The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Teresa Heilevang on March 24, 2008, 10:04:54 PM

Title: I have to vent!
Post by: Teresa Heilevang on March 24, 2008, 10:04:54 PM: Do you guys care if I rant about something? I am soooo pissed off... and I am sooo sick of all the cons and scams.
So, since Marshal already knows this.. and has gone in to watch TV..( most likely to get away form my fuming) I am going to get it off my chest and then maybe I'll be able to relax a little.

Ok...
(http://www.rightnation.us/forums/style_emoticons/default/ranton.gif)

In March of last year, we were returning home from vacation. We connected in Phoenix. In Phoenix the US Airways Gate Agent announced that the flight was over weighted and he was looking for volunteers to give up their seats. This was the last flight out that night, so it would mean staying overnight, and not leaving on another flight until 1:00 the next afternoon. No one wanted to leave as it was late at night and everyone seemed to be grumpy and ready to get home. Me included..
We had been gone 10 days and I was more than ready to be home..but being on a plane that was too heavy wasn't anything I was too overjoyed about riding on. So Marshal and I volunteered.

The reward was a round-trip airline ticket anywhere US Airways flies within the 48 contiguous states.
When the "Take Flight Certificates" were issued, it read:
$200 discount off round-trip flight OR free restricted economy class ticket within the 48 contiguous states." These were good for one year. So they would be invalid on March 28, 2008 of this year. ( Just in a few days)

We have been saving them for when we both needed to fly out together. We are needing to book a flight to Louisville KY in May. for the NRA convention. So today I called to redeem the flight certificates. Tickets are $408.00 each to fly out of Wichita with a change over in Chicago and then on to Louisville. So I called and told them that I had these free vouchers and I wanted to use them on these flights.

I was told that there were no seats available for the free tickets. Now I was on line on the internet at the time and I could SEE that there were available seats. I told her so too..
She advised us that these flight certificates are limited to Dividend Miles frequent flyer seats (at the lower mileage rate, of course).
And that there were none of THOSE seats available. And that since it is 2 months in advance that no way could there be any of these seats available on these flights , BUT we could pay full price and use the $200 discount...and get a seat.
SAY WHAT?! >:(

The tickets are presently $409 each. Delta has the same flight for $219.00.

I said, " so you are telling me that you HAVE Coach seats but not for my vouchers, but you DO have them if I pay half??"
She said yes.. and proceeded to tell me how the $200 voucher worked.

I was furious and told her I understood the math. That I could easily pencil and paper it..and it came out to the same thing... We were being ripped off. !" ..I didn't understand why the airlines were not honoring the "free" voucher that they had issued to us.

I was informed that the "Take Flight Certificate" is only free if X-class coach seats are available, and she couldn't override this restriction.
I ask when any seats would be available...if ever. She said she didn't know. That I would have to call back periodically to check.
But in the meantime, my vouchers are void after March 28th..and I doubt that there would ever be any free seats, no matter when I called.

Marshal did some extensive online searching for fraud and rip off information and sure enough .. There is loads and loads of complaints...sounding just like mine.

US Airways gives out thousands of these "free" ticket vouchers every month. ( even sells them on e-bay) I'm sure they have heard every possible complaint about them. Every time anyone has called for a particular destination, there were no seats available.
And these were well in advance of the intended trips.

So rather than lose what I have, I suppose I will book the flights and received the $200 off. But get this!

I will be charged $25 per ticket for booking through a rep instead of on line!!
My online confirmation numbers can't be keyed in online ( since they are vouchers) so I have to go through a rep and do the reservations by phone.There goes $50 more off my discounts! And if you have more than one suitcase, you are charged now $25.00 per suitcase, no matter even if it is a little one. >:(

What a stinkin' rip off!
(http://www.cascity.com/howard/forum/angry.gif)
NO wonder US Air is the lowest rated carrier in the United States!

Okay, I'm done.. for now..

