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.
I have found it cheaper to just buy new clothes than check in bags. But I travel solo. I have a room in Kailua with everything I need and I am always singled out by the blueshirt perverts for not having carryon or checked bags.
Check out the Youtube video, “United Breaks Guitars”. It’s a scream.
If I can drive, I will gladly do it.
The first air travel for me was in the mid 80s and it wasn’t a whole lot. During the 90s, maybe a couple of times and things seemed to be going downhill a little. The past few times on different airlines, conditions have definitely gone downhill.
Coldest, most ruthless, did not have a clue managers were Harvard MBAs. They need to add a class where they get their kneecaps smacked with a ball-peen hammer.
If there are Harvard MBAs running a consulting group, I tell my company to run in the other direction.
I am sure there are nice Harvard people out there, but they inject the MBAs with greed juice and it turns them into bean counting a-holes.
The skycaps let you skip half hour lines to check your luggage. Worth a dollar or three at most airports.
The skycaps let you skip half hour lines to check your luggage. Worth a dollar or three at most airports.
I must ‘UNFRIEND’ you! Their philosophy and methods are NOT GOOD for the country.
LOL
1K United FF here for almost 20 years. I don’t have any idea why this guy is complaining, but United isn’t anything like it used to be. Like so many of the airlines these days, they suck. Delta sucks a little less, and I’m glad US Air is now American. American is the only decent airline left in the country. I’ve been flying more and more with Southwest, and I find that I get there on time more often, with fewer hassles, and my luggage has always gotten there with me. And no ridiculous baggage fees!
Because when your bag is over 50 lbs., which is common for me, they can make the extra fees go away.
I fly delta a LOT. They started out to be pretty lax about checking bags plane side. I've seen it get worse and worse to the point of abuse as huge bags are drug to the gate as “carry on”.
They may have no choice but to crack down on the abuse.
Other carriers such as British Airways will make you put your bag into the little “you bag must fit here” thingie before you can carry it on.
We had the same thing happen on a Delta flight to Hawaii. We had to scramble for a flight, and half the baggage didn’t make it. We had 2 large bags of test equipment, which made it with us, and 2 of clothing. 25 hours later our 2 clothing bags arrived, soaked through. I was not happy.
YOU are being tracked. I suspect while you were away they setup hidden cameras around your home, placed tracking devices and microphones in your luggage and when you travel again your hotel room will be bugged.
No need to be paranoid.... : )
I flew first from IAH to PIT last year... a good experience.
Must have thought a bomb was in your luggage so they dumped it in a tank of water.
Next time don’t bring a clock that goes tick...tick...tick...
Walmart photo. You? : )
http://media.peopleofwalmart.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/5572.jpg
LOL...we recently flew United 1st class to NY. The plane was ancient.
The flight attendant had to jam a panel in the ceiling, near the coffee/drink area in front, to get an ‘80’s looking TV to drop down for the *greeting*/safety instruction video. That’s where the in-flight movie played, as well.
We figured that the flight attendants were likely in their prime about the same time that this aircraft was.
We always have an extra suitcase just for all of our snorkel gear and my folding chair ;)
“The art of packing” for me involves rolling up all clothes, not taking the “just in case” stuff (i.e., leisure suits, etc.)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
