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This, too, came up on another thread, and I want to expose this to general awareness. I called U.S.Airlines this morning - 800-428-4322, Option 4 for International travel, then requested a Supervisor, to discuss this issue....
She consulted the Charlotte desk by phone and confirmed that the U.S. agent should not have charged extra for Scuba gear packed inside bags that met their rules and policies for linear deminsions and weight, and that anyone so charged should file complaints. The problem seems to lie in their vague polices as published in their web site: :upset:
"Special items such as pets, surfboards, bicycles, scuba equipment, etc. are not included in the customer's free baggage allowance and are subject to an extra charge." Flights to the Caymans are exempt from this, by the way.
I hope that you U.S.Air Frequent Flyers will object tothe airlines Consumer Affairs that the phrase is not only redundant but open to interpretation of the agent. A surfboard, bicycle or Scuba gear that fits inside an otherwise allowed bag should not be charged extra; of course, the surfboard, bicycle or Scuba gear that does not fit within exisiting paramaters can be charged extra under other parts of their policy, so these do not need to be covered in the vague way. Only pets need to be covered in that statement. :fire:
And I worry that if you U.S.Air flyers put up with this, other airlines hungry for income will see it as a way to boost revenue.
thanks, don
TDunbar once bubbled...
One other point on scuba branded luggage.......
USAirways (perhaps some others) are adding a $50 charge if you have dive gear. On my last trip to Cozumel several in our group got hit with the charge when we checked in in Charlotte, others didn't. Some disputed their credit card bill when it came; some didn't. The agent said it was for the expensive gear inside, but when asked if the charge included some insurance, the agent said no.
She consulted the Charlotte desk by phone and confirmed that the U.S. agent should not have charged extra for Scuba gear packed inside bags that met their rules and policies for linear deminsions and weight, and that anyone so charged should file complaints. The problem seems to lie in their vague polices as published in their web site: :upset:
"Special items such as pets, surfboards, bicycles, scuba equipment, etc. are not included in the customer's free baggage allowance and are subject to an extra charge." Flights to the Caymans are exempt from this, by the way.
I hope that you U.S.Air Frequent Flyers will object tothe airlines Consumer Affairs that the phrase is not only redundant but open to interpretation of the agent. A surfboard, bicycle or Scuba gear that fits inside an otherwise allowed bag should not be charged extra; of course, the surfboard, bicycle or Scuba gear that does not fit within exisiting paramaters can be charged extra under other parts of their policy, so these do not need to be covered in the vague way. Only pets need to be covered in that statement. :fire:
And I worry that if you U.S.Air flyers put up with this, other airlines hungry for income will see it as a way to boost revenue.
thanks, don