airline reschedule help

“Hey all, this is long, be forwarned.

I am trying to change a flight for later this month. And am trying to find a way to circumvent a $100 "administrative fee".

Heres the skinny. AS many of you know my best friend was KIA in fallujah last October. I told his wife at his funeral that I would stay involved with her and their son's lives. We speak often and I am going to visit over memorial day.

Today I was talking with his sister (also a soldier, a 1st LT.) who lives near my buddies place. And she informed me that the dat prior to my arrival is a big parade and ceremony for "All American Week" a celebration of the 82nd Airborne and its place in history and a ceremony to honor those KIA in Iraq and Afghanistahn. Family of fallen soldiers are seated in a place of honor for the entire ceremony. She asked if I could sit with her (his wife graduates school that day, and her boyfriend also a soldier is taking part in the ceremony) so she wouldnt be alone. I told I would be honored and would try to change my flight.

The long and short was that I was told by the guy on the phone and his boss essentially that it was "company policy". I was a little disappointed by the response. My question is what are some reasonble options in lieu of paying the fee. I explained the circumstances to no avail. Any input would be appreciatted.

I will proabably pay the fee, my issue is less about the money but more about the principle of the whole thing.”

“Can you contact the Army and see if they will apply a little muscle for a vet and the family of a fallen soldier? Or perhaps there is a MAC (or whatever they're called now) going in that direction a day earlier and can you ride up on that?”

“Oops, that should be "MAC flight"...”

“I don't know much about this, but I do know that there are some courtesies extended to family under the category, 'bereavemnt.' Now, I do know that this usually applies to the funeral and we are talking about a different time frame here. I was just thinking that maybe there is some sort of circumstance that may apply to one of their rules that could be considered an extension of this bereavement idea. Just a thought, Birch. I wish you luck...”

“try to get them to let you talk to someone higher up the food chain - the people who normally answer are trained to apply company policy and have no leeway to make apply any actual thought, but their bosses can.

Give it a whirl.”

“Try one of these ideas...
1) Contact the Army and see if they will apply a little muscle for a vet and the family of a fallen soldier?
2) Check to see if the airlines extend some courtesies to family under the category, 'bereavemnt.'
3) Try to get the airlines to let you talk to someone higher up the food chain.

Good luck!”

“cheater, cheater, pumpkin eater!!”

“that's like... dejà vu”

“Hey Birch!

I would first try to talk to higher ups at the airline. Then, I think I might give the local office of your congressman a call or the county airport authority or maybe the editorial page editor of the Free Press. Those people can maybe get you in contact with someone of influence.”

“From my experience, most airlines no longer have bereavement fares.

I would think you'd get best results going the "political route" someone with connections with the airline.”

“I'd think the congressman route might be good. Nothing like giving some up-for-re-election politician a chance for good press!”

“Thanks for the suggestions. I will first try calling the airline, btw it was Northwest Airlines and working a little higher than I went. If no success then I will call my local Congressman. Thanks again.”

“Tell the airlines that the taxes you paid for thier bail-out should cover it.”

“Good point BB, but I bet the counter person on the phone would just say "huh?"”

“BB, I spoke with 2 more people at Northwest this morn. I actually used the "bailout argument" and was told basically "whatever". I am expecting a call from a manager shortly. I have drafted a letter to my congressman and will contact him later today.”

“called my congressmans office, they said, sorry cant help ya. So just for giggles I have searched NWA profits and federal aid...

as of 7/18/2003 NWA got a 209 million dollar taxpayer bailout (as per Dan Reeds USA today article)
as of 10/16/03
NWA had profits of 42 million dollars (as per CNN website)

I geuss my next approach is to try to convince others no to fly NWA due to their BS policy.”

“Time to contact the media, Birch. Or you could put on your old uniform, and stand in front of the Northwest ticket counter holding a sign saying "NWA doesn't support veterans or the families of the fallen." That oughta get some kind of response...”

“Oh yeah birch! Do it! 7 on your side or the Fox 2 Problem Solvers!! Go 4 it!!”

“LMFAO -- SG!”

“Que un bummer BB”

“Yeah, BB, those beauracracies are tough! gotta love what the American Way does for ya nowadays!”

“BB, great link. I dont know wether to laugh or cry.”

“The crazy thing is, the university could save $212,000 per year, get better food, and encourage entrepenuership in the community if they #&%!$canned Aramark and let locals like McNaulty pay rent and run the shops.”

“Its sorta like our school district. We do our "food service" in house and lose a minimum of $70k per year in operational costs. Yet we are gonna move them into another facility and try again next year...”

“Aramark is the contractor for dorm related dining halls at the University of Chicago. But their are a number of cafeterias and coffee shops around campus that are open for bid for students to operate. (Business school student teams get lots of them.) And they are doing well.

Perhaps the University board is embarrassed by this one student's sucess?”

“Well, after 2 more calls this morning I broke down and paid $122 for the change. I figured it was too important to miss,plus the rates were goin up. The manager never called as they said they would so i figured its all done.

At 215pm today I got a call from a manager named Ted. I gave him the whole story to which he said, I am sorry about your loss...then went on about company policy. I then explained that the family I am going with/for has given us 4 soldiers, one of whom died in combat and that I am a vet and am only asking for a $50 rebate. He said he'd give me free travel vouchers. I told him I would never fly northwest again and would do my best to insure that no one I knew would fly NWA either. I told him that I already paid the 122 and that I was just giving my final two cents. Ted then said that If I hadnt already done that he could have worked something out. So then I got a touch angry (I explained that my anger wasnt with him but with the poor service of his company and their stupid polcy) and told him that the only reason I did the change was because the mananger who was supposed to never called and I figured I was screwed and wasnt going to miss the ceremony. I told him that if NWA would have just given me a $50 break on the admin fee I would have been happy but now I am certain to never fly NWA again. He then said "Mr Birch, how about I rebate your credit card the $100 fee". I said thank you very much. So its a small victory today for the little man. I am so glad that I fought this battle. For a while I felt like Don Quixote.

Thanks for letting me vent!”

“Damn The Man!!!!!

Way to go birch!”

“wow! He called you Mr. Birch? You must have given him hell! Glad it worked out for you dude.”

“congrats Birch, glad it worked out for you. It is a shame you have to put up with all that crap though”

“LOL @ SS and nigal.

Ewker, no doubt about the hassle. It amazes me that a multi-million dollar company has supervisors who cant make a $50 decision. Needing a middle management type for that decision seems wasteful at best.

I geuss I learned a valuable lesson in percerverance.”

“Good deal, Mr. Birch!”

“I still think you should have called Fox2. :)”

“I agree with Smiley Girl.”