I’m in a mood. I was ON the plane, and United pulled me out of my seat. They had overbooked the flight, so instead of asking for volunteers, they pulled me. I’m now stuck in Dulles until 10.
I should be in Pittsburgh by now. And I’m not going to get to go dancing with Lauren and company. I’m really upset. I got a good sale fare apparently. So it’s ok to inconvenience me.
*frustrated scream* My flight from Mexico City was an hour late. We sat on the runway forever while the plane had computer trouble. So I had to RUN through the aiport to make my connection. I did too. I got there at 4:30, it was leaving at 4:40.
When I boarded they didn’t say anything. They were boarding like 5 flights at once, and nobody said which plane was ours. Two employees were arguing. I stopped and asked four times, which plane, before the woman finally stopped yelling at her coworker to give me an evil look and point. I asked the woman in line ahead of me if she was going to Pittsburgh. She said yes.
I made it! I was on the plane, seatbelt on.
And they PULLED me.
I was sitting there, thinking, oh thank god I made it. waiting for take off. And BAM.
I don’t care if they gave me a free ticket. It’s only good in the US. And I pretty much always fly from Mexico City. Plus it has like a bazillion restrictions. So what good is this gonna do me, ever?
I bought my freakin’ ticket MONTHS ago. They didn’t tell me why they had pulled me until I was off the plane. They sent guards for me. And said, “You need to get off the plane.”
I was like “!@@@ why?” I thought I was being arrested or something.
“We’ll tell you inside the terminal, ma’am.”
I thought I was in trouble. If I’d known it was for that, I wouldn’t have gone. I’d have said get another sucker. They don’t care I had plans tonight. I complained to three people and they were like, “you got off the plane, ma’am.”
I was like !!!!!!
But if they had said, “We overbooked, will you disembark?” I’d have said, “NO! I have plans!” So then when we first got off the plane, I asked, “What’s this about?”
The woman cut me a snotty look and said, “We have a weight limit.”
Yeah, I’m chunky, but DAMN. I fit in one seat, ok? I don’t even need an extender belt, so it’s not like I have my own gravity. Instead of an apology, I get a veiled insult. Then when I got inside, the guy said I paid the lowest fare. So I get bumped. I don’t see why they can decide by fare. I mean, if they accepted my fare price, that means I bought the seat.
But I bought those seats back in Jan. So I got bumped by some idiot who decided to go this morning. How exactly does this reward anyone for planning ahead?
And when I asked to talk to a manager… he said, “I am the manager. This goes no farther. If you want to fly with us, you take this flight. Otherwise I’ll refund you.”
Basically STFU, I don’t care how inconvenienced you are.
I am very upset. I almost cried when I realized I would be here six hours and I would miss two events. I was supposed to stuff bags tonight for a party tomorrow. And then go dancing, etc.
Instead I get to do neither.
AND I told the hotel I would be there on the 15th. I have boxes to collect, but they may not be able to find them so late.
If RT doesn’t get better, I may never go again. Assuming I ever get there…
In conclusion:
UNITED SUCKS
An apology would have made me feel somewhat better, but they have convinced me nobody at Dulles gives a shit.
Okay. I am so pissed for you. I can’t believe they didn’t ask for volunteers. *Almost* always somebody is willing to volunteer, especially when they they offer up a free ticket.
I’m sorry you’ll miss part of RT, but I’m so jealous you get to be there. I’ve heard a lot about it and would love to go.
Hope your trip gets better fast.
My heart is sorrowful for you. Hope your bags are there ok when you get in.
And your My Valentine gif isn’t showing up on the sidebar.
ARSEHOLES!
that is really bloody unacceptable – ESPECIALLY the way they told you get off the plane – as if you were a terrorist or something. I would have been terrified….thinking someone had planted a bomb in my shoe or something….
…harumphing and shaking my head in aggrieved disbelief all the way from down under on your behalf….
Rebecca, that was my thought exactly. I thought, OMG, someone put something in my luggage. I was TERRIFIED when I got off the plane. I have NEVER been pulled off a plane in my life. And they never apologized at all. The handling of this was the worst of any airline I’ve ever been on.
