#TheSwindle

So, I blasted on Twitter about the horrible experience I had with the Delta Airlines staff in JFK. So much so that I was inspired to write a letter to them, especially after their assistant tweeted me the customer service link! I thyink we need to write more letters and voice our concerns when we get sh*tty service. I don’t know about you, but my dollar counts and I refuse to be treated like crap! Check my letter below to see the fckry that occurred:

To Whom It May Concern,
On Thursday, October 7th, I arrived at the Delta terminal in JFK to check in for my flight. My flight was scheduled to depart at 3:59PM. I arrived at the airport at 2:55pm, and while being directed to the correct kiosk to use, I checked in electronically. By the time I reached the kiosk, it was 3:01pm. Upon my initial log-in, I received an error notification, which stated that I could not check my bag because “I was too late to check in”. I asked an attendant if I could bypass this notification, since I was already in the airport and just didn’t log-in to the Kiosk until 59 minutes before my flight. She harshly told me “you can’t check in your bag you’re too late” and continued to help other customers.

I decided to wait online to speak to a representative at the check-in counter. When I arrived at the counter, and explained my situation, I was met with disgustingly rude attitudes and condescending tones. I was told that I was too late and whether I was a minute or 15 minutes late, there was nothing they could or WOULD do for me! They also informed me that “the machine would not allow them to print out a tag for my luggage so they couldn’t check it in”.

I offered suggestions that I have found to be very helpful and feasible while I travelled on other airlines. I asked if my luggage could be sent on a later flight, to which I was denied. I was told that I had to travel with my luggage and the next flight wasn’t until 8pm. I could not fly that late to my destination, as I had meetings to attend at specific times. The attendant than dismissed me, saying that unless I call someone to pickup my bag, buy another carry-on to bring on the plane, take the later flight, or dump everything in my check-in bag into my carry-on, that there was nothing they could do, and told me to move to the side as she called the next customer before I could even finish a sentence.

I felt insulted, disrespected, and that my business meant nothing to your organization for many reasons.

1) To tell me that your machine would not print a ticket past a certain hour, when on other airlines that have a shorter cut-off period than Delta have printed these same tags and made the same concessions for me, is ridiculous. Especially to someone like myself who works in the IT field, auditing the same machines you use daily, displayed a lazy and unenthusiastic attempt at customer service.

2) Other airlines have printed out tickets, and even international boarding passes, at times I have arrived 5 minutes after the cutoff. Had I reached 30 or 20 minutes before takeoff I would understand. To dismiss me for being a few minutes after the cutoff, and being rude in general when I treated the entire staff with respect, was disheartening and discouraging to my flight experience

3) The different scenarios and feasible alternatives I suggested in order to get my bag to its destination were dismissed as if the requests were outrageous. In these times, customers have many different options and airlines we can fly. I didn’t complain about paying $25 for baggage check, when other airlines would offer the first bag free. Despite the many complaints I’ve heard about Delta, I chose to fly your airline to see for myself, and this experience, the inability to work with customers to get them to their destination safe and happy, and the blatant disregard for my situation and feelings is what angers me the most. I can understand if I was rude and obnoxious, but to receive the attitude and condescending tones in speech from the representatives, was uncalled for and disrespectful.

I ended up having to leave a $100+ piece of luggage at JFK, pack EVERYTHING into one small carry-on, while carrying the rest in hands. I was told to wait on a line when I already had a boarding pass printed. 10 minutes later, I realized there was no need for me to stay on this line despite what the representatives said, and made my way to security. This miscue on the reps end almost caused me to MISS this flight!

So I ended up on the airplane with an over-packed carry-on, remaining items in my hands, and a lost over $100 in luggage, all to get on my flight timely (which I almost missed due to the inept and rude customer service representatives). This was the worst experience I ever had on any airline. Period. To say that Delta has lost my business is an understatement. In the future, I will recommend against anyone flying this airline, because if your representatives at the airports don’t respect my business, than Delta doesn’t respect me either. If you don’t respect my patronage, than I’m sure American, JetBlue, United, or any other airline will treat my business respectfully.

Sincerely,

Let me know what you think. It’s crazy how many people roast Delta on a regular basis. #NoCountryFor DELTA!!

**UPDATE**

So This AM I got a response from Delta apologizing, saying they will look into the rude bustdown that almost made me  miss my flight the attendants and gave me a $50 voucher. Y’all cosign?