(http://www.rightnation.us/forums/style_emoticons/default/rantoff.gif)
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Pathfinder on March 24, 2008, 10:23:51 PM: M'ette, I can't help, but I do know I worked with United Airlines as a client some years back, and they manage the price and class of every seat on every leg of every flight in real time. That means that the "special" seats come and go, sometimes in the same day and it is just a matter of pure luck to catch one. I have over 100k FF miles on United, and damn if I can ever use them.

The entire airline industry is one huge scam, other than the fact that they usually do get you to your destination. But with huge gummint bailouts after 9/11 to prevent the airlines from failing, literally care-less agents in many cases, flights canceled for no apparent reason, planes sitting on the tarmac for hours waiting to take off or find a gate, etc.

Best part is watching the mooslims in airports like Minneapolis running around the tarmac as it there was nothing wrong with them having complete unmonitored access to our planes.

OK, /rant off.
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: tombogan03884 on March 25, 2008, 02:35:30 AM: I love airplanes, but I HATE to fly commercial, In fact, I won't. I guess you folks now understand why. Fortunatly I don't Have to travel. They have folks like you, who do HAVE TO travel over a barrel.
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: DDMac on March 25, 2008, 06:24:07 AM: I have been tempted to take them up on the free round trip voucher deal on overebooked flights. That takes care of it for me. NO THANKS, except to you, Marshal'ette.
Mac.
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Bidah on March 25, 2008, 12:10:51 PM: As someone who flies 200K plus miles per year, I hear you. Sadly, this problem is not just limited to US Air. Try to use your miles and such on Delta sometime. They will "open up" some seats for you if you use double the miles. I agree that they do not really let you know what that voucher is good for. Heck, flying now you have to pay for peanuts or pretzels.

-Bidah
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Bill Stryker on March 25, 2008, 08:44:07 PM: Teresa.
Sorry you have to fly to the NRA Convention.
Hope to see you, Marshall and MB there.
I will be driving.
I don't mind the flying part, but I cannot stand the airport / TSA part. So, unless I am going overseas, I drive.
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Hazcat on March 25, 2008, 08:50:47 PM: Marsahl'ette,

I assume you saved money and booked with Delta?
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: CurrieS103 on March 26, 2008, 12:13:36 AM: I'll take web seats in a C-130 any day compared to the crap we have to endure with the airlines. Deregulation was good to a point but provided too much power to the airlines. No oversight = a system run amuck.
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Teresa Heilevang on March 27, 2008, 02:54:03 PM: Quote from: Hazcat on March 25, 2008, 08:50:47 PM
Marsahl'ette,

I assume you saved money and booked with Delta?

I plead the 5th... on account if I don't, I will look stupid! :-X
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Hazcat on March 27, 2008, 04:46:23 PM: Quote from: Marshal'ette Halloway on March 27, 2008, 02:54:03 PM
I plead the 5th... on account if I don't, I will look stupid! :-X

Had a blond (http://www.mazeguy.net/outfitted/blonde.gif) moment, did we? (http://www.gangsterbb.net/emoticons/doh.gif)
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Teresa Heilevang on March 27, 2008, 06:27:14 PM: Quote from: Hazcat on March 27, 2008, 04:46:23 PM
Had a blond (http://www.mazeguy.net/outfitted/blonde.gif) moment, did we?

No not really. >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
**See Haz?? You had to ask... and now I'm pissed all over again and it's all your fault! >:(**

What I HAD was the airline company's who said that what I found online wasn't the right pricing. ( Go figure and try talking to a Pakistan guy who was arguing with me.. and so I ask for someone else and got somebody from Chinese .)
God I was so pissed. I had the website ( THEIR website) right in front of me as I was talking to them...

and get this... I couldn't use my vouchers ( worth $200 each) if I chose from the list and made up my own itinerary flights.
In other words.. a lot of the flights were already booked up and sold out. so I chose one from the departing.. and one from the arriving list.
It was $163 one way.. ( x2 =$326 each for rd trip)
I told them what I wanted.. they took all the information ..flight # layovers etc and matched it up on their end.. Then gave me this amount of $596.00 AFTER my vouchers.. :o
I said.. "No.. it should be $252.00 after my vouchers"
They said.. Oh no.. you can't use your vouchers on those flights!
(You can only imagine what my BP did at that time)
Calmly and through gritted teeth I ask "Why"...?

