I Hate The Airlines

[ahwahoo2006]

On my way home from spending the holidays with my parents, I missed my connecting flight in JFK because my original flight was delayed 4 hours. The flight I missed was the last flight out of JFK to DC that night. The airline told me the earliest flight they could get me on was 6pm today, so I said eff that and took a 3am train from Penn Station to DC, arriving at 7am. The other option they gave me was a hotel room, that I would still have to pay for, albeit at a "reduced rate."

The worst part of the whole thing is that the airline managed to lose my bag on a direct flight. Most of my Christmas presents from my family were it in and the airline will not compensate me for any of them because they would be considered "high value items" and are not covered for loss. Ugh.

[Seanij]

Dude.. thats messed up.. they should give you compensation since they lost them whether they're "high value" or not.

[thecoalition]

ever since i took a plane trip from spain to the us and they lost all my luggage on that direct flight where it couldnt go anywhere for a8 hours or so i stopped checking in baggage. now if i have alot of items i simply get them to the ups store and ship them back and take my carry on bag only.

[Snoopy1966]

Well being an American, and also a Muslim with a big beard, I seem to get 'randomly searched'
They freaked out on me when I was wearing my leather socks when I went to Florida last year. Why, I do not know. I saw many other Muslims wearing them too. I wonder how it will go when I bring my Bambino this year?

[thecoalition]

they will probably confiscate it from you. i would seriously ship it ahead of time and pick it up when you get to your destination.
obviously you have to admit ... the airline "random searches" are not random at all.
and they always step way out of line in order to "secure the other passengers"
my gripe is ... why the hell does the transport authority think that only muslims can commit "terrorist" attacks?
una bomber, ruby ridge, branch davidians, oklahoma bombing = all were classified as terrorist attacks. and! they were not muslim.

up with muslims! down with big brother! ----


note: i am not muslim, but i did minor in homeland security.

[Bryantos]

Wow, man. If I were you, I would have raised hell until they found my luggage. High value or not, its their job not to lose your luggage. Edited January 4, 2008 by Bryantos

[Oggie505]

complaining to the airline will do very little, almost all airlines have their luggage done by an independent company, this way if problems arise they will help you but once you create a fuss or they get upset, the will tell you the companies number to call and it will be with the baggage company. It like flying united, US Air, American express regional jet planes, they are all owned by other companies, but fly the major airlines logo because they have affiliation with them

[gaia.plateau]

At least you made it through without a cavity search.

[Snoopy1966]

Yea, thank God for that. I hate it though because they are all loud and stuff. And then they ask which carry on is yours and shoes, and what sucks even more they act like everything I had was going to explode or something. I had all my shampoo in the clear bottles but I had all my things in 2 smaller zip locks and not one like the sign said. I read all the rules before I went and it did not say 1 zip lock. They let let me keep my personal effects. I know they have to do their job, but I have flown 4 times and been searched on the departing and returning flights. I was a little bummed when I went back home from Florida because I had a little bottle of Pepsi from Old Town that had special packing. I can't complain about it, nobody could bring soda on the plane. Especially me with a little glass bottle....Muah Ha ha ha...
You never know I might have just drank that soda while I was on the plane

[Foos]

Usually your bags will show up. Ive only heard of someones bags being lost forever like once. Usually they leave them behind for whatever reason but every time my bags have been lost (3 times and counting) they show up at my door within 24 hours.

While it sucks that the "random searches" aren't so random I think it makes sense. Is it fair? Not really. Is it necessary? Maybe.

[D-szlos]

I always get searched too. I just guess i look dangerous because im not a morning person at all. However i did get taken aside once into a little room because i went shooting the day before and i went through the sniffer thing and came up positive for explosives. They just swabbed my hands and ran it through a machine and confirmed it was smokeless powder, and i showed them my FID and such. Nothing happened but it was annoying.

[Snoopy1966]

I agree with you, but it sucks when they talk so loud and look through all your stuff and take everything out. I have nothing to hide, but when they question you on your shampoo and body wash and say I have to much is a little crazy considering I had 5 4oz. bottles. Then when you are on the plane, everyone has their eyes on me. I know they have precautions and things, and I have heard much worse things then I have been through. It won't stop me from flying. They even asked my one time why I would bring a Qur'an with me......Gee I dunno. Maybe because I like to read it.

I have not got pulled into a room yet.....

When I pray in the terminal if it is close to a prayer time, that is something special too!

[PhishPhood]

When I pray in the terminal if it is close to a prayer time, that is something special too!

