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Letters to the Editor

Royal Gazette Staff
Created: Oct 05, 2004 11:00 AM
I arrived to the US today from Bermuda on US Airways flight 235 into Washington National. I had made reservations to connect to Norfolk, Virginia on US Airways flight 4933. When looking for my connecting information I could not find it and realised that my baggage claim check only went to Washington DC. Certain that there was some error, I talked to the US Airways ground stewardess. She informed me that I was checked in from Bermuda under the incorrect name - Donald Phillips (please note that I am a female and my last name is Phillips-Williams and she had my passport and itinerary for verification). Since there was no record of me checking in in Bermuda, my reservations to Norfolk were cancelled. Let me stop here for a moment and tell you that the ground stewardess in Washington, DC was excellent. Her name is Edith Barbour and without her I would not have made my connection to Norfolk. Since I got in from Bermuda at 1:10 and the flight to Norfolk left at 1:55 p.m., we ran as fast as we could, got my bag off of the carousel, ran to check in, which thankfully was expedited, had to get my bag through security and then it was time for me to go through security yet again. I was placed in the "expedited" line and was assured that I would make the flight on time. It moved very slowly but soon I found myself barefoot but through the security gate and cutting it close but about to run for my plane. At that point, at add insult to injury, the security guard told me that I had been selected for a "special" security check. I explained my plight and was directed to the "manager" of the security area, who did not try to listen to my plight and directed me to the "special" security area. At that point, I was frustrated and humiliated by the situation that had befallen me due to an airline error. Luckily I made my flight. Keep in mind a few things: 1) Since I had gotten off the plane from Bermuda I hadn't been out of sight from an airline stewardess but even though I have appreciation for the baggage x-ray, I think that the "special" security check was unwarranted and added insult to an already frustrating situation that was caused by the airline. 2) If it was a matter of security to put me through that "special" security check, think about this- unbeknownst to me I travelled into the country under a different name due to the error of US Airways. So what kind of security are we talking about here? We are cutting off our noses to spite our face. 3) One of my main points of this is to bring it to your attention because I don't want it to happen to anyone else. If I would have been disabled or elderly I would have never made that airplane on time. My parents are senior citizens and I never want them to go through this. 4) Last, but not least, I want Ms Edith Barbour to receive her just praise of a job well done. She was the only redeeming factor to the entire ordeal almost redeeming the airline in my book.

Just plane frustrated

October 3, 2004

Dear Sir,

I arrived to the US today from Bermuda on US Airways flight 235 into Washington National. I had made reservations to connect to Norfolk, Virginia on US Airways flight 4933. When looking for my connecting information I could not find it and realised that my baggage claim check only went to Washington DC. Certain that there was some error, I talked to the US Airways ground stewardess. She informed me that I was checked in from Bermuda under the incorrect name - Donald Phillips (please note that I am a female and my last name is Phillips-Williams and she had my passport and itinerary for verification). Since there was no record of me checking in in Bermuda, my reservations to Norfolk were cancelled. Let me stop here for a moment and tell you that the ground stewardess in Washington, DC was excellent. Her name is Edith Barbour and without her I would not have made my connection to Norfolk. Since I got in from Bermuda at 1:10 and the flight to Norfolk left at 1:55 p.m., we ran as fast as we could, got my bag off of the carousel, ran to check in, which thankfully was expedited, had to get my bag through security and then it was time for me to go through security yet again. I was placed in the "expedited" line and was assured that I would make the flight on time. It moved very slowly but soon I found myself barefoot but through the security gate and cutting it close but about to run for my plane. At that point, at add insult to injury, the security guard told me that I had been selected for a "special" security check. I explained my plight and was directed to the "manager" of the security area, who did not try to listen to my plight and directed me to the "special" security area. At that point, I was frustrated and humiliated by the situation that had befallen me due to an airline error. Luckily I made my flight. Keep in mind a few things: 1) Since I had gotten off the plane from Bermuda I hadn't been out of sight from an airline stewardess but even though I have appreciation for the baggage x-ray, I think that the "special" security check was unwarranted and added insult to an already frustrating situation that was caused by the airline. 2) If it was a matter of security to put me through that "special" security check, think about this- unbeknownst to me I travelled into the country under a different name due to the error of US Airways. So what kind of security are we talking about here? We are cutting off our noses to spite our face. 3) One of my main points of this is to bring it to your attention because I don't want it to happen to anyone else. If I would have been disabled or elderly I would have never made that airplane on time. My parents are senior citizens and I never want them to go through this. 4) Last, but not least, I want Ms Edith Barbour to receive her just praise of a job well done. She was the only redeeming factor to the entire ordeal almost redeeming the airline in my book.

I am a second year medical student and will presenting my research at the American Academy of Adolescent and Child Psychiatry 51st meeting in Washington DC later this month and unfortunately was given a ticket on that airline (US Airways) to that airport (Reagan National). However I know that even though my experience in Reagan National wasn't pleasant the problem stemmed from the ground stewardess in Bermuda and thus when I make my yearly trip to Bermuda I will take Delta Airlines through Atlanta. Any other trips that I make will take extra precaution to avoid US Airways especially through Washington Reagan National. Also, I do not want negate my part in all of this. If I would have checked my boarding passes prior to leaving Bermuda it is possible that I would have noticed that something was amiss. So please check your documents carefully just in case you notice something incorrect. Clearly, however, this does not excuse that ground stewardess from not doing her job.

M. VANESSA PHILLIPS-WILLIAMS

Having babies at home

October 1, 2004

Dear Sir,

I was delighted to read in The Royal Gazette (Monday, September 27) of the decision by Sophie Cannonier and her partner Michael Watson to have their baby at home.

As a Childbirth Educator and Doula and someone who has herself given birth at home, I can only endorse what the couple discovered about their experience of a home birth. I am hoping to be returning to live in Bermuda with my family in 2005 and had heard that options for birth were limited and so this is exciting news for me and I hope for the women of Bermuda.

I am sorry that I will not be there to enter into "a national discussion on conventional birthing practice in Bermuda" that your reporter suggests may be a consequence of this event. There is good clinical research to show that in a low-risk pregnancy it is actually safer to have your baby at home than in a hospital setting.

Many women do not know this or as once again the article suggests in the Bermudian context "for a variety of reasons the system makes it (home birth) next to impossible", so they do not have the choice. The opportunity for informed choice in the context of the childbirth situation is essential for women to have positive and life enhancing birth experiences both in and out of the hospital situation. I look forward to more debate and discussion on these issues.

FIONA DILL

Lindfield, United Kingdom

Having babies at home

October 1, 2004

Dear Sir,

I was delighted to read in The Royal Gazette (Monday, September 27) of the decision by Sophie Cannonier and her partner Michael Watson to have their baby at home.

As a Childbirth Educator and Doula and someone who has herself given birth at home, I can only endorse what the couple discovered about their experience of a home birth. I am hoping to be returning to live in Bermuda with my family in 2005 and had heard that options for birth were limited and so this is exciting news for me and I hope for the women of Bermuda.

I am sorry that I will not be there to enter into "a national discussion on conventional birthing practice in Bermuda" that your reporter suggests may be a consequence of this event. There is good clinical research to show that in a low-risk pregnancy it is actually safer to have your baby at home than in a hospital setting.

Many women do not know this or as once again the article suggests in the Bermudian context "for a variety of reasons the system makes it (home birth) next to impossible", so they do not have the choice.

The opportunity for informed choice in the context of the childbirth situation is essential for women to have positive and life enhancing birth experiences both in and out of the hospital situation. I look forward to more debate and discussion on these issues.

FIONA DILL

Lindfield, United Kingdom