There I was at the John Wayne airport waiting to check in at the kiosk for an airline that I have never flown before. The reason why…I was flying to a destination that I have never been to before - Minnesota. Even though I was about to experience the coldest temperature I have ever been in, I was actually looking forward to it. As I stated in one of my previous blog entries, if you have to do something, you might as well make the most of it. Instead of complaining and thinking about the negatives, focus on the positive aspects of the experience. You never know who you are going to meet, the lessons you will learn and the stories you will be able to share.
Yes, I like aisle seats.
However, there was one part of my airline check in experience that left me dumbfounded. I don’t know about you, but when I fly, I always try to get an aisle seat. I just like the freedom to be able to go to the restroom or simply stand up without having to climb over people or wake someone up that is in that deep “flying sleep.” When I pulled up my reservation at the self serve kiosk, I saw that I was in a window seat. No big deal, I thought to myself, I will just follow the prompts and change to an aisle seat. I figured that there should be plenty of seats since I gathered that not too many people would be flying from Southern California to Minnesota in the dead of winter.
Are you kidding me!
Then, a seating chart pulled up on the screen, and at the same time an airline agent walked up next to me. “Sir, may I help you?” she said. “Yes please. I am trying to change my seat from a window to an aisle,” I replied. “No problem. The seats with letters are already taken, the seats with dollar amounts next to them are for purchase and the middle seats are free,” she explained. I could not believe my ears. They were actually selling coach seats…as upgrades! It is common knowledge that airlines charge for upgrades to first class, but I was just trying to change from a coach window seat to a coach aisle seat!!! To make matters worse, they were selling coach window seats for $25.00 (which is what I already had) and would not let me move to an aisle seat unless I paid an additional $25.00. Not wanting to stay there debating with the agent and miss my flight, I decided to pay the $25.00 and get an aisle seat. The seat I “purchased” was 2 seats over from my original window seat. As I walked away, I thought to myself, “this would have never happened on Southwest Airlines.”
To your Story!
Ja Marr
No Chicken Nuggets
This past weekend, the wife and I went to Las Vegas. Even though the casino we stayed in gave us a free room, they definitely got their money back and then some. But this article is not about that. As usual, traffic driving back to California from Las Vegas was horrendous; so we decided to grab a bite to eat at the state line and wait for traffic to die down some. Being the fast food junkie that I am, I used every sales trick I know to convince my wife to eat at McDonalds. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get these cravings for certain items at various fast food restaurants. This day, I could not wait to sink my teeth into some Chicken Nuggets and eat some fresh out the fryer French fries (I always ask them to make the fries fresh for me).
We don’t have that
Finally, she and I were next in line. The couple in front of us ordered 2 cups of coffee and 2 McRibb sandwiches. The young girl taking the order shook her head and said, “We don’t have the McRibb.” The man said, “What! No McRibbs. But the sign on the menu board right behind you says that the McRibb is back. Where did it go?” She just shook her head again and said, “We don’t have the McRibb.” Then he said, “Why don’t you take the sign down. How can you advertise something that you don’t have?” But he was not done. “OhOh wait just a minute.” He was looking at the lady making his coffee. “You guys put cream and sugar in the cup before you pour the coffee! That does not make any sense. How do you know if it tastes the way that you want it to?” She said, “Sir, that is just how we do it. If it does not taste right to you, I will make you another one.” She gave him his coffee and he took a sip. “Oh my goodness,” he yelled out. “This coffee is cold as ice. Ya’ll don’t got the McRibb, you pour your coffee wrong and then you give me cold coffee. What is this!” She apologized to him and they made him 2 fresh cups of coffee. By this point, a line had built up about 15 people deep and it was our turn to order.
We don’t have that either
My wife ordered 2 chicken wraps. No problem. I was craving chicken nuggets and wanted to get a My Little Pony toy for our daughter so I ordered a 6 piece McNugget kids meal. The same young girl said, “We don’t have any chicken nuggets.” “What!” I said with an astonished look on my face. “This is McDonald’s. You are known for your chicken nuggets. How can you not have chicken nuggets?” She calmly said, “We don’t have any nuggets.” I gathered myself and said, “OK, I will take a Cheeseburger kids meal with fresh fries and a My Little Pony toy.” She said, “French fries.” “No, fresh fries,” I said back. She said, “French fries.” “No, fresh fries,” I said again. Again she said, “French fries.” Flabbergasted, I said, “I want you to take some uncooked French fries, put them in the square frying thing, drop them in the hot oil and when they are done, sprinkle salt on them and give me a small one.” “Oh, you want fresh fries,” she said. Almost laughing, I said “Yes, please.” “Would you like anything else?” she said. I said, “Yes, let me have a fruit and walnut salad.” She said, “We don’t have anymore fruit and walnut salads.” At that point, I looked around to see if I was on candid camera. Not seeing Howie Mandell or Ashton Kucher, I said, “Ok, since you are out of the fruit and walnut salad, then I will have a Carmel Sunday with nuts please.” You can guess what she said next. “We don’t have any ice cream.”
Everything we couldn’t get
By this time, the gentleman from earlier was just getting his “fresh” cup of coffee and overheard our entire conversation. He went into a monologue about all of the items that they didn’t have that were still being advertised on the menu. “You guys, don’t have the McRibb, the coffee is cold, no chicken nuggets, no fruit and walnut salad and no ice cream. This is amazing.” When he was done, I asked for my check and waited for my order. When it was ready, I took it to our table and opened the bag. I was surprised to see a transformer like toy in the bag. I turned to my wife and said, “Didn’t I order a My Little Pony toy.” She gave me that I know what is coming next look and begrudgingly said, “Yes.”
Oh, we don’t have that either
I got up from our table and went straight to the counter with the transformer looking toy in hand. When I reached the counter, I said, “I ordered a My Little Pony toy, but was given this thing.” The young girl turned to me and said, “We don’t have anymore My Little Pony toys.”
Disclaimer: I am a big McDonald’s fan and have never had such an experience before. I can safely say that my experience this time was a one off situation.
To your story!
Ja Marr