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Question:

On some airlines (DL for one) a flight attendant will pull tickets during boarding. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->On the way back, I rode to the airport with 6 flight crew who turned out to >be on our plane.  The flight attendant was also the gate agent.  I’ve >never seen this before.  Is it common?  She recognized me from the >van, and spoke to me, otherwise I wouldn’t have noticed. .

Response:

>> When I got to SLC and was retrieving my bags, none of the carrousels > had the plane numbers on them.  I finally had to grab one of the bags > and look at the flight numbers in order to find which place to stand. > The luggage handling area isn’t very big. >Hm. I’ve collected baggage at SLC before, and the carousels certainly >*did* have the flight numbers posted. Often, several flights share a >carousel, but the carousel is clearly numbered.

There were numbers on the carrousels, but just #1, #2 and #3, and a message that said for oversized luggage to go to #3.  There was a place for the flight numbers to be displayed, but it was not done. Actually had the same thing happen when I got back to BWI, which usually is pretty good.  I’ve always had my AA flight numbers display, but the TWA flight numbers were not displayed, and we eventually went and stood next to the TWA lost luggage office, and that was the conveyor which eventually had our baggage on it. grandma Rosalie

Response:

>On some airlines (DL for one) a flight attendant will pull tickets during >boarding.

Yes, I spoke to my daughter tonight and she confirmed this, although she said sometimes the gate agents will say that they don’t need help. With a crew of 3, one is in the galley, one pulls tickets, and one?? is in first class? > >On the way back, I rode to the airport with 6 flight crew who turned out >to > >be on our plane.  The flight attendant was also the gate agent.  I’ve > >never seen this before.  Is it common?  She recognized me from the > >van, and spoke to me, otherwise I wouldn’t have noticed. >.

grandma Rosalie

Response:

With a crew of 3 usually a FA will not help with pulling tickets; 2 FAs are in First Class and one is in the back of the plane. If (for instance on a 737) a FA pulls tickets, then 1 FA must be in the front and one in the back.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->On some airlines (DL for one) a flight attendant will pull tickets during >boarding. > Yes, I spoke to my daughter tonight and she confirmed this, although > she said sometimes the gate agents will say that they don’t need help. > With a crew of 3, one is in the galley, one pulls tickets, and one?? > is in first class? >> >On the way back, I rode to the airport with 6 flight crew who turned out >to >> >be on our plane.  The flight attendant was also the gate agent.  I’ve >> >never seen this before.  Is it common?  She recognized me from the >> >van, and spoke to me, otherwise I wouldn’t have noticed. >. > grandma Rosalie

Response:

> With a crew of 3 usually a FA will not help with pulling tickets; 2 FAs are > in First Class and one is in the back of the plane. If (for instance on a > 737) a FA pulls tickets, then 1 FA must be in the front and one in the back.

Which carrier/type of equipment would have 2 FAs in First Class and one in the back of the plane?  I’ve never heard of such an arrangement.

Response:

When I got to SLC and was retrieving my bags, none of the carrousels had the plane numbers on them.  I finally had to grab one of the bags and look at the flight numbers in order to find which place to stand. The luggage handling area isn’t very big.   I got into conversation with a guy also standing there waiting for his bags.  He was air force type (of 30 years) currently stationed at Wright Pat.  His opinion was that SLC had the WORST baggage retrieval area of anywhere in the world.  He also said that there were no plans to upgrade for the Olympics and it would be a real zoo.  (These are not direct quotes) I personally thought that the worst in the world was a little strong. Other questions: >Well, they’ve changed the schedule.  I called before I left for >Toronto, but apparently I should have called after I got back.

Does TWA do a lot of schedule changing.  All our flights were somewhat changed. >I haven’t flowed TWA before, or if I have it wasn’t for a number of >years.  They specify no more than two carryon bags.  One thing I >notice is that they have more unobstructed room under the seats than >in some other planes.  I can put both my computer and fanny pack under >the seat in front of me. There was plenty of space in the overhead bins >on all flights.  

