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G_Money21
January 10, 2009 8:36 PM
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Gas is 1.40 now here in North Jersey. Why are all the BS Fee's that the airlines started implementing to offset the cost of fuel still around? I HATE FLYING. When I travel to Boston/DC for work I strictly stick with Acela

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Oranges w/ Cheese hates what Christmas has become
January 11, 2009 4:19 AM
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@G_Money21: Gas has gone back up to $2 here. It was $1.50 2 weeks ago.

This is Florida, btw.

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Paperclippe
January 12, 2009 8:00 AM
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@Oranges w/ Cheese: Gas has stayed at a constant 1.60-1.80 range here in PA. No major fluctuations at all.

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Propaniac
January 10, 2009 8:53 PM
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@G_Money21: I heard on NPR a couple months ago that some of the airlines are/were still paying through the nose for fuel because they had \"locked in\" their fuel costs previously. Which was a great idea when they were on the rise, but now, not so much.

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tanya.peacock
January 10, 2009 9:54 PM
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@Propaniac: might still be a decent idea since the prices seem to be going back up.

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David Mays
January 10, 2009 8:42 PM
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When people ask questions like \"what's in the box\" and I don't think it's any of their business, I like to respond with a standard answer \"adult toys\".


Could be tools, a bike or whatever. They're all toys, to me. The bottom line is it's none of their business what's in the box, unless it's a prohibited item.


Would you give details about what's in your checked luggage? If not, why would you give details about what's in a box you're checking? If they want to know, they'll see it on the x-ray anyway.


I think the safe answer would be \"nothing that's prohibited in a checked package\".

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Feminist Whore
January 10, 2009 9:51 PM
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@David Mays:


What's in the box? = Boxes.


What's in the bag? = Bags


What's in the folder? = Folders


What's in the envelope? = Envelopes

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Jason Foster
January 10, 2009 9:46 PM
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@David Mays: i hate to disagree with you,(personally i agree). when a company is carrying your stuff, they are responsible for it. it's pretty important that they know what is in it.

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David Mays
January 11, 2009 12:53 AM
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@Jason Foster:


But that's just it. They are NOT responsible for it. Their own policy says that sports equipment that is damaged in transit (even by them) is not their problem.


\"Please note: Sporting goods/equipment will only be accepted for
transportation at the customer's own risk. JetBlue Airways will not be liable in the
event that the item is damaged, lost, or spoiled upon arrival.\"

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JoshReflek
January 11, 2009 4:18 AM
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@David Mays: if your objects get damaged while in their care, they can post a zillion signs saying 'not responsible' but that doesnt mean anything since you paid for your ticket, which implys by taking your baggage / boxes that care will be taken.


the sign is a lie.

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alexcassidy
January 11, 2009 4:32 AM
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@JoshReflek: You say that, but have you ever actually tried to get an airline to take responsibility for lost or damaged items? It's a bitch and a half!

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chrisjames
January 12, 2009 4:25 AM
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@alexcassidy: Yes, and they pay out the nose!

We simply had our luggage delayed once. It wasn't lost at all, the airlines (I think it was United, but it's been a while) knew exactly where the bags were. There were three of us, and only two of five bags were delayed. We each received $300 to cover buying new stuff (even though two of us had our luggage), and an upgrade to first class for each of us on the return trip. The airlines also spent three days tracking us down at hotels trying to deliver the bags. We were moving frequently between hotels and they just kept showing up late. This one guy had to drive them all over the country for us.

Delta's airline policy included coverage for damaged luggage, though I never acted on it when they busted my bag's zipper. I had other bags delayed and the airport luggage counter jumped right on tracking them down. Luckily, they were in another area of the airport, but they still offered me compensation, which I didn't need. Credit cards sometimes have lost or delayed luggage clauses, where they'll pay up to some amount so long as you booked the ticket with the card. I know that's not airlines, but it's in the same spirit: responsibility.

It's all a big surprise, but I've gotten great service from a number of airlines that just want me to shut up and be happy, so they pay for mistakes, and they pay a lot. Luggage mistakes, that is. They couldn't care less about flight issues.

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econobiker
January 12, 2009 4:28 PM
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@chrisjames: During what decade in the 1900's did all that stuff happen? That sounds like about the same time all the flight attendants were still called \"stewardesses\" and people dressed up to fly on an airplane...

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SabreDC
January 10, 2009 9:07 PM
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@David Mays: When asked stuff like this, I simply respond \"some personal items\". That way, it can be clothes, books, whatever. I agree with you that it's no one's business as long as it's not a prohibited item.

