Comments on: Airline schedule and passenger service roulette http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/airline-schedule-and-passenger-service-roulette/ The last honest travel site Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joe Farrell http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/airline-schedule-and-passenger-service-roulette/comment-page-1/#comment-5145 Joe Farrell Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:28:28 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=5138#comment-5145 I could have done it like this [I'm in Eastern CT about 70nm SW of KBOS]: Sleep until 600am. Wake up, grab a cup of coffee, get a preflight briefing and file a flight plan to DC. Shower and leave the house at 6.45am. Arrive at my hangar at 7.15, wheels up at 7.30a. Fly myself from Eastern CT to DC area - cost: $336 Arrive BWI at 9.30am. Grab free shuttle to MARC, be at meeting at 10a in DC. Sound a little better? Out of meeting at Noon, lunch with client, call Flight Service and file a flight plan for 3.30pm from BWI - home. 2pm, hop train, get to BWI. Catch up on email and phones messages on the way. 3.10p - arrive at BWI, get to my airplane, preflight it, grab a free coke at the general aviation terminal and some popcorn for the flight. 3.25p - call Clearance Delivery, get cleared. Engine Start - taxi - 3.30p - 5.15p - wheels up and fly back to CT/ 6pm - sitting in my easy chair watching the 6pm news with a beer catching up on the rest of my emails and messages. Cost - $300. total cost $636 - deducted or charged to a client. Total walk up fare from BOS-DCA, leaving 8/11 and returing the next day is $895 for the nonstops and $394 for stops. I can bill my client $360 LESS by flying myself, but also save them $1000 in travel expenses of my TIME by flying myself. Total cost on the airlines: $895 for airfare. Total cost taking one stop fare? - $394 for airfrare + $1000 extra in time. Plus the attendant hassle. $1394. Total cost to client flying myself $636 - MINUS 2 hours [$700] of non-airline time use, traveling to airport for parking, security and drive time to and from - net cost- ZERO. Take THAT airlines. I could have done it like this [I'm in Eastern CT about 70nm SW of KBOS]:

Sleep until 600am.

Wake up, grab a cup of coffee, get a preflight briefing and file a flight plan to DC.

Shower and leave the house at 6.45am.

Arrive at my hangar at 7.15, wheels up at 7.30a.

Fly myself from Eastern CT to DC area – cost: $336

Arrive BWI at 9.30am. Grab free shuttle to MARC, be at meeting at 10a in DC.

Sound a little better?

Out of meeting at Noon, lunch with client, call Flight Service and file a flight plan for 3.30pm from BWI – home.

2pm, hop train, get to BWI. Catch up on email and phones messages on the way.

3.10p – arrive at BWI, get to my airplane, preflight it, grab a free coke at the general aviation terminal and some popcorn for the flight.

3.25p – call Clearance Delivery, get cleared. Engine Start – taxi –

3.30p – 5.15p – wheels up and fly back to CT/

6pm – sitting in my easy chair watching the 6pm news with a beer catching up on the rest of my emails and messages.

Cost – $300. total cost $636 – deducted or charged to a client.

Total walk up fare from BOS-DCA, leaving 8/11 and returing the next day is $895 for the nonstops and $394 for stops. I can bill my client $360 LESS by flying myself, but also save them $1000 in travel expenses of my TIME by flying myself.

Total cost on the airlines:

$895 for airfare.

Total cost taking one stop fare? –

$394 for airfrare + $1000 extra in time. Plus the attendant hassle. $1394.

Total cost to client flying myself

$636 – MINUS 2 hours [$700] of non-airline time use, traveling to airport for parking, security and drive time to and from – net cost- ZERO.

Take THAT airlines.

]]> By: John F http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/airline-schedule-and-passenger-service-roulette/comment-page-1/#comment-5003 John F Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:38:56 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=5138#comment-5003 Well as with anything there are good agents and bad. Personally, I do not see a computer being proactive no matter how well developed the software. And then of course you have the size issue. Travelocity is huge and you are dealing with a call center that is likely paid on performance and how fast they can turn over calls. Taking the time to work with you is not in their best interest. Well as with anything there are good agents and bad. Personally, I do not see a computer being proactive no matter how well developed the software.

