Richard (valley yankee) - I couldn't agree more. It IS angering to have to delay - and possibly risk takeoff slot at busy airports - while an inconsiderate clod trudges on board, overloaded with bags, at the last minute. This, however, was not the case here. I was checked in well in advance, had one small carry on which fits under my seat, and was in the jetway prior to the stated pre-departure cutoff. <BR>The Dept of Transportation has informed me that I may be eligible for denied boarding compensation under federal regulations. You can bet I'll pursue this - as more time passes with absolutely no response from NWA my ire only increases. <BR>For otheres who have shared their NWA frustations: FYI, though NWA routinely provides only fax and email options for registering complaints, the DOT provided this contact for written correspondence: <BR>Ms. Cindy Scheer <BR>Director, Customer Relations <BR>Northwest Airlines, Inc. <BR>Minneapolis/St Paul Int'l Airport <BR>St Paul MN 55111

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this following HORROR story about Northwest and I'm sure you've all heard it. It's been all over news shows like Dateline and 20/20. Well back in I belive it was 1989 a Northwest employee in Boston was murdered yes murdered. The investigation and all led to a possible inside job, and if you've all heard this story you will all agree. From sexual harrassement to theft. Northwest did NOTHING about it. Since hearing this story and watching the parents of Susan Traskowitz cry in vane because NOTHING has been done I WILL NOT FLY NORTHWORST nor will I allow anyone I know fly them! When I hear of someone traveling on them I do everything in my power to change their tickets and find even a better airfare on another carrier. Hope this changes peoples minds about flying Northwest and will think twice before picking up the phone to call and book reservations! <BR>Happy travels.

I am a 13 year employee with Southwest Airlines. During my employment I have NEVER known <BR>us to push back from the gate 14 minutes early! What happened to you was inexcusable. I agree with the <BR>other posters, you should write to <BR>their customer relations office and <BR>voice your concerns about their tactics and their employees attitude <BR>problems. There is no "perfect airline" <BR>mistakes and problems will always occur, but I know that working for <BR>Southwest we HONESTLY care about our customers. I am never <BR>embarrassed to say where I work!

I am a 13 year employee with Southwest Airlines. During my employment I have NEVER known <BR>us to push back from the gate 14 minutes early! What happened to you was inexcusable. I agree with the <BR>other posters, you should write to <BR>their customer relations office and <BR>voice your concerns about their tactics and their employees attitude <BR>problems. There is no "perfect airline" <BR>mistakes and problems will always occur, but I know that working for <BR>Southwest we HONESTLY care about our customers. I am never <BR>embarrassed to say where I work!

I recently flew from Orlando, Fl to Minneapolis/St Paul on Sun Country Air. <BR>I was satisfied with both their price, <BR>$338.00 RT & the service. They are based in Minneapolis/St Paul. If you don't mind a "no frills" airline, try them out www.suncountry.com

I have been on almost every major American airline but I have been flying primarily Northwest for 14 years now. I have had my share of problems with Northwest from a cancelled flight where the ground crew was indifferent at best and totally useless at worse in getting me another flight to my destination. I have also been on a recent round trip flight whose departures were delayed by a total of three hours which resulted in a missed flight on one leg. I have also noticed that the leg room and seating area is considerably smaller and I am only 5'1 and 115 lbs with a small frame. On the other hand, there have also been good experiences, like when a flight was cancelled due to a mechanical problem, they booked me right away on another flight to my destination even if they had to put me on another airline. Also, I would say that all the flight attendants I have encountered were pleasant and efficient. Most of their ground staff and customer service people were very helpful especially when I was making arrangements to ship my three large dogs on an international flight that was about 23 hours long and required a change of planes twice. Granted some people were more knowledgeable than others (like in figuring out that some cargo holds cannot hold three large dog kennels at the same time). Even the baggage handlers let me have another five minutes when I wanted some time to fuss over the dogs prior to their loading them up. I also have written letters to complain and they have been answered and I was even given a travel voucher. Northwest is not the best, but then again, I don't know which airline is. I boycotted United for a while for snotty service at the ground crew level, until recently when I flew then again and had a good experience. I guess you just have to set realistic limits on what to expect giving some leeway for weather problems, mechanical failures, cultural differences (when flying internationally), etc. Of course, it goes without saying that you should plan the optimum day and time to fly to avoid the hassles. Barring that luxury, I also agree that you should get at the least, efficient but not curt, service.

