I could have flown GA cheaper

Jaybird180

Jaybird180

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Jaybird180
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We are going on a family trip to Chicago. My plane doesn't have icing capabilities, I do not have an IR rating and the trip is mission critical- high reliability required. Commercial travel is the way to go (so we're thinking).

My wife calls the airlines to find a little information about child travel requirements. 1st call to United Airlines seemed to go well, the ticket agent informed her that United has a child friendly policy of 2 and under are free. So a day or 2 later, I book online with upgrades to economy plus seating to give us a little more room for an active toddler.

Lo and Behold! When I call to make changes to the flight, I discover that not only is making ANY change an expensive and frustrating proposition, but I will also have to pay full price for a child that is 25 months old 'at the time of travel'. And since ticket prices have gone up since we booked the initial tickets the price of the child's ticket costs more than the parents' tickets.

The several customer service agents we've spoken with have not helped us solve the new problem that we have, which is another change in plans (more $$$). I think about calling the 800 number again with a feeling of the sucking sensation originating in my wallet area, as I'm sure that I am not effectively speaking the English language in a low enough gradient to be able to hang-up with a positive experience. It doesn't seem to matter any that I'm a Mileage member the responses are automaton in nature.

I'm hoping that there is someone on this forum, who is:

1- A human being
2- Works for United
3- Knows their policies
4- Is willing to help (and not just take more $$)

At this point, we've already spent more money than we would have spent flying GA. Can I at least log the hours as a PNIC-DT (passenger not-in command of a darned thing)?
 
Jaybird180 said:
When I call to make changes to the flight, I discover that not only is making ANY change an expensive and frustrating proposition,
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This is why I use Southwest. I don't know what their policy about kids is, however.
 
Let me get this straight. You booked a flight on a airline other then southwest and then called to make changes and your surprised that they charged you more? You also mention that they don't charge you for a 2 and under passenger but your mad that you don't have a 2 and under but rather a over 2 passenger and you want them to give your a reduced fare? You do know that the FAA requires a seat for a over 2 passenger right? And your working on your second change in plans? Perhaps you should look in the mirror for the problem. Perhaps the requirement for a low enough gradient of english is not on their side.
 
Friends flew in from DC last weekend. When all was said and done the car took two hours more. GA wins hands down except the reliability, especially in February.
 
Altho it takes more time, consider AmTrak. Kids under 16 traveling with parents are cheaper. I don't know what your schedule is, but a round-trip DC to Chicago Station is $800 for the 4 of you. Board late afternoon, arrive the next morning. And AmTrak is much easier to deal with than United.
 
+1 for Amtrak. It's an experience for sure! It will take awhile longer but someday your grandkids will look at you with awe when you said "You rode a train back in the day" It'll also give the kid/toddler room to *run around*.
 
If I were you I would try to get a refund and just drive over. It would take a couple of days to drive it, but may be a whole lot less hassle.
 
DC-Chicago on Amtrak is kinda rough. Don't get me wrong, I love Amtrak, especially the NEC (Acela), but I've looked at Chicago and the schedule is not great.... The shortest trip is on the order of 18 hours. Even on an overnight basis, that's gotta be tough with a little one. ABout $200 round trip per-person (I think judicious purchases on Southwest can be in the same ballpark) to sit in a coach seat.

Thanks in part to what the airlines and TSA have done for air travel, sleeper cars are hard to come by these days and are expensive. Like $300 each way + passenger charge DC-Chicago. One can easily get into the $1000+ range.

Oh, I love the train, but it isn't that much cheaper than airfare on a long trip.
 
somorris said:
If I were you I would try to get a refund and just drive over. It would take a couple of days to drive it, but may be a whole lot less hassle.
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If they're charging change fees, he's got a nonrefundable ticket.

BOHICA.
 
Jaybird180 said:
My wife calls the airlines to find a little information about child travel requirements. 1st call to United Airlines seemed to go well, the ticket agent informed her that United has a child friendly policy of 2 and under are free.
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This has nothing to do with United. It's the FARs which apply to both air carriers and us as GA pilots. 91.107(a)(3)(i): "each person on board a U.S.-registered civil aircraft ... must occupy an approved seat or berth with a safety belt" unless being held by an adult and "the person being held has not reached his or her second birthday". So as soon as somebody turns 2, they need a seatbelt whether on United or in a Cessna.
 
pdonahue said:
This has nothing to do with United. It's the FARs which apply to both air carriers and us as GA pilots. 91.107(a)(3)(i): "each person on board a U.S.-registered civil aircraft ... must occupy an approved seat or berth with a safety belt" unless being held by an adult and "the person being held has not reached his or her second birthday". So as soon as somebody turns 2, they need a seatbelt whether on United or in a Cessna.
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And the NTSB (rightly, I think) wants to do away with that exemption for under 24-months. Listening to the head flight attendant on Al Haines' crash at Sioux City, where she had to tell people to put their "most precious possessions" on the floor between their feet prior to the crash, and you realize what a bad idea lap-held babies really are.
 
pdonahue said:
This has nothing to do with United. It's the FARs which apply to both air carriers and us as GA pilots. 91.107(a)(3)(i): "each person on board a U.S.-registered civil aircraft ... must occupy an approved seat or berth with a safety belt" unless being held by an adult and "the person being held has not reached his or her second birthday". So as soon as somebody turns 2, they need a seatbelt whether on United or in a Cessna.
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I didn't think of this at the time based on the understanding my wife relayed to me from the ticket agent AND as it turns out, I'd misunderstood the language of the FAR.
 
i fly whatever airline is going where i want to go.
 
Chalk up another lesson in the "having kids is frakkin' expensive" file.
 
gprellwitz said:
And the NTSB (rightly, I think) wants to do away with that exemption for under 24-months. Listening to the head flight attendant on Al Haines' crash at Sioux City, where she had to tell people to put their "most precious possessions" on the floor between their feet prior to the crash, and you realize what a bad idea lap-held babies really are.
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Lap kids = projectile in an accident
 
denverpilot said:
They just don't have the stopping power of a .45 ACP, though.

I threw three or four of them at a guy and he just kept coming. ;)
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But threw the wrong versions - they need to be covered in sour milk, and have not had diapers changed. That'll stop anything.
 
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