I like the space under the seat very much and also the seats didn’t seem as cramped. >  Unlike many other >carriers, TWA doesn’t bother to tell passengers where their >connections are,  

I thought everyone did this – they didn’t even offer to have someone at the gate – just said to look at the screens in the airport. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->The >crossword puzzle in the magazine is too easy. >On the way back, I rode to the airport with 6 flight crew who turned out to >be on our plane.  The flight attendant was also the gate agent.  I’ve >never seen this before.  Is it common?  She recognized me from the >van, and spoke to me, otherwise I wouldn’t have noticed.   >The flight from St. Louis to BWI was overbooked and were asking for >people with only carryon luggage to give up their seats.  Since I had >one checked bag, I wouldn’t do.  The plane was scheduled to be a 767, >and is an MD80 instead.  My co-worker has an exit row window seat on >the A/B side. > We were a little late leaving because of waiting on passengers who I >guess were making an connection.  They were gov’t contractors – the >lady who sat next to me lived in my home town.  I asked her how she >was getting there (it’s about 80 miles) and she said they rented a car >that there was no one-way drop-off penalty.

grandma Rosalie

Response:

> >Well, they’ve changed the schedule.  I called before I left for >Toronto, but apparently I should have called after I got back. > Does TWA do a lot of schedule changing.  All our flights were somewhat > changed.

All the airlines have periodic schedule changes.  My parents flew TWA in May MSY-JFK-LIS/FCO-JFK-MSY.  The tickets were issued in conjunction with a cruise they were taking out of LIS.  They had their airline tickets for only about one month prior to their departure date.  When I learned of their flight schedule 5 days before departure, I checked the TWA website to look at their flights.  I noticed that the MSY-JFK flight departed 1 hr. 5 min. later than what my mother said appeared on the ticket, so she called TWA.  They confirmed the schedule change and told her it was the cruise line’s responsibility to notify her as the cruise line (via the travel agent) issued the ticket.  The next day she called her TA to ask why she hadn’t been notified, and her TA told her there had been no notification from TWA of the schedule change.  Another case of a misinformed airline employee mislaying the blame. Now that you’ve posted of your experience, it appears to be a known issue with TWA.  With my parent’s itinerary, if the change was 1 hr. 5 min. earlier than what was printed on their ticket, rather than later, as was the case, they would have likely missed the flight and possibly the cruise. In the past month, both DL and CO have called my travelers late at night to inform them of flight cancellations for early the next morning. Wonder if TWA would have done that??? >  Unlike many other >carriers, TWA doesn’t bother to tell passengers where their >connections are, > I thought everyone did this – they didn’t even offer to have someone > at the gate – just said to look at the screens in the airport.

Interesting.  I thought this was done at all major hubs, as well. Possibly they could have just been shorthanded.  Maybe Paul Tauger will shed some light here. To be honest though, if an airline has to cut back (and TW is in poor financial condition), that’s something that I see as transparent to the ease of connections. There are monitors throughout the concourses, and they hopefully would have even more current info. as to possible gate changes than a printout held by an agent meeting a plane. >On the way back, I rode to the airport with 6 flight crew who turned out to >be on our plane.  The flight attendant was also the gate agent.  I’ve >never seen this before.  Is it common?  She recognized me from the >van, and spoke to me, otherwise I wouldn’t have noticed.

I’ve never heard of that.  Doesn’t sound very efficient to me.  If there are last minute issues at the gate, the FA could cause the flight to be delayed. >The flight from St. Louis to BWI was overbooked and were asking for >people with only carryon luggage to give up their seats.  Since I had >one checked bag, I wouldn’t do.  The plane was scheduled to be a 767, >and is an MD80 instead.  My co-worker has an exit row window seat on >the A/B side.

Thanks for posting this about those who had checked baggage.  That’s been my experience on WN and DL as well.  Rich posted that that is not an issue on US.

Response:

> When I got to SLC and was retrieving my bags, none of the carrousels > had the plane numbers on them.  I finally had to grab one of the bags > and look at the flight numbers in order to find which place to stand. > The luggage handling area isn’t very big.

