Well, I thought I was being smart when I read an article about how to get a US Airways RT to London Gatwick for very little cash. I signed up for two credit cards, and Voila! It was done.
Or was it?
The only flights US Airways had on the dates required were from Dallas, not Austin (my origination point). So, the original fees charged me for the credit cards (equaling about $140) were now having an additional $175 tacked on for a RT hop from Austin to Dallas.
The total ticketing was now $315. When I booked the tickets from Dallas, I was charged the taxes (around $150) for the international flight. This now brings the ticket total to $465. Still a deal… but, rather than a two leg trip (which I’m used to), this has now become a three-leg trip with stops at DFW, Charlotte, and London Gatwick.
Fast forward to today. A month prior to the trip. I realize now that both airlines have shifted schedules so much that I won’t be able to make my Austin connection on the way home. I called US Airways to see if I could get an earlier flight from Charlotte.
I can’t.
I must fork out $188 to American Airlines to get an earlier flight. The cost of my “free” ticket is now $653.
I think, “Perhaps I can get back some frequent flier miles from US Air.” I try that. Surprise! They not only can book me from Charlotte, but they can get me to Austin non-stop! Yay!
I call American back (within an hour of having made my reservation from Charlotte) to ask if they can stop the ticket purchase I had just made. With the US Airlines agent on the phone with me, telling me that US Air has a policy to refund if a change is made within 24 hours… the American agent refused. Bluntly. Not only did she refuse, but so did her supervisor.
I asked if American wanted my future business… and there was silence.
There is no phone number for AA customer relations, only an email. I’m sure they’ll receive my complaint tomorrow (Monday) by which time if they *could* have refunded my money, they wouldn’t.
This treatment angers me on so many different levels.
Airlines shifting schedules so that it inconveniences customers to this extent.
Incompetent agents not verifying schedules and giving incorrect information.
Rude agents and impossible airline policies that won’t refund a ticket within 24 hours when there’s no reason not to.
I will probably fly US Airways again since the second agent was able to get me a round trip directly to Charlotte from Austin. However, American will never see me again.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Keepin' it Real...
Well, it’s rolling on down to time for my vacation! I’m so looking forward to this.
Kim and Greg called last weekend to confirm a few things and I sent them an updated schedule with train times.
Kim is going to tweak my schedule just a bit, herself, and when she does I’ll post it.
One of my most favorite things to do on vacation is buy presents. Which is odd, because it costs money and they can be very unwieldy to carry. However, be that as it may, I LOVE doing it. One of my most memorable trips was when I was in York and I located a ropemaker on the other side of the county. Well, I have a friend that makes rope and another friend that wanted sheep’s roving (which is the cleaned and processed wool of a sheep). I had NO idea how I was going to do this, but I got in my car, and headed out (on the LEFT side of the road) for Hawes – land of the ropemaker. Well, it was an interesting tour on how rope is made, and I was able to get a few samples and a book for my friend. Amazingly enough, we were at the heart of Wensleydale (sort of the Wisconsin of England). They had a country museum in Hawes, and it was THERE I was able to locate a sheep farm that sold roving! So, on my way back, I did a little side trip, and Voila. Sheep roving!
I liken my passion for finding gifties to hunting wild game in Africa. I love chasing down the exact right gift. It doesn’t always work out that way, and I know plenty of my friends are likely tired of key chains and post cards… but I do my best.
Thank goodness for my friend Russ who just comes right out and says, “I’d like a shot glass from…” or “something in tweed from Scotland”… those are the most efficient trips, I find.
Now, for myself? I usually do one or two really memorable things. Like in Dublin, I got myself a tshirt from the concert I attended and one from Trinity College.
I don’t know what I’ll be getting’ myself into this year. Probably something from the distilleries I plan to visit in Scotland. I’ll be going back to the ropemakers for more samples for my friend as well. And I’ve run out of locations for sheep roving – unless you know of any!!!
That’s about it for this round. I’ll write more when I get the updated schedule.
Tirrah, me ducks!
Kim and Greg called last weekend to confirm a few things and I sent them an updated schedule with train times.
Kim is going to tweak my schedule just a bit, herself, and when she does I’ll post it.
One of my most favorite things to do on vacation is buy presents. Which is odd, because it costs money and they can be very unwieldy to carry. However, be that as it may, I LOVE doing it. One of my most memorable trips was when I was in York and I located a ropemaker on the other side of the county. Well, I have a friend that makes rope and another friend that wanted sheep’s roving (which is the cleaned and processed wool of a sheep). I had NO idea how I was going to do this, but I got in my car, and headed out (on the LEFT side of the road) for Hawes – land of the ropemaker. Well, it was an interesting tour on how rope is made, and I was able to get a few samples and a book for my friend. Amazingly enough, we were at the heart of Wensleydale (sort of the Wisconsin of England). They had a country museum in Hawes, and it was THERE I was able to locate a sheep farm that sold roving! So, on my way back, I did a little side trip, and Voila. Sheep roving!
I liken my passion for finding gifties to hunting wild game in Africa. I love chasing down the exact right gift. It doesn’t always work out that way, and I know plenty of my friends are likely tired of key chains and post cards… but I do my best.
Thank goodness for my friend Russ who just comes right out and says, “I’d like a shot glass from…” or “something in tweed from Scotland”… those are the most efficient trips, I find.
Now, for myself? I usually do one or two really memorable things. Like in Dublin, I got myself a tshirt from the concert I attended and one from Trinity College.
I don’t know what I’ll be getting’ myself into this year. Probably something from the distilleries I plan to visit in Scotland. I’ll be going back to the ropemakers for more samples for my friend as well. And I’ve run out of locations for sheep roving – unless you know of any!!!
That’s about it for this round. I’ll write more when I get the updated schedule.
Tirrah, me ducks!
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