What about reports on dealing with particular airlines too?
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What about reports on dealing with particular airlines too?
Ha! Yeh, really!Quote:
Originally Posted by The Publisher
Well, word-of-mouth is still one of the greatest forms of publicity, good or bad. Certainly one of the consequences of poor customer service is and should be that people are gonna tell people, whether it's an airline or restaurant or anything else!
On that note, and if you want to shunt this over to a different thread . . . Continental Airlines is proof Satan exists, and several of it's employees have special places reserved in the fire and sulfur of Hades! But I'm not bitter . . .
Never fly Continental when confined to a wheelchair, unless of course you just love experiencing pain and humiliation at the hands of the flight crew.Quote:
Originally Posted by seasnake
Can you please explain?
I have flown US Airways and United in the recent past and both were fine. I had no problems with my gear, no problems with the checked lugage, no problems with my carry on, and MOST IMPORTANT no problems with the flights.
What I did not like was the constant nagging to sign up for a credit card to get airline miles. They spend 30 seconds on emergency procedures and 30 minutes going over and explaining in great detail the airline miles and the credit card!
I say stick the credit card and the peanuts up your big fat ---> (_!_) and give us some decent food.
Oh, and shut up that stinking baby, they should put any crying babies in the cargo hold away from me! Or have gag for them! It is so unfair to the rest of the passangers. I had a baby crying in the row behind me for the entire flight from LA to Philadelphia. The mother did not even seem to be the least bit concerned.
Lets just say I almost went to jail for murder!!!!
Ok, now we all have a specific forum to discuss issues related to poor or excellent airlines and their service, so we moved the threads related to that but unrelated to baggage theft reports to here.
I am mulling over adding my own report on what a particular airline did to of all people a travel writer, but since we all make mistakes, since the measure of a person or company is what they do to resolve it, I will reserve comment till they've been given that opportunity.
I WILL ad though that I have been repeatedly impressed with Cathay Air Lines. Always clean planes, always with large flat panel LCD's with tons of movies, always great service and decent food, never lost or delayed baggage, etc.
Now and then they run direct specials on their website too.
If you guys want to come up with a report format, like the following, and fee free to add or suggest something better:
Airline:
Destination:
Pros
Cons
Additional Comments:
end
Now like Ace observed, or should I say survived, is Boeing and Airbus do not build planes with screaming kids, or do airlines offer discounts if you bring a screaming kid. That is a parent issue but not always within their control.
Passengers on Lufthansa have it right, where mothers were free to breast feed their infants unimpeded by American psychoses, and the planes are a lot quieter to show for it.
I will acknowledge that I am fairly disappointed with the modern weather radars planes have. I pay good money to go on roller coasters to get thrown about, and I pay even better money to be on a plane. For that price, I want an E-ticket ride!
It is always funny to hear the periodic screams from passengers during mild turbulence. For those ever in doubt, if you can't decide if you should be worried, should scream, or go back to sleep during turbulence, just look at the facial expressions of the stewardesses or stewards (yes, they do have genders and are either male or female in spite of what you're told). If they act like nothing is amiss, you're home free.
However, if they scream, so should you too!
Based on my own experience with airlines I can recommend:
Emirates,
JAL,
Air New Zealand,
Quantas,
Alitalia,
United, ( because they once gave me an upgrade for no discernable reason.:p )
Airlines I have no opinion of either way:
British Airways,
Aer Lingus,
Air Pacific,
Garuda,
Continental,
Scot Air,
Virgin Blue.
Airlines that I would only fly on as a last resort:
Monarch,
American, ( are they still going ?)
Ryan Air,
Easyjet.
To be fair, the last 2 are British based, budget airlines which mainly cover Europe. If you want an incredibly cheap ticket which will take you from one obscure provincial airfield, miles from your start point to another, even more obscure, fly blown, provincial airfield, even farther away, ( possibly in a completely seperate country!:confused: ), from your destination with a better than evens chance that your checked luggage will end up somewhere completely different, then these are the guys for you!:D
An International Air safety expert was once asked where was the best place to sit on a modern airliner. He pondered the question carefully for several moments before replying, " Taking in all the relevant factors of passenger survival rates over innumerable air crashes that I have investigated, I would have to say that the best place to sit on a modern aircraft is..............................................
First Class!":D
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Publisher
Hey I resent that! I am an American and I have no problem with breast feeding (remember I asked for better food on the plane as well!). ****, considering it is a public place and all, the mothers should have no problem getting their photo taken during this as well. If they feel comfortable enough for that, then go for it.
Anyway if breast feeding makes the kid shut up, then fine. If it does not work, ther should be a seperate area in the back of the plane for those with children that has a sound proof barier.