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DeloresPompeii
January 10, 2009 8:43 PM
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And according to another site, JetBlue has already revised their policy, thanked the customer for bringing it to the corporate office's attention, and refunded him the charge.

http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/08/jetblue-responds-folded-bikes-can-now-fly-free/

I got stranded by JetBlue during their Feb '07 \"Meltdown\", but their customer service tends to be pretty fantastic in general, and they use call centers staffed by real people in the US (at least last 6 times I called to get the difference between the original and now lower cost of my flights refunded back to me as credits).

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nicemarmot617
January 10, 2009 8:50 PM
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I usually answer that question with \"Your Mom\"

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MooseOfReason
January 12, 2009 3:16 AM
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@nicemarmot617: I'd like to see you say that in an airport to a worker there.

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Corporate-Shill
January 11, 2009 12:36 AM
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@batsy:


Yea he does.


Then he complains when somebody takes offense and bytch-slaps him down.

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Ryan Duff
January 10, 2009 9:01 PM
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Should have just told her that your suitcase ripped and you had to pack your clothes in a box.

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mariospants
January 10, 2009 9:03 PM
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I recently flew Air Canada's discount flyer Jazz and I have to say the experience was pretty damn good: cheap flight, two carry-ons and two pieces of checked luggage up to 50lbs and large in size. Flight took off on time, they served free beverages (twice on a 1.5 hr. flight) and the seats had plenty of room... I had a similarly good experience with WestJet (another discount Canadian airline).


Having flown for years on American carriers (when I lived there) I can honestly say that volume business doesn't necessarily translate into competitively-derived advantages.


One thing: when going thru airport security and you tell them you have a portable hard drive in your carry on, they act like it's some kind of alien technology... why is that???

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Corporate-Shill
January 11, 2009 12:52 AM
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@mariospants:


Because most of the clerks lack common sense and have not been around the block enough to know the difference between a hard drive and a hard-on.


Way back when (well before 9/11) I was carrying an expensive micro-caliper in my carryon luggage. Had some other mechanical stuff in the luggage as well.


The X-Ray clerk just abou peed his pants because he thought I was carrying a weapon.


(yea, the clerk got bent out of shape. I was surrounded by armed guards, hand frisked and my luggage was striped searched)


The funny thing about the incident? I was about to depart on the last leg of my 8 stop trip. I had passed through every other security screening with the same gear and never had a problem beyond answering a few questions such as IDing the items in the bag based upon the shape described by the clerk. Big Whoop. And then I hit the wet-behind-his-ears clerk and all Hades starts to break loose.

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rinse
January 10, 2009 11:27 PM
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@mariospants: You're lucky they found people who can tell the difference between a laptop and a typewriter to fill those security jobs. Just take off your shoes and be glad they don't ask you if you want fries with that.

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 9:07 PM
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@mariospants:

They don't work at TSA because they're brilliant; they work there because the DMV wasn't hiring that day.

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LoadStar
January 10, 2009 9:09 PM
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That's unbelievable.

...

You took cheese with you?

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boxjockey68
January 10, 2009 10:15 PM
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@LoadStar: I always fly with cheese...you don't?

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Julia789
January 10, 2009 9:22 PM
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When asked \"what's in the box\" in the future he could say \"bicycle parts.\" It's true!

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courtarro
January 10, 2009 9:28 PM
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Good response from JetBlue. It was a screwy policy and they fixed it, so I hope people will cut them some slack as a result.

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Oregon
January 10, 2009 9:29 PM
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But wait there is more. Travel to Europe with bike, the one way charge is now $200.00. Even if it is your second bag,in a hard travel case. Early last year second bag was allowed if it did not exceed the weight restrictions.


Also as a traveler who has traveled with bike many times by air, Each airline has its own set of rules (there is a whole web site just for bike travelers on planes,trains and buses) and as we all know from dealing with the airlines that each airline uses a rule/fee making formula that we mortals will never understand.

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johnva
January 12, 2009 8:04 AM
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@Oregon: When I studied abroad in Japan in college, I just purchased a bike when I got there. Much less hassle and a lot easier to deal with. Then I sold it to another student when I left and got most of my money back. Of course, that's not so great if you have a $10,000 custom carbon fiber bike you want to ride or something, but then again I'm not sure I'd want to give a bike like that to the airlines, either. For a commuting vehicle I think the \"buy it when you arrive, sell it when you leave\" method is great (assuming you're staying long enough that it's worth the effort).

