I TRY MY HARDEST, MY HARDEST, TO STAY HUMBLE AND GRATEFUL IN MY OLD AGE OF 29. I'm able to over-look little imperfections in life and not sweat it. I'm not a bitch and I'm always nice to a waiter or waitress. I don't like to be demanding and I like to leave a good tip. I might sing like a Diva but off-stage I'm not one at all.
But it's hard to be meek and humble when you feel like a GIANT RICH CORPORATION is getting away with nickel & dimming you to death and I feel like the little guy being taken advantage of to the tune of - $804.20!
I work hard to give my customers/ fans a good experience. I'm not rich. I don't do shady tricky things to squeeze money out of people who hire me. When I make a CD to sell, I make sure I cram as much music on the CD as I can. When I make a T-shirt to sell, I go to the factory to feel and touch the t-shirts that I'm going to be selling to my customers. I'll have a model wear the shirt to show me how it will look on other people. I care. I want people to have a good experience with me and my business. I want to have integrity with anything using my name.
But....I have to get this off my chest....
FLYING UNITED AIRLINES FELT LIKE A 3RD WORLD EXPERIENCE. JEFF SMISEK IS THE (CEO).
Full disclosure: For the past few years, I have been lucky enough to fly mostly on SOUTHWEST, VIRGIN AMERICA or JETBLUE - so I guess I'm spoiled. These airlines have been listed in CONSUMER REPORTS (JULY 2013) as the top 3 airlines to fly.
However, UNITED AIRLINES is rated at the very BOTTOM of that same list in CONSUMER REPORTS. The only other airline worse than UNITED listed is SPIRIT AIRLINES. That's pitiful. UNITED should be ashamed of this. They should also be embarrassed of their confusing web site for ticket purchasing. They should be ashamed of their poor service on so many levels not to mention their old rickety planes. They've made a FORTUNE on their stupid fees but they choose to put profits first and the customer's last. Why can't they just keep it SIMPLE! Learn from the top 3. There's your template. Learn it JEFF SMISEK.
My itinerary was simple:
Flying - JUNE 29, 2013 & JULY 1, 2013
1. LAX to Pittsburgh, PA
2. Pittsburgh to Dulles, Washington, DC to San Antonio, TX.
The 1st Leg of my flight. Saturday Departure:
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I like how it says "Meal" THAT'S A JOKE! But I'm NOT lauging.
Upon looking at my flight info in advance, I decided to purchase a roomier seat on the Exit Row and avoid the '9B' center seat.
It cost me $70. (waste of money) I felt tricked.
Upon sitting on the seat, I realized that the seat did NOT recline at all and had tighter bulkier side arm rests that don't lift. Those seats are rigid. You may have more leg room in front of you but you can't spread your legs to relax due to the thick side arm rests that lock you in place. Blame me for not reading the fine print somewhere that says "these seats don't recline." Furthermore, the seat cushion kept sliding off. I had to keep getting up periodically to shove it back in.
Snack order:
The little cheese snack box I ordered was $7.95...
Wow! I cost is expected, but the content??? Skimpy. I felt tricked again. 4 Crackers and a few tiny bites of cheese?
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2nd Leg, Monday Departure: JULY 1, 2013
| Mon, 01JUL13 | UA4883 | T | PITTSBURGH, PA (PIT) 2:43 PM |
WASHINGTON, DC (IAD - DULLES) 4:01 PM |
Q400 | |
| Flight operated by REPUBLIC AIRLINES doing business as UNITED EXPRESS with turboprop equipment. | ||||||
| Mon, 01JUL13 | UA3756 | T | WASHINGTON, DC (IAD - DULLES) 6:50 PM |
SAN ANTONIO, TX (SAT) 9:16 PM |
CRJ-700 | Purchase |
| Flight operated by MESA AIRLINES doing business as UNITED EXPRESS. | ||||||
Flight delayed about 3 hours. I understand that, it happens. It was Weather related.
What I find to be SO NEGLIGENT on the part of the flight attendant was that there were several nervous passengers asking the flight attendant questions about their connections at Dulles. She was aware of our concerns for connecting flights. Why (when we were deplaning) did she not request of the other passengers to please allow us (with tight connections) to deplane first? This was sloppy service, inconsiderate and disrespectful to those of us sweating bullets over making our connections. We had second to make it to our Gates.
But back to the Gate in Pittsburgh and the 3 hour delay...
The woman working at the gate that day was not helpful and mumbled answers to my questions making me feel guilty for even asking. I wish I took down her name to tell you. Brunette woman, caucasian, about 5'5. It appeared to me that most of UNITED's employees do not seem too happy to be there. Most of them seem sour to me. I love my job so I guess I'm sensitive to people who are not happy with theirs.
Also ANOTHER UGLY UNITED Trick:
I purchased an upgrade to 1st Class for $99.00 / Pittsburgh to San Antonio.
I knew it would be a long day of travel for me so I was trying to make myself as comfortable as possible - all in vain!This was nothing but a PROP PLANE! A PROP PLANE for that long of a trip??? This little plane was simply partitioned in the front and outfitted with bulky uncomfortable seats. The same type of Exit Row seats as I had on the first leg of my flight. This is NOT 1st CLASS. Furthermore, there was NO restroom in the front of the plane! I would have been more comfortable in coach and closer to the restroom. Before boarding this plane (after running a mile through the Dulles airport - up and down escalators, jumping on a train and going to the farthest Gate barely making it on time) I needed to use the restroom but being that I barely made the connection, I did not want to miss the announcement for 1st class boarding. So I told myself, it's ok, I'll be in 1st class soon, so I'll use that restroom - Wrong! WHAT A WASTE OF $99.00! I wish I could have my $99.00 back!
This was a CRAPPY PROP PLANE - WASHINGTON to SAN ANTONIO! REALLY? Is this legal? You're allowed to fly a Prop Plane that far?
Overall I'm in culture shock by UNITED AIRLINES' practices and CRAPPY SERVICE. They should NOT be allowed to do this horrible low level business in America - 3rd World Nickel & Dime Substandard service. I TRIED to pay more for comfort. BUT there is NO COMFORT in an airline like this.
$585.20........The basic cost of flight.
$70.00.......Upgrade to a "better" seat LAX to PIT
$25.00.......Luggage Fee
$99.00.......1st Class "Upgrade" Washington Dulles to SAT
$25.00........Luggage Fee
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Total cost: $804.20! for a Crappy UNITED AIRLINES Experience!
THIS IS ROBBERY.
I will avoid UNITED AIRLINES like the plague. To top it off, my connection was so tight, my luggage did not make it to
San Antonio, TX. It was delivered the next day. But only after the driver's van broke down.
THE FUN CONTINUES...
A spoiled flyer of
SOUTHWEST, VIRGIN AMERICA & JET BLUE,
JIMMY JAMES
P.S. CEO JEFF SMISEK. Read how this CEO is such a whitewasher (LIER):
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-06-04/business/chi-united-airlines-ceo-speech-20130604_1_united-ceo-jeff-smisek-airline-industry
P.S.S. CONSUMER REPORTS JULY 2013:
P.S.S.S. UNITED should be paying me a consultation fee for giving them this valuable feedback. Think of me a secret flyer. If you don't mind, can I have some of that $804.20 back?
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