Or better yet, keep the credit card on file of the person with babies. If the babies scream for the entire flight, then the baby's owners can pay for everyone else's tickets. I don't expect to pay over $700 for a flight across the country and to be disturbed for 3 hours by a screaming baby. Hey, if you can't control your kid, leave them at home!
Ace,Quote:
Originally Posted by acelockco
babies scream and/or cry on a flight as it's the best way for them to equalize their ears. Don't forget the pressure on a plane is akin to the pressure when you dive. As babies can't close their nose and equalize the way that we do when we're diving. The only thing that they do know is to scream (yes, okay, its also a form of getting attention from their parents).
As for airlines - I've travelled Virgin Atlantic (from UK to St Lucia) and they are good - enough legroom in cattle class (i'm 5'9") to be comfortable. The foods pretty decent and the movies are good.
As for British Airways - if you're under 5 foot, they're okay - I flew from UK to Oz on BA and my legs were cramped up like anything - I think I walked up and down the aisle about a dozen times, doing stretching exercises - I should also add that I have knee problems and if i don't move my legs, my knees lock up and then i'm in complete agony for over a week :)
You guys should try the inter-island flights over here - Liat/Caribbean Star. The planes are DHC's prop, carry about 40 passengers and when you hit a bit of turbulence, the plane rocks (but, IMHO, the pilots do a good job), plus the noise from the engines is deafening, theres no movies and the food (if youre on a flight over an hour) is a muffin and a carton of juice.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that they are naff airlines, its the caribbean equivalent of, say the Greyhound coaches or the No.59 bus, that you just hop on/hop off to get to another island.
Ace,
Crying babies are part of life. The fact that the mother looked like she wasn't concerned is probably true. Maybe there was no reason to be concerned. If she knows her baby, maybe nothing was wrong except teething, or maybe an ear infection that prevented the baby from equalizing properly (imagine that and a tooth problem while doing a deep dive). They say that teething is one of the most painful human experiences part of regularly scheduled life next to giving birth. Adults would not be able to handle it without serious drugs.
Look, it is annoying, I wouldn't like it at all, but don't you think that the mother would like some quiet as well as not being looked at with scorn by all on the plane?
What could the mother have done? I'm sure if the mother tried gagging or placing in the cargo hold like you suggested, you'd be on telling us about the abuse.
Well, that begs the question, should a pregnant woman be on a plane if she is due any day, or should a baby be brought on a plane in the middle of teething, without at least bring an oral topical anesthetic for rubbing on their gums if the flight is mandatory for some emergency reason.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fooddude
Yes, a part of life, but not my life....I have no children and for good reasons. One of those reasons is I can't deal with all of the crying and such.
I would never tell you about the abuse, BUT what she could have done is:
A. Don't bring the little s&%t on the plane.
B. If she had to bring the little s&%t on the plane, then bring the proper things to keep the s&%t happy. Weather that be breasts to drink from, milk in a bottle, medication to help with the teething, a little something something to knock the little s&%t out or whatever.
Bottom line, I did not bring the f%$#er on the plane and I don't want to hear it. Don't get me wrong, a little crying here or there is one thing and I am not totally heartless, but this was for 3 hours solid! NON STOP!!!
Topical analgesics work for like 5 minutes, and not with the increase in barometric pressure, as Lottie so wisely stated. Fortunately for me my little ones don't cry much, especially on planes. I too, hate the incessant crying and would have trouble dealing for 3 hours.
My wife and I plan these trips and keep them up on hours on end prior to flight, board last after baggage is loaded to minimize cabin fever for the girls. Keeping them awake to make them super-tired helps because immediately after liftoff and the hoopla of everyone settling in, the knock out and its peace and quiet. We've taken trips to England from NY and not a peep until the pressure change of landing. And at that point, a bottle to stimulate the sucking helps equalize.
People say brandy works for teething. I don't know if it works on the baby, but it works on adults!
Great thread, everyone. Like this one lots!
FD
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Publisher
I always find it interesting to read/hear the various complaints regarding today's flying escapades.
As for the radar, many factors come to bear. To simplify, there are limited routes that aircraft fly, this allows for the maximum number of aircraft in the skies at any one given moment. Add to this the fact that today's flight instruments allow for aircraft to fly 1000' apart (vertical separation). When turbulence is noted (and not all can be) the flight crews are limited in their options to take action to avoid this minor inconvenience.
