Feedback from the Frontlines of Travel
"I had to respond to Aryeh B. [who commented last week about expedited security clearance for elite flyers]:
"I also live and fly out of Pittsburgh. I have just one thing to say to your comments -- try traveling every week -- at least a few times a week and have TSA letting the people that don't travel all the time into the preferred lines -- it happens ALL THE TIME!!! And then, you stand there while they try to decide whether their shoes need to come off, they can take their disposable camera through the line, etc.
"I agree with you - maybe it shouldn't be based on travel status, but airline club membership. All airline club members (and trust me - 95% of frequent fliers are club members) are awarded the status to go through the special line. Then, you too, can pay $300 plus if you want to go through the special line. But let me tell you - each and every person that is currently in that line has earned it - from people puking on the planes, to kids in your lap and screaming, to the 'we now charge for a glass of water on the plane' (let alone those of us who used to always be in the first class cabin but are now on the regional jets). Try landing week after week after midnight from your delayed flights from the North East - it is called earning your status. You want that status to be in the elite line - feel free - go to the airport every week and fly your flight - you'll have access to that elite line in no time. Suck it up - if you fly only a few times per year and you're in that 'regular line' - trust me, consider yourself lucky! Flying is no longer any fun for anyone, especially those of us that do so weekly!" [Teresa B.]
"I usually fly over a hundred domestic segments a year and pay TSA security fees again and again. The elite flyers (perhaps if they changed the line name to 'highly taxed flyers' or 'frequent flyers' there would be fewer objections) are subsidizing the security operation for the infrequent flyer and we are subject to the same probing and pawing of TSA along with everyone else. The main advantage of this line is the people in it usually know how to speed thru the process and there aren't people removing quart jars of shampoo and ten pounds of jewelry at the metal detector. If you resent not being able to use the line there is a simple solution - take 8 to 15 roundtrips each year and you too can be elite." [Jack M.]
"I'm sorry, but Charlotte T. in last week's newsletter was out of place with regard to pets on airplanes.
"I don't care whether she considers her poodle a 'member of her family' or not. On an airplane, an animal is cargo, or baggage, not a person. If I can't use frequent flier miles to pay for my checked bags, why should someone else be able to use them to pay for the animal under the seat in front of her? She should count herself lucky that the airline even allows the dog in the cabin, period.
"The suggestion that someone should check for the presence of a pet on board before she books a flight was just stupid. Suppose she's the first person booking a ticket? What's to stop any of the rest of the first class passengers from buying a ticket and bringing a pet? At that point, she's stuck.
"Nor is it her place, as a pharmacist, to assume that anyone else 'needs help' or that she has a prescribed medication for allergies, or that there is even a medication which works on a condition she is in no condition to judge. It's her arrogant attitude (my desire to have my dog with me at all times trumps anyone else's desire to breathe dander-free air, I say you need to be taking medication to cope with my dog's presence, etc.) that really needs changing." [Kevin M. - Baton Rouge, LA]
"Jol S. [writing in last week's newsletter] needs to check what was written and maybe think a little too before they shoot off angry and incorrect mail - and yes, I do have two disabled relatives - one of whom I fly with and travel with, from time to time - so yes I WAS thinking of not ONLY the disabled but ALSO the kids and young families.
"The very back of the plane is the SAFEST place to be hence the kids and parents comment - just check the stats." [Roger]
"Re Delta Frequent Flier Miles
"I decided to get a roundtrip ticket JFK/LHR for a January 2009 flight using my Delta FF miles. I had 52,000+ miles and was initially told I would need 50,000. When I called to make the reservation I was told I needed 70,000. I decided to 'purchase' 20,000 of my husband's miles -- for $240.00. When I called back I was told I needed 75,000 for exactly the same flight. So, I purchased another 5,000 miles for $60. When I tried again, I was told I really only needed 70,000 miles for the flight. I finally got to make the reservation, only to find it cost me another $212 for fees and cost of using FF miles. So, my cost for using FF miles for this flight was $512. I see that Delta is now offering flights to London for $458. Delta representatives refused to credit me back for the 5,000 miles I had purchased unnecessarily and couldn't explain why I had been given such a runaround.
"I won't bother going into the flight change that Delta made for our summer trip to Pisa, that I only learned about by chance since Delta never contacted me about the change. That cost us an extra hotel night and car rental fee -- and Delta's customer service reps were so rude.
"Needless to say, I will not use Delta again." [Angela H.]
"I read an article by Christopher Elliott who writes for National Geographic that raises some interesting issues. What happens to all the fees, excise taxes and passenger facility charges when one cancels a nonrefundable ticket. Do they get sent to the government or does the airline just pocket them? A good class action lawyer should look into this." [JMMG]
Until next week...
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