To whine or not to whine? That is the question...
Dec 3, 2009, 11:54 am
#16
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 552
That is a shame, did you think about repacking her two bags?
Unfortunately this happens to all of us, I hope the agent at least was courteous about it. Last winter I was flying HI out of Hawaii and connecting on to a UA flight on UA ticket stock. My only bag was 52.5 lbs and they insisted I remove something or pay the fee for being over the limit. So I stuffed my carry-on with some clothes, the plane was no lighter in the end....
Unfortunately this happens to all of us, I hope the agent at least was courteous about it. Last winter I was flying HI out of Hawaii and connecting on to a UA flight on UA ticket stock. My only bag was 52.5 lbs and they insisted I remove something or pay the fee for being over the limit. So I stuffed my carry-on with some clothes, the plane was no lighter in the end....
Had the same issue as you on Hawaiian. Continental would have allowed 70 lbs., but our first leg was an inter-island flight on Hawaiian, and we had to meet their 50 lb requirement. Fortunately, we were able to step aside and re-pack to get each bag under 50 lbs. (I think our heaviest was 53, or so).
I don't have a problem with the limits, though. It may not make sense that a 10 lb bag paired with a 51 lb bag generates a fee while a 30 lb bag with a 31 lb bag does not, but they do need to think about the baggage handlers. If everyone packed one very heavy bag, it would be much harder on the people that have to move the bags around and load/unload them.
Dec 3, 2009, 1:11 pm
#17
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: CO hublette
Programs: UA AU MM,HH Diamond,Hyatt Globalist , Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,285
I just want to follow the rules
Dec 3, 2009, 1:21 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
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Posts: 21,646
Dec 3, 2009, 1:33 pm
#19
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Central Florida
Programs: MP 1K/Onepass Plat 1MM, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 562
You can call the local Bureau of Weights and Measures and have them check the scale's accuracy. The fines can be pretty serious and if the problem is widespread, one could make the case that it is intentional.
Dec 3, 2009, 2:16 pm
#20
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Palm Springs area
Posts: 87
A recent WSJ blog about NY scales: http://blogs.wsj.com/middleseat/2009...cale-accurate/
Dec 3, 2009, 2:16 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: New Jersey
Programs: CO One Pass Hipster, *G, Expedia Elite Plus, :rolleyes: Premier Exec.
Posts: 2,694
Dec 3, 2009, 5:04 pm
#23
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 943
My favorite customers are the ones who feel the need to tell me how "unhappy" they are with "Continental" for things beyond any airlines' control, such as an embargo on bags (out of Acapulco, while they are screaming at their poor husband for dribbling food on his self...) or the fact that they missed their flight because they were too drunk to show up.
When I say "favorite", please, feel free to include your own sarcasm...
Dec 3, 2009, 5:51 pm
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,153
So I took her bag, took a few things out and put some bulky light weight things from her carry-on and switched them. She wasnt too happy not my Mom the agent, as the scale tipped just right and she couldnt charge us.
true doing all of this in the middle of the term wasnt easy, but I got it done
Dec 3, 2009, 6:20 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Programs: DL SM Plat, B6 TrueBlue, UA MP, AAdvantage
Posts: 10,008
Rules = $$$
I also agree that rules are rules. We all would love to receive a little slack, but every rule has an arbitrary line in the sand that you cannot pass without paying the consequences (or in the case the dollars).
After all, the rules are also there to raise revenue, so since CO has been losing lots of money, the likelihood of of getting some slack is lowered.
That said, in my experience, CO is one of the most, shall we say fastidious, in its application of the rules.
I have often flown on B6 with two checked bags, one of which exceeded the limit by a few lbs and the one was quite a bit below. Instead of making me move dirty clothes from one bag to another they just let it slide -- it's the same total weight anyway so why be petty.
But when I have had a similar circumstance on CO I have always been required to shift a few lbs from bag A to bag B.
I recently flew UA YVR-ORD and had both bags over by a few lbs. The gate agent didn't even bring it up and checked our bags with a smile.
