Why SWF Is The Crappiest Airport Ever
Since I am quite used to the semi-efficiency of Chicago O'hare, I have always held a grudge against New York's Stewart/Newburgh airport. It never seemed to me like the employees ever knew what they were doing and I don't remember ever having a flight out of that airport that was on time.
Last year, when my grandmother tried to fly out of that airport, her flight was delayed/cancelled and she was going to miss her connection. They said that they could put her on a later filght to Chicago but that she would not be able to connect until the next day. "What," she asked "am I supposed to do until then?" They told her that once in Chicago she was on her own. Now this is the kind of incompetence that drives me nuts. They couldn't have suggested anything for her to do? Given her the name of a hotel to stay in perhaps? Arrrgh. Well, anyway, she told them that she couldn't spend the night in the airport by herself, so they cancelled her reservation. So, by the time my father hears about this, she has no plane ticket anymore. We can't transfer her to a flight later in the week. We can't do anything. It was as if she had never had a ticket in the first place. So, she never went anywhere. I hadn't had dealings with SWF since, until last week when I flew out there. Today I was *attempting* to return. Here's what happened:
I got to the airport and checked in. The lady at the counter told me that the flight was running half and hour late. This didn't particularly bother me, so I sat down with my grandmother to wait for awhile. She wasn't able to come through security with me so I figured I'd wait down at check in for a little bit since the flight was delayed anyway. Well, we hear over the intercom a little bit later that a flight has just come in from Chicago. The flights in SWF are turn-around, meaning they fly the same route, back and forth. So I figured this was the plane that was late.
I decide that I should go through security. So I go up to the security checkpoint. There is an empty counter and no way to get to the metal detectors. I shout to one of the people at the metal detectors that I need to get through security. He tells me that he can't let me through. He looks at my boarding pass and tells me that I was supposed to be up there and hour before the plane left. At this point I start to get angry. I tell him that the lady at the counter told me the flight was delayed. But apparently he doesn't know anything about that because the departures board still says the flight is on time. Keep in mind that this airport has maybe 10 gates and probably only one flight leaving in the next two hours. It's not like there's a lot to keep track of.
Anyway, so he says that that's okay then, since the flight is really not leaving for another hour, but he still can't let me through security. He tells me to go back to the counter and tell them to send someone over. Well by now, there's already a line at the counter. I start to head over there and then someone turns up at the security counter. I go over to him, go through security, and run up the stairs because by this point I don't know if the flight was actually delayed or not. I get up to my gate and there are a bunch of people waiting around. I get in line to ask when the f*%! the flight is leaving and I hear someone saying that there is something wrong with the plane and that the mechanic is an hour away. So I think to myself that I don't want to get on that plane anymore, judging by how competent the employees at this airport are, I don't think I trust their mechanics. About five minutes later someone comes and tells the airport person that the flight has been cancelled.
What can I say? I flipped out. I was flying alone. My grandmother had just left because the f-ing board still said the flight was on time. I had no way of getting in touch with her until she got home and there were all of three people working to rebook people on their flights and of course they took about 20 minutes with each person because everyone had missed connections or wanted hotel rooms and the employees had no idea what they were doing. Then there's me, standing in line for an hour, being incredibly annoyed because all I want is to get a new flight and leave. I didn't care what time it was, I didn't need a hotel, I just needed them to tell me when to come back to the airport. But don't worry. I didn't start screaming at anyone or anything. I don't do that. But I was REALLY angry.
So anyway, I get to the front of the line and the woman starts to look up flights leaving tomorrow. Then randomly, she walks away and disappears behind a door. I wait for about 15 minutes before I go to another woman and ask if she is coming back. The new woman apologizes and looks up a flight. She tells me that I'm booked on a flight tomorrow. Okay, nice of you to tell me that you already booked me on a new filght, thanks. I didn't have anything better to do than stand in line for an hour to book a new flight! So then I get my bag back and go outside to wait for my grandmother to come and pick me up.
So that was my day. If it can be avoided at all, don't EVER use SWF. Howestly, the first time I don't fly unaccompanied minor, when at least they'd have to take care of me, and all hell breaks loose. I hate that airport!!!!!!!!!!!
