Delta Captain Mark Eppler with grateful passenger Michael Patrick Shiels
My cross-country flight from Miami was comfortable but not memorable, which is the best you can hope for in air travel. Disembarking was remarkable, though, because two Delta representatives wearing neckties came aboard to announce our pilot had won a “Chairman’s Club Award” from the airline. This gave the passengers an opportunity to congratulate captain Mark Eppler as they passed the very tall, humble fellow standing at the cockpit door as they exited the aircraft. I was pleased to tip my cap to the captain.
“We do not get much chance to speak with the pilots, but I want you to know how much I appreciate your capability and courage,” I told Eppler. “I never take for granted the ability to be flown anywhere I want, any time, safely. It is a modern miracle. And you sound so calm and matter of fact when you make your in-flight announcements!”
Eppler’s smile was gracious.
“That is due to 35 years of flying Delta jets and five years in the military before that,” Eppler said with a shrug. He admitted that in most industries customers are more likely to complain than to compliment. “But I try to verbalize and show appreciation to people in restaurants or hotels or shops anywhere I travel. And to our passengers.”
Eppler’s co-pilot, standing next to him, was listening closely. He had two years under his belt flying with Delta. “It is like you are learning alongside ‘Captain Sullenberger,’” I suggested.
New dogs can learn old tricks, as I experienced on a Delta flight a week later when the liftoff for our one-hour, early Saturday morning flight to Las Vegas was delayed five hours. The younger captain, once everyone was seated, came out of the cockpit to take the microphone, and explain the maintenance situation. “I’d like to tell you once we land, we are rewarding your patience by sending you to a complimentary gourmet lunch at Bouchon, but we did give you a $12 airport food credit, which, by the way, is two dollars more than Delta provides us,” captain claimed. “I also figure the least we can do is open the bar with complimentary drinks during the flight.”
“Sunshine” from Trassa even at 6 am! Photo by Michael Patrick Shiels
I encountered other tourism industry professionals who, like Eppler, were intent on spreading joy earlier that day at the Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon Hotel, which is better described as a planeside, waterfront resort.
“I’m still throwing some sunshine your way,” said front desk clerk Trassa, flicking her hand as if she were shooting sparkles. Trassa’s nickname is, therefore, “Sunshine,” and despite the fact she was finishing her overnight shift in the pre-dawn hours, she was ebullient when she stated, “I am just so happy working here.”
A late night swim in the Blue Lagoon pool
I am always happy to overnight at the Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon which, for me, has crossed over from being a hotel to becoming a “home-tell.” While the idea of an airport hotel might sound like a transitory proposition, the Hilton Blue Lagoon has become a base camp for my adventures – whether they be in South America or South Beach. The Hilton provokes a Pavlovian response before the excitement of even seeing soccer star Lionel Messi play an Inter Miami game nearby or a dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab.
“Welcome back, amigo,” said Josue, the friendly Cuban fellow who drives one of the Hilton’s two, constantly looping, complimentary airport shuttles. Josue also assured me he would save a seat on the shuttle leaving at the proper time in case I happened to linger at the Hilton’s lagoon-front pool and tiki bar a little longer.
Hilton’s airport shuttle rolls every half-hour. Photo by Michael Patrick Shiels
He tolerated my attempts to speak Spanish, and told me, in English, of his former life in Cuba as he drove me to the airport for my flight to Havana…and back when I returned. The Hilton’s general manager Jean Armas welcomed me back from Cuba and to the hotel. He’d arranged for a plate of traditional empanadas and some locally brewed “Havana Lager” to be waiting in my 14th-story room, with a view of the airport, downtown Miami, and the Blue Lagoon pool deck, to make me feel “at home.”
As seen from a 12th story suite at the Hilton Blue Lagoon
For a traveler, “home” is hotels, shuttle busses and airplanes.
Contact Michael Patrick Shiels at MShiels@aol.com His new book: Travel Tattler – Not So Torrid Tales, may be purchased via Amazon.com Hear his radio talk show on WJIM AM 1240 in Lansing weekdays from 9 am – noon.
