Posted on 05/05/2018 8:43:26 AM PDT by TaxPayer2000
Schulman decided to book a last-minute private charter for $18,000. The charter successfully delivered her to Florida, where she got confirmation that her son was among the dead. But when a bill arrived in the mail a few weeks later, Schulman was dealt another blow: The charter company, Talon Air, had been unable to find someone to charter it back to New York and had therefore charged her another $18,000.
“I had no idea what the charge was at the time. It really didn’t matter what the charge was,” Schulman said in an interview with CNN. “I was convinced in my mind that my son was in the hospital and I needed to get to him as fast as possible.”
Although Schulman had every intention of paying for the flight there, she felt that a charge to return the plane — especially given the circumstances — was unsympathetic to the tragedy she endured. But when she reached out to the company asking for a refund on that portion, it refused.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
"Today marks day 74 since my son Scott J. Beigel was shot and killed senselessly at the Parkland massacre. I have waited all this time in hopes that the owner of Talon Air, Inc.. would show some compassion, but as you read on you will see that unfortunately he has not.
On February 14th, at approximately 2:30pm, after hearing that a geography teacher and cross- country coach had been shot at Margory Stoneman Douglas HS in Parkland, FL., my husband, my brother (Mark Peters), and I were frantically trying to find the next commercial flight down to Florida ~ that teacher and coach was my son and I had to find out what hospital he was in because I had to be with him. We took to our computers searching every airline that could get us to Florida from Islip, LaGuardia, JFK or Newark. Long story short, due to school having winter break and a major PGA golf tournament taking place in Florida, there were no available flights to be had. Without taking an extra second we got on the phone and proceeded to call charter plane companies pretty much begging to get us on a flight down to Ft. Lauderdale, the closest airport to the command center. We explained our circumstances to Talon Air, Inc. and they said they could have a plane ready to go in 90 minutes.
We were out the door within 15 minutes, headed straight to Farmingdale where we signed the necessary forms, handed them a credit card and were on our way. The pilots were more than accommodating and truly seemed to understand our “as best as could be held together hysteria”. We landed, got into a rental car and were at the Marriott command center by 9:40pm. The rest of the story is history or, as I refer to it, my living nightmare.
Soon thereafter we received the bill from Talon Air, Inc.. Even though I had never chartered a plane before, I knew it was going to be super expensive. It didn’t matter what the cost ~ I had to get to my son! Talon Air, Inc. not only charged us $18,229.57 one way ~ they charged us another $18229.56 to bring the plane back to Farmingdale because they did not have anyone wanting to charter the plane back from Ft. Lauderdale. REALLY???
Now anyone who knows me knows that I have never taken to social media to write a negative review about a company. This being said ---
We called and emailed Talon Air, Inc. and explained and re-explained our circumstances. From the $36,459.13 bill they offered us a $1000.00 discount or a $2000.00 donation to the charity of our choice. After much back and forth, they agreed to reduce our $36,459.13 charge to $34,459.13. I ask, “Are you kidding me?”
I have no problem accepting that I have to pay for one way, even the fuel charge for the return flight… but $18,229.56 for the return of the plane? Where is the compassion from Talon Air, Inc.??? After February 14th JetBlue offered 30 days for any flights to and from Florida at no cost to the victims’ families. They even gave us a special # to call so that they could help make our flight arrangements. JetBlue could not have been more accommodating and understanding. I ask anyone reading this post to not even consider chartering a plane from Talon Air, Inc.. There are many more charter companies available and I would bet way more compassionate and understanding."
"Just hours after the post went live, the owner and founder of Talon Air, Adam Katz, called Schulman to apologize for the response. He said that the company would immediately refund the $18,000 she paid for the return flight, and pledge another $18,000 to a nonprofit she set up in her son’s name..."
You booked a private charter, when you could have flown commercial, while I sympathize for your son’s death, I am not overly sympathetic to the fact you had to pay for the planes return as part of your charter. Private jets are not cheap to fly.
You mean the stupid cow never heard of Priceline and price matching services?
No one pays 36K for a domestic flight! Not even rich people.
Unless you’re flying first class.... sounds too good ton be true.
Tragedy doesn’t give you free reign to be stupid and not pay for it
I thought airlines had special bereavement fares or for other similar circumstances.
I know that's an unimportant detail but that would have occurred to me before chartering a $36,000 aircraft.
A death in the family is tragic.
But that’s no reason to spend a small fortune to see a deceased loved one.
Her son’s funeral certainly wasn’t worth 36K.
A death in the family is tragic.
But that’s no reason to spend a small fortune to see a deceased loved one.
Her son’s funeral certainly wasn’t worth 36K.
see Post #6
They should have flown “stand by”. They weren’t thinking.
Yup. You mean she never asked?
There is something about liberalism I will never get.
Either she had 36K lying around somewhere or money was no object to her where her deceased son was concerned.
Time to break out the world’s smallest violin.
Yup. You mean she never asked?
There is something about liberalism I will never get.
Either she had 36K lying around somewhere or money was no object to her where her deceased son was concerned.
Time to break out the world’s smallest violin.
I think that answers your question......
She thought her child was in the hospital, she didn't know he was dead.........
Well, it worked for her and her family. Bet Talon builds the cost of returns into the price of a charter going forward.
A private company buckles.
Lesson learned. Next time Talon Air will tell the people the charge.
Why was she in NY and son in FL? Visiting her home turf? Who the hell...amongst normal people... has $18 large to drop on the spur of the moment? Broward and it’s populace is one big cluster Obama.
She should have set up a GoFundMe page. McCabe made $600,000 out of that scam.
What about to a neighboring like GA or AL?
Even with a rental car drive down to FL, its better than shelling our 36K for a private charter flight...
Her last name is SHULMAN...her sons is Beigel.....WHY WASNT SHE IN THE SAME CITY AS HER TEENAGE SON?? STAY MARRIED !
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