posted
Funny how with me I was first a railfan and then a railroad employee during the industry's "Dark Ages" when every other minute a train was being discontinued. How often when I was in 'Nam 67-68 I'd pick up a two day old Times or Journal in the Base Library and read about the latest train-off. I honestly was wondering what would be left to ride when I got home during July 1968.
Now with the Amtrak Long Distance system stable and short distance services being added, the shoe is on the other foot. It is "plane offs" - and I became a victim of one such.
For whatever reason, a flight I was going to take to HPN (OK, I'll be a nice guy and use IATA codes; also plain English - White Plains NY) on Sat Aug 3 leaving ORD about 11AM was discontinued. There was only going to be one flight that day and it would leave 615P and get to HPN at about 930P. There would go any Saturday evening plans with my Sister, and I was prepared to go out Friday August 2 instead.
However the United website said the $200 exchange fee would apply, and I really thought this situation was brought about by United when they discontinued the fliight I was booked on.
Well, I thought "let's give the old fashioned way a try", so I phoned and got to talk with a very courteous agent. I explained the circumstances and without hesitation she agreed to waive the $200 exchange fee and booked me on a 130P Friday flight with no other change to the $394 fare. I have e-mail confirmation that has been done.
My return flight Tuesday Aug 6 was also advanced by two hours, but was simply a "c'est la vie" moment with me.
While of course I'll be out there in Greenwich one more day than my usual three, and am looking at an additional $200 to Hyatt and $90 to Hertz, that doesn't phase me as I will be getting benefit of additional time with family.
Moral of the story to any here who fly (that seems to be everybody save one member from Upstate New York); if you have reasonable cause for making a change to an itinerary, especially if brought about by a change the airline made, phone 'em up and explain the circumstances. It certainly was worth it in this case with me.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
The Transportation Department's Essential Air Service routes to underserved rural areas seems to be getting cut back, too. I keep hearing of small cities in the Upper Midwest losing their meager (once and maybe twice a day) feeder service using small commuter turboprops.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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Did you catch the change or did United contact you? In my recent experience they expect you to check your flights periodically and then you are given the choice to accept them or not.
Smitty's favorite airline, Virgin America does still notify you if there is a change.
All--
Yep, we've booked another cruise. This one is a 7 night Alaska on Celebrity Century on the 23rd from Vancouver. The only train riding, I expect, will be the SkyTrain from YVR to Canada Place.
There is a LD rid in the offing, though -- SBA-TAC on the Starlight in early September.
Frank in sunny and warm SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Frank, your outfit contacted me by e-mail. My opening message was adapted from an e-mail I sent to a wonderful friend who is a United (always) Flight Attendant.
Mr. Kisor, something tells me that Westchester County will hardly be considered an "underserved" area.
Just think though, how many would have just as soon not gone through an "e-mail writing contest" with them and simply ponied up the $200 for the change, or else lived with the revised itinerary. The latter was simply unacceptable to me as it would cut too deeply into planned social time with my Sister and family.
Back on the rails, while I understand fully why Amtrak has made #48, Lake Shore, into the NYC "Chicagoan", it is simply so inconvenient for me to even consider it for my couple of trips to Greenwich each year. Likewise, and even though Messrs. Presley, "JP", Pullman Co, Ocala Mike, RRRICH, and whoever else I forgot know I don't drive about in "rolling totals" and tie up at major brand hotels after ten hours behind the wheel, my Sister will still worry about me driving out. Therefore it is fly by default - and that is how it has been for every trip since 2008 (last rail was 2006; CHI-WAS-STM-NYP-CHI).
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
I've experienced the airline schedule change after booking myself. The airline dropped a nonstop flight Atlanta - San Diego flight that I was booked for and offered to accommodate me on one that changed somewhere..... phoenix, las vegas.... I can't recall.
With a phone call I was actually able to book a non-stop flight into Los Angeles instead without incurring a change fee.
