not allowed to bring your own food in.
My new rescheduled flight was delayed as well and was told that it would arrive around 2300hrs. Went to the gate, but it did not arrive until 2330 and we were on our way shortly after midnight. It was a fairly standard 1 hour flight with adequate room in econ (though I was in an exit row). Interestingly you have to verbally proclaim your willingness to throw open the doors and help throw everyone to safety in the event of an accident.
On arrival to PHX I waited and waited for my luggage to appear, but alas I was the only one whose luggage did not appear. I was directed to the resolution desk where a new girl was trying her best, but not getting anywhere. Told to go to hotel and wait for luggage to arrive the next day. This was most annoying as I had a golf competition starting at 6 in the morning and needed all my gear to play. I informed the airline that unless I have my luggage I will be forced to buy a few hundred dollars worth of kit to wear durng my game. In the end I only needed to spend $350 and we'll see how the compensation pans out.
Left the airport nd arrived at the hotel. Given the keycard to a room that had a jammed lock and had to wait 30 mins for it to be resolved and a new room found for me. Got to bed by 4am and up at 5:45am to get some colthes and get ready for my round.
Thought that my troubles would be over, but halfway through the match I was struck on the leg by a stray golfball and could not continue as my knee was too swollen to bend.
All in all with cancelled flights, delayed flights, downgrading, lost luggage, no sleep and a knee injury this has not been one of my better trips, but I look forward to my return journey in a couple of days.
[:w] 'Always look on the bright side of life....'[:w]