Now, the issues experienced during the flight. There is a simple solution. Lease or buy your own aircraft. If that is not in your budget.......buy the most expensive ticket for first class and it's surrounding seats. That not feasible? THEN STOP YOUR MOANING AND GROANING!!!!!! Flying aircraft has become the purview of the common man. There was a time that it was an extravagance of the highest order! Operating an aircraft is expensive!! Let me repeat this, operating an aircraft is expensive. The consumer has demanded the cheapest ticket, period..... For those of us who maintain, (me), support, supply, etc., we would very much like to see pay increases, instead of pay concessions! Lest you think these people are living on easy street, divorces and bankruptcies are escalating. The people within the industry are leaving in droves!! The reason the food is poor or non-existent, the service poor, the seat spacing restrictive, the lines long, the planes cramped, is simply because the consumer has demanded it!!!! You want the cheapest ticket? You have it!!! Stop the complaining!!!, for you received just what you asked for!!!
Do you see this ------> <-------?
It is the world's smallest violin playing "My Heart Bleeds For You"! Hey, if you don't like you job, check the paper and find something else to do. YOU have that option!
On the other hand, if it is $10,000 to fly from New York to New Jersey or $1.59 to fly from LA to China, makes no difference. The if you charge a fee for a service you must provide that service. So maybe you need to stop your crying and fix that stinking plane mechanic. No one is forcing the airlines to stay in business! Crap, the government gave them crazy money to make things easier!
Maybe it is time to fire everyone and start over.
And give little parachutes to the kiddies that can't be kept under control.
I wonder if Boeing will take payments on the new 787 Dreamliner..... ;)
I like the way you think ace :pQuote:
Originally Posted by acelockco
You people are funny. I like this place. Keep it coming...
Quote:
Originally Posted by acelockco
Then start over!!!
With what?
My aren't we quick to blow up the entire bowl of soup without looking at the contents.
As for fixing my plane? It is fixed, is flying. When it returns tonight, I'll inspect it, clean up all the towels used to stem the tears of the passengers, wiped away, from the bitter disappointment of reaching their destination........cheaply!!!! Remember, you get what you pay for! After that I'll continue to work my second job to make ends meet. Oh, yeah, today....September 11th, The day my job went up in smoke, and collapsed with the twin towers.
By the way, that mechanic/engineer that keeps your airplane safe? Don't speak to loud, they are the ONLY one's who sign that logbook, stating the aircraft is airworthy.
And with that signature, their life.
I personally think airfare is a bargain, it is the fuel that is not.
With the employees that are crying because they are not making enough money!Quote:
Originally Posted by amtrosie
Okay, I take it Acelockco doesn't like kids ... lol
I have to agree, if you charge a price for a service, you gotta provide that service. If it's not working out for you, get out of the business. The CEO's of the airlines aren't running charity organizations. I wouldn't think they would do it unless they were making money. Plus, for the price of the ticket they promise you this and that and comfort and so on and on. So they should deliver. However, murdering babies or throwing them out the door with parachutes is, I don't think, the answer ... :p
Now, back to the original topic! I think I posted this in another thread, but here is the summary of "How I Got Rolled By Continental Airlines":
Flying to Florida from Halifax. Halifax to Newark, Newark to Miami. I have to drive by car five hours to get to Halifax. Well, it was my fault, I missed the cutoff for international flights check in time. I think it's two hours before the flight? I was probably 15 minutes late I think. Continental agent would not let me check in. No matter how much I begged, no way. Well, I guess I can't complain, I should've been there earlier, but still I was miffed. It was the last flight of the day, so the only thing she would allow is to fly the next day. There was some kinda big convention in town, so I ended up sleeping in my car. The next day, at the airport in PLENTY of time, but the flight was late. Got to Newark in time for the connection. I think it is an hour flight to Florida. About 40 minutes into the flight, the pilot says there is a problem with a fuel pump and we have to return to Newark. Dang. We land safely in Newark and are told to go back to the gate where a Continental agent will tell us what to do next. Well, no one at the gate knew anything and sent the entire plane load of passengers across the airport to a Continental customer service desk. They didn't know anything and told everyone to return to the gate. We got sent back and forth three times, I think (quite a sight, actually, this throng moving as one through the airport). By now the customer service desk was aware of the situation and told everyone to line up to deal with each passenger one at a time. Of course, people were getting testy, people were speaking out asking questions instead of waiting in line. I watched Continental staff lose their temper and yell at passengers several times. Seniors were left to stand for hours, etc. etc. Eventually it was my turn and I was told by the agent there was nothing they could do but give me a refund. I told them I was, in effect, in a foreign country and I needed more than that: new flight, food, accomodations, phone to call Florida and cancel my appointments. All were refused. He eventually told me they had another flight going to Florida but I would have to go to another gate to see if I could get on stand by. After quite a bit more fuss and hours of waiting, I did get my name on stand by for that flight, along with some of the other passengers. More fussing, waiting, begging, pleading, cajoling, bribing and I got on the flight (which was late). And of course, when I arrived in Miami, my luggage was in Godknowswhereland. Missed all my appointments, and was now in Miami with just the shirt on my back as Continental kicked me to the curb.