Obviously CO enforces its policies to earn more money, but there are cases when the extra few bucks in revenue isn't worth the damage to the relationship with the customer.
CO wasn't always like this. In the glory days of Bob Six, every page of the customer service manual had a phrase stating "nothing in this manual supersedes common sense."
How far the golden bird has alas fallen since...
Every page of L "Cheapo" Kellner's customer service manual has a phrase stating: "Nothing in this manual supersedes our desire to nickel and dime."
After all, the rules are also there to raise revenue, so since CO has been losing lots of money, the likelihood of of getting some slack is lowered.
That said, in my experience, CO is one of the most, shall we say fastidious, in its application of the rules.
I have often flown on B6 with two checked bags, one of which exceeded the limit by a few lbs and the one was quite a bit below. Instead of making me move dirty clothes from one bag to another they just let it slide -- it's the same total weight anyway so why be petty.
But when I have had a similar circumstance on CO I have always been required to shift a few lbs from bag A to bag B.
I recently flew UA YVR-ORD and had both bags over by a few lbs. The gate agent didn't even bring it up and checked our bags with a smile.
Obviously CO enforces its policies to earn more money, but there are cases when the extra few bucks in revenue isn't worth the damage to the relationship with the customer.
CO wasn't always like this. In the glory days of Bob Six, every page of the customer service manual had a phrase stating "nothing in this manual supersedes common sense."
How far the golden bird has alas fallen since...
Every page of L "Cheapo" Kellner's customer service manual has a phrase stating: "Nothing in this manual supersedes our desire to nickel and dime."
Last edited by TWA Fan 1; Dec 3, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Dec 3, 2009, 6:51 pm
#27
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
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Dec 3, 2009, 9:22 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Programs: DL SM Plat, B6 TrueBlue, UA MP, AAdvantage
Posts: 10,008
None. How about this for the opening salvo of Smisek's tenure? UA may have E+, but CO will launch its new and revolutionary FC-.
Based on those EuroBusiness sections, FC- will entail the removal of all the domestic FC sestions and the conversion of all non-BF aircraft to single class.
FC- will be in the first few rows of the plane and the premium service will entail a free hot towel service and a 25% discount on LiveTV service. There will be no other enhancement compared to regular economy (catering will also be the same as economy).
In order to commemorate the launch of FC-, CO would be rebranded RyanAir USA.
Other revenue enhancements, inspired by RyanAir, will include charges for lavatory use, $25 for the first carry-on bag (the personal item), and $75 for the 2nd carry-on bag (with a $125 surcharge for a roll-aboard), pay window shades, and locked seat-back pouches that will require a payment to be unlocked.
All passengers will be weighed and any passenger weighing more 150 lbs will be charged $1 per lb over 150 lbs.
Now that would make a splash
Based on those EuroBusiness sections, FC- will entail the removal of all the domestic FC sestions and the conversion of all non-BF aircraft to single class.
FC- will be in the first few rows of the plane and the premium service will entail a free hot towel service and a 25% discount on LiveTV service. There will be no other enhancement compared to regular economy (catering will also be the same as economy).
In order to commemorate the launch of FC-, CO would be rebranded RyanAir USA.
Other revenue enhancements, inspired by RyanAir, will include charges for lavatory use, $25 for the first carry-on bag (the personal item), and $75 for the 2nd carry-on bag (with a $125 surcharge for a roll-aboard), pay window shades, and locked seat-back pouches that will require a payment to be unlocked.
All passengers will be weighed and any passenger weighing more 150 lbs will be charged $1 per lb over 150 lbs.
Now that would make a splash
Last edited by TWA Fan 1; Dec 3, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Dec 3, 2009, 9:39 pm
#30
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Houston
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, UA 1.56MM (fmr UA1K)
Posts: 5,772
I won't go quite that far, but I mostly agree. Asking for leniency is fine, but you should not necessarily expect to receive it. You're asking for a favor and there is no rule that it has to be granted. Once it is denied, however, you really have no reasonable claim to further requests/compensation. After all, the rules were followed correctly.