You do realize that security is not done by the airlines, and they have no control over it. If you want to complain about security, go to TSA.gov, and send them a complaint. Don't blame Continental. Also, air fare, is not anywhere near what it should be. Air fare should be 2-3 times what it is. Considering inflation, etc., you are lucky you get tickets for what you do. Air fare is no different today, than it was 20-30 years ago. Someone flying you across the country, should incur a hefty price, In my opinion. I find it funny how people want absolute cheap prices, but then turn arount and demand first class service. That is like going to McDonalds, and demanding gourmet.
People say the airline industry is the "only industry where this and that......". The airline industry is the only industry where customers seem to think they shouldn't have to pay, and the company should bow to them. It is the only industry where customers will find the cheapest possible ticket, and then have first class demands. Guess what, the airlines can charge what they want, for what they want, just like Wal-Mart, and McDonalds can charge what they want, for what they want. When Wal-Mart starts charging more for something, people just complain that things are getting more expensive, but when the airlines charge for something, it is "fraud". LOL!!!
By the way ... Do you think Continental is the only airline where what you experienced, is experienced. Go view the complaints about all of the other airlines, and you'll find complaints just like yours. So what will happen, is to avoid flying Continental, you'll possibly spend more, just to put yourself at risk of getting the same treatment.
By the way ... I am a pilot, and weather effects aviation is far more ways than just, is there a thunderstorm out your window. Winds aloft can be 100+ MPH, while at the ground they can be 5 MPH. This can cause delays, yet be a perfectly clear day. ALSO, just because an airplane is scheduled to fly from point A to point B, with you on it, doesn't mean that weather being bad in just those locations, point A, and point B, effect the flight. The airplane can be coming from another city, where the weather is bad, or weather along that route can be bad. These type of cancellations, and delays happen to all airline, not just Continental, and they also effect Joe Schmoe in his little private plane. I've had numerous flights I've had to cancel, flying personally, in my little private plane, for weather. If you knew how weather effected aviation, and how thunderstorms, rain, etc., only scratch the surface, you'd realize how ignorant most passengers are, when they try to make these claims about weather not being an issue, or "I just talked to my friends who said it wasn't even raining". I literally have to bite my tongue not to laugh at those people.
At any rate ... your hope of Continental going under, probably will not happen. Continental is in much better position than most airlines. They have a young fleet, of fuel effecient aircraft. On top of that, despite you experience, Continental is frequently ranked airline of the year, #1 airline in the world, and frequently ranks high in customer satisfaction ratings, next to SWA. Just because you had one bad dealing with Continental, with a few bad apples, doesn't make it a bad airline. Again .. look at the complaints on this message board, for the other airlines. You are kidding yourself if you think flying another airline will prevent this from happening to you, again. But, to each their own. It makes no difference to me.
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Originally Posted by msc39nj
This is the only industry I know of where fraud is legal. you can legally sell the same seat two or more times and, as I have now learned, sell seats on flights you don't intend to operate. If you would like to defend the jobs of what I believe are likely thousands of hard working and good employees in the industry then you should be fighting, as an insider/employee, for the proper treatment of customers. call it job security. Continental has inflicted itself upon me. I bear responsibility for having made a bad choice in attempting to use them. Now I must fight against the numerous roadblocks they throw up to discourage me from recovering the money and time they have cost me.
As for 'not believing' there are people like this, put yourself in my shoes: You pre-book and pre-pay months in advance. You agree to show up on time and follow the rules and submit to this ridiculous airport security ritual, and be treated like cattle for an exorbitant price. The day before the flight, during the busiest season of the year, the carrier cancels the flight. But, they don't tell you. You get no phone call, you get no email. Your friend calls you and tells you they heard from 5 other people on earlier flights. There is no information for contacting the airline except through the reservations number. When you dial it, you are told by an automated recording, wait times are an hour or more. In fact, while I was writing this, I just got through to a supervisor in Houston who treated me rudely and would not provide full identification, and was not interested in helping us at all, even when I informed her I was complaining to the DOT and Attorney General of NJ. Basically, they don't care. So I say, good riddance.
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