Bel & Ushuaia: The End of The World

Here I´m sharing some of my pics of Ushuaia, where I spent Christmas day.

My friend Natalia is a stewardess. She does local and regional flights and she ussually is scheduled to spend a few days in the destinations. Some are interesting, some are not at all. The good thing is that when they have this "postas" over the holidays (Christmas, New Year, and I think Easter, as well), they are allowed to bring a plus one. This is of course subject to seats availability. Thankfully, this Christmas she was going to Ushuaia, and she asked me to come!

Of course, I would have come with her even if the destination was not worth it. This was a short stay, only 24hs but It was one of my missing spots in Argentina, so I was really happy... So, I can say I went to the end of the world back and forth for her :)

Ushuaia is the Southernmost city in the whole world. It´s located in the Province of Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire), in a wide bay on the shores of the Beagle Channel.

We were flying on Dec 25 in the morning, arriving Ushuaia at noon, and going back on Dec 26 at noon, arriving Buenos Aires in the afternoon.

Packing was challenging. You would say... how much can one girl need in 24hs... Well, let me tell you... Summer is very intense in Buenos Aires and most of the country, but Ushuaia is below 0°C most of the year, even in summer!

So, the plan was to get to the hotel, and book a ferry tour around Ushuaia seashore. There were different length options, but I wanted to get to know the city as well, so the idea was to take the 3-hour excursion that included the famous End of the World Light House and some birds islands.

Then, we were having tea around the city, do some sithseeing and then heading to the hotel for the Night tour in the National Park to see how squirrels adapted to the ecosystem by building natural dams with rotten trees....

On the following morning, the idea was to wake up early to see the Prision of the End of The World, just before getting picked up at the hotel, with the rest of the crew.

Rain was forecasted so I needed rainy boots, and some warm clothes to change in case I get wet. Things were going to get dirty in the National Park, but I also needed nice clothes for dinner, and a new set of clothes for the morning. Although I´m very practical when it comes to packing light, I needed a carry on.

As I said, this was how we meant to spend our 24 hours, but things don´t always come as expected...

We ended up spending Christmas´Eve with my family and then I spent the night at her apt, where we were going to be picked up by the cab arranged by the airline.

We woke up relatively early and kep crossing our fingers on the cab so that there will be seats available for me.

Things in the checking counter were not easy, the staff was in a bad mood because of having to work during the holidays. I had to checked my luggage even before knowing wether I was flying or not... Fortunately I ended up boarding the plane :)

During the flight I was prevented that there was some issue with the weight of the plane and that they had to leave some lugagge in Buenos Aires, that was coming in the next plane in the afternoon. I was hoping not to be my case, but of course it was!

We arrived at noon, with a small delay and it turned out that the airline didn´t bring any suitcases. No luggage for nobody!

It was freezing in Ushuaia! Below 0 and I only had my flat shoes, not even socks, a light sweater and thanks Gosh I had brought my coat with me on tha plane. My boots, my warm clothes were all in my suitcase. Holy crap!

So, we went to the hotel, I was pissed off but trying to focus on the landscapes, and we booked the sailboat tour. I thing I never felt colder in my life. You know how much I love winter and how much I walked through snow storms in New York and Boston, but this... this was seriously cold! Windy, rainy and freezing!

My friend lend me some of her clothes, but she´s much thiner, so I didn´t have many options, and they were not covering all of my skin, hehe

Anyway, the boat was fantastic! We saw a wide variety of birds, we saw sea lions (they really smelled), and walked in an island in the middle of nowhere... The best of all, I saw the Les eclareires Lighthouse, better known as The Light House from The End of The World.

On the way back, I stopped to buy some souvenirs in the port. And found nice Christmas postcards... I bought some to write later...

We walked around the city, looking for open shops to buy some clothes, just in case my luggage didn´t arrive on time to do the night excursion, but everything was close! It was Christmas´time after all...