I’m fully expecting them to lose my bags.
On American, they don’t clean up vomit.
On Delta, they ruin your bags.
On United, they don’t guarantee seats.
Traveling sucks.
I’m sorry to hear about your troubles! I thought they had to ask for volunteers first. I’m sure RT will look up. Just have fun and forget the stupid people!
Ah jeez..I am sorry. I do not like to travel via air for this very reason. It seems to get worse and worse. What was with the cheap shot about weight? I would have been arrested cuz I would have hurt her!
I am sure, however, that once you get to RT you will be able to enjoy yourself. Take care and have fun!
Oh Ann, I am so sorry! That is just… outrageous and rude and ridiculous.
I hope things get better during RT :hug:
That is completely unacceptable!!! I can’t believe how awful they were- I’m seriously, seriously, pissed off for you.
This won’t help much, but my suggestion is to write a very *ahem* strongly worded letter to the company. In the letter, explain the situation, i.e. that you booked months in advance, that you were forcibly removed by guards who made it look to you and to the rest of the passengers like you had done something illegal(thereby frightening you and harming your reputation), that their staff was unprofessional enough to argue in front of the passengers (rather than assisting said passengers), that their staff was belligerent with you, even going so far as to flat out insult you, and that you missed out on a planned trip due entirely to United’s own faulty seat booking policy. I’d also stress your own history using United (how often, how frequently in the past, for how many years, etc.) and that you will feel no need to continue using United in the future and furthermore will be forced to take your business to a more passenger friendly and professional airline unless the company makes some sort of recompense for your traumatic and extremely frustrating experience, as well as some guarantees that this won’t happen ever again.
It won’t make up for what happened, but you’ll feel better for writing it, and hey, you make get some free miles.
While it probably seems useless–a case of too little, too late–I second loonigrrl’s suggestion.
Emphasize too that this was a professional trip, so that the delay did more harm than simply being late for dinner (or whatever one would have done while on vacation).
I hope you made it the rest of the way without incident, and that your bags and stuff all made it to the hotel without problem.
Oh my gosh, Ann – that is SO WRONG. I’ve NEVER heard of an airline doing that. You should write the company and complain. I cannot believe that. A few times I’ve been on flights where they ask someone to disembark for a later flight, and generally a credit of X amount – and possibly free hotel accommodations due to time. [I found out when this happens it's usually fronted by the person trying to get on the plane. Oh, how the rich live.] But, I can’t believe they just did that. Unacceptable.
Dammit, I’m too late! But hopefully this will come in handy in the future, since you’ve been doing so much travelling. Considering they admitted you were bumped due to overbooking, and you were delayed more than two hours, you probably should have gotten cold, hard cash (er, check) rather than that voucher. Here’s the US government page that explains it:
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/publications/flyrights.htm#overbooking
I’m betting you didn’t get the letter the DOT says you’re supposed to, detailing all this. I’d mention that too, if you write a complaint.
Ann,
That seriously sucks! What they don’t seem to realize is that word of mouth is a powerful thing. You just broadcast to a large amount of people how unprofessional United is and now anyone who reads your blog is now going to NEVER deal with United again! What happened to common courtesy and customer service. I am to the point where if I can use local -i.e. non corporate businesses, that is who I go through and I try to limit my dealings with the huge impersonal conglomerates. So sorry your trip has started out so terribly but hopefully it will get better. By the way, Southwest Airlines is the only one I will now deal with. They are very nice and I haven’t had any problems with them.
Take care!
THAT IS BULL****! I’m so sorry you had to deal with that, Ann. What a load. That woman deserves to be fired for her insulting and disrespectful demeanor.
Speaking of bumped fliers…
That so sucks!
Normally I fly United….but daaayum…that makes you think twice!
Y’know…with all the crap about the airlines, you’d think they’d want to treat their customers better…especially those who have their plans set and plan ahead.
It’s not OUR faults gas prices are for crap and THEY f* up their maintainance and OVERBOOK FLIGHTS!!!
hhhmmm…I wonder if we send them some nasty notes if they would even care? meh…prolly not.