They said because it was not considered a round trip pkg. . It was separate scheduling.

I said no it wasn't. It was a round trip I was going and coming back. She said.. No.. it is not a round trip pkg that we have put together as a "full trip pkg".
I said" But most of the flights..even these... are sold out. "
She replied in her broken English " I'm sorry but I can't change the scheduling that you see.
I ask what she could get me in a round trip..

Now ..listen to this!~~~~~~~~~does it get any more corrupt than this???...................
She gave me the exact f*^&$#$@$^%damned $^% itinerary that I gave to her. WITH the bigger price of course.
And the fact that she had only 5 seats left.
I told her AGAIN that was what I just had given her.. and I had in front of me the lower prices.!!"
She said..
" What website are you using..? ((in that stupid condescending voice)

My god, I thought I was going to blow a gasket,.. but still I was scary calm but not nice voiced...
I said in a very slow and deliberate voice...... I'm using YOUR... MAIN... WEBSITE. And I told her the address..
She said it wasn't coming up on her screen and that all she had was the other pricing.
Then.. "I'm sorry for all your trouble.. do you want these reservations or do you not?!

Hell I had to have them ..as we have to be in Ky the day before NRA and that was obviously all that was left. out of Tulsa.
(Flying out of Wichita was $1,023 each)

So I said I'd take them..What should have been $252 total.. cost us $598.
So we ended up using our vouchers and when the smoke cleared had a savings of a whopping $34.

*end of the story** Blond loses.. airlines win.
Should have told them to pack it in their ass.. but I didn't so that is why I feel stupid! :-[
I also ask if this conversation was recorded and she said it was.. and I gave them a piece of my mind.. ( for all the good it will do)
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: DDMac on March 27, 2008, 07:35:21 PM: You know, it sounds like someone (blonde) in the company needs to just go ahead and get a pilot license. Then y'all could offer a door gunner class between trips.
Just a thought. Mac.
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Hazcat on March 27, 2008, 08:25:05 PM: Quote from: DDMack on March 27, 2008, 07:35:21 PM
You know, it sounds like someone (blonde) in the company needs to just go ahead and get a pilot license. Then y'all could offer a door gunner class between trips.
Just a thought. Mac.

Ya know Mac, that sounds like a good idea BUT, I think the Lady has a wee problem with heights and I'm not sure that that condition is conducive to good piloting! ;)
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Teresa Heilevang on March 27, 2008, 09:39:58 PM: wee bit Haz??
hahahahahahaha ;D LOTS more than a wee bit. :o
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: tombogan03884 on March 28, 2008, 01:18:33 AM: Quote from: DDMack on March 27, 2008, 07:35:21 PM
You know, it sounds like someone (blonde) in the company needs to just go ahead and get a pilot license. Then y'all could offer a door gunner class between trips.
Just a thought. Mac.

