Insel Air from Charlotte, just say no.....

[irie1029]

Maule, No where do I state fault. I do say that Insel needs to work the bugs out. I stated the issue is the group had more luggage than the 2nd plane could accept. I pointed out the Insel website as it clearly defines luggage restrictions and seating on the various craft they fly. Craft and such are defined on the schedule as well. I also suggested in closing that a charter should be set up and charged for such groups. As for the 50 seats versus 51 passengers.. don't most airlines overbook?

I still will take Insel Charlotte over AA and Miami any day.

 

[deeper thoughts]

Thnx for the info

 

[iztok]

So, just wanna make sure I'm reading this correctly. Is it your opinion that its the groups fault that Insel sold 51 seats on a 50 passenger plane

Airlines frequently oversell flights and this is standard industry practice.

 

[Maule]

Airlines frequently oversell flights and this is standard industry practice.

Used to be airlines kept passengers on the tarmac for 7+ hours too. Just because you're a sheep doesn't mean the rest of us have to be.

FAA: Changes coming to prevent tarmac delays - Travel - News - msnbc.com

 

[iztok]

Used to be airlines kept passengers on the tarmac for 7+ hours too. Just because you're a sheep doesn't mean the rest of us have to be.

FAA: Changes coming to prevent tarmac delays - Travel - News - msnbc.com

I fly more than you, most likely. over booking is done to keep prices down. It happens sometimes that people show up and one has to be kicked off.

I can book an oversold hotel and kick one with pre existing reservation out within 48 hr notice. I rarely use this but I did few times in the past. Not pretty for a guest who I bumped but I didn't feel driving 45 minutes to next hotel.

I am just saying that this is not out of character for the business and not necessary bad.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

 

[BDSC]

My experience with Insel going to Bonaire was a positive one but it wasn't going through Charlotte. A couple of years ago a buddy and I flew from Raleigh/Durham non-stop to Miami. Then we flew non-stop to Bonaire with Insel and you are on a large plane and not a small 50 seater. The service we had was great with Insel and the total price rt using both AA and Insel was around $500 or so. Now we did have to claim our bags in Miami and then check-in at Insel because they didn't have an agreement in place with AA but it was no big deal really. There was plenty of time between flights. If I remember right, the only drawback for us was a long layover coming home but still no big deal.

I have seen the deal from Charlotte on Insel going to Curacao and then on to Bonaire. Not sure I will use it unless I see some reviews where they have fixed the luggage issues. While the schedule going through Miami may not be ideal, but it's not terrible either, we get there and back without any luggage issues.

 

[DazedAndConfuzed]

My experience with Insel going to Bonaire was a positive one but it wasn't going through Charlotte. A couple of years ago a buddy and I flew from Raleigh/Durham non-stop to Miami. Then we flew non-stop to Bonaire with Insel and you are on a large plane and not a small 50 seater. The service we had was great with Insel and the total price rt using both AA and Insel was around $500 or so. Now we did have to claim our bags in Miami and then check-in at Insel because they didn't have an agreement in place with AA but it was no big deal really. There was plenty of time between flights. If I remember right, the only drawback for us was a long layover coming home but still no big deal.

I have seen the deal from Charlotte on Insel going to Curacao and then on to Bonaire. Not sure I will use it unless I see some reviews where they have fixed the luggage issues. While the schedule going through Miami may not be ideal, but it's not terrible either, we get there and back without any luggage issues.

Besides no baggage agreement with other airlines, they also don't have any other agreements with them, thus if you missed a connecting flight due to delayed first leg of your flight, you are on your own.

 

[JW13]

As I recently learned, the hard way......
they do now have some sort of alliance with US Airways, so they will accommodate you and your bags on the next US Air flight (or vice versa) if a delay is their fault. But that is true only if your flights were all booked on the same itinerary (i.e., all made as part of a single reservation). Of course, I found this out during a 12 hour delay in Curaçao where I missed all of my connecting flights coming home from Bonaire. My problem was that I booked to Miami on US Air and I booked Miami to Bonaire on InselAir separately. Because they were on two different reservations, I had all kinds of trouble, but in the end, InselAir was good enough to get all the change fees waived and even paid for a hotel overnight while we waited for our new flights home. I give them credit for that.

But I still don't know how I would have made all of the legs of the flight on the same reservation (using both US Air and InselAir). At that time, Orbitz wasn't functioning properly with InselAir. I don't know if that's any different now.

 

[iztok]

That is where an experienced travel agent is worth her/his fee in gold. It makes a difference between overnight somewhere and stay in Motel 6 or snagging a last seat home on Friday evening flight (happened more than once).

 

[JW13]

What tools / software does a travel agent have access to that let's them book multiple airlines on one itinerary, including InselAir?

Do those airlines need to be part of a common alliance for them to assume responsibility for delays that make you miss your connecting flights?