We phoned the hotel to see if they had received my luggage and they said they did receive some suitcases although they think mine was not among them... :(

We walked along the coast and then Natalia wanted to take me to have some tea at her favourite coffee shop. But it turned out it was close as well.

We ended up having tea in some other place, very nice, and headed to the hotel.

Of course my suitcase didn´t come... The airline was saying that maybe it was coming in the night flight, but... we had to cancelled the Night excursion. The weather was awful! It didn´t stop raining, and the cold was intense. I was really looking forward to see the squirrels in action, but it would probably come with pneumonia for me ;)

So, we just had dinner. It was supposed to be only us, but some of the crew joined us and they met some other crew while waiting for our reservation, and we ended up being a large group. It was kind of boring. My friend didn´t like most of the people, and it was really easy to understand why.

On the way back to our hotel, I was hoping to receive my luggage but of course i did not :(

The morning after was not better... We called the airline again and, at this point it was obvious they didn´t know where my luggage was. We repeated the description of my suitcase: beige, with a purple strip on a side, but there were no traces of it. I was beginning to worry I was never going to see it again...My new boots, my new purse, my favourite sweater, were going to disappear of life...

I was so pissed off that I didn´t even take a shower, hehe. What was the point if I was going to use the same dirty clothes!!

It had stopped raininig and it was sunny at times but it was so cold it made us even doubt wether to go the Prision Museum or not. We ended up going, and it was so worth it!

In late XIXth Century, the prison opened and received the first inmates, ussually dangerous prisoners relocated from other prisons in Buenos Aires, and it closed in the mid of XXth Century, because of the unsafe conditions in which the inmates lived.

About 1990 the former prison become a museum. It´s divided in different areas: maritime, naval, and the most touristic part: the one that recreates the life in prison.

The prison part is divided in two: one that´s almost falling apart but that preserves the reality of how the prison ended looking, and another part,that has been restored as it looked back then.

They had natural size figures pretending to be prisioners... and they were ridiculously bizare!

I made some time to write the postcards and I sent them in the Prision mailbox!

The sun was shining when we left the prison... A perfect day to sail was beginning but we had to leave :(

When we went back to the hotel, my lugagge hadn´t still arrived.

So, we took the shuttle to the airport. And this time I passed the line with my friend and the rest of the crew. So fun! I saw some of the airport crew offices and my friend asked once more about my luggage. They had no idea where it was! Just in case, she was taken to the lost lugagge room, and as soon as she entered the room: she found it! It took her one second to spot it!

I was so glad to be reunited with my belongings! My boots, my leather purse, my everything!

And I boarded the plane and came back to the heat of a normal Summer, where no coats, boots or sweaters are needed.

Hopefully, next time I visit Ushuaia I will have better luck with my luggage and I will get to see all the things I missed!

Enjoy your holiday season!

Airplanes: When they become a nightmare (ii)

So, these are the good news from Delta.

I didn´t get a full refund after all, but the compensation they are offering is decent enough, so I won´t lost any more time, writing to them... I will accept it and I´ll organize a new trip... I just have to figure out where to go next!!!

Dear Bel and The City,

Thank you for your e-mail describing the inconvenience you experienced
due to flight irregularities when traveling with Delta and our Delta
Connection partner, Comair. We apologize for the difficulties you
encountered.

We are very concerned about the unfortunate situation you described.
Flying with Delta should be enjoyable, and I am sorry for any role we
may have played which caused your travel experience to be otherwise. The
inconvenience you experienced does not support our goal of providing a
high level of service and value to our customers. Customer service is
very important to us, and we are working hard to transform our company.


Your time is valuable, and operating on schedule is equally important to
us. However, in the process of operating scheduled service over many
different routes each day, occasional mechanical malfunctions, adverse
weather, and other interruptions to routine performance plans are
unavoidable. These are situations faced by all airlines and no air
carrier can guarantee that all flights will depart or arrive on
schedule. We are sorry you were inconvenienced due to these delays and
you also incurred additional expense.