*takes deep breath*
Alrighty then, I hope you enjoyed my rant.
Note: re-posted from my old OO.net blog
Last year, when my grandmother tried to fly out of that airport, her flight was delayed/cancelled and she was going to miss her connection. They said that they could put her on a later filght to Chicago but that she would not be able to connect until the next day. "What," she asked "am I supposed to do until then?" They told her that once in Chicago she was on her own. Now this is the kind of incompetence that drives me nuts. They couldn't have suggested anything for her to do? Given her the name of a hotel to stay in perhaps? Arrrgh. Well, anyway, she told them that she couldn't spend the night in the airport by herself, so they cancelled her reservation. So, by the time my father hears about this, she has no plane ticket anymore. We can't transfer her to a flight later in the week. We can't do anything. It was as if she had never had a ticket in the first place. So, she never went anywhere. I hadn't had dealings with SWF since, until last week when I flew out there. Today I was *attempting* to return. Here's what happened:
I got to the airport and checked in. The lady at the counter told me that the flight was running half and hour late. This didn't particularly bother me, so I sat down with my grandmother to wait for awhile. She wasn't able to come through security with me so I figured I'd wait down at check in for a little bit since the flight was delayed anyway. Well, we hear over the intercom a little bit later that a flight has just come in from Chicago. The flights in SWF are turn-around, meaning they fly the same route, back and forth. So I figured this was the plane that was late.
I decide that I should go through security. So I go up to the security checkpoint. There is an empty counter and no way to get to the metal detectors. I shout to one of the people at the metal detectors that I need to get through security. He tells me that he can't let me through. He looks at my boarding pass and tells me that I was supposed to be up there and hour before the plane left. At this point I start to get angry. I tell him that the lady at the counter told me the flight was delayed. But apparently he doesn't know anything about that because the departures board still says the flight is on time. Keep in mind that this airport has maybe 10 gates and probably only one flight leaving in the next two hours. It's not like there's a lot to keep track of.
Anyway, so he says that that's okay then, since the flight is really not leaving for another hour, but he still can't let me through security. He tells me to go back to the counter and tell them to send someone over. Well by now, there's already a line at the counter. I start to head over there and then someone turns up at the security counter. I go over to him, go through security, and run up the stairs because by this point I don't know if the flight was actually delayed or not. I get up to my gate and there are a bunch of people waiting around. I get in line to ask when the f*%! the flight is leaving and I hear someone saying that there is something wrong with the plane and that the mechanic is an hour away. So I think to myself that I don't want to get on that plane anymore, judging by how competent the employees at this airport are, I don't think I trust their mechanics. About five minutes later someone comes and tells the airport person that the flight has been cancelled.
What can I say? I flipped out. I was flying alone. My grandmother had just left because the f-ing board still said the flight was on time. I had no way of getting in touch with her until she got home and there were all of three people working to rebook people on their flights and of course they took about 20 minutes with each person because everyone had missed connections or wanted hotel rooms and the employees had no idea what they were doing. Then there's me, standing in line for an hour, being incredibly annoyed because all I want is to get a new flight and leave. I didn't care what time it was, I didn't need a hotel, I just needed them to tell me when to come back to the airport. But don't worry. I didn't start screaming at anyone or anything. I don't do that. But I was REALLY angry.
So anyway, I get to the front of the line and the woman starts to look up flights leaving tomorrow. Then randomly, she walks away and disappears behind a door. I wait for about 15 minutes before I go to another woman and ask if she is coming back. The new woman apologizes and looks up a flight. She tells me that I'm booked on a flight tomorrow. Okay, nice of you to tell me that you already booked me on a new filght, thanks. I didn't have anything better to do than stand in line for an hour to book a new flight! So then I get my bag back and go outside to wait for my grandmother to come and pick me up.
So that was my day. If it can be avoided at all, don't EVER use SWF. Howestly, the first time I don't fly unaccompanied minor, when at least they'd have to take care of me, and all hell breaks loose. I hate that airport!!!!!!!!!!!
*takes deep breath*
Alrighty then, I hope you enjoyed my rant.
Note: re-posted from my old OO.net blog