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.
How would you like to show up for a flight and not have anyone else on your flight? Well this person experienced it.
He was flying from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls and originally told there would only be four other passengers. But by the time the flight took off, he was the only one.
I’ve been on flights with just a few people, but not by myself. How cool.
I just want to know what is up with Frontier Airlines?
They have been going downhill for awhile and they are losing a customer whom was quite loyal to them, me.
I’m an Ascent member on Frontier and would fly them for work and personal trips. I would work my schedule around flying them. The staff was friendly and helpful, the service was on time and the flights were entertaining, especially with TV on the flights.
But as soon as they were bought by Republic and the corporate headquarters moved out of Denver the service has declined, they stopped flying to key airports, have chosen to fly to locations that are quite perplexing, and stopped treating their frequent flyers well. They are no longer the home town airline.
One of the moves that perplexed me the most was stopping to fly to Sacramento, Calif. This was a popular destination for Frontier, flights were full, and they had better service than United and Southwest.
Frontier survived the construction of a new terminal there and once moved enjoyed a nice location and there were more amenities for its passengers. But one day, no more flights. That means flying to San Francisco. Not convenient.
Now services are being cut back. Just announced today that free TV for its Ascent and Summit members was gone. As a frequent flyer on Frontier, this was a real nice perk. It gave Frontier the edge. Not any more.
The service has declined tremendously. Back in February they announced they they would be outsourcing about 700 jobs at stations outside of Denver.
This was quite evident when my brother took my children for their unaccompanied flight back to Denver at SFO. The staff had no clue what they were doing and even failed to charge us $50 for the escort back to Denver.
Even in Denver their service is failing. My wife went to get the kids and the agent gave her the wrong persons pass to go to the gate. She got to security and was forced to go all the way back to the counter. She almost was late picking up the kids.
Frontier is in some serious trouble. From flying to locations such as Wilmington and Trenton to their customer service. They are losing me as a customer and I’m quite upset by it.
Good luck. I hope you survive, but it’s not looking to good.
Well we finally got our crew member but have been sitting on the plane for an hour and will be taking off 2 hours late because Frontier Airlines can’t effectively manage crew schedules when they have the slightest bit of adversity.
I know there was a big snowstorm in Denver today, but you adjust crew schedules to get your customers to where they are supposed to on time or close to it.
We shouldn’t be forced to sit on a plane for 90 minutes waiting for a crew member to arrive.
I extremely disappointed that Frontier Airlines is dropping service to Sacramento. It is the best airline to fly into Northern California and not fly into the Bay Area.
I’m not sure who is making the decisions at Frontier but this was a poor one.
For the last two years they have been jerking things around. Flying the Embraer instead of the Airbus, changing the times so they aren’t convenient and then cutting the flights.
However, people still flew them. The flights I, my family and friends would take to Sacramento would be full, if not oversold.
It seems that Frontier was doing something to cook the books to make this route not profitable.
I hope the reconsider and bring back the flights but I doubt that will happen. I’ll have to see if we still fly them to northern California now into San Francisco or see if I need to fly another airline.
Not happy Frontier!
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.
An amazing animation of US Airways Flight 1549 overlaid with the air traffic control recording from that day. It really puts into perspective of how fast things happened and the amazing job that the pilots did in bringing that plane in.
Thanks to Peter Shankman for sharing his find on Twitter (@skydiver).
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
I have rarely flown American Airlines and I will probably never, ever fly them again.
Today American Airlines announced that they are going to be charging $15 for the first checked bag. United Airlines announced that it is “seriously studying” charging for the first bag.
That is ridiculous. I was upset when United said they were going to charge for the second checked bag, but now for the first one?
The airlines are struggling with a business plan that is getting hammered with competition and soaring fuel prices. So they are cutting services, flights, and charging more for different things.
This is only going to alienate the flying public. I think this bodes well for airlines like Frontier who still treat their passengers well.
I switched a couple years ago to flying Frontier Airlines over United for personal flights and only fly United or another carrier when work says I have to. I don’t need frills, but I want to be respected and treated fairly. I am getting that on Frontier, not on the other airlines.
Frontier is stuggling a little bit, but I think they will come out of this mess a stronger airline that will survive into the future.
I am not so sure about American, United, Continental, and others. Charging for the first bag is just plain stupid and makes bad business sense.
It is going to make boarding a flight harder, people are going to be carrying more on board, and it is just going to be a mess.
And if they are charging for the first and second bag. They better not lose it. If someone is paying for it, it better be waiting when they get to the luggage carousel. They are paying for a service, the airline better deliver!
9NEWS – Article – DIA looking to ease security lines
The problem is not the lines or the people in the lines, it is the people that are hired by the Transportation Security Administration to watch the monitors and make sure that nothing bad is getting on.
Most of them are rude and have a power complex. They have power over you. They can make your life hell.
In one experience I had going through DIA security, there was a couple from Denver who spoke very little english and they were going on a visit to their former home in Bulgaria.
To try and communicate with them, the TSA person just spoke louder. She never tried to slow down and speak calmly and try to understand where these people were coming from. It was quite rude. Continue reading “DIA looking to ease security lines”
Mile High Soapbox 