…with Gary Moss

Back in June I planned a trip from LA to Detroit for August. I knew that the price of air travel was predicted to soar over the summer, so I purchased my ticket early. I also knew that the cheapest non-stop ticket for that market was on Spirit Air. I had used their airline successfully in the past. Even though I had purchased my ticket in a timely fashion, forking over cash from my bank account into the paws of Spirit Air, after the fact of my purchase, Spirit Air added charges for ‘carry-on’ baggage, to the tune of $35 per bag.

Oh well, there went my savings and shrewd shopping.

If you live in Orange County and fly out of LAX, there isn’t any cheap way to get there. I opted to use ’24/7 Ride’. I booked them 1-way for $62 and was told that a 20% gratuity was expected. I was heading to Detroit to be married. What’s an extra dollar here or there for such a special occasion? Again I booked a week before my flight, and again 24/7 Ride didn’t hesitate to take cash from my debit account, a week before they performed the service. I had never used 24/7 Ride before. Within minutes of making the reservation I receive a confirmation for the day and time and notice that they had received payment. On the day of my departure I decided to call to re-confirm with 24-7 Ride. Ooops! A big OOOOPS. Even though they had records of receiving my money, somehow my name was never scheduled for pick up. Only due to my re-confirmation, disaster was averted. The general manager himself called me and then arrived only 15 minutes late in a long black town car and drove me to LAX. PHEW! There was some excuse offered about the scheduled driver being sick and not showing up . . . . . . Who knows what is real?

So now I’m there at LAX at the SPIRIT AIR counter. Since carry-on is $35 and checked-in bags are $25, I checked in my 1 bag. I was pretty proud of the way I packed this time, very efficient. On other trip I have sometimes packed using 3 bags. On my last trip I traveled on Southwest Air where they do not charge for luggage. Oooops. My red-eye, non-stop flight, which is scheduled to leave at 10:15 PM is running late. Meanwhile it is 1:15AM in Detroit and too late to call Adrienne who will be at the airport, promptly at 5:45AM (only to find that I’m not there yet). Big OOOPS! The plane is delayed two full hours. After all passengers have boarded and there is not a seat to spare, the plane loses power and we sit there without air conditioning for 20+ minutes. Finally we take off. Nothing at all is free on any longer of Spirit Air. They even charge $3 for a bottle of water.

Adrienne figured out what happened only after getting to the airport. She lies asleep on her front seat, parked in front of the Spirit Air Arrival Terminal. My plane finally lands. I head on down to the baggage carrousel with all the other tired and weary passengers. And guess who’s piece of luggage is missing? If you guessed me, you’re right. To make things even more dicey, I packed all my meds and the suit that I intend to wear at my wedding in that bag. My bag is the only bag that is missing. I head over to the office to report my missing luggage. The door is locked. There is no attendant. A security guard suggested that I go upstairs to the Spirit Ticket counter where they are busy accepting money from other customers. When I complain to the only agent behind the counter, she comments to the customers in her
line, “Some people just have no patients.”

What ever happened to the notion that the customer is always right?
~ Gary Moss

To rub a little salt into the wound, I packed all my meds in my luggage, including my insulin. And of course the suit for my wedding and all my other belongings are most likely on holiday in Fort Lauderdale or some other Spirit Air destination.

It gets even worse. Lets say you forgot or lost your prescription medication, or lets say that some airline just lost it. You are out of town, getting married and have plans to travel for a week or more before returning home. But you really MUST HAVE your meds. Do you think that your insurance company will automatically step up and help you out? If you said YES, you are either A COCKEYED OPTIMIST or maybe you are POLLYANNA. Chances are they’ll make you pay through the nose.

One of the main things that I love about scrabble is the civility of it all. Come share my board and tiles. Can I offer you enough score sheets for the evening? You say that you’ll be in town next week and need a place to stay? You’re welcome to stay over a night or two. How can I be of service?