By Ann Phelan - www.bonairecaribbean.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2846) on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 3:58 am: |
It seems I have had one too many clients being denied boarding on AE from BON to SJU due to "being too late" or the plane "being overweight". They are being sent to Aruba and then chaos ensues. Since AE here has irregular office hours and no one answers the phone after 10 AM I wonder can anyone explain what is going on please and thanks.
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By Lydia S. Segal (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #243) on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 9:21 am: |
Ann,
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By Ann Phelan - www.bonairecaribbean.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2847) on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 10:35 am: |
Hi Lydia,
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By Ann Phelan - www.bonairecaribbean.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2848) on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 10:39 am: |
p.s. I must add the station agent and station assistant were very helpful...and have also been so on all of my many AE trips. Thanks Dudley and Cornelia.
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By Glen Reem (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2591) on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 12:37 pm: |
Ann,
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By Ann Phelan - www.bonairecaribbean.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2849) on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 1:08 pm: |
Goes to show I cannot listen to my customers all the time..there are 2 sides to every story. Imagine checking in at 6:45 AM when the plane boards at 6:50?
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By Scott Phillips (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #574) on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 2:55 pm: |
My question is this: what constitutes being "one of the first 40 or so"? On the flight from Bonaire to SJ, I would assume this is based on who the first people are that are checking in at the airport in Bonaire. ON the flight from SJ to Bonaire, what counts as being "checked in": getting your boarding pass printed out the day before, being on a flight to SJ that leaves your originating city earlier than someone else, or do you actually have to go to the gate in SJ and tell them "hey, I'm here now"?
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By Kelly (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5557) on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 3:03 pm: |
Scott, on the SJU to BON flight, I take it to mean the first 40 or so in LINE when they call for the flight. That's why I always sit or stand very near the desk so I'm right THERE when they announce the flight. I have always already had my boarding pass from my city of origin, but that does not guarantee you a spot on the flight. [as many many Bonaire travelers can tell you]
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By Patrick Matthew White (BonaireTalker - Post #44) on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 7:53 pm: |
We generally meet the three hour rule for getting to the airport before any international flight. Doing this and always having the essentials in a standard size carry-on has worked well for us. If we still flew AA/AE to Bonaire, I am guessing that we would probably not be bumped by their weight procedure; but from a service perspective, why not also set the priority of moving passengers and all standard weighted luggage first. I know oversized luggage fees are probably very profitable for the airline; but aside from emergent supplies to the island, I think AE's passengers would be better served if oversized luggage was rerouted through Aruba instead of passengers. AA better wake up. They finally have some competition which has stolen us as passengers.
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By Ron Gould (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1032) on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 8:52 pm: |
When is everybody going to learn that the AE puddle jumpers don't give a Da* if you make your flight or not! Fly AJ or Con and quit playing their games.
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By Lydia S. Segal (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #244) on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 9:36 pm: |
Scott,
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By Bill Thorpe[ 2 trips in sight-Oct-March (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #221) on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 10:46 pm: |
Hi Everyone
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By Cheryl B (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #257) on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 10:56 pm: |
Looking at Ann's original and followup messages, it seems that it is not the SJU-BON flights that have been overweight, but rather the BON-SJU flights. It also seems that it was a late check-in that caused the problem.
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By Glen Reem (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2593) on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 11:40 pm: |
There was a short period in the past (very short!) when some airlines considered weighing each passenger as they checked in, in order to get the weights just right.
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By Ann Phelan - www.bonairecaribbean.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2850) on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 12:28 pm: |
Ron, I have had clients have problems on Air Jamaica and Continental. In my 20 years travel biz experience no airline is immune from challenges.
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By Glen Reem (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2594) on Thursday, August 23, 2007 - 9:24 pm: |
My system is to take my baggage over and check in at the head of the line. Then back to my digs to shower, change, checkout and eat. Then, similar to Ann but different as a tourist, I return to the airport, turn my vehicle in and enjoy the a/c and Amstel(s) waiting to board. Or coffee for AE! I hate flying sweaty!
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By PegiSue (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1399) on Saturday, September 8, 2007 - 11:25 am: |
I just received an email from AA, telling me that our flight, which we were told was overweight and could not board, was actually oversold. Funny, we were told that there were still 11 seats on the plane but it was overweight. We bought our tickets way in advance for this flight, how could it be over-sold? I think people need to get there stories to coincide, especially when working for a corporation as big as American Airlines...
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By Ann Phelan - www.bonairecaribbean.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2869) on Saturday, September 8, 2007 - 12:15 pm: |
Over sold flights happen all the time..the airlines routinely do this..BUT they typically ask for volunteers and offer them vouchers to be bumped. I have friends who travel all around volunteering to be bumped. Having confirmed tickets and having to pay is WRONG. Fight it...have your travel agent assist.
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By PegiSue (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1404) on Saturday, September 8, 2007 - 1:37 pm: |
Oh, Ann, I am fighting!! Don't have a travel agent. Now they are saying that we had to pay for the Aruba tickets because it was another airline...?... We bought them at the request of the AA counter-person, from the AA counter-person that was wearing AA uniform, at the AA counter! Had to pay in "cash only!" And got a piece of paper with writing on it done in marker. Nothing official looking at all. Just a piece of paper that said "Aruba". It was all too weird!!
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By Ann Phelan - www.bonairecaribbean.com (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2870) on Sunday, September 9, 2007 - 11:07 am: |
Pegisue, I do not see your original post. Did you check in late?
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By Susan (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2023) on Sunday, September 9, 2007 - 11:37 am: |
Ann,
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By PegiSue (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1410) on Monday, September 10, 2007 - 9:48 pm: |
It was our flight FROM Bonaire to San Juan to Orlando. We got to the airport, in Bonaire, before 6am. Not late. Everything was just a mess.
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