This was three or four years ago though. Not sure if the airline would be so accommodating now.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Henry Kisor: The Transportation Department's Essential Air Service routes to underserved rural areas seems to be getting cut back, too. I keep hearing of small cities in the Upper Midwest losing their meager (once and maybe twice a day) feeder service using small commuter turboprops.
Without the cutthroat competition the price of "essential air services" flights tends to be high. Also, when the things were cooked up many of the places served were connected to the rest of the world by miles of two lane road where average speeds could be in the 40 mph range, and in the hillier parts of the country much less. Now most places are attached to the world by much higher quality roads, if not limited access highways. Thus driving to/from these places is much easier than in the past. Both these factors have pushed down the demand for these flights significantly. It is also worth mentioning that the political clout of rural and small town areas is much diminished due to population shifts.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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posted
This might be interest. They go where the money is!
From today's United Daily, the employee e-mail update.
UNITED DAILY – THURSDAY, June 6, 2013
IN TODAY’S ISSUE:
We launch new routes from ORD, CLE, IAD, DEN and AUS Tropical storm Andrea takes aim at Florida coast IATA proposes historic, global approach to emissions regulation Now available for purchase: CO historical destination posters
We launch new routes from ORD, CLE, IAD, DEN and AUS We began a half-dozen new seasonal and year-round mainline and United Express routes on Thursday, highlighted by our five-times weekly service between ORD and SNN (Shannon, Ireland). Seasonal routes include: ORD-SNN five times weekly Boeing 757-200 service ORD-FAI (Fairbanks, Alaska) daily 737-800 service CLE-PDX (Portland, Ore.) daily 737-700 service *IAD-YVR (Vancouver) Saturday and Sunday 737-800 service *AUS-SJD (Austin, Texas, to San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico) Saturday Airbus 319 service *routes begin June 8 Year-round United Express routes include: DEN-YMM (Fort McMurray, Canada) DEN-DIK (Dickinson, N.D.) DEN-SGU (St. George, Utah) As with all route changes we make, Network Planning continually monitors supply and demand in markets to help determine when service to a new market may be profitable and sustainable. This includes local market demand and capacity as well as flow demand and capacity to the cities with available connecting service. We monitor global and local economic changes and trends and changes in capacity by other carriers. Read more about how we choose new routes in the June 2012 issue of World.
World is the online employee magazine.
Frank in sunny but cool SBA -- headed to warm and humid BNA tomorrow!
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Hope you have a nice flight to BNA which used to be a nicer airport with lots of open space. Over the last decade the labyrinth of extra security screening lines and equipment have diminished the BNA experience somewhat.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by sbalax: This might be interest. They go where the money is!
Well, Frank, I'd like to know where there is more of that stuff laying around than in Westchester {NY) and Fairfield (CT) Counties.
Since only American (puddle jumpers) is also on the route (I don't know my way around ORD Terminal 3 to the same extent I do United's Terminal 1) KORD-KHPN and can command a premium of at least a round trip $100 over same through KLGA (probably $150 over KEWR), I'm at a loss to know why United is at "Amtrak frequency", i.e. "one a day", even if it is a Saturday.
Finally, the route was formerly operated by Sky West that flew 50 seat Bombardiers, but now it is Express Jet (weren't they a CO operator?) and their Embraers ERJ-145 with 2-1 seating. I have to wonder if those "flying pencils" even have standing headroom; but I've got my "1 side" seat way aft for "flightseeing" and I have no reason to get up during a 2hr flight.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
I use Travelocity for all my airline schedules. I'll be flying from TVC to EYW (Traverse City, MI to Key West, FL) this fall and need to make not 1, but 2 plane changes enroute. Over the last two weeks, Travelocity has informed me of at least 2 flight schedule changes for that trip -- they are very good about informing passengers of such changes. Of course, Traverse City Cherry Capital Airport has flights from 3 whole airlines only!! (United, Delta, and American, I believe)
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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