Hm. I’ve collected baggage at SLC before, and the carousels certainly *did* have the flight numbers posted. Often, several flights share a carousel, but the carousel is clearly numbered. –Helen

Response:

<snip> > >  Unlike many other > >carriers, TWA doesn’t bother to tell passengers where their > >connections are, > I thought everyone did this – they didn’t even offer to have someone > at the gate – just said to look at the screens in the airport. > Interesting.  I thought this was done at all major hubs, as well. > Possibly they could have just been shorthanded.  Maybe Paul Tauger will > shed some light here.

I go through TWA’s St. Louis hub a few dozen times a year.  Most of the time, a TWA rep meets the plane at the gate and provides connection information.  On those few occassions when this didn’t happen, the gate was was within a few feet of a bank of departure monitors — it was easy to simply walk over, look for the connecting flight (which are listed in alphabetical order by destination city) and determine the concourse and gate.  On every TWA flight I’ve been on, the FA’s make an announcement just before landing in which they describe the physical layout of the Lambert Field terminal, including how to get from concourse to concourse, etc. > To be honest though, if an airline has to cut back (and TW is in poor > financial condition), that’s something that I see as transparent to the > ease of connections. There are monitors throughout the concourses, and > they hopefully would have even more current info. as to possible gate > changes than a printout held by an agent meeting a plane.

I agree. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >On the way back, I rode to the airport with 6 flight crew who turned out to > >be on our plane.  The flight attendant was also the gate agent. I’ve > >never seen this before.  Is it common?  She recognized me from the > >van, and spoke to me, otherwise I wouldn’t have noticed. > I’ve never heard of that.  Doesn’t sound very efficient to me.  If there > are last minute issues at the gate, the FA could cause the flight to be > delayed. > >The flight from St. Louis to BWI was overbooked and were asking for > >people with only carryon luggage to give up their seats.  Since I had > >one checked bag, I wouldn’t do.  The plane was scheduled to be a 767, > >and is an MD80 instead.  My co-worker has an exit row window seat on > >the A/B side. > Thanks for posting this about those who had checked baggage.  That’s > been my experience on WN and DL as well.  Rich posted that that is not > an issue on US.

Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

> > I did talk to someone who works for the US Army, and they routed him > through Chicago.  His ticket, with an over Sat stay, was about $100 > less than mine.  I don’t remember what airline he used if he said – it > was just casual conversation on the shuttle bus. > Probably UA.  Was he also originating at BWI?

UA is an aggressive bidder for the US government travel contracts. They go so many places that they are frequently the only airline serving a domestic city pair. > >My ticket cost $434 RT without a Saturday stay. > That likely was a specially negotiated fare (possibly gov’t), as the > non-Sat. stay fare on that route is currently over $700.  Or were there > more than 10 people in your group flying on the same itinerary?

I’ve been told that the US government _contract_ fare is about equal to the advance-purchase, non-refundable, non-reschedulable fare, except that it can be bought at check-in, and is refundable and reschedulable without charge.  I’ve camcelled flights after the tickets were issued and changed flights, both going and coming, repeatedly without charge, so I know those are true, but I don’t know about the cost (I just take the tickets and go, without checking the entire fare structure). Not all city pairs have government rates or contract carriers If there is a contract carrier for the city pair, however, use of any other airline has to be justified by the traveller and approved at a fairly high level.  A sale by an airline will qualify for approval, for example, but membership in a frequent-flyer program won’t. — Mary Shafer    http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/People/Shafer/mary.html Lead Handling Qualities Engineer, SR-71/LASRE NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA

Response:

Well right after I got back from Toronto, I had to leave again to go to Salt Lake City.  Plane was supposed to leave at 9:05 and be a 727 with a stopover in St. Louis, but a through flight.  Got to the airport an hour early as usual.  This time I DO have an e-ticket. However as I am standing in line I notice there is no Salt Lake flight, and the only flight listed close to the time is an 8:40 flight to St. Louis.  My co-worker also arrives. Well, they’ve changed the schedule.  I called before I left for Toronto, but apparently I should have called after I got back.  Get a boarding pass – I’m sitting next to my coworker.  Get to the gate and it is suspiciously quiet.  Everyone else has boarded.  The ticket counter person didn’t tell us that.  No sense of urgency I haven’t flowed TWA before, or if I have it wasn’t for a number of years.  They specify no more than two carryon bags.  One thing I notice is that they have more unobstructed room under the seats than in some other planes.  I can put both my computer and fanny pack under the seat in front of me.  We get a bag breakfast – similar to the AA Sky deli, except instead of yoghurt and a banana we get OJ, applesauce and a roll I think.  Plus a drink. We get to St. Louis and it turns out that the flight terminates there. We are getting back on the original flight which has come from DC, but we don’t have our original seats.  Both of us are in middle seats now, when we were originally scheduled to be A and B.  Unlike many other carriers, TWA doesn’t bother to tell passengers where their connections are, and we didn’t even know we had to change planes.  Got off and looked for the gate and time of our new plane.  Panicked for a moment because I haven’t changed my watch – I thought we had 20 min instead of 80 minutes. Asked the gate attendant if I could transfer to an aisle seat and she said (in a harassed tone) that the only spare seat she had was worse than the one I had.  Asked if there was food on the flight and when it was to land – told it was a snack flight and landed about the same time. The snack was a roll with ham and cheese, potato chips and a little bite sized candy bar.  Food was the same in both directions.  The crossword puzzle in the magazine is too easy. While in SLC, I kept getting up on Eastern time (because morning was the only time I could call my husband – before he went out for the day), and going to bed on SLC time.  This resulted in severe sleep deprivation. Called to see if the flight times had changed, and they had, but not as much.  I rode to the airport with 6 flight crew who turned out to be on our plane.  The flight attendant was also the gate agent.  I’ve never seen this before.  Is it common?  She recognized me from the van, and spoke to me, otherwise I wouldn’t have noticed.  I gather that the crew hadn’t been to SLC before from their conversation. Checked in and got a window seat in an exit row, and an aisle seat for the 2nd flight.  The mountains were really pretty.  All the planes were early arriving.  There was plenty of space in the overhead bins on all flights.   The flight from St. Louis to BWI was overbooked and were asking for people with only carryon luggage to give up their seats.  Since I had one checked bag, I wouldn’t do.  The plane was scheduled to be a 767, and is an MD80 instead.  My co-worker has an exit row window seat on the A/B side.  We were a little late leaving because of waiting on passengers who I guess were making an connection.  They were gov’t contractors – the lady who sat next to me lived in my home town.  I asked her how she was getting there (it’s about 80 miles) and she said they rented a car that there was no one-way drop-off penalty. grandma Rosalie

Response:

>As to your trying to pull one over the agent about the lost ticket, I >wouldn’t recommend that again in the future.  Their records are quite >clear as to whether a paper ticket or an e-ticket was issued, and >catching you lying to them may flag you for other concerns.  And you

FWIW, I heard a story in December from a friend of mine who actually had an e-ticket, yet the computer at the gate said he had a paper ticket.  Luckily he had his airline-printed itinerary that said "E-TICKET" on it (it was one of those itineraries that was printed in the same form factor as a regular airline ticket, if you know what I mean).  (I don’t remember which airline it was on, sorry).  He managed to get on the plane anyway, though. Just wanted to make the point that screw-ups do happen even in that case. –Ken

Response:

> : NAFTA might open a whole new can of worms, but I would venture that > : an American flagged carrier is an American flagged carrier regardless > : of NAFTA, CBERA, Andean Free Trade Act, or whatever trade agreement. > Code shares are ok.  A government friend coming back from LUN last year > was routed LUN-JNB on AeroZambia, and then JNB-JFK on AA.

Is the JNB – JFK route an AA route or a SA route?  I didn’t think AA had anything (until recently) that could do to JNB-JFK n/s. Rich

Response:

>   Sheryl raised the point as to whether a journey paid for by the US > government could be be on a foreign airline (AC).

