Tuesday, January 12^th, 2010 at 12:15 pm, I arrived at Palm Beach International Airport with my mother. We had tickets for US Airways flight # 1247.  This flight was scheduled to depart at 1:55 pm to Philadelphia, with an arrival in Philadelphia at 4:25 pm.  Following this segment of our trip was a connecting flight to Rome, Italy, on US Airways flight # 718 which had a scheduled departure time of 6:25 pm, and an arrival time of 8:55 am on Wednesday, January 13^th, 2010.   We immediately went to the US Airways check in counter to leave our baggage and get our boarding passes.  As the gentleman at the counter was checking us in he informed us that the flight to Philadelphia was delayed and was not scheduled to depart until at least 3:25 pm. I informed the gentleman I had a connecting US Airways International flight at 6:25 pm that we would miss with the delay. “NO…YOU’LL BE FINE” was his response. I did the math and thought that any further delay would definitely lead to our connecting flight to leave without us.  I explained this to the agent and he said that since it was still a US Airways flight they would know that we were delayed and not takeoff without us.  He then added that since we had scheduled a cart for assistance with my mother we “should be fine”.  So against my better judgement I waited for the delayed flight and departed for Philadelphia.  I informed ever US Airways employee that assisted us along the way that we had a connecting international flight but no one really seemed concerned.  As I expected, the flight was further delayed due to air traffic, and after circling the airport for at least 15 minutes, we missed the flight!!!!

I explained to the flight attendant that we were due on US Airways International flight # 718 and the flight attendant laughed and said “they won’t wait for two passengers”  “you missed that flight.”  What the flight attendant did do was plan for an agent to meet us at the gate to help us get re-routed.  When we finally got off of the flight from Palm Beach, an agent did meet us at the gate and informed me that we were being re-routed on a British Airways flight to London Heathrow at 9:15 pm and then we would connect to Rome on an Alitalia flight with an arrival in Rome at 3:40 pm the following day.  At that point I asked the agent if there were any other direct flights that we could take as I was travelling with my mother who is not well.  I was told that this is what was re-booked for us but since we had to go to Special Services in order to get our boarding passes they might have some other suggestions.  With that, the cart that had been pre-ordered to take my mother to our connecting flight had arrived, but instead of taking us to our flight, it took us to Special Services.

When I arrived at the Special Services desk, I explained my situation including the fact that the re-routed flights would not work for us.  Immediately, the agent demanded she “can’t do anything without even know why we missed our flight”, so she asked “why did you miss the flight?”  It was accusatory.  With that, I explained the entire story starting from our arrival at the Check-In counter at the Palm Beach International Airport.  The same story I noted above.  At that point she said that all flights were full but if necessary she could try to get us on the same flight we were originally scheduled to take but it would obviously not be until the following day.  I accepted that option as there was no way I was going to subject my mother to anything but a direct flight.  The agent began to make our new reservation but couldn’t complete anything until she could get verification on the delay of our flight out of Palm Beach International.  That took her a good while as it appeared as though no one could give her an answer and the computer system showed no issues with the flight.  After about 45 minutes she was able to complete the reservation and give us our new boarding passes for Flight 718 with a departure date of January 13th.

I then asked how we were to handle our luggage and I was told that it was already routed to London.  At this point it was not yet 9:15, which is what time the London flight was scheduled to depart, so I knew she could have it pulled from that flight and re-routed to US Airways Flight 718 the following day.  She made it very clear with both her body language and her verbal response that it would be “difficult” but she would try if she had to…and yes, she had to.  Well it took her sometime but she was able to do it.  She then handed us our new baggage claim tickets along with a voucher for the Hilton for that evening, and two $10 vouchers to cover the expense of dinner, breakfast, and lunch!  Finally, she phoned the Hilton to send the airport shuttle.  We checked in at around 10:30 pm.  Starved, we dropped off our carry-on baggage and headed directly to the only eating establishment available, a sports bar.  We ordered 1 bowl of soup,  2 sandwiches, and a soda.  Our bill came to $26 and change.  There went our meal vouchers.

Wednesday we headed back to the airport at Noon since the Hilton would not give us a late check out.  We exchanged some Euros, lost a lot in the exchange, and then went to eat.  Another meal consisting of 2 sandwiches and a soda…$23 and change.  After that we just sat for hours.  I couldn’t log onto the internet since there is no free WiFi at Philadelphia International.  I asked at Special Services if they had some sort of “voucher” for internet use but they said they couldn’t help.  So we sat and waited until 5:40 pm when they started boarding US Airways flight 718.  We immediately got on the plane and into our seats.  Boarding went relatively quickly and before we knew it we were pulling out of the gate.   After about 15 minutes or so, the pilot shut down one of the engines and informed us all that there was an issue that needed to be resolved prior to take off so we would be pulling back into the gate and have the mechanics come on board to look into it.  We pulled back into the gate and waited, after about another 15 minutes the pilot came back on the overhead speaker to say that the issue seemed to have resolved itself “as sometimes they do”, and that we would be pulling out of the gate to depart.  We pulled out of the gate again and after another 10 – 15 minutes the pilot informed us that it seemed “that the problem didn’t fix itself”  once they pulled back into the gate the mechanics would come on board to take a look at the issue.  He went on to say that he was sorry for the delay but it would probably be at least another half hour before we would know anything else.

