air service in Anchorage can stink

[frugaltravel]

Originally Posted by Thoth

Some say it is better to book everything separately, but right now I just love the cruise-line taking care of everything.

Ease is not necessarily the most productive or most effective. But if it is ease you want, then you pay the consequences, as you have already found out.

[Budget Queen]

Originally Posted by Thoth

For my next cruise I did purchase air & insurance through Princess. Some say it is better to book everything separately, but right now I just love the cruise-line taking care of everything.

But, if purchasing the air with the cruiseline. MOST people have no idea what kind of tickets they are purchasing. For some, it would be a good idea to go to the cruise air site on this site and read about consulator tickets. You want a LONG delay getting home due to canceled flights, then purchase those. The LAST to get taken care of and the most inconvenience. The cruiseline will NOT help you with any rebooking.

[PennyAgain]

If you haven't slept on the floor of an airport in Alaska at least once, you have not experienced Alaska. Period.

The airlines can only do so much when weather conditions are dangerous.

Alaska isn't DisneyWorld.

[Thoth]

One darn thing for sure is don't fly in on the same day as a cruise. That is why I go a day early.

[frugaltravel]

Originally Posted by PennyAgain

If you haven't slept on the floor of an airport in Alaska at least once, you have not experienced Alaska. Period.

So is that the "real Alaska" that so many people say they want to see???

[Thoth]

Originally Posted by PennyAgain

If you haven't slept on the floor of an airport in Alaska at least once, you have not experienced Alaska. Period.

The airlines can only do so much when weather conditions are dangerous.

Alaska isn't DisneyWorld.

Oh I understand that. I just felt that United could have treated their customers as something more than a nuisance. I work for the post office and we treat our customers much better than United does.

[mytime53]

Originally Posted by frugaltravel

So is that the "real Alaska" that so many people say they want to see???

Definitely part of it!

[tulsacubfan]

Originally Posted by Thoth

I understand that acts of nature prevents flights, so I understand being delayed. My main issue was with United's customer service attitude.
So I'll revise what I said....DO visit Alaska....by all means visit Alaska. Anchorage is a lovely city, but I still advise flying Alaskan Air.
So visit Anchorage, but do so on an Alaskan air ticket...or e-ticket I should say.

United's poor customer service is not just in Alaska -
it is everywhere.....

[tulsacubfan]

Originally Posted by PennyAgain

If you haven't slept on the floor of an airport in Alaska at least once, you have not experienced Alaska. Period.

The airlines can only do so much when weather conditions are dangerous.

Alaska isn't DisneyWorld.

They can at least act like they are sorry instead of acting like their customers are an inconvenience...and I find this both on the ground and in the air with United.

[frugaltravel]

Originally Posted by tulsacubfan

They can at least act like they are sorry instead of acting like their customers are an inconvenience...and I find this both on the ground and in the air with United.

I find it with pretty much all US airlines.

[Thoth]

Originally Posted by tulsacubfan

United's poor customer service is not just in Alaska -
it is everywhere.....

yeah...I know.

[Thoth]

Originally Posted by tulsacubfan

They can at least act like they are sorry instead of acting like their customers are an inconvenience...and I find this both on the ground and in the air with United.

I had booked originally with Continental and the Continental was merged with United. United then rerouted my flights and muddled the whole thing up. My IAH to SEA flight arrived at 1630 and my connecting flight SEA to YVR left at 1600. It took quite a bit of trouble getting them to straighten out their own mistake. The phone support was terrible for awhile. I even had one United employee tell me that the customer service dropped considerably after United took over Continental's routes.

[Thoth]

Originally Posted by frugaltravel

I find it with pretty much all US airlines.

I've had bad luck with Delta in the past, espicially ATL where they didn't give a care.
Back in April American Airlines through Dallas treated us really well on our London trip.

[frugaltravel]

Originally Posted by Thoth

I even had one United employee tell me that the customer service dropped considerably after United took over Continental's routes.

Actually it was more like Continental Airlines taking over United's routes.

More than one frequent traveler has dubbed it, "Continental Airlines dba United Airlines" and that is not very far from the truth.

[PennyAgain]

More than once I've had a painful goodby from family in Alaska, gone to ANC and then have not been after to fly out. Last minute weather changes, volcano etc.

Rather than open up the whole emotional bit with family and do all that over again, I sleep at the airport or a nearby motel/hotel.

Most of the airlines that serve ANC have the same response to weather etc flight cancelations........"We'll keep the restaurants open later than usual".

I always have enough stuff in my carry on bag to survive an airport sleep over and never, ever put medications, money or valuables into my checked bag.

Be prepared.

[BubMunkeyBles]

My parents got stuck in Venice for an extra week. It happens with bad weather and smaller airports sometimes. Delta only paid for one of those nights in a hotel and only because he was a medallion member.

We're flying United out of here in December. I hope you filed a complaint with them. I've never had issues in the past truthfully. We're switching to Alaska Air though, but they were $300 more a ticket home and times 4 that's a lot of money.

[bearbait]

I've never experienced good service at the Post Office. 25 people in line, one clerk that only moved one speed, slow.

[Thoth]

Originally Posted by frugaltravel

Actually it was more like Continental Airlines taking over United's routes.

More than one frequent traveler has dubbed it, "Continental Airlines dba United Airlines" and that is not very far from the truth.

From what I was told Continental doesn't exist anymore...it is all United. The Globe is now the symbol of United.

[Thoth]

Originally Posted by PennyAgain

More than once I've had a painful goodby from family in Alaska, gone to ANC and then have not been after to fly out. Last minute weather changes, volcano etc.

Rather than open up the whole emotional bit with family and do all that over again, I sleep at the airport or a nearby motel/hotel.

Most of the airlines that serve ANC have the same response to weather etc flight cancelations........"We'll keep the restaurants open later than usual".

I always have enough stuff in my carry on bag to survive an airport sleep over and never, ever put medications, money or valuables into my checked bag.

Be prepared.

so true ! Keep a change of cloths in the carry on and don't check your toothbrush...just in case.

[Thoth]

Originally Posted by BubMunkeyBles

My parents got stuck in Venice for an extra week. It happens with bad weather and smaller airports sometimes. Delta only paid for one of those nights in a hotel and only because he was a medallion member.

We're flying United out of here in December. I hope you filed a complaint with them. I've never had issues in the past truthfully. We're switching to Alaska Air though, but they were $300 more a ticket home and times 4 that's a lot of money.

I did file a complaint, but don't expect much. Hopefully the next guy will not have problems like I did.