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"Our family has returned from our reunion trip to Hawaii. We used three different airlines - United, Northwest and Delta - and had three different experiences.
"My husband and I flew United to and from Washington and Honolulu. We were on time each segment, wheel chairs were ready for me at each airport, the staff was helpful, friendly and efficient. We used points to fly first class. I am 70 years old and this was my first time flying first class.
"One son flew on Delta to and from Washington/Honolulu. He also used points to go first class. He said the service was awful (very rude) and below that of most airlines regular class service. He felt that he was cheated since he expected first class service and comfort and he got neither. He says he will never fly Delta again.
"My other son flew on Northwest. He was flying to/from Manila. He flew business class. The trip to Honolulu was fine. For the trip back to Manila, the Northwest plane never arrived from Japan. He and his family ended up on Continental after a seven hour wait in the Honolulu airport. His luggage arrived the next day.
"By the way, we did have a great time in Hawaii." [Linda S. - Reston, VA]
"Dear friends at Frequent Flier, thought that I would give you my last two experiences with my luggage at Newark Airport.
"On November 26, 2007 I returned to the States from Germany on LH #402. We arrived on time (4.30 p.m.), and after going through passport control, I went down the escalator to the baggage carousels. My first piece of luggage arrived after a fifteen-minute wait, but the second piece did not arrive until thirty minutes later. There was no explanation to any one as to why some pieces of luggage were so late in arriving.
"On January 1, 2008 I again returned to the States on the same flight. This time we were an hour late in arriving since we had a seventy-minute delay in departure from Frankfurt/Main. However, by 5.50 p.m. I was waiting by the baggage carousel to retrieve my two suitcases. My first piece arrived at 6.15 p.m. By 6.40 most of the luggage had been claimed, but there were approximately thirty of us who were still waiting for one or both pieces of luggage. We asked the baggage handler but he had not new information to give us. The carousel stopped and we stood there wondering what to do. Finally, a young woman with a walkie-talkie came into the area and we asked her for help. She phoned around but could get not information. Several of us were concerned that our drivers would leave without us. Since we were not permitted to leave the area and re-enter it, she went outside to find our drivers but was not successful. When our baggage tickets were scanned, we were assured that our luggage had been put on the plane in Frankfurt/Main and was here at the airport, but no one knew where it was. Finally, at about 7.10 p.m. the carousel started up again and the 'lost' bags/suitcases arrived. I had waited for one hour and twenty minutes to retrieve my two pieces of luggage.
"Due to the flight delay and the problem with the luggage, I did not arrive home until almost 9 p.m. at night, which for my body was 3 a.m. I had been up over twenty-four hours! Have other people encountered this luggage problem at Newark Airport. I fly to Germany five times a year and do not look forward to wait over an hour each time for my luggage." [Tina H.]
"Just back from Christmas in Norway, and on the way back I used SAS from Copenhagen to Washington, DC. Knowing about the limit on what you can take within the cabin, I asked at the tax free store about bringing liquor with me. No problem, 'we seal it in a plastic bag' , so I bought 2 bottles.
"Well guess what. At Dulles I was given 2 choices, have it destroyed or I could go back to United, put it in a 'personal' carton and they would ship it as checked luggage.
"I did the latter, and have never received the package. They had stacks of empty boxes for just that purpose.
"So if you are continuing on a domestic flight NO liquor in your carry on. But if your flight is terminating at the point of entry to the us, it is ok. Since a large portion of passengers are foreigners, that never have time or the know how to try to trace these boxes, I guess some TSA employees are enjoying lots of liquor..." [KR]
Until next week...
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