What’s good everyone,

I haven’t written a GC in a minute. Been meaning to but [INSERT EXCUSES HERE].  Anyhow, I have a mental log of a few misadventures, and figured I’d drop one weekly for your reading pleasure. So today, I’ll speak on a quick story regarding my trip to Vegas in July. Yes, I said July. I wasn’t BS’n when I said I was stuntin’ on these stories!

So I was on my way to the City of Sin for my frat’s convention, and to try to come up on some $$$ (another blog on this next week, smh). So I rolled out there with the boy L. West on the incomparable Jet Blue airlines.  Jet Blue was actually the first Airline I ever flew. Since that time, I haven’t had anything remotely bad to say about them (I’ll bitch about price here n there but that’s normal), until today. Although I do subscribe to the train of thought that “Any flight that you walk away from is a Good Ass flight”

We get ready to land in LV, and for people who’ve flown into AZ or LV know, the turbulence in that area can be a little unnerving. However we got through that, and as we’re ready to land, I experienced something on that flight I only heard about from others, and hoped I never had to experience: An Aborted Landing.

Whats an aborted landing? Well I can show you better than I can tell you:

or

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_p_7zNApSY&feature=related]

I wish there was a camera to take a picture of the face I made! I literally looked over and said “The plane just went back into the air didn’t it.” and threw my hands up in disgust. it was crazy too, because when the wheels touched the runway, I heard the plane revving up and NOT slowing down. Speechless isn’t even the word! Some dudes in the back requested a round of drinks for the plane to calm everyone down. Ignant!!

I believe this occurs when anything disrupts the landing, or when a pilot overshoots the runway and has to reset. Funniest thing is, the captain didn’t give us an update until like 10 minutes after!! He came on the P.A. system and basically said “my bad”. 20 minutes later we landed, and I contemplated walking back to NYC.

For someone who travels frequently, it’s sh*t like this that puts fear in my heart. Oh well, I’m back in the air this weekend! Let’s get it!! -__-

Hoping that’s the only type of successful abortion I’ll need in my life,

Guess who’s back!

Well.. the site’s been back as of a week ago (full force), but I thought it was time to bring back my GlobeTrotter Confession series. For those who don’t know, this series chronicles my travel around the world, and the crazy sh*t that I encounter. I pride myself on being the modern-day Carmen San Diego, minus the grand larceny and infinite travel budget. SO without further adieu, let’s dive into it shall we? [||]

I took a business trip last week to the farming capital of the northeast Upstate NY. Trust me, it’s as glamourous as you can imagine. Anyway I had to book two separate flights on two different airlines due to time constraints. Going there I flew US Airways. As I enter the travel gate, I see the attendants cleaning a plane, which couldn’t be any bigger than an average tour bus. I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that I didn’t have to deal with that… until they tell us to go through the tunnel and we have to walk ON THE TARMAC and up THREE STEPS to the plane! To give you an idea, here is the plane we took:

This plane has propellers. iQuit!

The plane had about 40 total seats in it. It had a backseat. I’m going to let that marinate for a sec…

I’m always nervous before takeoff. I think landing is the best part of flying because you know it’s going to be over. I hate turbulence with a passion and on a plane this small, you feel every bump, every movement. It’s the closest you get to flying a car, I swear! I was unnaturally calm for this flight though. I think I still couldn’t believe that I was on a plane this small. I felt a rush of adrenaline flying as well, well, but I can’t call it.  This plane was so small it reminded me of the classic Street Fighter II biplane:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDPYRCMgEJ0#t=0m42s]

I made it in the end. Unless I’m on a Caribbean island or somewhere overseas, I don’t think I want to fly in a small plane again. I’ve never flew in a helicopter though and I want to badly.

How do you get over fear fo flying? If you have it how severe is it? Have you flown in a chopper before? Let me know

-Streetz

What’s good!

As you know, Last week your boy went on Vacation. It was a dual vacation to Panama and Miami.  I told you I would have stories for days, so pardon me in advance if the stories don’t follow a sequential order. As I remember and feel compelled, I’ll share my stories accordingly. Now,  here’s a funny story from my continuing adventures with Airlines.

I decided to hit Miami after Panama, mainly because the last time I hit South Beach was in 2001 (!!!) and my connecting flights to Panama were in Miami. I have family in SoFlo, so it made perfect sense. There was only one issue: I finalized these plans after pressing “send” when purchasing my tickets online. So in essense, the minor change I needed to make was cutting my flight short in MIA (since they connected their anyway, and either A) extending my layover until I was ready to leave or b) just booking a one way flight back to NY. Sounds easy right? Not when you’re dealing with airlines looking to get plenty money(c) Plies from their customers.