The mechanics did come on board and after a while the pilot informed us that they were going to pull out of the gate with the mechanics on board just to be sure that the problem was fixed.  After a few minutes we pulled back up to the gate, the mechanics exited the airplane, the doors were shut and the pilot announced we were heading to the runway to prepare for takeoff.  We made it to the runway, waited for the aircraft in front of us to take off, then we were cleared for takeoff.  The plane accelerated down the runway and just before taking off the plane came to a screeching halt.  Bodies were jolted forward, children began crying, and mothers began demanding off the plane.  People were looking out the windows yelling “what’s happening, what’s happening”, others were yelling “stay calm, stay calm”.  It seemed like an eternity before the pilot spoke to us all.  His words were “sorry about that folks but I think it’s best if we just head back to the gate and have the plane looked at because this issue won’t go away”.

Once back at the gate is was mayhem.  People rushed to the exit door and surrounded the flight attendants demanding they open the doors and let them off.  It was chaos.  After about 20 minutes, an agent from US Airways came on board and said that anyone that didn’t wish to continue on the flight could leave the plane and be rescheduled for another day.  She then added, “but we can’t sit around waiting for you, you have to make a decision and leave now”.  My mother was not going to attempt flying on that plane so we got up, grabbed our bags, and left.  Many people did the same.  Once we got off the plane we were treated like nothing but a big inconvenience.  We were herded from one area to another, spoken to like children being scolded, and not shown even an ounce of understanding.  There were a couple of agents working and they collected all of our baggage information so they could pull the baggage off the plane, then the process of re-booking began…for me and my mother, it began all over again.

At 11:30 that night, we were finally given new boarding passes for US Airways flight 718 departing at 6:25 pm on January 14^th.  We were also given a hotel voucher for the Sheraton Suites, and four $10 vouchers for food.  At midnight we arrived at our hotel to find no available food.  We were both physically and emotionally spent.  Not caring about hunger, we went to sleep.  The following morning I went to the front desk to request a late check out and was told we could stay until 3 pm.  It was a blessing in so many ways.  We relaxed a bit but not enough to forget the previous nights nightmare.  We were finally able to eat something so we went to the only restaurant at the hotel and had two burgers, two coffees, and an order of onion rings…$36!

At 3 pm we checked out of the hotel and were shuttled back to the airport.  At 5:40 pm we once again boarded US Airways flight 718 but this time we actually took off at 6:25 pm.  When we arrived in Rome we had to search down our luggage as it never really was taken off the previous nights flight.  Instead, it sat in baggage claim for most of the day until it was picked up and sent to the storage unit of the baggage handling company that covered the previous nights flight.

Since I was out of touch with the driver in Italy I learned he did wait 36 hours in Rome and we never arrived although he still got paid 200 Euros for his time.

I am now home safely but I am in no way feeling secure.  I have flown with US Airways my entire life and it hasn’t always been perfect, but nothing ever is.

The difference here is that the ball was dropped on so many occasions.

• Starting with the US Airways agent at Palm Beach International who should have listened to my concerns and thought about what the consequences might be for the customers standing before him.  Instead, he just pushed us along by telling us lies.
• Then, before arriving in Philadelphia the flight attendants should have been a little more sensitive to the fact that an elderly woman was concerned over missing her flight, she shouldn’t have laughed it off like we were her new best friends.
• Special Services should have been able to better accommodate us and our needs taking into consideration the time of day, the age of the passenger, and the fact that we were stranded in a major American city where a cup of coffee costs $4
• The agents that “assisted” us passengers who chose not to fly after experiencing the plane coming to a screeching halt should have been more patient and understanding.  They should have made an attempt to take time to speak with us not at us.  They should have tried show us some respect, some care, some compassion.

After all of this I can honestly say that I am disappointed with the way US Airways treats its customers.  It needs to end now or the good reputation that you had for so many years will quickly be wiped away.  I have utilized US Airways online feedback form and requested to speak to someone regarding this terrible experience.  I am now faxing this with the hope that my voice doesn’t go unheard, and that my feelings don’t get pushed aside.  I was always a loyal customer and I deserve at least this.

Giovanna Pasquarelli

Where some of the best moments of 2009 took place.