Your comments about our onboard service are appreciated. We realize
in-flight dining can add to the overall travel experience, and it is
unfortunate you were disappointed. The changes in our meal service are a
part of Delta's comprehensive Transformation Plan to offer a more
simplified, value-driven customer experience. Accommodating our
customers' dietary needs is a service we want to provide. We arrange for
thousands of special meals on our flights every year, and we do all
possible to avoid errors.

While we would like to offer special consideration in cases such as
yours, we are unable to honor the many similar requests that we receive
from others in equally deserving situations. We follow a consistent
policy to ensure that Delta is fair to everyone who travels with us.
Accordingly, we must respectfully decline your request for a refund of
your ticket.

We have also reviewed your information and want to reimburse the
expenses you incurred for the Shuttle. Accordingly, you will receive our
check worth $59.11 within twenty business days. Additionally, as a
goodwill gesture, we have authorized the issuance of our $200.00
electronic Transportation Credit which may be used toward future Delta
travel. E-TCVs are valid for one year from the date of issue. They may
be redeemed at delta.com, Delta Reservations, or at any Delta city or
airport ticket office. Tickets issued at delta.com will not incur a
transaction fee. Fees will apply if the voucher is redeemed through any
other Delta location. You will be receiving a receipt for this e-credit
in a separate e-mail. Please refer to the terms and conditions of the
e-credit for additional information.

Again, thank you for writing. Please accept our apology for the
inconvenience you experienced. We look forward to serving you under more
normal conditions.

Sincerely,

Jessica P. Neil
Manager
Customer Care

Airplanes: When they become a nightmare

Airplanes usually mean happiness, the beggining of a new trip, the promise of an expected holiday, or just the relief of going back home... However, it´s frequent that they become a nightmare...

As you know, I took a RoadTrip to Canada last September.

I flew from New York to Toronto, and then I began a Roadtrip that took me from Toronto-Niagara-Toronto-Ottawa-Quebec-Montreal to fly back to New York 9 days later.

The Road Trip was fantastic, but the flight was just a nightmare...

Below you can read my full complain to Delta Airlines, with details of the 7-hour nightmare I went through...

As a model I used the complaint I wrote for the Bus tour and that I included in the Post
Travel: When things do not go the way you expect

Wish me luck!!! I´m demanding full refund :)

Email about Past/Future travel: Past

Nature of Comment: Complaint Concern

Email Pertaining to: Flight_Delay_Cancellation

Email about Other topic: Passenger comfort

Comments:

As suggested by Delta operators, I am writing to obtain compensation
(total of $ 343.11) for the huge ordeal I had to go through, for which
Delta Airlines is responsible.

I was on the flight DL 5244 (operated by Comair) on August 31st, 2007,
scheduled to depart New York at 5.33pm and to arrive Toronto at 7.50pm.

A few minutes before the time of boarding, a delay on our time departure
was announced. So, we boarded one hour later.

Getting out of the gate took longer that usual because of the traffic,
but we got a place in the line to take off. We had been in the plane for
about an hour, really close to take off, when we received an
announcement from the pilot stating that we needed to return to the gate
since the flight attendant was about to exceed her maximum time of work
for that day. But we were told there was another flight attendant ready
to board as soon as we get to the gate.

It took us a really long time to get out of the line and there were no
available gates so we had to wait for about an hour. By the time we
managed to reach one, there was no one waiting to replace our flight
attendant, as we were informed, so we had to wait for another hour.

In the meantime, we received another announcement from the pilot, saying
that the First Officer was also reaching his maximum working hours.
Therefore, we needed another replacement, and this lead to another
delay.

When all the crew was finally on the plane, there was some paperwork to
be done, refilling the fuel, etc. Then, we spent over an hour taxing and
managed to take off after midnight and arrived in Toronto airport around
2.30am, after an incredible seven-hour delay.