I hope RT works out well for you. I’d sure hate to have an author run off from events that bring you closer to your readers just be an airline is for crap!
Obviously the words ‘customer service’ went out the window (what is that saying: ‘Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water’). I too thought that airlines had to ask for volunteers first (there is usually someone who will be happy to delay their flight for monetary compensation). Then they shoudl request that any staff (or students) travelling on ‘stand-by’ leave the plane (my mother used to work for an airline so I often travelled stand-by and was once ‘bumped’
(and I too was sitting on the plane). But they shouldn’t have asked you to leave and then AFTER you had left explained why they made you leave. That is deceitful and in this day and age most travellers are very security conscious – they blatantly used that in order cut the numbers down. (And it is a sad fact that airlines overbook, but that shouldn’t mean that they ‘bump’ someone).
I don’t know what the small print in your ticket says, but I would definitely write a letter of complaint to the airline, stating that their actions meant you were late for a professional meeting AND that there was no explanation or discussion, which is unacceptable! I don’t know if you have a Consumer Guarantees Act in the US like we do in NZ, but if you do then check your rights under that and lay a complaint with the appropriate group. You may just think it is one letter, but that can make a difference! (There was a case in NZ just like this where the airline had overbooked – the family missed their connecting flight. They complained!)
I do hope that in spite of the above you enjoy RT! Don’t let them ruin it for you!
orannia
PS Congratulations to all those winners in the Duke of Shadows contest :)
(((((((((Ann))))))) I am sorry. That is absolutely deplorable. I would write a letter, hell, several letters. That’s inexcusable, that jibe about your size, and making you leave under guard. WTF? Seriously.
I realize your flight from Mexico City was late, and that you never intended to be late for your connecting flight.
The way United treated you was horrible, and I hope you got the name of this manager who had the nerve to tell you, “This goes no farther.”
Had they simply explained politely to you that passengers who are not present at the gate when boarding will be bumped–because I believe this is what actually happened: you were bumped because you were late, and not even because it was your fault, just airline policy–perhaps it would have been different. But insulting you and treating you like a criminal with guards on standby–not acceptable.
And when you send in your complaint letter, give them this blog…
Customer service is a lost art.
That suck big time! How rude to pull you without explanation!
I’ll mini-post this too…just in case anybody out there thought of buying United Airline tickets.
That’s terrible. I’m glad I never fly United.
Ugh, now I’m angry.
Wow…I’m very perturbed by this. It’s happened to me…but I’m a bit too Irish for my own good. They told me to suck it up or not fly with them…and I told them to give me my frakken money back. Walked over to the counter right next to them and flew standby on another airline. Never have flown on United again.
Man…is that not the dumbest…**deep breath**…ok. I’m going to go back to my happy feelings of finding an author I actually feel bouncy after reading and let go of the simmering that is starting in my gut over the dreadful lack of customer care or service in the corporate world today. I mean, seriously – does it take that much effort to give a rat’s patootie?
Ann,
So sorry to hear about that. I know how you feel – American bumped me 2x in a row trying to get from B’More to DFW. Took me over 24 hrs to get from here to there. I could’ve driven there faster, I think!
Anywhoo… enjoy your conference and I am really looking forward to the new book(s). Just got Grimspace a few weeks ago. Had seen it on Bam’s blog and it looked good… yum.
Ugh. Dontcha hate it when shit like that happens? I hope you’re in the ‘Burgh now and that some kind soul bought you a big fruity drink, and that you then commenced with the table dancing.
Sorry Ann! Hope it all gets better.
I was on United once years ago and they blow big time. I am taking Continental to RWA. Hop on my plane!
The minute that bitch said we have a weight limit, they would have to put me in lockup because her head would be off her shoulders.
Were you late for all the mantitty in Pittsburgh? Waaaa…
Ann, I’m so sorry you had such an awful experience. As someone who used to work for an airline, I’ve seen both sides, but I can honestly say they way you were treated was awful and totally uncalled-for. I know some things – like time – cannot be replaced, but I hope you do get some type of compensation. Let’s hope this hasn’t ruined the rest of your trip.
Btw, I got my gift card yesterday – thank you so much. You’re a doll.