So I call AA and explain the situation, they explained to me that because I did it on the web and through Expeida, they’d have to charge me $150 to change the flight in any way. This made no sense because they got my money already and weren’t losing anything my just cutting my flight short. The fact that it was an international flight didn’t help either. Then when they priced the cost of a return flight to NYC, they were talking $900+ (when I clearly saw return flights online $140).

So when I decided to say yes and bite the bullet [||] on price, they inform me that it’ll cost an additional $20 to book it because I did it through Expedia. I kindly tell them “FCUK your couch” and call Expedia myself. I explain the situation and they tell me that I can just get off at MIA and take the L in frequent flyer miles for the duration of the trip and book my own one way flight (through them of course which would also be a $20 over the phone fee!). My only concern was the bag I checked in. The representative tells me that I’ll have to take the bag off the plane anyway to bring it through customs so after that I could just leave. Sounded like a plan to me, but the rep didn’t seem too sure. So I had a backup plan. I brought a duffle bag inside my check in suitcase, and packed everything I’d need for MIA, so I’d have it as a Carry-On.  I got to MIA and the Rep’s words held true. I was able to take my bag without having it go all the way to NYC for no reason! What a WIN!

Although I took a minor L in frequent flyer miles, I booked my return flight and saved the stupid flight change fee. I really thoguht I’d be in trouble, but I made it happen. I wouldn’t suggest doing what I did, but desperate times call for desperate measures feel me? LOL

That’s it for now. Next week I’ll touch on more of my trip and MAY even post a VLog of my trip (so help me God, lmao!)

Peace!!

Streetz

What’s Good,
As you know, this section deals with my worldly travels and the crazy things that happen to me. This time around, I got a story from the boy WilliamHStrafe regarding his trip to D.C. and his experience with Republic Garden. Yall know I LOVE me some DMV, I never was enamored with RG like that, and now I have more reasons to stay away. Check the excerpt below:

I spent this past Saturday in Washington, D.C. for a business trip, as well as to celebrate the birthday of my frat brother, Dwight. The festivities were set for Republic Gardens, a place that has yielded MANY good memories for myself and my colleagues. As we made our way down Sixteenth Street that night, we figured we would have a ball of a time, as we usually do.

Then we got to the front door.

*taking a deep breath*

First, Dwight & our good buddy Maurice (the guy against D.O.A in the D.O.A. podcast) get to the door first. We had a VIP section pre-arranged, yet the door girls* still asked Maurice if he was on the guest list.

“Woman, I’m standing to the guy who just bought your main VIP section!” was the expression you could clearly read on Maurice’s face.

To check the rest hit Strafe’s blog seveneighteen. I definitely recommend it! CRAZY!!

Over the weekend, I hit up Dallas, TX to attend a good friend’s wedding. The wedding was cool. I met a lot of good people, and I’m glad my dude found a beautiful bride. You know this story wouldn’t be complete without my assessment of this city and its surrounding boros cities:

• The Lone Star State Flags we’re EVERYWHERE! I thought NYKers had pride, I almost felt like I was in the Independent Republic of Texas! I mean it seemed like everywhere I went, there was a US flag, followed by the state flag! $5.00 to any New Yorkers who can tell me what our state flag looks like without google.
• The weather was nothing short of incredible. While y’all were in the snow on the first day of spring, the kid was in shorts and a tanktop. 80 degrees with a little breeze, you can’t beat that. We’ll see that weather in  May/June soon.
• Once I saw the SUPER WalMart, Family Dollar, and the million mom/pop stores, I knew i wasn’t in Queens anymore. 7-11 has their own gas station, nuff said!
• The houses? Wow! I stayed with one of my homeboys peoples from TX. He told me his house was no Ritz Carlton, but he make’s do. This dude had a 6 bedroom HOUSE, 3 out of six had their own bathroom, no basement (a norm in TX, which was weird to me), dining rooms, living rooms, Garages, studys, etc, etc. I don’t even think I saw the ENTIRE house! I know that house would cost a first born child in NYC. At least we only pay $2.50 for tolls now right? Why am I still living here again?
• I hate the Cowboys with every breath in my body. I drove by their new Stadium in Arlington,  hoping to spit on the ground that housed this demonic safehouse. When I saw it, however, I was in awe. That joint is SICK! Do believe I will attend a Giants/Cowboys game down there, reppin Big Blue to the fullest!!
• 45-50 mph in residential locations. 65 mph on the highway. No stupid speed traffic lights like an errrya that shall remain nameless (I’ll blog about that soon, smh)
• I’ve never seen more trucks on the road in my life! I counted 8 out of 10 automobiles on the road! It was surreal! On the same note, I never want anyone from the Dallas/Arlington/Ft. Worth area talking about NY drivers! It doesn’t matter if these Texas push a motorcylce, 18 wheeler, or something in between, they drive like this is Grand Theft Auto 4! I can’t tell you the many times I purposely missed an exit off the freeway in order to save my own life! The drivers also have an annoying habit of encroaching on the road. You know what I mean: when drivers look like their going to turn out of a corner and do that last minute stop that has you swerving looking crazy!

