This my experience catching a flight during the december 2010 blizzard in NYC.
I arrived in NYC on 25/12/2010 to make 4 seperate flights from NYC to Central American
countries.All flights were on AA in first/business class.The flights were part status runs
but,the main reason I fly was to visit new countries and take pics.My 2nd flight to San
Salvador,3rd flight to Managua and 4th flight to Guatemala City went off without a hitch.On the 26/12/2010 it was being reported that a blizzard was about to hit NYC and that all 3 NYC airports would be closed on 27/12/2010.My flight to Panama City was on 27/12/2010.
I call AA and select the option ' i want to speak to a real person '.After about 90 minutes waiting ,my call is answered after we establish that i am going to Panama City Panama and not Panama City Florida ,'' Oh Panama City Panama is international I'll transfer you over to the international desk'' , After another 60 minute wait my call is answered and we work out an alternate itinerary departing on 28/12/2010.The 150 minute wait was not that bad, it was a sunday i was in my hotel room the NFL was on and the Giants were at Green Bay.After printing out my new itinerary i notice that one my flight sectors is in Y.So i call AA again and this time i wait for all the options and give my PNR number of my original itinerery which had my QF frequent flyer number.Bingo,my call is answered immediately '' exetutive platinum can i help you '' at no time did i inform AA that i was WP,they only had my QF FF number.Anyway AA could not help with the Y seat as there was a huge back log to catch up with .On 28/12/2010 i turn up at LGA and at checkin am told my flight to Panama City is cancelled.At checkin we work out another itineray leaving on 29/12.On 29/12 i am back at LGA checkin pleading my case for a first class seat because that is what i paid for, I'm told ''sorry but there is very large backlog ''.
Inside the Admirals club i hand over my Y class seat boarding pass and the dragon punches in a few words into the keyboard and tells me the seating has been reset that there are 8 available seats in first and i am at the top of the list.
Looking back now,I consider myself fortunate a to be in NYC during a blizzard.It was a fantastic experience.The tourists at Times Square loved it, but the New Yorkers out in the suburbs hated it.On 28/12 because of cancelled flights i got to spend a night in the Carter hotel,the most criticized hotel on Trip Advisor.On my 10th visit to NYC I worked up enough courage to go and spend a night there.
I am not allowed to post links because i've had less than 10 posts,but if you go to
www pbase com / shednet and go to page 2 my blizzard and Central American galleries are there.
As they say in the clasics '' a picture is worth a 1000 words ''
I arrived in NYC on 25/12/2010 to make 4 seperate flights from NYC to Central American
countries.All flights were on AA in first/business class.The flights were part status runs
but,the main reason I fly was to visit new countries and take pics.My 2nd flight to San
Salvador,3rd flight to Managua and 4th flight to Guatemala City went off without a hitch.On the 26/12/2010 it was being reported that a blizzard was about to hit NYC and that all 3 NYC airports would be closed on 27/12/2010.My flight to Panama City was on 27/12/2010.
I call AA and select the option ' i want to speak to a real person '.After about 90 minutes waiting ,my call is answered after we establish that i am going to Panama City Panama and not Panama City Florida ,'' Oh Panama City Panama is international I'll transfer you over to the international desk'' , After another 60 minute wait my call is answered and we work out an alternate itinerary departing on 28/12/2010.The 150 minute wait was not that bad, it was a sunday i was in my hotel room the NFL was on and the Giants were at Green Bay.After printing out my new itinerary i notice that one my flight sectors is in Y.So i call AA again and this time i wait for all the options and give my PNR number of my original itinerery which had my QF frequent flyer number.Bingo,my call is answered immediately '' exetutive platinum can i help you '' at no time did i inform AA that i was WP,they only had my QF FF number.Anyway AA could not help with the Y seat as there was a huge back log to catch up with .On 28/12/2010 i turn up at LGA and at checkin am told my flight to Panama City is cancelled.At checkin we work out another itineray leaving on 29/12.On 29/12 i am back at LGA checkin pleading my case for a first class seat because that is what i paid for, I'm told ''sorry but there is very large backlog ''.
Inside the Admirals club i hand over my Y class seat boarding pass and the dragon punches in a few words into the keyboard and tells me the seating has been reset that there are 8 available seats in first and i am at the top of the list.
Looking back now,I consider myself fortunate a to be in NYC during a blizzard.It was a fantastic experience.The tourists at Times Square loved it, but the New Yorkers out in the suburbs hated it.On 28/12 because of cancelled flights i got to spend a night in the Carter hotel,the most criticized hotel on Trip Advisor.On my 10th visit to NYC I worked up enough courage to go and spend a night there.
I am not allowed to post links because i've had less than 10 posts,but if you go to
www pbase com / shednet and go to page 2 my blizzard and Central American galleries are there.
As they say in the clasics '' a picture is worth a 1000 words ''
