A Rave Review for JetBlue

I've often thought of visiting Vermont in the fall, and this year I am in the midst of realizing thias travel goal. But, travel is painful: the packing, remembering, leaving the house clean, airport security, cramped seats (I am 6' 6" tall), expensive, and not-so-good airport food. Well, you may get the idea.

And, then today I compounded my misery. I had a computer bag and did not remember that the computer had to be removed from the bag. The security agent reminded me to do so -- after I had also taken off my belt, shoes, wallet, keys, mobile phone, and heavy pea coat -- all of which I placed in three gray plastic bins. When they went through the x-ray machine, there was a holdup, but eventually they all emerged on the conveyor. I reassembled my possessions, but did not grab the computer. It is about the same color as the bin it was in.

Later, as the flight attendant was instructing the passengers to turn off mobile phones and computers, I thought I would turn mine off completely to save the battery. I looked in the bag, and NO computer!

With a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, I told the flight attendant that I had left it at security. This was five minutes before take-off. He made some phone calls while I was thinking it must have been stolen. The door to the jet was closed. It occurred to me to ask to get off the plane, but, what good would that do if it had been taken?

Well, what happened -- as I was told -- a gate attendant named Cookie (this was at San Francisco International Airport for JetBlue flight 640, San Francisco to New York) RAN to the jet with my computer and was able to get it to personnel, and it was returned to me within two hours during the flight. The captain of the jet, Captain G, wrote me a note stating that 10,000 people each year leave personal computers at security and only one makes it to the plane before take-off. I wanted to tip the flight attendants and the captain, but they all graciously and firmly refused. All those people went the extra mile.

Did they delay the flight for me? Yes, about five minutes. Was our flight late to New York? No.

The other good news: More legroom! Free snacks and soft drinks! A headset that sells for $1.00!

More good news: Connecting flight to Burlington, Vermont, is right on time, and arrives early.

You will not see JetBlue on Expedia.com; you must go to their website. I heartily recommethethnd them!