Won't work, even without the heighth problem. You can't shoot from the pilots seat (at least, youaren't supposed to on MOST airlines) and you can't reach the controls from behind the doorgun, MAJOR problem !
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: jaybet on March 28, 2008, 06:00:44 AM: Quote from: Marshal'ette Halloway on March 27, 2008, 09:39:58 PM
wee bit Haz??
hahahahahahaha ;D LOTS more than a wee bit. :o

So just how tall are you?
OH! I get it...height like height, not like tall.
I don't think of those things...see pix of my day job.
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Teresa Heilevang on March 28, 2008, 09:35:06 AM: Hey Jay.. Looks like you enjoy it.. You sure have a big ole' smile on your face. :D

What is it you are doing anyway? Anything I have to be buckled up in out in the open is NOT where I will be.(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/113.gif)

Derek talked me into going on that damned Sky Coaster in Branson 3 years ago. NEVER and I mean NEVER will I EVER do that again. I must have been on crack that night to even consider doing it. Strap me in and raise me from a crane a zillion miles in the air and then drop me.. ??
I'm surprised I lived through it. Surprised my screams weren't heard 100 miles away..(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/114.gif)
And yesssss. Marshal got it on tape. ::)
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Hazcat on March 28, 2008, 09:37:55 AM: Quote from: Marshal'ette Halloway on March 28, 2008, 09:35:06 AM
Hey Jay.. Looks like you enjoy it.. You sure have a big ole' smile on your face. :D

What is it you are doing anyway? Anything I have to be buckled up in out in the open is NOT where I will be.(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/113.gif)

Derek talked me into going on that damned Sky Coaster in Branson 3 years ago. NEVER and I mean NEVER will I EVER do that again. I must have been on crack that night to even consider doing it. Strap me in and raise me from a crane a zillion miles in the air and then drop me.. ??
I'm surprised I lived through it. Surprised my screams weren't heard 100 miles away..(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/114.gif)
And yesssss. Marshal got it on tape. ::)

Soooo, we'll see the film at 11?? ;D
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: jaybet on March 28, 2008, 09:44:30 AM: Quote from: Marshal'ette Halloway on March 28, 2008, 09:35:06 AM
Hey Jay.. Looks like you enjoy it.. You sure have a big ole' smile on your face. :D

What is it you are doing anyway? Anything I have to be buckled up in out in the open is NOT where I will be.(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/113.gif)

Yeah that's a big smile...It was about 22 degrees with the wind blowin' 20.
I'm a field rep for an engineer/architecture firm. I inspect, correct, make decisions, count beans, all that. Very glamorous.
It's very easy if you look at what's right in front of you or next to you, or you look a half mile away. What you don't need to do is look about 160 feet down. That never helps.
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: tombogan03884 on March 28, 2008, 01:43:42 PM: Quote from: jaybethel on March 28, 2008, 06:00:44 AM
So just how tall are you?
OH! I get it...height like height, not like tall.
I don't think of those things...see pix of my day job.

Nice view, on a clear day ;D

Quote from: jaybethel on March 28, 2008, 09:44:30 AM
Yeah that's a big smile...It was about 22 degrees with the wind blowin' 20.
I'm a field rep for an engineer/architecture firm. I inspect, correct, make decisions, count beans, all that. Very glamorous.
It's very easy if you look at what's right in front of you or next to you, or you look a half mile away. What you don't need to do is look about 160 feet down. That never helps.

Bet it took a while for your fingers to get nimble enough for guitar.
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: DDMac on March 28, 2008, 05:16:08 PM: This is a rare picture of me and Jay together at work. Jay is changing a light bulb on a skyscraper mounted antenna, while I ride in a bus on the street below, on the way to work as a quality control inspector at the New York Red Leg Beer company.

(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj211/DMACK_2008/5Reasons.jpg)

At least, that's how I remember it.
Mac.
ps. glad you made it down Jay, the regular way that is. Not through the roof of my bus!
Mc.
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Hazcat on March 28, 2008, 05:20:38 PM: Quote from: DDMack on March 28, 2008, 05:16:08 PM
This is a rare picture of me and Jay together at work. Jay is changing a light bulb on a skyscraper mounted antenna, while I ride in a bus on the street below, on the way to work as a quality control inspector at the New York Red Leg Beer company.

(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj211/DMACK_2008/5Reasons.jpg)

At least, that's how I remember it.
Mac.
ps. glad you made it down Jay, the regular way that is. Not through the roof of my bus!
Mc.