I have been on almost every major American airline but I have been flying primarily Northwest for 14 years now. I have had my share of problems with Northwest from a cancelled flight where the ground crew was indifferent at best and totally useless at worse in getting me another flight to my destination. I have also been on a recent round trip flight whose departures were delayed by a total of three hours which resulted in a missed flight on one leg. I have also noticed that the leg room and seating area is considerably smaller and I am only 5'1 and 115 lbs with a small frame. On the other hand, there have also been good experiences, like when a flight was cancelled due to a mechanical problem, they booked me right away on another flight to my destination even if they had to put me on another airline. Also, I would say that all the flight attendants I have encountered were pleasant and efficient. Most of their ground staff and customer service people were very helpful especially when I was making arrangements to ship my three large dogs on an international flight that was about 23 hours long and required a change of planes twice. Granted some people were more knowledgeable than others (like in figuring out that some cargo holds cannot hold three large dog kennels at the same time). Even the baggage handlers let me have another five minutes when I wanted some time to fuss over the dogs prior to their loading them up. I also have written letters to complain and they have been answered and I was even given a travel voucher. Northwest is not the best, but then again, I don't know which airline is. I boycotted United for a while for snotty service at the ground crew level, until recently when I flew then again and had a good experience. I guess you just have to set realistic limits on what to expect giving some leeway for weather problems, mechanical failures, cultural differences (when flying internationally), etc. Of course, it goes without saying that you should plan the optimum day and time to fly to avoid the hassles. Barring that luxury, I also agree that you should get at the least, efficient but not curt, service.

Seamus, <BR> <BR>I hope that you took the advise posted here to heart and wrote a letter to Northwest. <BR>As for me, I have had nothing but positive experiences with them. I have flown Northwest on and off for about 14 years. <BR>During the strike at this time last year, they went out of their way to make sure that my elderly parents ( in their 70's) got back home to Detroit from Vancouver. There was a layover in Las Vegas ( not a bad place to be 'stranded') and Northwest paid for their hotel and food while they were waiting on another flight. It was American Southwest (or something like that- a subsidiary of Continental) and Delta that they ended being booked on that treated them very poorly. <BR> <BR>I agree with those who state that it is an industry wide problem. <BR> <BR>**I saw a Delta plane leave the gate in Tampa 5 minutes early about a year ago. Two people who had boarding passes etc. walked to the gate (with ice cream cones in hand)5 minutes before the plane was scheduled to leave and were told that the plane had left. Their luggage was on that flight. Now, granted, the people at the gate had been paging those passengers for about 5 minutes before the plane left, but since those passengers had checked-in, they knew that they had to be in the airport somewhere. I do blame the passengers some because they should have been at the gate ready to board at the specified time. I also blame Delta for closing the gate 5 minuted early. <BR> <BR>Kittie

Your complaint has alot of merit, but as a former flight attendant I think you should know better from the travel experience you claim to have. (some of you with the platinum cards are wonderful and some think you own the aircraft) There was no excuse for the lies and disrespect. <BR> <BR>A HUGE part of the problem is the hours airline staff works and they get burned out. The average FA career is 3 years. I worked 6. We go in thinking glamour and end up trash collecting hall monitors! <BR> <BR>In my experience as a 'regional flight attendant' I worked 16+ hour days 4 days straight. Usually with the same flight crew - occaisionally I got a new one when they ran out of time per Federal Regs. One day I worked 11 flights (3 flight crews). There are no FA duty time regulations! And don't forget the full beverage service for 46 in 20 min. with 20 min. to turn the plane (clean it yourself, empty trash and board it back up). The company has a cute game also pitting the work groups against one another (FA/ground crew being one of the worst - they never see us work!) <BR> <BR>The reality of the matter is if it takes 20-30 minutes to load a prop plane that seats less than 50 how long does it take to load a jet that seats 150 or more? It may be a bit of an inconvenience to board early, lines, seat size and whatnot (I know I'm 5'10") but give 'em a break. You consumers want the on-time stats! <BR> <BR>Of larger concern to many of us was that person in warm, sunny dispatch insisting we go in inclement midwestern weather or risk our jobs-some choice - life/job that is your life. To say nothing of the pay. But management will always tell you there's someone else standing in line for your job (about 500). They have mine! <BR> <BR>Sorry to rant, just put it in perspective.