Thoughts & Experiences from the Mile High City
I am just amazed that United allowed this to escalate to the level where it did. In hot weather they are usually pushing cold air through the plane while at the gate and tarmac. I am surprised it was not cooler.
But when they realized it was that hot, that they did not do something for the child or the other passengers. It is just not acceptable.
As a person who works for the federal government I have always worked to ensure the public and customers if the agencies I worked for got my best service.
I guess the TSA doesn’t care. As a taxpayer and a person who travels we are paying them to ensure we are secure on airplanes. We also should expect to get through security with the least amount of inconvenience.
But it that is not what’s happening at Denver International Airport.
I usually take the bridge to Concourse A. It more convenient than the other security checkpoints and always much faster.
But on a busy Saturday evening travel night they closed the bridge at 5:45 pm.
Look at the people waiting to get through security.
There is no excuse for an entity to treat taxpayers and travelers who pay for this service to be treated this way.
Oh, more than half the people on the train got off at the A concourse. This shows that the traffic justified keeping it open.
The A concourse was designed for a majority of the people go over the bridge, not use the train. It is something that should be looked at.
I know people complain about the TSA all the time, but something needs to be done on how they serve travelers. There is a way they can secure flights while ensuring people aren’t inconvenienced.
This morning I experienced the most unprofessional TSA employee of all my travel experiences.
Now let me begin by saying that all the TSA employees I have previously encountered have been professional and have good dealings.
This incident didn’t happen to me, but to one person in front of me and a person behind me in line.
The first person got lectured about not meeting the new name requirements. The agent said, “I can stamp this void and send you back to the counter.” That is just rude.
The second person laid their documents down on the table before he was ready and the agent stopped and said, “pick those up.” Then the guy picked them up and said sorry I was just trying to make things easier.
The next thing out of the agents mouth just shocked me. “I don’t come dump paper on your desk do I?”
That is not what the traveler was trying to do. The traveler then said something else, I didn’t think it was a big deal, and the TSA agent said, “Do you want to go to the back of the line?”
That is just an abuse of power. Just bad.
After going through the security, the traveler got a card to send in a letter of complaint. The TSA agent then comes up to the supervisor wanting to know what the guy was complaining about and then proceeds to complain about the traveler.
I work in public affairs and communication with the public is essential to have support and understanding. Bad employees like this give the TSA and other federal employees a bad name.
Department of Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano should resign her position. She just doesn’t get security or what it takes to defend this country.
Earlier today she said the “system worked” in the twarting of the bomber on the Northwest flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. Huh?
A bomber was able to get material that he used to try and blow up the flight. He actually started the fire in his lap. If it wasn’t for an observant passenger who tackled the bomber there would have been a big disaster.
Excuse me Madam Secretary. The system didn’t work.
The U.S. Government knew that there were concerns about this passenger when the bomber’s father notified the U.S. Embassy that he was concerned what his son would do. The terrorist was also known to have ties to Al Qaeda and should never had been on that flight.
What we now have to be concerned with is being scared of these terrorists. I am scared the new security measures that DHS will now implement. They tend to over-react to things and implement security measures that are show and do no real good for the security of the flight.
Napolitano should resign and someone with a real security background and knowledge become the Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security.
I received the following email today from United about United and Continental linking their networks and services, including their frequent flyer programs. This is the first of probably a series of combinations, mergers, or cooperations that will occur in this market.
I still won’t fly either airline unless I have to because the service is so bad, especially charging for the first checked bag. Good luck, you’ll need it.
As a valued Mileage Plus member, we wanted you to be among the first to hear that Continental and United today announced plans to cooperate globally, linking our networks and services worldwide to deliver new benefits to you. In addition, Continental plans to join United in the Star Alliance®, the most comprehensive airline alliance in the world.
Once implemented, this new partnership, will easily enable you to take advantage of the resources of both airlines to enhance your overall travel experience, and receive more value from your Mileage Plus membership.
First and foremost, this partnership will include new frequent flier reciprocity that will enable you to earn miles when flying on either airline and redeem awards on both carriers. Travel on either carrier will count toward earning elite status. Similarly, members of either airline’s airport lounge program will have access to both Continental’s Presidents Club network and United’s Red Carpet Club® lounges.
Second, together with Continental, we will be able to offer you a more comprehensive domestic route network and together with our Star Alliance partners, greater choice of service throughout the entire world.
Starting in the U.S., you are going to see United and Continental develop extensive code-sharing that will facilitate travel whenever your itinerary involves both carriers. We will be able to provide you with a coordinated process for reservations/ticketing, check-in, flight connections and baggage transfer.
Internationally, Continental and United will establish joint ventures that will allow us to cooperate with each other and with other Star Alliance airlines throughout the world. These joint ventures will enable us to provide you with highly competitive flight schedules, fares and service to more destinations than we do today.
In short, once regulatory approval is obtained, this new partnership between United and Continental will expand your choice of flights and destinations, and improve your ability to earn both miles and elite status in Mileage Plus. Together we will offer you more value whenever you fly. We expect to bring you the benefits of our cooperation starting some time in 2009, and until then, we will keep you informed about our progress.
We appreciate you and your business, and we look forward to seeing you on your next flight.
Sincerely,
Robert Sahadevan
Vice President – Mileage Plus
Please fly Frontier Airlines.
This airline provides great service, to great locations, and it is a pleasant airline to fly. I enjoy them over any other airline that flies in-and-out of Denver.
I will do whatever I can to fly them. For example, I had a conference in Maryland and instead of flying into BWI, I fly into Washington National. I just did not want to fly United.
For those of you who don’t know, Frontier recently declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Their credit card processor wanted to keep a larger percentage of money from credit card purchases that people used for advance reservations.
This would have significantly reduced their liquidity to operate in the coming months. So to protect that liquidity, they declared Chapter 11 to reorganize.
As mentioned earlier, I fly Frontier Airlines a lot. There is a lot of competition in Denver from United and Southwest. But those airlines’ service does not add up to the friendly service I get at Frontier Airlines. It is quite an experience and having TV on flights is a plus.
Fly Frontier Airlines and help out this hometown, homegrown, and pleasant airline.
Well that does it, I won’t be flying United Airlines for personal travel anymore. If they are going to charge my $25 for a second bag, then they don’t deserve my business.
In an article in the Denver Post, United Airlines says that it costs more for them to handle a second bag so they need to charge for it. They need to charge $25 for a second bag? That is ridiculous.
Since they are going to be charging that much for a second bag, I don’t need to fly them. There are many different airlines that I can fly out of Denver International Airport that won’t charge me additional money for a second bag, that I can take them.
United, You just lost a customer that has flown over 200,000 miles on your airline. Get a clue and stop milking your consumers because you were negotiated bad contracts and can’t afford to compete in todays market even after getting concessions from your employees.
Personally I like Frontier Airlines. They are treating their consumers well and provide a lot of destinations for where I want to travel to. If you are looking for an alternative to United Airlines, fly on Frontier.
Mile High Soapbox 