United Airlines doesn’t want to talk to you on the phone about your complaints — so they’re disconnecting it. MSNBC is reporting that starting in April, the airline will shut down the call center that deals with customer complaints.
travel
JetBlue Will Refund Your Ticket If You Get Laid Off Or Fired
By 2.18.09
Afraid you might get laid off? Too worried to book plane tickets? JetBlue thinks you are. They’ve launched a program that guarantees a full refund to those of you who get laid off at least two weeks before you fly.
US Airways And Delta Duel Over The Phone For Most Incompetent Airline Ever Award
By 2.16.09
Want a great example of the broken state of airline customer service in this country? Try a four-way conference call between yourself, Amex Travel, US Airways, and Delta. You’ll see firsthand how CSRs from the two airlines can play the “it’s not our responsibility” so well that even a devoted Amex Travel rep can’t get them to solve your problem.
Polite Complaint Letter To Delta Earns Passenger 5,000 Extra Miles
By 2.14.09
A glitch in Delta’s website bumped Jesse’s return date up by a month, which sort of interfered with his travel plans when he showed up at the airport to check in. Here’s the complaint letter he sent to Delta, and their response.
Unstick Your Ears After A Flight
By 2.12.09
Sometimes your ears get stuck during airplane rides and even an hour later, you’ve still got a painful pressure built-up and difficulty hearing. Here’s some things you can do to unclog the works.
Private Jet Manufacturers Annoyed At Backlash, Claim Jets Are Practical
By 2.11.09
Did you know that private jets are actually quite practical? We didn’t. The Wall Street Journal says that private jet manufacturers are angry at the backlash against private jets and are speaking out to “counter business aircraft misinformation.”
Sorry Chicago: O'Hare Airport Is Worst In The Nation, Midway Not Far Behind
By 2.10.09
If you flew out of O’Hare in December — we are so sorry. Only 55 percent of O’Hare flights departed on time. If you thought you were smart and chose to fly out of Midway instead — you were, but it was the second worst airport in the US, so don’t get too excited.
United's Secret Australia Sale: ~$1000 Round Trip Tickets
By 2.9.09
If you want to hit Australia like right now,United is having an unadvertised sale with roundtrip tickets for about $1000, no advance purchase required. For instance, JFK is only $973 with taxes. Usually no advance purchase required tickets cost a pretty penny. The deal is good at airports all across the nation. Qantas is price-matching the sale, too.
Animals Are Attacking US Airways, Run For Your Lives
By 2.6.09
“No injuries were reported when a passenger jet hit a deer Wednesday evening while taxiing at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport,” reported the Charlotte Observer. An airport official told the paper that it was a “freak accident.”
WaMu: No Refund, You "Authorized" Those Muggers
By 2.6.09
This tourist in Rome got robbed and WaMu won’t reimburse him for the money they stole from his debit account.
Four Reasons Not To Book Your Hotel Room Through A Third-Party Site
By 1.31.09
You won’t get the best deal booking your hotel room through third-party sites like Expedia or Travelocity, according to an anonymous hospitality industry insider. Inside, four excellent reasons to book directly with a hotel to guarantee the best rooms at the best prices.
1549 Passengers Get Elite Frequent Flier Status, For A Limited Time
By 1.30.09
One of the cool things about being one of the few people in the world to survive a crash water landing is that you get preferred frequent flier mile status. The passengers from flight 1549 that crashed in the Hudson river will get US Airways “Chairman’s Preferred status,” which entitles them and a companion to first-class seat upgrades, choice seating, and priority check-in. In a letter to the passenger, CEO Doug Parker describes it as his airline’s “most coveted frequent flier level.” But you better get over your PTSD-induced drowning nightmares quick, 1549ers, the status expires in March 2010. The CEO’s letter in full, inside…
$10 Check From Budget Secretly Signs You Up For Costly Club
By 1.29.09
If you’ve rented from Budget and get a $10, check in the mail, don’t sign it, reports Upgrade Travel Better. The fine print says doing so gives “Trilegiant” permission to sign you up in a monthly “discount” club with a monthly fee. Worse, it allows them to use the credit card you rented the car with to start charging the fees. Pretty sleazy.
Behold The Nastiest, Foulest Hotel In America
By 1.28.09
Is this the dirtiest, foulest hotel in America? The voters on TripAdvisor.com think so, and the rating doesn’t seem to have come as a shock to the management of the hotel — the manager told NY1, “because they are a one star hotel, they have one star standards of cleanliness.” Well, ew.
Don't Get Your Account Frozen When Traveling Overseas
By 1.28.09
Nothing sucks like getting stranded internationally without cash, which can happen if your bank confuses your sudden overseas withdrawals with potential fraud and puts a block on your account. That’s why it can be a good idea to call your bank up and have them put a note on your account to say when and where you’ll be traveling. ING Direct customers, for one, go to their checking account maintenance page and fill out the form that asks about travel info. Sure you could probably just call to get the block lifted but then you have to buy a card with one of those funky chips in it and figure out the international calling code and whatnot. (Thanks to Brandon Savage!) (Photo: piglicker)
Hotels Eliminating Hand Lotion, Coffee, Providing Fewer Towels
By 1.22.09
If you’re a frequent business traveler your life is probably getting less and less plush as the economic disaster continues. Hotels say that they are cutting small amenities such as hand lotion, coffee, extra towels and buffet breakfasts in order to save money.
16-Hour Flight From Hell – "You Can Either Stay Onboard, Or Get Arrested"
By 1.22.09
A six-hour flight from Mexico to Seattle turned into a 16-hour ordeal after intense fog caused the flight to be rerouted to Portland.
Some Advice: Please Do Not Open The Emergency Exit And Walk On The Wing Of The Aircraft
By 1.21.09
Here’s a little advice for all you impatient people out there. We know its really annoying when you’re towards the middle of the plane and have to wait for all the stupid, slow people in front of you to pick up their crap and get off the plane — but don’t think that you can just open the emergency exit and walk around on the wing of the plane.