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seishino
January 11, 2009 7:39 AM
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@Oregon: It's one of those things they charge for because they know they can. I once traveled with a Bicycle-sized box full of 50 pounds of random junk, and was charged a slight oversize fee. On the way back it was full of 20 lbs of bicycle, and was charged an oversize fee + a 50 dollar bike handling fee.


They don't charge for any rational reason. They charge because they know we will pay it. Also note that this does *not* mean that Jet Blue will not charge you for bikes in a box, as another poster interpreted. Rather, they will not charge you extra for a folding bike in a box that is the size of regular luggage. Full-sized boxed bikes (all of them need to be boxed) are still overcharged.

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wallspray
January 10, 2009 9:43 PM
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Am I mistaken or is the title to this story completely off? They actually changed their policy and you can now check a bike for free in a box.

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Trai_Dep
January 10, 2009 10:01 PM
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@wallspray: I second your motion for a title change, since JetBlue responded so quickly and fairly. If nothing else, for archival purposes. Perhaps it will also make other firms consider doing the right thing if Consumerist quickly edits stories to reflect heroic* corporate behavior?

* Yeah, it's a sad world we live in when common-sense = heroic. Humor me.

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Voyou_Charmant
January 10, 2009 9:56 PM
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@wallspray: The correct title should be \"Don't Tell Jetblue The Box You're Checking Contains A Foldable Bike Or It'll Cost $50, Assuming You Are A Time Traveling Jetblue Customer Who Has A Flight To Catch In The Past\"

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Anonymous
January 10, 2009 9:45 PM
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When flying, bikes are always referred to as \"camping gear.\" Always.

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Trai_Dep
January 10, 2009 9:56 PM
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Yay! Can't ask for more from a company.
Evaluate a complaint fairly, and if wrong, admit it and change policy accordingly.
It seems so simple, yet why is it so uncommon? Props to JetBlue!

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Corporate-Shill
January 11, 2009 12:53 AM
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@Trai_Dep:


Yep, I think Jet Blue did pretty good in this situation.

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dequeued
January 10, 2009 11:13 PM
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I hate arbitrary rules like that!

NJ Transit trains have a similar stupid rule.
You can carry whatever bulky baggage you can carry lug onto the train (I have seen people carrying giant television sets).
Often times there will be travelers carrying lots of heavy bags from the airport.

Anyway, if you happen to have a bike, or part of bike, you're not allowed on the train during peak hours!

I took the wheels off my bike and bungied them to the frame, and the stupid conductor wouldn't let me take it on!
This was at Penn Station, and there was a pharmacy upstairs, so I went, purchased a box of contractor bags, and concealed my bike in several layers of opaque plastic.

Then I didn't get a second look on the next train!

A time before that, I chained my bike to a seat and pretended it wasn't mine.
The conductor yelled at me at my stop and threatened to summon the cops, but he had nothing.

Do you think they would charge you for part of your bike?
What if you had the tires, and your companion had the frame?

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Jordan Leventhal
January 10, 2009 11:16 PM
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So did they refund his $50?

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closed_account
January 11, 2009 3:57 AM
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@Jordan Leventhal: I asked the same thing. If you read the 2nd post he states

I got an exciting wake-up call yesterday morning. Carolyn, the Jet Blue customer service representative with whom I'd exchanged two emails about the airline's ridiculous baggage policy called to tell me that they were changing their policy and that the $50 I'd been charged had been reversed!\"

So the answer is YES, it was refunded.
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OwenCatherwood
January 10, 2009 11:29 PM
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For stories with updates in the original article, could you put a time stamp with the update so people reading later have an idea of how quickly the company responded/new details come in?

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RodAox
January 11, 2009 2:24 AM
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PROPS Jet Blue..... glad to hear that you guys are still interested in listening to their customers...kudos kudos kudos...

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closed_account
January 11, 2009 3:51 AM
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So did he get a refund then, or is the policy just changed from here on out? haha

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closed_account
January 11, 2009 3:56 AM
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@chadbailey: If you read the 2nd post he states

I got an exciting wake-up call yesterday morning. Carolyn, the Jet Blue customer service representative with whom I'd exchanged two emails about the airline's ridiculous baggage policy called to tell me that they were changing their policy and that the $50 I'd been charged had been reversed!\"

So the answer is YES, it was refunded.

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Blueskylaw
January 11, 2009 4:11 AM
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The one thing I found annoying was the new \"Skywalk\" from the parking lot to the terminal building. It feels like that half-moon walkway is a mile long. With the old one you just had to cross two roadways at ground level and you were there.
Other than that, it's very nice.

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mxjohnson
January 11, 2009 4:28 AM
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Airlines can and should ask what's in the box. People sometimes check stuff they really oughtn't. They'll fill a cooler with ice and dead fish and stick it in a box because they know they're not allowed to check a cooler full of ice and dead fish.

