No More Direct Chicago Flight

WHAAA!!!! :cry:

Why did they cancel it? It was only 2 flights a day and full every time I flew it!

Loved that I was either 'stranded' at my car or a $12 bus ticket from my parents!

this is wonderful. :roll:
:bang:

That stinks. Though we already know what a headache it is to get from St. Louis to Sowal via the airlines. So not worth it, such a hassle.

When we fly, we always fly into PC, but I looked and didn't see any Delta non-stops from Chicago to PC -- most of them have a long layover in Atlanta. No problem for us since we'd start in Atlanta, but a pain if you're coming from Chicago. ARGH!

well, I've never flown non-stop from Chicago.

I almost prefer PC anyway and have flown in there as often as VPS.

Then and Now

Here is the story a year ago:

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/okaloosa_5676___article.html/chicago_airport.html


Here is the story this week:

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock News/1739214/

well, I've never flown non-stop from Chicago.

I almost prefer PC anyway and have flown in there as often as VPS.

It is a dream. Wheels up to wheels down is under 1 hour and 45 minutes. I will be doing this flight twice next week. I wish there was something we could do...

I loved that flight!

This will shock everyone, but I don't do well with the frustrations of connecting flight issues, delays, hours of waiting, overnight strandings, and other way too common aspects of air travel. :wave:

Air travel is certainly changing as we speak. Daily.

We all know about the recent add'l charge for checked baggage. My son flew out of O'Hare on Delta a week ago to Massachusetts with his cello. When I made the reservation 2 months ago, we had planned on him checking his cello and then he would carry on his luggage. We were bracing ourselves for the extra charge for checking the instrument because of its size but it was at that time w/in the acceptable parameters.

Well, the ticket agent got out his tape measure (we knew this was not gonna be pretty) and because it was 3 linear inches beyond what was acceptable with their recently updated limitations, we had to pay $150 one way for his cello to fly in the belly of the plane. We even tried to buy the cello a seat on the plane, (approx. the same cost in the long run), but all seats were filled.

We had to put additional $$ on his debit card for his return flight. At the time of booking his flight, I figured I was saving $300 by checking the cello. :angry:

Flying is no longer a convenience.

Flying is hell. I've been taking Virgin America on long trips to NYC. It's the only airline I can speak highly of lately.

Southwest- forget it. They lost my friend's bag from LA to Vegas. They make my blood pressure rise.

Flying out of PCB/ Ft. Walton has never been fun either. Last NYE I had to fly to Tampa/ Dallas/ Phoenix/ LAX.

JR, you should have pitched a fit as if you bought the ticket pre-luggage charge they may not have been legally able to charge you.

I understand that they are in financial trouble (vegas has odds on which big carrier will go belly up next), but a little customer service would pay off instead of the nickel and diming. I'm waiting for the airline passenger who goes ballistic because they lost the bag they had to pay extra to check!

My personal rule is that if I can drive it in 12 hours or less (my limit for a day of solo driving) it is cheaper and easier than a plane.

JR, you should have pitched a fit as if you bought the ticket pre-luggage charge they may not have been legally able to charge you.

I understand that they are in financial trouble (vegas has odds on which big carrier will go belly up next), but a little customer service would pay off instead of the nickel and diming. I'm waiting for the airline passenger who goes ballistic because they lost the bag they had to pay extra to check!

My personal rule is that if I can drive it in 12 hours or less (my limit for a day of solo driving) it is cheaper and easier than a plane.

IF I had been there I would have (the 3 of us and the sarcophagus can't all fit in the car). I agree with exactly what you're saying. But it was Mr. JR instead of me. He said he tried arguing but the only alternative was to either leave it behind :floor:or downsize :floor:which was impossible. He said they would not budge.

It was at 6am and I imagine it was at the end of this agent's shift. We've found that you're always at the mercy of the ticket agent. Sometimes they really don't care and allow anything to go through! :shock:

Flying is hell. I've been taking Virgin America on long trips to NYC. It's the only airline I can speak highly of lately.

Flying is no longer a convenience.

My personal rule is that if I can drive it in 12 hours or less (my limit for a day of solo driving) it is cheaper and easier than a plane.

Ditto, ditto, ditto. I told Mr. Pod the last time we flew that the airlines have nearly killed my love of traveling, and that's saying a lot. Over the past few years, I've reached the same conclusion about driving, scooter. Only problem is, the cost of gas is now nearly prohibitive.
Kimmi, I'm still hoping to make a liar out of myself and my above statements with a trip on Virgin--somewhere, anywhere!

Ditto, ditto, ditto. I told Mr. Pod the last time we flew that the airlines have nearly killed my love of traveling, and that's saying a lot. Over the past few years, I've reached the same conclusion about driving, scooter. Only problem is, the cost of gas is now nearly prohibitive.

Thanks to the Scootermobile's high mileage, a 12 hour road trip still costs less than $200 roundtrip for the gas so my only limitations are driver fatigue and time. :wave:

All our problems will magically disappear when the new Panama City Airport opens in 2010.

//Sarcasm Off//

.

JR, you should have pitched a fit as if you bought the ticket pre-luggage charge they may not have been legally able to charge you.

Actually, as I understand it Delta is reimbursing for the extra bag charges for people who bought tickets before the date of the checked bag fee. That's a whole separate issue from the oversized luggage, though.

I thought she said they changed the measurements for oversize too (after she bought the ticket). :idontno:

yeah, it's the over-size luggage, considered "special" luggage. :roll:

I've heard from other cellists and double bassists that this happens a lot. All of a sudden, the new rule is instated. Then sometimes, it's completely waived. I guess you could say we've always lucked out and never had to pay a fee. No damage either!!

yeah, it's the over-size luggage, considered "special" luggage. :roll:

I've heard from other cellists and double bassists that this happens a lot. All of a sudden, the new rule is instated. Then sometimes, it's completely waived. I guess you could say we've always lucked out and never had to pay a fee. No damage either!!

I missed the part about the new limits. As far as I knew, that had not changed. It's the inconsistent application that breeds trouble. If you keep getting the free ride, ya kinda get used to it and, then, wham!

Putting it in a seat is always an option at whatever price that seat happens to be going for...