So to answer the question I left you all with at the end of my last post, the dog that I photographed was one of the first photos I took as we arrived in Gallipoli for a one week vacation.  It was me and 5 friends who set off to experience an area of Puglia known as Salento.  We decided to rent a big 4 bedroom house near the sea in Gallipoli because of it’s location.   From there we set off all day, everyday, to find some fabulous new seaside town with incredible views  like these.

Santa Maria de Leuca

Ostuni, "The White City"

The food was amazing and always with a base of fresh seafood.

Need I say anything?

YUMMY!!!

And the beaches were breathtaking…take a look for yourself.

Baia Verde

The Maldives of Italia

This was an incredible 7 days but it could have never been one of the the Best of 2009 if I hadn’t had the opportunity to share it with the best friends an American girl in Italy could have hoped for….Here we are…………..

La Squadra

That's All Folks!!!!!!!!!!!

OK…so I’m heading back to Italy after 6 weeks in Florida and I’m a bit worried about baggage costs.  You see, I arrived with one huge suitcase which was only half full, and I’m leaving with two huge suitcases that are filled to capacity.  I’m thinking that I may have to offer a bribe to the curbside valet, which, fortunately, they do have at Palm Beach International.  Now I’ll be the first to admit that there is no shame in my game, however, I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that they charge what they do for excess baggage.  Even more ridiculous is the fact that they will allow you to remove items from your checked luggage but then let you carry it on the plane with you.  Now I may not the sharpest tool in the shed but how does that make any sense?  You’re still boarding the plane with the same amount of weight…DUH!  Anyway, wish me luck.

I can’t believe it has been over three months since I last wrote. Wow! I can tell you that a lot of things have gone on in my life. I guess I’ll start with my 9 day stay in the hospital…not fun. I know that hospital stays aren’t supposed to be fun, but when the drugs are good it helps. I’ve come to learn that Italy isn’t really hip to the beauty of opiate based medications. I spent nine days in intense pain as a result of grapefruit sized glands and very poor pain management. Thank goodness Italy is in enlightened to the use of anti-biotics!

Once that nightmare ended I was off on a 5 day road trip with my brother. He flew in from Chicago for a week, primarily to see a concert in Bologna. I picked him up in Rome where we spent the first night. He had reserved two rooms in a really nice hotel near Piazza di Spagna. We walked around the shops, drank some very expensive caffè, and had a great antipasto. It was a very relaxing way to visit Rome. We weren’t there to be tourists, we were there to enjoy a day together in a beautiful city…and that is just that we did . Of course it had to be a very short day because we wanted to get to Bologna early enough to explore before finding a great restaurant to eat dinner.

We arrived at around 3 in the afternoon and checked into a little boutique hotel just off the main shopping district. The location was excellent and we were able to walk around aimlessly yet still see some of the more important places in Bologna. Again, we weren’t really tourists. This stop was specifically chosen because my brother was going to a concert, otherwise, it would not have been a stop on this trip. We did find and excellent restaurant for dinner, and then found an even better place for dessert. What could better than that??? Nothing, in my opinion, but my brother did rate seeing Nine Inch Nails and Tool together in concert a little bit higher. Now just so you all know…I did have a ticket to go to the concert but really just wanted to do nothing since I was just released from the hospital 5 days earlier. So, when my brother went to the concert the following day I lounged…that is, after all, what I do best. The day after the concert I met my brother after breakfast and we were off once again.

My brother asked me which city I thought he really needed to see…someplace where we would be tourists. I needed no time to think about it…Florence!!! So Florence it was. My brother wanted to stay off of the highways so it added about an extra hour to the drive but it was well worth it. We drove through some of the most beautiful little villages and saw some of the most incredible vistas. I just couldn’t’ wait to show my brother the city I love…and then there she was. We rounded a curve in the road and were faced with the most amazing view of Florence. It was brief, but it was spectacular. After two days of Ponte Vecchio, sunset at the Arno, The Duomo, and Davide, we both decided that the highlight of this entire road trip was that split second view of Florence.

We ended our time together back in Montefalcone nel Sannio along with our parents. It was the first time in 15 years that the four of us were together. I wished my sister had been there as well…that would have made it perfect. Anyway, my brother’s vacation was over and it was time for me to start preparing for my move to Perugia. But we won’t talk about that now…you’ll have to be patient, as this was a bit of overload for me. I promise not to make you wait another three months for an update.

This is where it all began, Montefalcone Nel Sannio (CB), Molise. This is the town where my mother and father meet, married, bought their home, and had their first two children. That was their life until 1963 when they moved to America and my sister and I were born.

My story however will not begin with America.

I am going home to Montefalcone Nel Sannio to take back me, Giovanna Pasquarelli , Italian by birth.

I take to my country all that I am…body, mind, soul and spirit. This is my journey of self discovery.