From last week's Crier: "But, the ongoing 'bus-station,' 'cattle corral' comments are just too much over the top. WHERE do these people who (rhymes with 'hitch') fly?? Why do they think they have to hang around the gate area -- especially with the advance check-in feature? ALL airlines general gate areas can be the pits when busy. So now I'll offer the real answer, and why these people have a problem -- and the 'secret' to being comfortable onboard."
"To the above person who loves the cattle car airline so much, I would just reiterate the fact that with Southwest, unless you make sure you are the very first (rhymes with Ham) person in line, which requires you sitting on the floor in the gate area, you will have absolutely no chance of getting the prize exit row seats (which can often be arranged for in advance with real airlines who book seats!) and you have very little chance even then to get the best seats since most Southwest flights make multiple stops to pick up passengers (sounds like a bus to me!) before you can even board.
"The assertion that people are too (rhymes with Ham-again) lazy to walk to the middle of the plane is ridiculous since that is the place I make a beeline for, but usually to find someone already in the seat who boarded at the previous stop.
"At least SW has made a small effort to keep pre-boarders from taking exit rows which used to be a very prevalent abuse with them as well.
"At least I agree that my doctor would advise that Southwest, in its current form, 'is not the airline for me!'" [Rich In St. Louis (a major SW hub-darn it)]
"On my first visit to China at the moment so this may not be news to frequent Sino travelers. Just prior to my China Southern flight from Beijing to Guangzhou, I inquired about upgrading to biz class. I was told that could only be done if coach is full and that I should return to the counter 30 minutes before flight. Upon my return, coach was, in fact, full and I was upgraded to business. I then asked what the cost would be. To my amazement... no charge.
"So what I learned was... just ask! All they can say is no. And China Southern is a Delta partner. BUT... no credit for intra China flights. Only international. I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too. The upgrade was good enough for me." [Jeff]
"This past January my husband and I were on a Delta flight out of St. Maarten. When we arrived into Atlanta to go through customs I realized I left my newly purchased Sony Sureshot (approx. $900.) under the seat.
"Needless to say, Customs wouldn't let me go back and retrieve my camera. Customs suggested that I run up to the gate where our plane arrived and have some Delta rep at the gate go in and check the plane. I ran through the airport and arrived at the gate before the next flight left.
"After almost BEGGING the Delta rep to go into the airplane and have someone check under the seat, they did me a big favor and went in to check.....but either a new passenger on the next flight out decided to keep themselves a belated Christmas gift, or whoever goes in to clean up the airplanes between flights decided the same thing. Whatever the case, I never got my camera back.....but worse than losing the camera was the lack of concern from the Delta employees. Even when I've called numerous times to Atlanta and Delta's lost and found......they could care less. So not only do they lack in the frequent flyer department....they need some attitude adjustments with their employees." [Vicki H.]
"In reply to M.H., NYC [in last week's Crier] - no it was no aberration with American - there was absolutely no problem with changing my ticket - I even got a chance to select my seat! - All at no cost!" [myra]
"I don't know if this is a new idea or not, but recently my wife and I were talking about our upcoming trip to Australia and the need to have copies of passports and credit card numbers in case they are stolen. We looked at taking copies with us or putting the info in my PDA but we were concerned that they could be stolen as well. Then the idea came to me to send the information to myself in an email so that it is available to me and only me anywhere in the world where there is an internet connection. I scanned all of the info and sent it to me and now I have the information at my disposal without the worry of having paper copies stolen.
"If anyone can see a downside of this, please let me know but I thought this would be a helpful tip for your readers." [Brian W.]
Until next week...
|
