<p>So…the old get a portion of the plan huh? It is such a kick in the gut I don’t care how old/young someone is. The big guns get the golden parachute and the guys with the pensions get a third of what they thought they were getting. I guess we can be prepared for some consolidaton of carriers and in the future big rises in fares…so far they haven’t passed along the costs too much but things will change. I am glad that I did some traveling in the recent past for the cheap fares to far destinations are coming to an end. I wish your friend the best outcome…it must be a hard pill to swallow to have forgone pay raises and now to forgo the pensions…double payback if you ask me.</p>
<p>Oh thanks Mootmom, I thought since the latest round of new security measures that you had to claim your bag and recheck it if you changed airlines. We will be so out of it (her first flight leaves at 5am) when we get to the airport, the heads up is good, we will ask.</p>
<p>Cost of curbside checkin: when I took son to airport Sat night, several of the curbside checkins had signs saying that their <em>fee</em> (not voluntary) was now $2/bag. Signs also pointed out that they are NOT airline employees.</p>
<p>I’ve always tipped at least $10 and sometimes $20, depending on the number of bags and the degree to which I was breaking the rules. I should point out that the only time we use curbside checkin is if we’re pushing our luck.</p>
<p>I always use curbside Skycap because it avoids the entire line up and slow service inside the terminal. I have never had a problem and the poster who said they are airline employees is correct…these folks are like professional waiters or service workers…they live on tips. The guys at my airport have been there for a long time and they get to know regular travelers who tip well. Treat these guys like gold for when security was heightened they were not always allowed to operate and thus may not always be there for us rule breakers@!!</p>
<p>The weight limit is 70# for trips connecting to overseas flights.</p>
<p>Agree that the cost of flights is absurdly low.</p>
<p>I know something about the pension entitlements - limit is about $45,000 per year - imagine the airline pilots who were promised almost $100,000 annually, limited to less than half that. </p>
<p>Now, don’t misunderstand me, $45,000 is a fine base amunt for retirement, it’s just that if you were earning big bucks keeping big tin cans up in the air for 20 years and your golden years were earmarked for a cushy retirement, imagine how ripped off you would feel.</p>
<p>cangel, Your D does NOT have to claim her bags and recheck, even if she has booked her flights with two different airlines on two separate e-tickets. I do that all of the time - our rural airport only has one airline. At check-in have your D present both e-tickets, the agent can produce the luggage tags showing the flight #s and airport codes for both flights. I ALWAYS check this info myself before the bags are tossed into the chute. The top flight # and airport code should be for her final destination. I flew into and out of Reagan National this summer. It is a nice smallish airport. The only thing different is that NO ONE (and I mean no one) is allowed to leave their seat the during the last 30 minutes before landing into Reagan and the same being true when flying out. (Not an airport for those of us with small bladders).</p>
<p>Regarding the overweight baggage problem- just because you get the bags check-in doesnt eliminate your potential problem. On heavily booked flights, the overweigh bags are the first ones removed and sent on a later flight. The rational is that it is better to inconvenience one passenger than 3 or 4. Unfortunately, the next available (same airline but with fewer passengers/bags) flight may not be until later that night. </p>
<p>Every summer D goes to 1 or 2 ballet camps. These programs utilize college dorms to house the dancers. I ALWAYS ship the heavy and bulky stuff directly to school. I call and speak with someone in receiving to find out how the boxes should be labeled and who I should contact to confirm the boxes have arrived. They are grateful for the heads-up information and usually will arrange to have someone with a dolly take the boxes up to Ds room. I realize summer is different from the fall-swarm but I would still ship the heavy and bulky stuff, make the phone calls but have them leave the boxes in receiving for D to pick up later.</p>
<p>Cangel, I agree with Tutu…checked luggage stays checked and that includes when I switch carriers… I just let them know my final destination with my tickets. Most airports are designed so you do not have to go through the security screening line but if you leave the passenger area to go to another building you will probably have another security check…This happens to me flying into Honolulu and out to the neighbor islands.</p>
<p>Thanks Tutu & Mr. B - we are going on the assumption you are correct (if not you will get an irate phone call, very early in the morning of Sept 6 ;)). Seriously, thanks to everyone who answered - we were going to just send her with the absolute minimum and try to lug the bulk of it ourselves later in the week - now we can distribute the stuff more evenly, and have less to ship - you guys are a great help!</p>
<p>
Due to such a possibility and/or lost luggage, we are making sure that S has a few days of “favorite” clothes plus any other really necessary items in his carry-on bag. Then it won’t really matter if any of the big galoots get delayed.</p>
