I learned of this site while searching the web this past weekend in hopes of finding some news of what the heck was going on with our luggage. Decided to join upon my return to Atlanta Monday, after the one bag that had been located was lost again. Not to post anything, just hoping to learn something. After reading through the posts related to USAir’s Philadelphia problems, I decided to throw in my two cents, only because I hadn't seen anything from the passengers’ point of view. So here goes, worth everything you paid for it:
Background: Thursday 12/23 Flying from Atlanta to parents' house in upstate NY with connection in Philly. Return trip on Monday 12/27. Same route in reverse.
For what was predicted only two or three days earlier as being a record-setting day for the Atlanta airport, US Air decided to staff a whole three people at their counter Thursday morning! One serving first class, the other helping people at the "self-serve" kiosks, and a whole one person working the line! Can't blame this one on weather.
Cancelled flights, delays, rebookings, overbookings, standby, etc. You know the story…
Thursday night at Philly F terminal (mid-meltdown at ground zero), US Air had a whole 4 people working! One milling about ignoring the long line of customers cursing him. Three actually helping customers. At 10pm sharp, one of the three put on her coat and left. Down to two!
Got to NY Thursday way late (which itself was way lucky considering). All bags missing. Waited for next flight in from Philly (only 30 minutes behind us). Not on that one. Drove up the next morning also. Not on that one. Started to notice a trend: Lots of bags seemed to be coming off the planes, but none were for the passengers who just got off. Started to think something was up.
Found out what was up Friday afternoon, as word of a Union sick-out hit the news.
Local airport in NY wouldn't answer the phone, so I had to drive up there 6 or 7 times over the weekend. That's always fun.
Found one bag Sunday morning at 1AM. (Yes, I was at the airport Christmas night at 1AM.)
Checked that bag back to Atlanta Monday morning. It's now been lost again.
Return trip was just as chaotic as the original. Cancelled flights, delays, rebookings, overbookings, standby, etc. You know the story…
Misc Comments/Observations:
The company seems to have gone to great lengths to make absolutely sure there's absolutely no way you can get a human being on the phone. The automated Baggage Help (Alex) is absolutely worthless. (BTW, "Alex" won't discuss claims over 4 days old; he just tries to forward you to the operator, which then disconnects you. So beginning yesterday even "Alex" stopped working.) The website Baggage Query page is absolutely worthless. And when I actually drive to the airport to talk to a human being... You guessed it. They're absolutely worthless.
At a previous job we had a phrase for projects that had been recognized as failed by the workers, but not officially cancelled. It was known as "smell of death". Characterized by a unique attitude among those assigned. A mixture of calm, peaceful acceptance coupled with lack of motivation and/or stress. People would work almost in slow motion. Not happy, but not unhappy either. Kinda weird atmosphere all in all.
US Air has the "smell of death". Employees have obviously given up. From GA to PA to NY. All of 'em.
Having spent the last few days learning about your company, now I know why. I'm fairly confident that you will in liquidation by February. Ya' see, Uncle Sam's been co-signing your loan applications the last few quarters, and come January he's not gonna do that anymore. Your company will need to secure a substantial amount of money (between $500 and $800 million from what I’ve read) based on its own credit-worthiness or the game is over. After this, no investor in their right mind will give you guys a dime.
So after all that, what's the passenger's opinion? Sc**w you guys. All of you. 30,000 people are gonna lose their jobs because of your Union. Oh well. 30,000 less Union members to donate to the Communist Party. 30,000 more people in this country that now understand the danger of the Union mob mentality. Plenty of cheap slightly used 737s for AirTran. Plenty of freshly vacated gate space for people and companies who care about their customers. And plenty of employees at the remaining airlines who get yet another opportunity to see their fate if they play the same game.
All in all, laying all of you off will be good for the industry, good for the country, and good for the consumer. And all of us who got sc**wed by your Union will celebrate the day it happens.
Boy, you sure showed them!
Background: Thursday 12/23 Flying from Atlanta to parents' house in upstate NY with connection in Philly. Return trip on Monday 12/27. Same route in reverse.
For what was predicted only two or three days earlier as being a record-setting day for the Atlanta airport, US Air decided to staff a whole three people at their counter Thursday morning! One serving first class, the other helping people at the "self-serve" kiosks, and a whole one person working the line! Can't blame this one on weather.
Cancelled flights, delays, rebookings, overbookings, standby, etc. You know the story…
Thursday night at Philly F terminal (mid-meltdown at ground zero), US Air had a whole 4 people working! One milling about ignoring the long line of customers cursing him. Three actually helping customers. At 10pm sharp, one of the three put on her coat and left. Down to two!
Got to NY Thursday way late (which itself was way lucky considering). All bags missing. Waited for next flight in from Philly (only 30 minutes behind us). Not on that one. Drove up the next morning also. Not on that one. Started to notice a trend: Lots of bags seemed to be coming off the planes, but none were for the passengers who just got off. Started to think something was up.
Found out what was up Friday afternoon, as word of a Union sick-out hit the news.
Local airport in NY wouldn't answer the phone, so I had to drive up there 6 or 7 times over the weekend. That's always fun.
Found one bag Sunday morning at 1AM. (Yes, I was at the airport Christmas night at 1AM.)
Checked that bag back to Atlanta Monday morning. It's now been lost again.
Return trip was just as chaotic as the original. Cancelled flights, delays, rebookings, overbookings, standby, etc. You know the story…
Misc Comments/Observations:
The company seems to have gone to great lengths to make absolutely sure there's absolutely no way you can get a human being on the phone. The automated Baggage Help (Alex) is absolutely worthless. (BTW, "Alex" won't discuss claims over 4 days old; he just tries to forward you to the operator, which then disconnects you. So beginning yesterday even "Alex" stopped working.) The website Baggage Query page is absolutely worthless. And when I actually drive to the airport to talk to a human being... You guessed it. They're absolutely worthless.
At a previous job we had a phrase for projects that had been recognized as failed by the workers, but not officially cancelled. It was known as "smell of death". Characterized by a unique attitude among those assigned. A mixture of calm, peaceful acceptance coupled with lack of motivation and/or stress. People would work almost in slow motion. Not happy, but not unhappy either. Kinda weird atmosphere all in all.
US Air has the "smell of death". Employees have obviously given up. From GA to PA to NY. All of 'em.
Having spent the last few days learning about your company, now I know why. I'm fairly confident that you will in liquidation by February. Ya' see, Uncle Sam's been co-signing your loan applications the last few quarters, and come January he's not gonna do that anymore. Your company will need to secure a substantial amount of money (between $500 and $800 million from what I’ve read) based on its own credit-worthiness or the game is over. After this, no investor in their right mind will give you guys a dime.
So after all that, what's the passenger's opinion? Sc**w you guys. All of you. 30,000 people are gonna lose their jobs because of your Union. Oh well. 30,000 less Union members to donate to the Communist Party. 30,000 more people in this country that now understand the danger of the Union mob mentality. Plenty of cheap slightly used 737s for AirTran. Plenty of freshly vacated gate space for people and companies who care about their customers. And plenty of employees at the remaining airlines who get yet another opportunity to see their fate if they play the same game.
All in all, laying all of you off will be good for the industry, good for the country, and good for the consumer. And all of us who got sc**wed by your Union will celebrate the day it happens.
Boy, you sure showed them!