ONE OF THE BEST POSTS EVER!! LOL!!!! (http://www.mazeguy.net/happy/applause.gif) (http://www.mazeguy.net/happy/rotfl.gif) (http://www.mazeguy.net/happy/jump.gif) (http://www.mazeguy.net/happy/thumbsup.gif)

I bet Marshal'ette (http://www.mazeguy.net/employed/cowgirl.gif) gets dizzy (http://www.mazeguy.net/surprised/dizzy.gif) just looking at it!
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Pathfinder on March 28, 2008, 06:59:40 PM: Quote from: Hazcat on March 28, 2008, 05:20:38 PM
ONE OF THE BEST POSTS EVER!! LOL!!!! (http://www.mazeguy.net/happy/applause.gif) (http://www.mazeguy.net/happy/rotfl.gif) (http://www.mazeguy.net/happy/jump.gif) (http://www.mazeguy.net/happy/thumbsup.gif)

I bet Marshal'ette (http://www.mazeguy.net/employed/cowgirl.gif) gets dizzy (http://www.mazeguy.net/surprised/dizzy.gif) just looking at it!

She ain't the only one, Haz. That picture is just sick. Do me a favor and insert one of your smileys here - green, tongue hanging out, looking like it's about to puke. Or maybe one actually puking. Oh yeah, and wearing really light loafers too.
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Hazcat on March 28, 2008, 07:05:19 PM: Quote from: Pathfinder on March 28, 2008, 06:59:40 PM
She ain't the only one, Haz. That picture is just sick. Do me a favor and insert one of your smileys here - green, tongue hanging out, looking like it's about to puke. (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/wuerg/vomit-smiley-021.gif) Or maybe one actually puking. Oh yeah, and wearing really light loafers too. (http://www.mazeguy.net/employed/balletdancer.gif)

How's that ? Or do you like this one better? (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/wuerg/vomit-smiley-019.gif)
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: DDMac on March 28, 2008, 07:06:35 PM: If you think the picture is queeze evolking, you should have had to drink 90 samples of Red Leg Beer. Now THAT would make one barf. Quit soon there after for a promising career in the Northwest as an eye closer at a sardine canning factory. Hell, somebody had to do it. Too wet for pictures. Sorry.
Mac.
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Teresa Heilevang on March 29, 2008, 01:42:23 AM: Quote from: Hazcat on March 28, 2008, 05:20:38 PM
ONE OF THE BEST POSTS EVER!! LOL!!!! (http://www.mazeguy.net/happy/applause.gif) (http://www.mazeguy.net/happy/rotfl.gif) (http://www.mazeguy.net/happy/jump.gif) (http://www.mazeguy.net/happy/thumbsup.gif)

I bet Marshal'ette (http://www.mazeguy.net/employed/cowgirl.gif) gets dizzy (http://www.mazeguy.net/surprised/dizzy.gif) just looking at it!

Ohhhh my God!~~~~~~~~~~
I honestly thought I was going to pass out when I looked at that! I really Did.. I'm not kidding you an ounce.. Oh crraaaap!. that makes my heart almost totally stop and I really did get immediately physically sick just as soon as I looked at it.
I will not look at it again. ! And I am too queasy to even look for a funny smiley...

Ohh lord.. my head is spinning..... I'm going to bed!
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: DDMac on March 29, 2008, 06:24:33 AM: Jay has that effect on women 8). Those musicians!! They get all the girls.
Mac.
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: jaybet on March 29, 2008, 08:30:02 AM: Quote from: Marshal'ette Halloway on March 29, 2008, 01:42:23 AM

Ohhhh my God!~~~~~~~~~~
I honestly thought I was going to pass out when I looked at that! I really Did.. I'm not kidding you an ounce.. Oh crraaaap!. that makes my heart almost totally stop and I really did get immediately physically sick just as soon as I looked at it.
I will not look at it again. ! And I am too queasy to even look for a funny smiley...