This post wouldn’t be complete without my usual selection of tracks I heard on the radio. Soulja Boy, Jamie Foxx, Yeezy, Weezy, Jeezy, T.I., OJ Da Juiceman, and others were in HEAVY rotation on the radio. Shout to 97.9 the Beat and 104.5. Some of the tracks I brought back up north (for better or worse) include:

B-Hamp – Do the Ricky Bobby

Slim Thug – I run I95 Remix

Dorrough Music – Walk Dat Walk

Gucci Mane – Stupid

Paul Wall ft Webbie and Mouse – Ms Bizzy Body

OJ Da Juiceman feat Gucci Mane – Make the Trap AYE!

and my #1 joint:

Young LA feat Yung dro and T.I. – Aint I?

I got more stories from this trip to drop! For more of my travel situations check out Globetrotter Confessions

Check out my new Relationship Article: The Claim Game

The Premiere of Non Stop Radio is April 5th, 2009! Click on the pic below to join the facebook group:

What’s good,

Ya boy is back on his travel ish, which means that the gods of travel once again smile. This means they get to have fun at my expense, and get their tricks and pranks posted on my site. This time, I swear IT WASN’T MY FAULT! This concerns Airtran and their policies on carry-on luggage. As you know, now we have to pay for luggage on planes if we check them. $15 the cheapest. I don’t have to tell you that it’s a recession, so I used my resources to devise a way to avoid the check-in costs.

Now, for my trip,  I didn’t have enough space for those little carry-ons. Maybe it’s because I pack like a woman, with extra outfits and “just in case” outfits, smh. either way, I couldn’t fit everything in that little bag. So I used my normal suitcase pictured below:

Now, before yall rip me about being stupid and trying to G Airtran, I was just following THEIR POLICY! They clearly say:

No carry-on item may exceed overall dimensions of 55 inches (length + width + height).

So, I break out my measuring tape, and my suitcase came out to 53 inches total. I knew I would have a fight on my hands, but I said why not, and proceeded to LGA.

I get to the self check-in and see the option for whether or not to check a bag, see the $15, say “FCUK outta here” and chose the “no check-kin” option. I start to walk away when the person at the counter says “sir. You gotta check that bag”. Here we go. lol. I explain to him what the website says, and they tell me “That’s a suitcase, NOT a carry-on” like I’m an idiot. I get tight because for real that’s false advertising on Airtran’s part. What if I didn’t have that $15? Would I have to go home? Should I even travel without at least $15 in my pocket?

Anyway, dude who initially had an attitude, proceeds to tell me that he looked out for me, and that “I usually just let people go, but because you’re a brotha, I wanted to look out”. I laughed and told him it was “all good my g” and peaced it up. I used to work in bill collections, so trust when I say that I understand when people have attitudes and you’re just trying to do your job.

I walk to the checkpoint and go through the normal motions (shoes off, laptop out, etc) and realize that i still have my bag with me! I forgot to drop it off at the drop-off point! So, I have to basically get dressed again, lol, and bring it back. While putting on my bag, this lady of anglosaxon origin yells “Hey, get off my lawn!! you almost knocked me over with ur bag!” Mind you, I didn’t even know I hit her!! I apologize, and as I’m walking out, a older sister, with her ATL southern twang, mumbles to me **in ATLien** “Now, she know you didn’t mean to hit her. shoot,  probably still mad we got a black president! mm-hmmm!” I had to get out of there so I didn’t burst out laughing and could make my flight.

I went, dropped off my bag, and came back to the line. I wasn’t trying to wait on-line again so I holla’d at TSA on the side to skip the line, and they let me live. Clearly they didn’t hear about my last run-in with TSA.