And then, of course, the box gets tipped on its side. And your luggage is underneath it.

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ragekitten
January 11, 2009 4:36 AM
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yet another reason why jetblue is climbing my top five airline list. a company that actually reads your complaints, thinks about them, and does something to fix the problem? brilliant!

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kepler11
January 11, 2009 6:47 AM
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good for Jetblue for recognizing and fixing this quickly.

As for the people who still don't \"understand\" why airlines are still charging fees despite cheaper gas prices -- well, it's because you have shown that you will *pay* them, and don't factor those charges into your ticket purchases. Businesses don't have any obligation to lower their prices because their costs have gone down. And to explain it in more detail, the airlines used the recession, travel slump, gas price shocks, etc. to implement policies that they could never do before because they were competitively locked into providing all these services for free. As soon as a few market players went bankrupt and folded, and one of them started the fee-for-services model, they all followed.

This is not going away. Until you stop buying tickets based on price alone. So I'm fairly sure it's going to be here for the long term...

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nybiker
January 11, 2009 1:27 PM
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The OP mentions his box was under the dimensions of 80 inches overall, yet the customer service person says a box with overall dimensionsof 62 inches will not be charged. Since I don't have a folding bike, neither of those 2 dimensions will work for me anyway, but I am curious as to the actual rule specifications. I know that they refunded his money, but I wonder if it's more because of the publicity and the 'trouble' he caused them. More to the point, what were his box's dimensions?

I guess the days of me bicycling to LaGuardia Airport, removing the saddle bags, lowering the seat, removing the pedals, and removing the handlebars & strapping them (I used cable ties) to the fork, and then handing them the bike are gone. Yeah, I knew it already. I was just feeling nostalgic. Granted I still paid Delta the excess baggage fee, but there was no box and I carried my saddle bags & handlebar bag and tool bag on the plane. The pedals went in there somewhere.

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grumpygirl
January 13, 2009 2:01 AM
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@nybiker:

You can probably ask Carl specific questions here:

[www.bta4bikes.org]

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Anonymous
March 23, 2009 4:31 PM
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I recently took a trip to London from Tampa via British Ariways - went out of my way to take this direct route.

They ran out of one of two type of meals and I could not eat the other because it was \"cheese\" related and breakfast was cheese.

Ended up not eating anything for the almost nine hour trip.

BA said they would ensure that they would have a better choice, but did not go out of there way to recompense me - not even a little.

Customer Service and BA had the same attitude - they are arrogant to do not care about customers. In the meantime, I ended up with no service - not a good airline to fly.

M

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Anonymous
March 23, 2009 5:24 PM
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It seems Airline Service is getting worse and worse. My last time on Southwest was to Las Vegas on business about a year ago. Shortly before my meeting finished, I received a call that one of my children had gotten ill at school. I called Southwest and asked them if I could change my flight and told them the situation. They said they cannot help me without me paying some outrageous fee so I could get back to LA. They told me to try to get to the airport and see if I could get an early flight by flying standby. I got to the Airpot in Vegas and watched the next flight leave with 16 people. There was no reason other than PURE GREED not to let me on the next flight. Southwest is priding themselves as a service leader but it seems common sense should lead rather than the thirst for more money. I have written to Southwest but in a year since I have yet to receive a single response or call. I will never fly Southwest again and my company had since removed southwest from their preferred airlines.

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Lawrence L Lagarde III
April 20, 2009 12:36 AM
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So which airlines will currently accept a folding bike in luggage without imposing a fee???

The ones I know of are...
Alaska
Delta
Jet Blue
Southwest

Anyone know of others?

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Gloria J April
April 20, 2009 2:57 AM
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I have been a loyal customer of DELTA since 1996 flying over a quarter million miles. I booked tickets with DELTA on March 17th knowing that I could have double or triple miles if I flew on a different airline. I stuck with DELTA then I see in the newspaper USA Today on March 23rd that DELTA had finally caught up to the other airlines in offering the double/triple miles but only if you booked after the 23rd. I wrote to DELTA to get them to honor my March 17th tickets (6 tickets) with over 9,000 miles all class B tickets, for the double miles. They did not notify any of the skymiles people that they were going to offer this promotion. If they had I would have waited to buy my tickets. I have been loyal to DELTA but I feel that they are not loyal to us. I did write to them but they said SO SORRY TOO BAD!!. I am changing airlines due to their attitude. I hate flying CATTLE class at least JET Blue has room for people.
Gloria April

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