From talking to my State Dept. friends who fly all of the time, you usually go with the US Flag carrier unless a foreign carrier presents substantial cost savings or substantial time savings. >   My understanding is that since the implementation of Free Trade (NAFTA), > major Canadian government contracts have to be tendered so that they are > open to US companies. Indeed, since the provinces discriminate between > themselves, I have seen it argued that international trade can be easier > than interprovincial >   I would be interested in any comment as to whether airfares are

NAFTA might open a whole new can of worms, but I would venture that an American flagged carrier is an American flagged carrier regardless of NAFTA, CBERA, Andean Free Trade Act, or whatever trade agreement. Rich Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

> Our plane is called the City of > Harrisburg.  On the other side it is the Ville de Harrisburg.

Air Ontario names their planes after the cities which they fly to > I go to the Eaton shopping  mall and buy birthday presents for two > grandchildren, have them mailed, and eat dinner, buy 6 bagels > for $2.50 for breakfasts, and  then take the subway back.

Reminds me of an amusing anecdote, a fellow I was working with in the US got talking about his visit to Toronto, he had a good time but asked me what the big deal was with the Eaton shopping mall because it was just a mall like the one near his house. After a little probing I discovered that he had used that exact turn of phrase when asking for directions at the front desk of his hotel and they had sent him to the closest shopping mall with an Eaton’s store in it instead of to the Eaton Centre, which granted is just a shopping mall too (and since it’s the closest one to my house and office, my regular "mall" and yes, I wonder what the big deal is too) but something like 10 times larger than the little mall he got sent to.

Response:

>> I did talk to someone who works for the US Army, and they routed him > through Chicago.  His ticket, with an over Sat stay, was about $100 > less than mine.  I don’t remember what airline he used if he said – it > was just casual conversation on the shuttle bus. >Probably UA.  Was he also originating at BWI?

I think so.  He came from Aberdeen Proving Grounds.  There were several in his group, but I don’t know how many. > >My ticket cost $434 RT without a Saturday stay.

Actually I was wrong about that.  It was $425.00, and was purchased before April 26th (well in advance).  We flew out on Sunday and back on Friday. >That likely was a specially negotiated fare (possibly gov’t), as the >non-Sat. stay fare on that route is currently over $700.  Or were there >more than 10 people in your group flying on the same itinerary?

No there were only 4 of us, and I didn’t recognize anyone else on the plane although I met 7 or 8 other people from Baltimore once I got there.  And neither did my boss or ex-boss who both have a pretty wide aquaintence of people in our field appear to recognize anyone.  All of the other people I met in Toronto are non-government people. This was an Air Canada flight with the actual plane a Dash 8 belonging to Air Ontario. grandma Rosalie

Response:

  Sheryl raised the point as to whether a journey paid for by the US government could be be on a foreign airline (AC).   My understanding is that since the implementation of Free Trade (NAFTA), major Canadian government contracts have to be tendered so that they are open to US companies. Indeed, since the provinces discriminate between themselves, I have seen it argued that international trade can be easier than interprovincial   I would be interested in any comment as to whether airfares are equally reciprocal. So many CP flights are codeshared with AA, that a flight on CP could show as AA on the ticket. —

Response:

> I did talk to someone who works for the US Army, and they routed him > through Chicago.  His ticket, with an over Sat stay, was about $100 > less than mine.  I don’t remember what airline he used if he said – it > was just casual conversation on the shuttle bus.

Probably UA.  Was he also originating at BWI? >My ticket cost $434 RT without a Saturday stay.

That likely was a specially negotiated fare (possibly gov’t), as the non-Sat. stay fare on that route is currently over $700.  Or were there more than 10 people in your group flying on the same itinerary?