Ohh lord.. my head is spinning..... I'm going to bed!
I get that a lot. Thanks DD
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Hazcat on March 29, 2008, 08:56:30 AM: Quote from: jaybethel on March 29, 2008, 08:30:02 AM
I get that a lot. Thanks DD

Well Jaybeth, I know looking at a picture of you makes me 'queezy" (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/wuerg/vomit-smiley-019.gif) (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/wuerg/vomit-smiley-003.gif)

;D
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: jaybet on March 29, 2008, 09:35:33 AM: Quote from: Hazcat on March 29, 2008, 08:56:30 AM
Well Jaybeth, I know looking at a picture of you makes me 'queezy" (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/wuerg/vomit-smiley-019.gif) (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/wuerg/vomit-smiley-003.gif) Didn't know you were lookin'- but different strokes....

;D
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Hazcat on March 29, 2008, 09:40:56 AM: Quote from: jaybethel on March 29, 2008, 09:35:33 AM
Didn't know you were lookin'- but different strokes....

Jaybeth, ya don't have to be light in the loafers (http://www.mazeguy.net/employed/balletdancer.gif) to know what ugly is! (http://www.mazeguy.net/silly/neenerneener.gif)

;D
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Pathfinder on March 29, 2008, 10:37:49 AM: Quote from: Hazcat on March 28, 2008, 07:05:19 PM
How's that ? Or do you like this one better? (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/wuerg/vomit-smiley-019.gif)

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

I should have known you would have a loafer smiley!!
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: old mossyback on April 02, 2008, 05:32:28 AM: Hi Marshal'ette

My wife and I have flown many thousands of miles on most of the major carriers and several of the lesser knowns and we have had some sort of problem with each and every one of them at some time or other. Everything from screaming kids at 30,000 feet for 5+ hours, to missed connections resulting in missed flights (vouchers given) and even the same problem your having, so believe me when I say" I feel your pain"

old mossyback
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Teresa Heilevang on April 02, 2008, 02:27:52 PM: Thanks for the empathy.

You know... we have to go to End Of Trail in June in New Mexico and we have decided to drive. We are going to be gone for 10+ days and I'll be darned if I am going to deal with all the equipment and clothes we have to take on an airline.
We are just going to make a 'personal party" out of the trip..so i think it will be fun.
Mama will be happy and if mama is happy.. Marshal is reeeeall happy.. ;)
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Hazcat on April 02, 2008, 02:36:44 PM: Quote from: Marshal'ette Halloway on April 02, 2008, 02:27:52 PM
Thanks for the empathy.

You know... we have to go to End Of Trail in June in New Mexico and we have decided to drive. We are going to be gone for 10+ days and I'll be darned if I am going to deal with all the equipment and clothes we have to take on an airline.
We are just going to make a 'personal party" out of the trip..so i think it will be fun.
Mama will be happy and if mama is happy.. Marshal is reeeeall happy.. ;)

I've got a couple of 'smilies' for this but.... well, let's just say this is a family forum! (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/teufel/devil-smiley-024.gif) (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/grinser/grinning-smiley-006.gif) (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/teufel/devil-smiley-009.gif) (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/grinser/grinning-smiley-042.gif)
Title: Re: I have to vent!
Post by: Pathfinder on April 02, 2008, 09:30:39 PM: Quote from: Hazcat on April 02, 2008, 02:36:44 PM
I've got a couple of 'smilies' for this but.... well, let's just say this is a family forum! (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/teufel/devil-smiley-024.gif) (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/grinser/grinning-smiley-006.gif) (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/teufel/devil-smiley-009.gif) (http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/grinser/grinning-smiley-042.gif)

Hey, if M'ette can show her "spanky" smiley, I think you can run just about anything else.

Now where's that R. Lee Ermey "You forgot your picture" picture? ? ? ? ? ;D