The sad part is that this would freak out 90% of the people.... Stereotypes sicken me. If I should ever happen to see someone do this I'm gonna walk up and say "Snoopy?" if its you you will know what I mean. If not, They will be more freaked out than the people watching him pray ahah

[HarryTheHookaMaster]

First I want to point out that airlines are a scam...they have us by the short and currlies....

Second, Ruby Ridge and the Branch Dividians were not "terrorist attacks". In both thses two incidents, the probable cause by the government was shoddy at best. Everyones rights as Americans took a big step backwards on these days.Oklahoma City was a flat out attack...

The US is not the only country that profiles its passengers. I have seen people detained in Dubai because they were black and dressed in "hiphop" garb. As Americans, we really need to understand that the Constitution does not apply to the rest of the world nor does it come with us when we travel. You have no real "rights"over anyone else when we are out in the world.

The only good thing I can say about airlines is: free booze on some international flights!

....and PLEASE only one carry on bag! People slow everybody down while we wait for you to round up all your shit to get off the plane!!!!!!!!!!!

Just my 2 cents from a world traveler....

Harry

[ams]

Dude I fly alot, domestic and international. You need to be firm, maintain your cool, and seek proper action from proper authorities. Only once i had my bags missing and they were never found...but i had my bags missing many times..its that you to report it ASAP, hold on to your baggage claims and they have to locate it. Someone is BSing you. IF you miss a connection, because the your flight came in late...its the airlines fault and not yours...THEY HAVE TO ACCOMADATE YOU with hotel, taxi, and food, and of course a the first available flight out.

Believe me I have missed flights and have gotten compensation for it big time. One time I really rose hell and went up to a big time manager and yelled about it...he immediately upgraded me to first class, gave me a voucher for future flights and handled my problem.

TSA...they dont scare me, I know its not random, Most of them are nice and doing their jobs, some of them can be pricks...and they pick on me all the time..but hey its all good, i got nothing to hide, do your job, help me feel safe about myself. I just think its funny when a red neck sees me dance right threw TSA, and they get "selected for the random search" THEY GET SO PIST OFF, and stare me down.....lol.

Look airline travel is a hassle, we get no rights, this freedom we speak of is simply an illusion...and airlines abuse this power to push us around...also i have friends that work for the airlines and they tell me they push people around all the time...so be firm, polite, and seek proper action from proper authorities.

[HarryTheHookaMaster]

I have a few pet peezes while traveling. I have all ready touched on the one carry on bag thing. Another is: if it is illegal to have liquids in your bag, why do people insisit on showing up at the airport with the shit in their carry on???? I mean, are they stupid? If you just HAVE to have toothpaste, shampoo, etc, get the travel sizes and leave the big Sams Club tube of Crest at home!!!

I am on a roll- and people with headphones in their ears-TURN THAT SHIT DOWN!!!!! If other people can hear what you are listening to 4 rows away...its too loud!

...and whatever you do, do NOT recline your seat at mealtimes...and check with the person behind you if you must recline. I am 6'4'' and I need every inch I can get..not to mention that your seatback is my dinner table! I think every airline should have to fly coach. They would redesign the cabin TOMORROW!!!

...if you have a window seat, try to use the restroom at times when your seat mates are not sleeping. Its hard enough to sleep on a plane...

Do not argue with TSA. They are mouth breathers....just jump through whatever hoop they hold up and get on the damn plane!

I feel better!

Harry (on a rant!) Edited January 6, 2008 by HarryTheHookaMaster

[rockchick04]

Hah, I love airplane rants! Two summers ago I took the worst flight to Poland. Landed in Germany, flight was cancelled to Poland because of bad weather, but no one really knew anything about the cancellation. I walked up to the counter where my flight was supposed to take off and there was another flight randomly there and the lady didn't seem to know anything about my flight to Poland.

- Had to spend the night in Germany and I was lucky enough to take the last shuttle to the hotel they gave me
- Checking back the next morning, they tried to charge me for Extra Baggage weight even though the lady in San Francisco told me it was ok
- On the return trip from Poland, flight was delayed 1.5 hours out of Warsaw, the plane randomly turned off while backing out, kids screaming everywhere
- Lines upon lines in Chicago with only about 30 minutes. Customs, I was "randomly" picked to be checked ( I think it's the non-existant Polish sausages that they thought I had )
- We ended up stopped in line on the runway for FIVE hours! Which was longer than my actual flight was supposed to be.
- On top of that, they accidently put my luggage on the next flight out of Chicago, which wouldn't have been a bad thing had it not been 1AM already

WORST FLIGHT EVER.

/END RANT.

