Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel
"In response to Charlotte T.'s letter about pets on the plane:
"I'm against allowing pets in the passenger cabin at all, let alone for a fee. My sister recently took a first class American Airlines flight from IAD to LAX and had to sit next to a passenger who carried on a cat. She is very allergic to pet dander. Since the plane was full and first class doesn't offer much room to move, she was left with two options: switch seats with someone in the economy cabin (causing her to waste a significant amount of money due to the fare difference that wouldn't have been refunded) or suffer through the flight. She and the person with the cat did put themselves as far apart as possible in the first class cabin, but my sister still spent 5+ hours sneezing, blowing her nose, and being miserable." [Jeff S.]
"God Forbid that I should ever have to sit on a flight with a 'small pet' being stowed where you usually put your feet. Where is small pet's owner going to put her feet - in the space of the passengers next to her? Apart from that there is no way I would want the smell of an animal - poohing and weeing in its cage next to me.
"No pets should be allowed in the passenger cabin of an aircraft. Think of your other travelling companions - babies are bad enough - just don't add the barking dog or miaowing cat. What with babies, animals and mobile phones - you will need ear phones all the way." [Meg M.]
"Does anyone know when the merger between NWA and Delta will take place?
"Will mileage transfer from one to the other? Will tickets one now has on NWA be good when merger is complete???" [Barbara]
[FrequentFlier replies - It is expected that the merger will be completed by the end of this year. Miles from the SkyMiles and WorldPerks programs will be consolidated into single accounts for the new program, which will maintain the SkyMiles name. Northwest tickets will still be honored post-merger, assuming the flight in question is still operated. If not, you can expect to be reaccommodated or issued a refund.]
"I have several issues with Colleen's response [regarding the necessity of drinking liquids throughout a flight].
"1st, like previous readers suggested, you can bring your own reusable empty container and fill up before you board the plan. You'll have all the water you feel you need for a long flight.
"2nd, the 8 glasses of water a day is a myth that has been debunked time and time again and should not be the basis for criticizing the airline industry's practices. (See http://www.snopes.com/medical/myths/8glasses.asp.) No one is suffering serious health consequences because of the change in airline policy. Additionally, not all airlines charge for beverages, so the reader has a choice." [Jasen F.]
"On a recent [Continental] international flight a young couple and baby were given a row of seats. Dad did his best to keep baby from screaming too much... just 2 rows back from Business First... Hellllooo?
"Suggested seating for future passenger safety and increase in goodwill:
"Disabled - at back of plane of front of back section if there is a WC there - Board FIRST with BUSINESS/Business FIRST class passengers.
"Parents with children youngest at the back of the back section and then oldest at the front behind the disabled - Board SECOND.
"Elite mileage board AFTER Disabled and may sit where they wish.
"Frequent Flyers and others by row.
"Guys... it's quicker, it's better, so WHY DON'T you DO IT? It really is common sense." [Roger]
"Some months ago booked tickets from a peripheral town (Whangarei) in New Zealand to Auckland, to Denver via LAX, then return six months later as I have been doing for lo these many years - probably 25. OK going ANZ outbound, but was told that on return in November there were absolutely NO seats for two FFs on the return trip from AKL to WRE. Sounds like this has been a policy change between the outbound trip and that coming inbound.
"'OK,' said I - 'book my wife on the first flight and me on the second.' 'Oh, no,' was the response - 'you have booked the trip using YOUR FF miles so she must fly with you - she may not fly separately.' So you guessed it - had to buy a one-way ticket for one. I wrote to ANZ Customer Service and got a (polite) kiss-off.
"So for those pairs of you who want to go to AKL or CCH from overseas, then take a domestic flight to a peripheral town, this is the latest wrinkle. I have learned not to trust UAL at all in their FF program, but now ANZ (also in economic strife) is being equally shirty.
"I am constantly amazed at how airlines treat their FF customers. As another example when booking a FF from NZ with UAL, one gets connected to Manila via a poor phone line, to someone who I know is trying hard, but doesn't communicate well in English. BUT - book a PAID flight and ZOOM! Right to Kuala Lumpur on an excellent phone line to someone who may speak better English than I.
"I guess the airlines (except for my now domestic favorite - Southwest - that operates with the CUSTOMER in mind) are going to continue to shoot themselves in the foot and treat FFs like dirt. Well, when the coming economic shakeout occurs and airlines start to go out of business, stick with the airlines that at least treat a FF as they would any other paying customer. After all we DID pay for those FF tickets regardless of what an airline wants to maintain! And watch even good-ol' friendly ANZ for the latest game - they cannot be trusted either! Sad..." [David R.]
"You might suggest something I learned from another frequent flyer. Buy $50 in restaurant gift certificates during the bonus offer and use them when you want." [Ken G.]
Until next week...
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