JonnyTester
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Well, we arrived back from Orlando after 3 weeks yesterday. It was our ninth trip there, previously without any problems, but I can honestly say that it was a mixed bag this time and there are certain aspects that have really put us off going again.
Firstly, take heed and never travel with US Airways. We had four flights with them, 2 transatlantic and 2 internal. All 4 were delayed on take off and landing with our final flight from Philadelphia to Dublin delayed by almost two and a half hours. When we arrived in Philly from Dublin we had to sit on the plane for 45 minutes due to the jetway being broken. This same excuse was used when we arrived back in Dublin. We only made our connecting flight to Orlando because that flight was delayed by an hour.
Then our luggage wasn't put on the plane and was delivered to our rented villa at 5.30 am. We were advised that our return flight from Orlando to Philly was delayed for 40mins and after standing in a queue that stretched halfway down the check-in area of Orlando Int. for an hour and forty minutes, we were told the flight had been brought FORWARD and we had missed it. Then we were told that if they rushed us through security we would still get it and then when we arrived at the departure gate it WAS delayed.
Then when we finally boarded the flight to Dublin, we were put in the second last row. 2 of the overhead bins were for medical equipment and the next two were filled with the flight attendants' cases. There were 5 of us, with 2 pieces of hand luggage each, plus duty free (of course) and a flight full of returning holidaymakers. There was no room in any of the overhead bins and we were told by a sullen and unhelpful 50-something trolleydolly to put all of our stuff at our feet. She wasn't too happy when I told her that this was a health and safety matter, not to mention illegal. I shall be writing to US Airways and the relevant authority about all of this.
Secondly, on Christmas night we took our youngest two out for takeaway burgers. Traffic was very heavy and a tit in a people carrier decided to switch lanes into mine at the last minute and I clipped his rear bumper as he did so. He got out of the car and I asked him if everyone was alright (I didn't mention his lack of driving skills, I just wanted to get everything over and done with and back home) and he came to the windo of the car, told me that as I had kids in the back of the car I should "just shut up right now". Oh, did I mention he was English? He told me(!) to pull round the corner, which I did, and then his entire party of 7 got out of the car and he grabbed me by the shirt and started pulling me towards them "before we start, just get over here with me a minute". I pulled away from him and told my wife to ring the police. When she did so, she was asked what damage there was and when she said there was none to either car one of the passengers, allegedly aged 15 but who would make a very good professional Buster Bloodvessel lookalike, started pushing down on OUR bumper saying it was damaged. I told him to take his hands off the car and to get back in his own car. At that stage the driver grabbed me and told me that "if we had been in England I would've kicked the !$&# out of you by now". My kids were screaming and crying and he had the nerve to say that it was my fault they were in that state. My 12 year old daughter certainly put him in his place right then. Needless to say, when the police came he was a very diferent person. And you should've seen his face when the cop told him Florida is a "no-fault" state and as we both had insurance it would be sorted out by the rental companies.
Needless to say, this sort of "scum-in-the-sun" has left us with a very bad taste in our mouths. We saw all sorts of car wrecks during our stay and in most of them, the drivers were smiling and laughing as they exchanged details. I think we will be giving Orlando a miss in future.
Firstly, take heed and never travel with US Airways. We had four flights with them, 2 transatlantic and 2 internal. All 4 were delayed on take off and landing with our final flight from Philadelphia to Dublin delayed by almost two and a half hours. When we arrived in Philly from Dublin we had to sit on the plane for 45 minutes due to the jetway being broken. This same excuse was used when we arrived back in Dublin. We only made our connecting flight to Orlando because that flight was delayed by an hour.
Then our luggage wasn't put on the plane and was delivered to our rented villa at 5.30 am. We were advised that our return flight from Orlando to Philly was delayed for 40mins and after standing in a queue that stretched halfway down the check-in area of Orlando Int. for an hour and forty minutes, we were told the flight had been brought FORWARD and we had missed it. Then we were told that if they rushed us through security we would still get it and then when we arrived at the departure gate it WAS delayed.
Then when we finally boarded the flight to Dublin, we were put in the second last row. 2 of the overhead bins were for medical equipment and the next two were filled with the flight attendants' cases. There were 5 of us, with 2 pieces of hand luggage each, plus duty free (of course) and a flight full of returning holidaymakers. There was no room in any of the overhead bins and we were told by a sullen and unhelpful 50-something trolleydolly to put all of our stuff at our feet. She wasn't too happy when I told her that this was a health and safety matter, not to mention illegal. I shall be writing to US Airways and the relevant authority about all of this.
Secondly, on Christmas night we took our youngest two out for takeaway burgers. Traffic was very heavy and a tit in a people carrier decided to switch lanes into mine at the last minute and I clipped his rear bumper as he did so. He got out of the car and I asked him if everyone was alright (I didn't mention his lack of driving skills, I just wanted to get everything over and done with and back home) and he came to the windo of the car, told me that as I had kids in the back of the car I should "just shut up right now". Oh, did I mention he was English? He told me(!) to pull round the corner, which I did, and then his entire party of 7 got out of the car and he grabbed me by the shirt and started pulling me towards them "before we start, just get over here with me a minute". I pulled away from him and told my wife to ring the police. When she did so, she was asked what damage there was and when she said there was none to either car one of the passengers, allegedly aged 15 but who would make a very good professional Buster Bloodvessel lookalike, started pushing down on OUR bumper saying it was damaged. I told him to take his hands off the car and to get back in his own car. At that stage the driver grabbed me and told me that "if we had been in England I would've kicked the !$&# out of you by now". My kids were screaming and crying and he had the nerve to say that it was my fault they were in that state. My 12 year old daughter certainly put him in his place right then. Needless to say, when the police came he was a very diferent person. And you should've seen his face when the cop told him Florida is a "no-fault" state and as we both had insurance it would be sorted out by the rental companies.
Needless to say, this sort of "scum-in-the-sun" has left us with a very bad taste in our mouths. We saw all sorts of car wrecks during our stay and in most of them, the drivers were smiling and laughing as they exchanged details. I think we will be giving Orlando a miss in future.