Are Airlines Becoming More Customer-Friendly Again?

Hey there! So, let’s chat about air travel and how it seems like airlines might be bringing back a little kindness. Remember when flying felt like a hassle? Well, there are signs that things might be getting better.

Delta’s Pizza Surprise

Take this Delta flight for instance: when bad weather kept them stuck on the runway in Tennessee for hours, the pilot decided to order pizza for everyone on board. Talk about a win! This inspired other Delta flights facing similar delays to jump on the pizza bandwagon, boosting everyone’s spirits.

JetBlue’s Thoughtful Assistance

But that’s just a small hiccup compared to what JetBlue did for a passenger in need. A mom traveling with her 11-year-old son, who has autism and struggles with sensory overload, reached out for assistance. To her delight, she found a section when booking her tickets that allowed her to share her son’s special needs—something she hadn’t seen before. JetBlue went above and beyond by giving them seats away from the bathroom and providing “silent boarding,” letting them get on the plane without the usual chaos. They even helped set her son up with noise-canceling headphones. After the flight, this grateful mom wrote a heartfelt letter to JetBlue that quickly went viral.

Southwest Airlines’ Compassion

And here’s a touching story from Southwest Airlines that really hit home for me. A woman named Lisa was at the airport getting ready to fly to Columbus when staff found her and asked her to call her husband. He had some devastating news—her son was in a coma. Southwest staff already knew about the situation and immediately booked her on a direct flight to Denver without any charge. They took care of everything: rerouted her luggage, let her board first, and even packed her a lunch for the trip. They checked in on her afterward to see how things were going.

Reflecting on Kindness

Reflecting on these stories warms my heart. It reminded me of a time back in 1991 when I flew American Airlines for a family emergency and received a “compassion ticket.” I recall the kindness of the ticket agent and how different it was from my experience two years ago when I had to scramble for a last-minute ticket.

These tales give me hope. It’s nice to see that some airlines are remembering that we are customers, not just passengers. A little kindness can truly make a difference and create loyal customers for life.

Conclusion

In summary, it looks like airlines are starting to remember the importance of treating passengers with care, and that’s a breath of fresh air!