[rockchick04]

But back on topic, that really sucks. Airlines can be such pains sometimes and it sucks that they lost your luggage.

[Ralleac]

On my way home from spending the holidays with my parents, I missed my connecting flight in JFK because my original flight was delayed 4 hours. The flight I missed was the last flight out of JFK to DC that night. The airline told me the earliest flight they could get me on was 6pm today, so I said eff that and took a 3am train from Penn Station to DC, arriving at 7am. The other option they gave me was a hotel room, that I would still have to pay for, albeit at a "reduced rate."

The worst part of the whole thing is that the airline managed to lose my bag on a direct flight. Most of my Christmas presents from my family were it in and the airline will not compensate me for any of them because they would be considered "high value items" and are not covered for loss. Ugh.

Yeah, after I nearly had my PS2 broken in my luggage several years ago I never place anything even remotely valuable in my checked luggage. It either goes in my carry-on or gets shipped.

[ahwahoo2006]

But back on topic, that really sucks. Airlines can be such pains sometimes and it sucks that they lost your luggage.

Thanks. Can I have a hug??

/slashie for hot girls that like the hookah

[mathuv]

Well my skin colour is darker than most of central europe is used to seeing (proximity to africa/ mediterranean sun ) so when i was in ireland, going through the metal detector i hear a loud, irish accented voice to my left shouting "EXCUSE ME SON, JUST A RANDOM CHECK!!" (the only other "random check" for the flight happened to be on my cousin..) so i decided to comply. they treated my bag as if it was a bomb, and they opened it really slowly and stuck this cloth in then they put the cloth in a machine, made me take off my belt, empty my pockets, etc. then they decided to let me go. Oh and once in italy i had some rocks in my bag, when the guard said "anything to declare?" i said "oh, just these rocks!" and he looked at me really seriously for a while, then started laughing and made me throw them away....ah i love screwing around with airport staff

[erufiku]

Hah, I love airplane rants! Two summers ago I took the worst flight to Poland. Landed in Germany, flight was cancelled to Poland because of bad weather, but no one really knew anything about the cancellation. I walked up to the counter where my flight was supposed to take off and there was another flight randomly there and the lady didn't seem to know anything about my flight to Poland.

- Had to spend the night in Germany and I was lucky enough to take the last shuttle to the hotel they gave me
- Checking back the next morning, they tried to charge me for Extra Baggage weight even though the lady in San Francisco told me it was ok
- On the return trip from Poland, flight was delayed 1.5 hours out of Warsaw, the plane randomly turned off while backing out, kids screaming everywhere
- Lines upon lines in Chicago with only about 30 minutes. Customs, I was "randomly" picked to be checked ( I think it's the non-existant Polish sausages that they thought I had )
- We ended up stopped in line on the runway for FIVE hours! Which was longer than my actual flight was supposed to be.
- On top of that, they accidently put my luggage on the next flight out of Chicago, which wouldn't have been a bad thing had it not been 1AM already

WORST FLIGHT EVER.

/END RANT.

How is it that you wandered into Poland, of all the places on the face of planet earth?

On topic, I never have problems with flying. And I flew, like 12 times in 2007 and already planning a few more trips...
Have to admit, haven't tried flying through the US, but all the bullcrap one has to go through: getting your luggage, going through customs/immigration services and proving that all you want to do is change planes in the US; just thinking about it makes me tired.

I guess the best advice is not being stupid. Seriously, if you know you're going through security, be prepared

[Jay Tea]

I missed both connecting flights in Denver on the way to and back from Salt Lake City over new years. Had to stay in a hotel both nights. However I might add the snowboarding was amazing. Gotta love Utah powder!


Go Pack!

[rockchick04]

How is it that you wandered into Poland, of all the places on the face of planet earth?

On topic, I never have problems with flying. And I flew, like 12 times in 2007 and already planning a few more trips...
Have to admit, haven't tried flying through the US, but all the bullcrap one has to go through: getting your luggage, going through customs/immigration services and proving that all you want to do is change planes in the US; just thinking about it makes me tired.

I guess the best advice is not being stupid. Seriously, if you know you're going through security, be prepared

Heeeey, what's wrong with Poland? I'm actually from there, born and raised for about three years before moving to California, haha, but it's always nice to go back.

I definitely agree with being prepared, it's just such a hassle when you are prepared and things go wrong.. but that happens. Definitely NEVER flying back to America with a connecting flight in the states. Too much of a hassle for me, and not worth the little amount of money I would save.

[rockchick04]

Thanks. Can I have a hug??

/slashie for hot girls that like the hookah

Haha, sure. *group hug for all that suffer from airline hassles*