Can I say how I’m always shook before takeoffs? I didn’t fly in a few months, and after that USAirways crash, I wasn’t so enthusiastic. Taking connect flights is twice as afraid. Got the kid praying to baby Jesus for success! Once we’re in the air, it feels liberating, and almost death defying. I’m more calm once we’re situated in the air then on takoffs. I’m even comfortable with landings. Is that weird?

Next chapter – D.A.L.L.A.S.

As I stated in Part 1,  Things got pretty hilarious in our VIP.  I like to walk through parties though, and with 4 levels at Park, I decided to walk around to see if the other floors were jumpin like ours.  So I hit the other floors and it looked as if we had the best floor on lock. I was on my way back to my VIP when one of my homegirls told me to come with her to her friends VIP on the 4th floor.  Now I’m not one to crash another VIP, especially when I don’t know the people inside. She assured me that it was all good and her guests were welcome. What could go wrong? (Foreshadow intended) Continue To Read My VIPASCO

Due to the Impact of the Inauguration, I had to put this one on hold. There was no way that I could forget to tell the story of my SUNDAY night out in DC! In typical GlobeTrotter Confessionary format, you must experience the experience I experienced that day!

First off, me and my dude Rome stood online at Park on Fourteenth(one of the most poppin clubs in the District) while we waited for Jackson and Bottle Poppers Inc to arrive so we could VIP. While we waited,  dudes took ample opportunity to sell Obama apparel. One lady came through with O-Buttons 1 for $6, 2 for $10. Sorry lady, not droppin a dime for something I will lose later. Then, in a move that utterly pissed me off, this next dude was selling “Obama water”.     Muthafcuka, its -2000 outside and you’re selling water?!! You want my insides to freeze and kill me so that you can rob me or something? How about Obama Hot Chocolate? Obama Coffee? Or even Obama not something cold to drink in the winter ASS!!!! Smh… He got denied accordingly.

Jax arrives and we do our slide off the line into VIP.  Before you claim that I have a chicken side, Jax was compensated for his efforts (My mom raised me with class), and off we went!

This VIP story is two-fold. We had a couple of hilarious moments in our VIP and others, that makes this story special.

First in our VIP. We started off watching the Steelers – Ravens game(towards the end). That hit on Willis Mcgahee almost took me out of my party mood! Glad the boy is doing well. So our VIP is filling up with Ladies and some of our homeboys too. Jax comments that we need security at our booth and successfully petitions for us to have one of these Secret Service looking boys to police our area.

So we all bring in people we know. I brought in a few teams of ladies I knew from the “erryah”(MD/DC/VA Metropolitan Area for the non ebonical reader). So I’m engaged with one lady in conversation pouring drinks feeling myself HEAVY, when all of a sudden my dude Morris starts Wildin! I hear him beefing in the background, and I can tell its not serious so I continue the convo. All of a sudden the funniest VIP drama ever erupts:

Mo: Streetz!!
Me: Mo what’s good?
Mo: I can’t breathe right now..you want to know why?!
Me: Why Morris :-/
Mo: Because of the FAT CHICKS you lettin  in the VIP!!

The Scene of the Crime

Now, let me say I have NOTHING against big girls at all..truth of the matter is that I did NOT bring the chicks in question into the VIP. I was shocked, and laughing at the same time . OK back to our program…

Me: (laughing) I didn’t bring fat chicks in the club son!
Mo: Well one of your chicks did! Get em out son!
Me: (looking over at the chicks in ?tion) I think they only brought 1 big girl..you can’t let her live
Mo: I said chickS
Me: Chicks?
Mo: Yes son there’s 3! A Fcukn HERD!
Me: (still laughing) your buggin there aint 3
Rome: Jeff…theres 3 son.
Me: 3
Mo and Rome: YES!!
Mo: I’m gonna be the bad guy, they’re outta here
Me(realizing the young lady I’m speakin to may have been the culprit of smugglin the big gurls in VIP): OK let me create a diversion..lolol

So he proceeds to tell the bouncers that they gotta go, along with other random dudes and chicks we either didn’t know or didn’t want there. I later found out the reason he flipped was because the Big Gurls in ?tion attempted to bumrush the free liquor attempting to deebo him on the way.  “Everybody got a cup, but they aint chip in…” That would’ve happened to anyone…but the fact that they were large and in charge(and according to them not even cute like that), got them ejected. Red or Blue pill…ya live n ya learn!

You think this is bad? See what happens when I go into another VIP in which I “wasn’t invited”

Blame it on the alcohol pt 2: Coming Soon

Blame it on the...