The weather had no abnormal conditions, in New York , Toronto or in
between, as our Pilot confirmed several times. Even though there was air
traffic, all the planes were taking off and landing.

WHAT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND IS DELTA?S INCAPACITY TO MANAGE ITS STAFF
EFFICIENTLY:

-Susan, the flight attendant allegued she had given heads up that
morning about the possibility of exceeding her working hours.

-And even if the flight attendant hadn?t adviced Delta about this
possibility, considering the delays we were already suffering, it had to
be obvious for Delta and the rest of the crew that they were going to
exceed their working hours. How is it possible that they had to wait
until being actually overworking to call a replacement?


NONE OF THIS NIGHTMARE HAD HAPPENED, IF DELTA HAD PREVENTED THIS
SITUATION AND GOTTEN REPLACEMENTS BEFORE BOARDING.

FURTHERMORE, IT?S INEXCUSABLE THE WAY THE PASSENGERS WERE TREATED BY
DELTA AIRLINES, WHICH SHOWED NO INTEREST FOR THE PASSENGERS? COMFORT:

-We were delayed for 7 hours, 6 of which we were held IN the plane
(before taking off).

-The condition of the restrooms was repulsive and nauseating. Since we
boarded, all passengers had to use perfume to be able to breath when
using the restrooms, since they smelled and had no sufficient sanitary
conditions.

-***Although I requested Low sodium meals, we all passengers had salty
peanuts, salty crackers and hot mineral water as only options***.

-The staff did nothing to satisfy my requests (and other passengers) to
organize something to eat (sandwiches etc). Since we were waiting (for
the crew?s replacement) at the gate for 3 hours, a catering service
could have been easily arranged.

-**I (as well as other passengers) specifically requested delta?s crew
to ask delta airlines for delta representatives in toronto to satisfy
our needs once we get there**. Many passengers had missed connecting
flights, reservations at hotels, and I MISSED MY SHUTTLE TO NIAGARA
FALLS.

BUT WHEN WE GOT TO TORONTO THERE WAS ONLY ONE DELTA REPRESENTATIVE
WAITING FOR US, WHO DIDN?T DO ANYTHING TO HELP us after a seven-hour
delay. All the passengers were deliberately discouraged to try to get
immediate transportation, alleging it would be faster to make our own
arrangements and then ask Delta for a refund.

Therefore, my boyfriend (who had been driving from the US for over 8
hours and surprisingly still reached Niagara before I did) had to drive
all the way from Niagara to pick me up in Toronto Airport .

Although I travel a lot with different airlines, domestic and
international flights, this was by far the worst experience that I have
ever had. I haven?t ever encountered such big amount of incompetence from
other airlines.

Based on the paragraphs above, I think it?s proved Delta has no
capabilities to fulfill schedules? commitments or to treat passengers
accurately.

THIS WAS A VERY STRESSFUL EXPERIENCE THAT I WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO
AVOID. IT WAS DISTRESSING ME AND ALL THE PASSENGERS AND WE LIVED FROM
ONE CRISIS TO THE NEXT, JUST BEGGING FOR THE CHANCE TO GET TO TORONTO TO
GET OFF THE PLANE.

IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, I DO FEEL THAT IS REASONABLE TO EXPECT A
FULL REFUND OF THE MONEY PAID TO DELTA, FOLLOWING YOUR MISREPRESENTATION
OF WHAT YOU WERE OFFERING. I EXPECT, THEREFORE, A REFUND OF THE FULL
$284, AND A COMPENSATION FOR THE $59,11 I PAID FOR THE SHUTTLE TO
NIAGARA THAT I MISSED.

If this sum is not forthcoming, I am quite prepared to take the matter
to the appropriate authorities.

Yours sincerely,

Bel And The City
(Full name of course)




PS: I am attaching the details of the Shuttle I had booked from Toronto to Niagara.