And then of course you have the size issue. Travelocity is huge and you are dealing with a call center that is likely paid on performance and how fast they can turn over calls. Taking the time to work with you is not in their best interest.

]]> By: Mike Grapkowski http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/airline-schedule-and-passenger-service-roulette/comment-page-1/#comment-4992 Mike Grapkowski Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:00:11 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=5138#comment-4992 I had a similar experience on my way to Vegas from Madison back in January. My early morning flight from Madison to O'Hare on American Eagle was cancelled (after first boarding and then sitting on the plane for 45 minutes) because of freezing rain. The weather in Madison was certainly not the airlines' fault, but it was pretty obviuos to us all that no one was going anywhere out of Madison that day. Because I booked with Travelocity, I called them and asked about a direct flight out of Chicago. I was booked on a 6pm flight that evening (I was supposed to be in Vegas by 2pm). They told me that there were no other flights available until then, and that my reservation could not be given to another airline. Playing along, I took the bus to O'Hare (thankfully, the freezing rain turned to plain rain about 5 miles south of Madison), and called American. The very helpful agent was able to book me on a 3pm flight on United (and why was Travelocity [you know, my travel agant] not able to do this?). After getting to O'Hare, and placing another call to AA to get a new ticket number, I was able to check in for the 3pm flight. I eventually got on a 1:15p flight to Vegas on United when some seats opened up last minute. While I'mnsure that a competent travel agent could have helped me; I'm not sure that I'll give Travelocity the chance again (even with the $100 in scrip that they sent me). Sometimes all it takes is an airline agent that takes the time to listen to you, and do what she can to help you. I had a similar experience on my way to Vegas from Madison back in January. My early morning flight from Madison to O’Hare on American Eagle was cancelled (after first boarding and then sitting on the plane for 45 minutes) because of freezing rain. The weather in Madison was certainly not the airlines’ fault, but it was pretty obviuos to us all that no one was going anywhere out of Madison that day. Because I booked with Travelocity, I called them and asked about a direct flight out of Chicago. I was booked on a 6pm flight that evening (I was supposed to be in Vegas by 2pm). They told me that there were no other flights available until then, and that my reservation could not be given to another airline. Playing along, I took the bus to O’Hare (thankfully, the freezing rain turned to plain rain about 5 miles south of Madison), and called American. The very helpful agent was able to book me on a 3pm flight on United (and why was Travelocity [you know, my travel agant] not able to do this?). After getting to O’Hare, and placing another call to AA to get a new ticket number, I was able to check in for the 3pm flight. I eventually got on a 1:15p flight to Vegas on United when some seats opened up last minute. While I’mnsure that a competent travel agent could have helped me; I’m not sure that I’ll give Travelocity the chance again (even with the $100 in scrip that they sent me). Sometimes all it takes is an airline agent that takes the time to listen to you, and do what she can to help you.

]]> By: John F http://www.consumertraveler.com/columns/airline-schedule-and-passenger-service-roulette/comment-page-1/#comment-4988 John F Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:20:53 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=5138#comment-4988 Charlie--this is yet another good time to mention the value of a good travel agent and that $40, $50, or $60 fee you might pay. Agents still have access to the same database as the airlines and could have given you the correct info immediately and handled the reaccomodation. Of course it worked out for you because you know the system, but is there a price you can put on the stress and aggravation? Agents have known for a LONG time to never believe an airline employee if they do not give you the answer you hoped for. You have to escalate it at least two more times because there is ALWAYS someone that can and is willing to make it happen for you. Charlie–this is yet another good time to mention the value of a good travel agent and that $40, $50, or $60 fee you might pay.

Agents still have access to the same database as the airlines and could have given you the correct info immediately and handled the reaccomodation. Of course it worked out for you because you know the system, but is there a price you can put on the stress and aggravation?

Agents have known for a LONG time to never believe an airline employee if they do not give you the answer you hoped for. You have to escalate it at least two more times because there is ALWAYS someone that can and is willing to make it happen for you.

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