AIRLINES NOT to USE to TOURNAMENTS

[wahrman]

I've never been asked specifically what's in the bag.
No one has ever pressed on after my "sporting goods" response.

Just lucky so far I suppose. Either that or BA, Virgin, Hawaiian
and NWA don't really care.

[oso97]

Wait a moment, something else just clicked. They charged you an extra $20 bucks for an aisle seat?

I always fly American (DFW is their headquarters, so...) and I've never been charged extra for an aisle seat, and never been charged extra for "oversize" bagage.

[seven6ty]

No no no, for an exit aisle seat. You know the row that the emergency exit is in. You get like an extra 6" of leg room, in coach, so I always try to get those, but they're usually one of the first ones taken. With an extra 20 dollar charge, nobody seems to snatch them up, but being 6'4", I'll pay an extra 20 bucks in a jiffy. Heh, I just said jiffy.

[AndrewH]

OK, so I just got off the phone with AirTran, and they said that fencing equipment isn't sporting equipment, therefore it isn't free to bring on the plane. Flatly denied a refund and wouldn't let me speak to anyone else.

Never flying AirTran again. Fencers as a group should boycott them for this ridiculous policy.

[OROD]

OK, so I just got off the phone with AirTran, and they said that fencing equipment isn't sporting equipment, therefore it isn't free to bring on the plane. Flatly denied a refund and wouldn't let me speak to anyone else.

Never flying AirTran again. Fencers as a group should boycott them for this ridiculous policy.

What a bunch of monkeys. I've never flown them (thank God) and now probably never will.

Thnx for the heads up guys, I have a feeling you're saving me lots of aggravation.

.

[oiuyt]

No no no, for an exit aisle seat. You know the row that the emergency exit is in. You get like an extra 6" of leg room, in coach, so I always try to get those, but they're usually one of the first ones taken. With an extra 20 dollar charge, nobody seems to snatch them up, but being 6'4", I'll pay an extra 20 bucks in a jiffy. Heh, I just said jiffy.

Hmmm. Near the beginning of our discussions the original agent looked at me and asked if I wanted an exit row seat. Having a boarding pass neatly printed with a center seat in the last row of the plane I, naturally, said "sure." No charge was ever mentioned or assessed. Seat was an aisle exit-row seat.

Incidently the seat next to me (a window, the plane was a 2-3 configuration) ended up going to a stand-by passenger. Despite the fact that at the time my seat was changed our other coach specifically asked if there were two available (and, yes, I DID offer to let her swap with me and take the exit row).

Real conversation:

<SNIP>
LVS: "#%$&*@ AirTran."

Oohhh, I can't believe that you would publically disparage the character a perfectly nice 14-year-old by claiming that she has a potty mouth. Even if it WAS a real conversation...

-B

[KD5MDK]

I shall assume that it was a surprise performance by Lily von Schtupp from Blazing Saddles, which left behind an entertained coach and bewildered foilist.

[darius]

LVS: "#%$&*@ AirTran."

Oohhh, I can't believe that you would publically disparage the character a perfectly nice 14-year-old by claiming that she has a potty mouth. Even if it WAS a real conversation...

Why are YOU disparaging her by mischaracterizing her words? She said "Pound Percent Dollar Sign And Star Ampersand AirTran." Don't know what that means exactly, but I think it's something that you might TXT to your BFF, LOL.

darius

[KD5MDK]

She said "Pound Percent Dollar Sign Ampersand Asterisk At AirTran."

Fixed that for you.

[mlr2fence]

This is a battle that USFA, as an organization, should get involved in along with the individual fencers.
I've noticed an increasing number of fencers are using the wheelie fencing bags and fewer and fewer using the hard shell golf bags. I wonder if this is part of the issue--the airlines are just seeing more 'fencing' bags and figure its a good revenue source. Heaven forbid that they raise the ire of golfers by charging them!

[koorsgirl]

One of our fencers, a girl and Mom, were using a hard shell and asked what was in it. Not knowing about the charge they said sporting equipment and then then when asked if it was golf clubs answered honestly.

[piste off]

OK, so I just got off the phone with AirTran, and they said that fencing equipment isn't sporting equipment, therefore it isn't free to bring on the plane. Flatly denied a refund and wouldn't let me speak to anyone else.

Never flying AirTran again. Fencers as a group should boycott them for this ridiculous policy.

Fencing is an Olympic sport. Golf is not.

There must be something about Atlanta... I once was stopped by a security Bubba because I presented a passport, not a driver's license with a picture (NJ does not require it). It took 20 minutes to resolve and I barely made the plane. I have a friend that works for Homeland Security that verified that passports are the Mother of all IDs.

Unfortunately I booked Airtran for Atlanta and cancelled the trip, so I have a coupon for a future flight... Time to buy that SKB case I've been eyeing and I'll have to pick up a pair of ugly plaid pants for when I use it.

Rick

[dberke]

She said "Octothorpe Percent Dollar Sign Ampersand Asterisk At AirTran."

Fixed that for you.

I've made an additional correction above for those of us who love useless trivia...

(see http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-oct1.htm)

Dan

[KD5MDK]

That's not a correction, that's an interpretation. I was correcting names that darius used incorrectly. You're just adding a joke that came out of Bell Labs, just like UNIX.

[AndrewH]

I wonder if the USFA can make a call to AirTran and inform them that fencing is indeed a sport?

[KD5MDK]

I think the USOC would be a little more impressive. Think Stacey Johnson would do it for us?

I have to admit, there's this cool feeling of picking up the phone and hearing "This is the United Airlines Olympic Travel Desk. How can I help you?"
even if you're just flying to a Div II NAC.

[NotIndPk]

....... You're just adding a joke that came out of Bell Labs, just like UNIX.

...next time you do anything, make sure you remove the Bell Labs related product in and around whatever you are doing...

...as opposed to what....the finely tuned always reliable product form Microsoft??????

[tkexi991]

I live in Atlanta, so flying Delta is pretty much a given. It also helps I have friends and neighbors who work there.

In the three years I have flown with them (I have a small # of miles accrued), I have not been charged extra for my fencing bag. If you are paying $50 +fare on AirTran, it isn't much of a discount.

All airlines have delays and things like that; Delta sets itself apart by having better customer service and actually getting your bags to you.

[seak]

yeah delta great customer service as they make you go through security 4 different times without having left a secure area, and don't allow you to go to the bathroom or drink without having to go through security again, or to buy bottled water at the airport and then don't serve you a beverage on the flight. On top of which they are consistently late. Yep great customer service.

[AndrewH]

I've heard complaints about every airline, but the number of things I've heard about Delta just massively outnumbers everyone else added together. I have never flown Delta and never will, just because I've heard so many bad things about them.

Continental is probably the lesser of the evils when it comes to airlines.