<p>The PBCC will give approximately 45K to those who completely lose their pension plans when all items clear the courts to those who were 60 as of 3 years ago (it is a very odd law), and the PBCC is designed to cover ALL industries, not just aviaiton. A pilot, for example, who retires early, say 57 rather than 60, would only receive 19K annually…and that regardless of how many years of service he/she has. Furthermore, I am confused about the Delta pilot who is going on furlough and expecting to retire in 1.5 years?? Most who are over 55 (the minimum age for early, pre-60, retirement) have the option of retiring at this time. Normally, you don’t retire from furlough, unless it is an involuntary furlough, and then years of service affect your PBCC distribution (it is a complicated issue). As for the plight of those in this industry, I can speak absolutely first person on this issue (check out my user name). </p>
<p>Remember, that even if an airline is stressed and takes financial action, they will still be operating if all goes well. US Air, United, Continental, among others have all had problems and are working hard to continue to operate safely and as efficiently as possible. So, please, for those of us directly affected by the current difficulties, let’s not have any “funerals” yet. We’re still here and we’re still trying to provide all of you with the best possible service we can. </p>
<p>As for baggage weight, you know, you can’t “slip” it buy the post office, FedEx, UPS, or any other “shipping” form, and when you take excess baggage along with you (the ticket price is really to transport YOU), you are in a “shipping” mode. The cost is probably equal to or less than other forms of shipping, and you have the convenience of having your baggage accompany you (assuming no gliches). For most carrriers (airlines), if your baggage is delayed or does not arrive with you, they will ship it/deliver it to you.</p>
<p>And, Hazmat, yes, it is very disheartening. Spending almost 20 years of missing birthdays, all Christmas’, wedding anniversaries (made 2 out of 20), family emergencies, kid’s special events, and just being away from home for 18 days a month (remember, most people only work 20 days a month when you consider weekends and holidays…and most people come home at night) is a large toll on any family’s relationship. The physical fatigue and medical treatment limitations for even minor illnesses (many meds are not allowed for pilots) seem to make you age faster than average. It is the wonderful people you meet and the bond among pilots/aviation personnel that helps make it better. Still, many would not have chosen this line of work in retrospect. We know, however, that pilots and those in aviation are not alone and share concerns for ALL industries and individuals under stress, particularly over the pension issues.</p>
<p>Your child will have to claim and re-check their luggage if they arrive from overseas and need a connecting flight. The luggage must go through customs with the passenger. Inbound only.</p>
<p>Hang in there…there are many of us who are watching your plight. One thing is certain…fuel is continuing to rise in price. Perhaps in the end this will help you guys.</p>
<p>Yes, cheers International flights require you to retrieve and re-check your luggage. But I dont think Reagan National has international flights those are restricted to Dulles and Baltimore-Washington.</p>
<p>Flying Delta - checked online and they have the 62" restriction - ours just squeaks by. What’s this about max total dimension? How is that calculated? If you make it under the 62" is there a problem if you are over the other???</p>
<p>Evitjar, usually total dimension is height + width + length (all at widest point). There are additionally specific limits for each dimension since the baggage must fit through the scanners, along the baggage track, and into the cargo bins. Weight limits are due, in part, to human lifting and handling limitations for health and safety of the baggage handlers.</p>
<p>Hazmat, thanks for the support, but we (like EVERYONE else) really need to see oil prices come down.</p>
<p>Update: S is checked in and awaiting departure at the gate. He packed and we checked two bags, including the large duffel I was worried about. It is fairly lightweight and was a bit over the dimension limit, but S got two cinching straps for camping from REI and wrapped them around the circumference of the duffel and pulled in the sides tightly. The agent did not measure the bag and happily checked them both right on through to Boston.</p>
<p>He had his backpack to carry on (with laptop, headphones, and important papers inside), and his camera bag to carry on for the overhead (with camera equipment and hard drives for the desktop computer I’m DHL-ing to him later today). He asked to have the camera bag hand-inspected and must have worked it out one way or the other, as he went through security easily and smiled to me as he headed to the gate.</p>
<p>So my concerns appear to have been unfounded. Good luck to everyone else!</p>
<p>I was flying from Honolulu to New York about ten years ago and switched planes in LA with an overnight stay. In the morning we were waiting in the ticket line when a woman started unloading at least 32 suitcases and duffles from a truck into the line. We thought is was for a school trip, she told us it was just hers; she was moving. Apparently she didn’t know anything about luggage restrictions. She ended up having a very bad morning.</p>
<p>Cangle…your daughter is not staying overnight at any of her stops is she…an overnight stay will bring all her luggage back to her. The airlines are not inclined to keep luggage stored overnight.</p>
<p>Cangel:</p>
<p>Domestic luggage is checked through, no matter how many airlines you use to make the trip. The two-hours layover is not that generous, as delays are not infrequent and your D may have to go from one terminal to another.
I always pack a toothbrush and a change of clothes to carry on board in case there is a delay in getting my checked luggage. It’s happened to me before. Generally, the delayed luggage is delivered to your door.</p>