Posted on 03/31/2014 11:45:47 AM PDT by Kaslin
Last Friday, I flew nonstop on United Airlines from New York to California on a first class ticket. I paid the bellman a nice tip to handle my bags that were labeled “priority.” I arrived an hour and a half before my flight, so there was plenty of time to get my luggage onboard. The flight was delayed half an hour to allow for passengers with connecting flights to make it on our flight, along with their luggage.
But alas, when I arrived, my two bags were nowhere to be found. After numerous telephone calls to their lost luggage claim center during the next 24 hours, talking with people who clearly spoke with a foreign accent (I was never allowed to speak to the baggage claim people in California or New York) I still could not locate my luggage. Finally, my “priority” bags arrived the next night at 10 pm. United Airlines refused to offer me a hotel voucher or any other compensation for my trouble.
For years, I have liked to travel on United Airlines. Thirty years ago, I well remember the time I missed my flight back home and was stuck in Chicago, and the United ticket agent handed me a first class ticket for my trouble. I will never forget his act of kindness.
I guess times have changed.
I did notice that in both my bags there were slips of paper from the TSA indicating “Notice of Baggage Inspection.” Maybe the TSA is the culprit for the delay on my bags, but United Airlines never said.
Domestic, right?
UA (and Delta, and the others) are completely different on overseas routes. Not as good as Air France, JAL, Cathay Pacific or Singapore - but pretty good.
Domestic routes? Sh*t.
I saw one of Holders people being carted around on a wheelchair, had 3 or 4 airport employees pushing his lazy ass around straight through the check-in lines (no waiting for people in a wheelchair)
and then he got down to luggage return he got up, picked up his suitcases and walked out of the airport with his BOSSY wife who was yelling orders to everyone to serve her
This should be a crime
I did video it but it did not come out too good, I was too much of an idiot to go up and stick the camera right in his face and confront him.
Red Cap ?
My wife just flew United through Philly. Then a puddle jumper to Connecticut. She ended up spending 8 8 hours there because they cancelled 2 flights in a row at the last minute with no explanation. Then when she got her bags they had been left in the rain and were soaked all the way through.
She had to stay up half the night drying something to wear to her presentation.
Very poor service.
Is that you Phil?
United delivered my luggage 24 hours after I arrived in Arizona, and just dropped the back off without a word
When I went to pick it up it weighed about 100 pounds because everythign was SOAKING WET
My camera and electrical equipment was ruined and the clothes had to be wrung out put in the dryer. I dont just mean damp, but soaking so that I got a gush of water out of every piece of clothing and my shaving kit poured water out
Bastards basically said “too bad” and didnt do anything
8 hours lol
The only way to fly...United, at least.
I take some old clothes and undergarments and throw them away on the trip. More space coming back.
Yup. In the grand scheme of things this is a pretty minor incident. Either it was just a slow news day or the writer must be leading a charmed life to be getting upset over this.
So true. So sad.
A number posters on FR went to Harvard. Some have children at Harvard. No need to trash the school.
The airlines have oversold their frequent flyer miles and so now all you can get for being a loyal flyer is getting on the plane ahead of everyone else.
If you're like me and fly whatever is cheapest, then you're not in one of these programs and you end up at the back of the line praying there is still some space for your carry-on.
When I fly to Hawaii, I take a mostly empty suitcase with me. Then I buy clothes out there. Quality Hawaiian shirts are much cheaper to buy in Hawaii, so long as you stay away from the tourist shacks - like ABC Stores.
I don’t think he is so much whining about “crap” happening as their response to “crap” happening.
United reaffirmed why I don’t fly them this past summer. They couldn’t get me through checking a bag at 6 am in time to clear security and catch a flight. To me and about 150 other people on the flight. Funny thing, the flight was delayed and all it would have taken is one of the staff to simply say: I know you have been waiting in line a long time, but the flight is delayed and you will clear security and not miss the flight.
When airplanes “lost” my luggage they always hand delivered it to where I was the next day. Once it took 2 days on an international flight, they paid me some money maybe $75 or $100
Stop flying... I did and haven’t looked back.
First world problem. Relax. If this is the worst thing that happens to you this year, you’re in good shape.
Me neither. In a few decades of frequent flying, I've never had a single airline offer any form of compensation for misdirected luggage that was found and delivered to me undamaged within a day or two.
The author has weird expectations, seemingly based on the fact that he was flying first class. Whiner.
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