TSA Good News
Wednesday, March 24th, 2010Well here I am stuck in the airport at Dayton Ohio, I was heading to the GVO/Marshall Sylver event in Las Vegas when American Airlines CANCELED my connecting flight in Dallas…due to weather.
I was already angry because in going through security for the first time since the turn of the millienium, having to half disrobe I lost my $100 bluetooth headset. I am entirely dependant on that little thing to the point it feels alien to have to hold the phone up to my ear!
We had to sit on the plane here in Dayton for nearly two hours before they canceled this filght also. Well, I was not happy! To Americans credit they were calling passengers on their cell phones while we sat there telling us what was going on and offering options. Unfortunately I was not happy with the options offered, as I was leaving early to visit freinds in Vegas mixing pleasure with business! As such I was aware of the flight out of Dayton being canceled before most everyone else on the plane. Well the best they were offering at that point was a flight out on Friday afternoon!! Not cool! So the jury is still out at this point as to how I feel about American Airlines!
Now the good news, after I had calmed down I went to get my luggage, still on hold with AA, and decided to check with TSA to see if anyone had found my headset. I was trepiditious because of all the negative stories I had heard about the Transportation Security Administration. Fortunately even though the area was basically deserted, I was able to make eye contact with an agent and he responded immediately by coming out to the front to see what I needed. When he came out I told him I was hoping they had found my headset, he went to the back to check, soon another agent (officer?) came out, ask me to describe it, I did and he said WE HAVE IT!! GREAT!!
They had me sign some paperwork, chain of custody and all that rot, and I had my headset back! Now I need to call AA back and see how I feel about them!
UPDATE: I can’t really fault American Airlines in the canceled flight adventure, it was Spring break, and most every flight was full, and they cannot control the weather. My only thought is that they should have had someone on site at the airport to handle rescheduling my canceled flights. I spent over three hours and multiple long calls from my cell phone, sitting at the dreary Dayton Airport, speaking to multiple representatives, getting multiple versions of the possibilities to reschedule. It all worked out in the end and I had a great time in Las Vegas!