When I finally made it back home I called to complain and seek compensation. Calling Continental customer service or flinging yourself off a cliff; it's hard to say which is more painful. I think it was a $600 flight? Most they were willing to offer for my suffering was $200 credit on another Continental flight! Yay!
That is ONE of my bad experiences with Continental, certainly the worst. I would rather run naked through a swarm of angry bees than fly with them again.
Personally I haven't had too much trouble with Delta, if you can believe it. Air Canada has not been too bad either.
That actually sounds like a positive experience with Continental snake. The last time I flew with them I was still in a wheel chair and rather than bump a passenger from up front like the other airlines had been doing, they insisted on learning how to use this combination wheelchair/hand truck thingy to take me to the back of the plane. They bent my knee to extremes that I have yet to match and I refused to fly on that flight (no way I was going to trust my life to such an idiotic flight crew if they could not handle things while still on the ground.)
On my return flight if the ticket agent had expended the same energy to get me to the gate as she spent telling me there was no way I could make it on time, I would not have missed my flight; she did however manage to get my carryon with my pain meds in it on board though. I wheeled myself and got to the gate just as the doors were being closed and the jet backed away.
I caught a flight the next night and as we began our approach down into Houston the pilot came on the intercom to tell us there was a bit of bad weather down below (Houston was socked in tight with some really thick fog) and they had asked us to fly a holding pattern for the next 30 minutes. He then related to us that we were going to give it a try, but he was not sure if we had enough fuel to stay up that long! Well, an hour later we are still circling Houston and the pilot has not said a word since telling us we were low on fuel. The lady across the aisle from me started freaking out when she looked out her window and could not see the lights from Houston; she honestly thought we were out over the Gulf getting ready to go down. Needless to say, the flight crew did absolutely nothing to calm her down or reassure any of the other passngers that we were alright. Upon finally landing in Houston I bought a ticket on Southwest to carry me on to my final destination.
Quote:
Originally Posted by seasnake
Sounds like some mechanic did not do his/her job properly. But I am sure that that same mechanic did not forget to complain that they are not paid enough and it is the customers fault because they want low prices!
Still laughing. Keep it coming. Maybe we should move this thread to the humor section...
FD
Perhaps he had to leave early that day to make his/her union meeting on time where they could complain about how low their wages were as well as how the break room needed a new coat of paint.Quote:
Originally Posted by acelockco
Sounds just about right!Quote:
Originally Posted by BamaCaveDiver
Now they have to have 3 more meetings to aprove the color of the new paint, decide on a contractor, and then find another contractor because the 1st one was not in the union. Of course they will need 3 additional meetings after that to get the budget to pay for the union painters because they charge tripple the amount as the non union workers.
Giving the benefit of the doubt that it was an unforseen mechanical problem, it is great that they got us back to the ground safe and sound. (They had all the emergency gear waiting for us when we landed, what are the odds of that happening twice in your life? I figure I'm safe to fly now for sure ... ;) ). It was strange that we turned around when it was shorter to go on to Miami, but hey ...
The worst part was, not only being sloughed off with no help and no offer of compensation, but being yelled at in the process by Continental employees for something that wasn't my fault! Maybe they should have a union meeting about that!
I am not getting emotional!!:confused:
Quote:
Originally Posted by acelockco
Huh????
Well, you are right. When it was working it wasn't the mechanic doing his job. When it stopped working half way through the flight, now it's the mechanic's fault? A little FYI, there are a minimum 8 pumps per airplane, often more. For one pump to fail, is not cause to return the plane to a maintenance base. It often is a matter of allaying fears by claiming a minor problem, and mechanicals are an easy way to do what they want to do without raising the ire of the passengers. What passenger will argue that a mechanical issue is not reason to take all precautions?
When a mechanic/engineer doesn't do his/her job, people die. PERIOD!!!! You all are telling tales of woe, well, thank the mechanic for placing you in the position to carry on with respective lives. Oh, and the heart-felt thanks that flow freely from your lips, is gratitude enough for a job well done. In the middle of the night, in all weather, weekends and holidays, kids school and life functions, all done in a fog of fatigue. You see maintenance is done when the planes are not flying, which is opposite every one else's daily life.
As for the union thing, maintenance is done in spite of the unions.
I guess complaining about flying is just like the SUV owner complaining about the cost of fuel........ predictable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by amtrosie
Just about as predictable as someone complaining about their job anytime someone mentions anything related to that industry.