Comments on: When to ground your favorite airline and put them in a time-out. http://blog.michaelgruen.com/2008/10/when-to-ground-your-favorite-airline-and-put-them-in-a-time-out/ Despite the precision, 'blog' is still a four-letter word. Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:23:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Brittanie http://blog.michaelgruen.com/2008/10/when-to-ground-your-favorite-airline-and-put-them-in-a-time-out/comment-page-1/#comment-108 Brittanie Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:28:01 +0000 http://blog.michaelgruen.com/?p=98#comment-108 Michael, are you a Continental frequent flyer? I ask because these rate changes were <a href="http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/09/01/daily40.html" rel="nofollow">all over</a>, and I mean really <a href="http://vodpod.com/watch/990940-nbc-nightly-news-with-brian-williams-continental-joins-baggage-charge-bandwagon" rel="nofollow">all over</a> the <a href="http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/5986608.html" rel="nofollow">news</a> last fall when they went into effect. Several airlines implemented them at the same time. But maybe I'm more aware of this because I am a FF member and get mail updates on policy changes, etc. Because I am a OnePass member I do not have to pay those fees. I don't fly very much but I have had a few international flights over the past few years, enough to earn me the FF miles to buy two round-trip tickets to from Houston to Prague at around $600 total in May. It's free to be a FF member, and you really do get good perks. I don't work for Continental, I just don't see anything wrong with this rate change, especially at a time when fuel prices were the highest they've ever been. Michael, are you a Continental frequent flyer? I ask because these rate changes were all over, and I mean really all over the news last fall when they went into effect. Several airlines implemented them at the same time. But maybe I’m more aware of this because I am a FF member and get mail updates on policy changes, etc.

Because I am a OnePass member I do not have to pay those fees. I don’t fly very much but I have had a few international flights over the past few years, enough to earn me the FF miles to buy two round-trip tickets to from Houston to Prague at around $600 total in May.

It’s free to be a FF member, and you really do get good perks. I don’t work for Continental, I just don’t see anything wrong with this rate change, especially at a time when fuel prices were the highest they’ve ever been.

]]> By: Monica Danna http://blog.michaelgruen.com/2008/10/when-to-ground-your-favorite-airline-and-put-them-in-a-time-out/comment-page-1/#comment-107 Monica Danna Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:12:23 +0000 http://blog.michaelgruen.com/?p=98#comment-107 Michael, I had nearly an identical experience this past weekend. I too have been an avid continental advocate. Imagine my surprise when I show up at the kiosk, only to be charged $15 for a bag I could have consolidated into a carry on, had a known aboutthe policy in advance. Also, calling a day in advance to check for room on an earlier return flight "yes ma'am, there looks to be plenty of room on the earlier flight." no mention of the $50 standby charge. FIFTY dollars. To walk on an empty plane. For a $189 roundtrip ticket. I too was livid. The standby policy will def make me think twice about continental again. When usually, I never consider another airline (in Houston, continental is usually king). With you in disappointment, Monica Michael, I had nearly an identical experience this past weekend. I too have been an avid continental advocate. Imagine my surprise when I show up at the kiosk, only to be charged $15 for a bag I could have consolidated into a carry on, had a known aboutthe policy in advance.

Also, calling a day in advance to check for room on an earlier return flight “yes ma’am, there looks to be plenty of room on the earlier flight.” no mention of the $50 standby charge. FIFTY dollars. To walk on an empty plane. For a $189 roundtrip ticket. I too was livid.

The standby policy will def make me think twice about continental again. When usually, I never consider another airline (in Houston, continental is usually king).

With you in disappointment,

Monica

]]> By: Walt Ribeiro http://blog.michaelgruen.com/2008/10/when-to-ground-your-favorite-airline-and-put-them-in-a-time-out/comment-page-1/#comment-106 Walt Ribeiro Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:48:15 +0000 http://blog.michaelgruen.com/?p=98#comment-106 Yea, the only airfare I take any more is Southwest, unless they don't have a flight in my direction, then I'm in trouble :( Yea, the only airfare I take any more is Southwest, unless they don’t have a flight in my direction, then I’m in trouble :(

]]> By: Adam Hobson http://blog.michaelgruen.com/2008/10/when-to-ground-your-favorite-airline-and-put-them-in-a-time-out/comment-page-1/#comment-105 Adam Hobson Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:19:36 +0000 http://blog.michaelgruen.com/?p=98#comment-105 I'm just not sure how these big shot airline execs don't understand basic economics. If you charge for checked bags, then most people will just try to carry on their bags, which will just make the overhead bins fill up and force half of the "carry on" bags to get tagged and checked at the gate anyway. Many airlines used high fuel costs as the excuse for these charges, but I have to wonder now that fuel prices are going back down, will the airlines actually get rid of these supposedly temporary extra charges, or are these now just another permanent hassle of flying? How I wish we had high speed rail outside of just the Northeast corridor. I’m just not sure how these big shot airline execs don’t understand basic economics. If you charge for checked bags, then most people will just try to carry on their bags, which will just make the overhead bins fill up and force half of the “carry on” bags to get tagged and checked at the gate anyway.

Many airlines used high fuel costs as the excuse for these charges, but I have to wonder now that fuel prices are going back down, will the airlines actually get rid of these supposedly temporary extra charges, or are these now just another permanent hassle of flying?

How I wish we had high speed rail outside of just the Northeast corridor.

]]> By: Michael Gruen http://blog.michaelgruen.com/2008/10/when-to-ground-your-favorite-airline-and-put-them-in-a-time-out/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Michael Gruen Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:14:50 +0000 http://blog.michaelgruen.com/?p=98#comment-104 Update #2: That “confirmed” window seat turned into a middle seat when I arrived at the gate. Then, they checked my carry-on bag because there was no more room. Update #3: Ticketing agent blames me for delaying the plane by bringing a carry on. I am livid. Update #2: That “confirmed” window seat turned into a middle seat when I arrived at the gate. Then, they checked my carry-on bag because there was no more room.

Update #3: Ticketing agent blames me for delaying the plane by bringing a carry on. I am livid.

]]> By: Scott A. http://blog.michaelgruen.com/2008/10/when-to-ground-your-favorite-airline-and-put-them-in-a-time-out/comment-page-1/#comment-103 Scott A. Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:27:14 +0000 http://blog.michaelgruen.com/?p=98#comment-103 Dude that's crazy. I've heard that United and American are also charging bag check fees now. Flying's just getting worse and worse. For what it's worth, I fly Southwest and Virgin almost exclusively and have always had top-notch service. Had a couple nice flights on Alaska not long ago as well. Dude that’s crazy. I’ve heard that United and American are also charging bag check fees now. Flying’s just getting worse and worse.

For what it’s worth, I fly Southwest and Virgin almost exclusively and have always had top-notch service. Had a couple nice flights on Alaska not long ago as well.

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