That’s insane. That is the WORST airline story I’ve ever heard. And I’ve heard some doozies, including one of my own that forced me to spend the night sleeping on my suitcase in the Amsterdam airport.
But this? Way worse. They didn’t even apologize. That’s insane.
Ann: What a horrid thing to happen – in so many ways. I don’t blame you for being furious – to get kicked off a flight you had booked for months is so blatantly wrong. And to miss even part of a special time you were looking for is just nasty!
And then the topper – the way they treated you. I hope you do take this further – as high up as you can.
There is a hidden prejudice in this society against people who are on the other side of what is considered normal. I am myself. As well as fighting our own demons in this matter we are constantly bombarded by the harm this can cause – the missed days of work – the unhealthy lifestyle etc. The news – at least around here – constantly runs stories about the dangers of being overweight – and show countless clips of people from walking from the neck down.
Society devalues us as if we have no feelings. Heavens forbid some actress should actually put on a bit of weight and look actually healthier. Said actress is vilified in the Hollywood rags. I’d be willing to bet everything I own they would never pull this kind of thing with an attractive young woman – if they even did ask her to leave the plane, I expect she would be treated very well indeed.
But I’d best get off this soap box before I get too worked up.
My deepest sympathies as to what you were put through.
Hugs Ann. I am so sorry this happened to you. I hope your trip improved.
Unbelievable. I’d write a letter to United management and try to get free stuff from them. Explain everything in detail and keep riding their ass until you get satisfaction. I’ve often gotten free stuff, replacement stuff, etc. by writing well-worded letters to management.
Sorry you went through that. I guess if anyone ever tries to take me off a plane, I should demand the reason before surrendering my seat!
Geez, Ann, that sucks. I’m glad you made it okay, but yikes, how rude.
I’d complain. Of course, I’m a complainer.
I’m so glad I tracked you down at the bookfair, but I wish I’d known you were there earlier. I wanted to grill you about Grimspace. *G* BTW, I got my reader back. Finished the book I was in the middle of.
They suck. I keep telling this story to people who all gasp and get angry on your behalf. That woman who made the weight comment was OUT OF BOUNDS and she should lose her damned job. Cripes. Makes me want to eat potatoes on a sandwich on your behalf ;)
You know, I wasn’t as bothered by the weight crack as some of y’all seem to be on my behalf. I know what I look like, and when I doll up, I look pretty damn good.
Ew, potatoes on a sandwich! I’m getting a flashback. I pulled mine off cos it was gross.
Lauren was there when I had a guy trying to pick me up. He seemed to think I look mighty fine, and when I told him I’m married, he said, “Tell your husband he’s a lucky man.” Andres thinks I’m a hottie, and there was another dude at the Hilton who cat-called after me, saying, “Looking good this morning!” I also had Fred, the cover model, dancing all over me. So that’s a total of four dudes in one week. I wonder how the sourpuss at the airport did? ;)
I know how to move. I know how to work what I’ve got. No matter your size, if you toss your head just right, sway your hips like you think you’re worth a million bucks, men will want you. Confidence is the best lure.
So I don’t really care what some pitiful little witch who can’t be bothered to be polite thinks about me. I do mind being pulled off a plane in ignorance like I’m a criminal or something.
Okay, first off–yes, you do look damn good, not just when you’re dolled up but even at the end of a three day convention. Because you radiate an energy and confidence that is much more lovely than mere physical beauty. (I’m an old married man so I’m going to leave it at that.)
I’m very late to the discussion but I only got off the road myself. May I offer that, if you do not achieve resolution regarding this matter via traditional methods, if you are interested, I shall adjucate my own schedule next year so that we overlap at an event around Dulles. In as much as you are a fabulous and famous author, I forsee no difficulties in aquiring at least two trucks worth of angry fans for assistance whereupon we may descend upon the miscreants personally and demand personal satisfaction. The great rudenesses of this modern society rather require the direct responses of a previous era.
My sincere condolences (and I’ll get around to answering personal email now that I’m home as soon as I can get some sleep and placate my editor).
As always,
Yours to command,
M. Keaton