Response:

> No, what I meant was, the agent said to me that the ticket "was as > good as cash" which I interpreted as meaning that if I’d lost it at

That’s a crock.  If you haven’t checked in, the tickets says something to the effect of, "check-in required," i.e., you’ve got to show the agent a piece of plastic with your mug on it.  In my mind, that means the ticket has 0 value to persons other than you. -Dan

Response:

>> >As to your trying to pull one over the agent about the lost ticket, > I wasn’t trying to pull on over the agent!!!  I was just hoping that I > had an e-ticket and that all I had been given was the itinerary.  The > last time I flew for business, I was only given an e-ticket. >I was only responding to what you posted.  You said you tried to "gently >persuade" the agent that it was an e-ticket.  To me, that’s different >from walking up and saying something like, "I have misplaced my ticket. >Hopefully it was an e-ticket so there won’t be any problem."

Well that’s what I meant by gently persuade.  When I went up to the counter, he asked me what flight, and I handed him the itinerary.  He asked for my ticket, and I said I thought it was an e-ticket (which I think I could have been excused for thinking, since the last 3 times I’ve flown, it has been an e-ticket, including the last time I went to this same conference in Atlanta–that time I took the wrong ticket and there was no problem because it was an e-ticket).  Since my ex-boss was standing there, I didn’t want to admit I’d lost the ticket.  The agent said he didn’t think so but that he’d check.   He asked me to look and see if I could find the ticket, and by then my ex-boss had gone on, so I confessed that I’d looked and hadn’t been able to find it.  I asked what I should do next, and he said I could pay $75 and file for a lost ticket. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >I wouldn’t recommend that again in the future.  Their records are quite > >clear as to whether a paper ticket or an e-ticket was issued, and > >catching you lying to them may flag you for other concerns.  And you > >were very fortunate that you only had to pay $75.  My experience with my > >travelers has been that you have to buy a new ticket (at the same fare > >as originally issued) and wait for a refund on the lost ticket. > Yes I thought I was fortunate too, although I wasn’t (on my salary) > thrilled at having to pay anything. > >The lost ticket, if found, has no value.  Sounds like you want to cheat > >the airline by cashing it in or selling it to someone else if you find > >it.  Is that what you mean by "what can I get for it?" > No, what I meant was, the agent said to me that the ticket "was as > good as cash" which I interpreted as meaning that if I’d lost it at > the airport say, that someone else could have used it.  So I was > trying to find out what that meant in terms of turning it in (and I > meant to the travel agency as I would have no use for it).  In the > past, if I’ve changed a ticket and paid $75 for a change, the ticket > itself had some value, and I thought that might be the way this was. >A ticket is only as good as cash if it’s non-restricted and fully >refundable.  But once the agent has entered that the ticket was lost and >a new ticket issued, there is no value to a ticket, whether it was >refundable or not. >Turning a ticket in and changing it is totally different from a lost >ticket, especially in your case, where the full value of the ticket has >been used.  And my response was based on what you posted.  "Anyone" >doesn’t necessarily mean a travel agent.  People try to sell tickets all >the time.

OK, just thought my agency might be able to recover some of the cost of the tickets.  I don’t expect to be able to recover the $75 on my expense account unless by some chance they did not actually GIVE me the ticket in the first place.  Which is possible, since I’m not in the office much, and maybe it isn’t my mistake at all but theirs.  I do have the ticket for this week’s trip to SLC (and it is an e-ticket).  Originally they bought me a ticket for SLC and then gave me instructions to go to Chicago.  So stuff happens. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >> Started out on a bad note.  While packing I couldn’t find my ticket > >> (bought by an agency for my employer – was a business trip).  Searched > >> everywhere.  Hoped against hope that it was an e-ticket.  It wasn’t. > >> I tried to gently persuade the guy at the counter (Air Canada/Air > >> Ontario) that it was an e-ticket, and he did check, but they didn’t > >> buy that.  Had to pay a $75 lost ticket fee (haven’t told my husband > >> about that yet).  Anyway, he issued me a new ticket (RT) and said the > >> flight was nearly empty so I could have my choice of seat. > >> Unfortunately, 4 of us were flying together and my former boss was at > >> the check-in counter at the same time as I was, so he knew I lost my > >> ticket.  :-( > >> What chance is there that anyone can cash this ticket in, if I find > >> it?  What can I get for it. > grandma Rosalie

grandma Rosalie

Response:

>I believe you’ve previously posted that you worked for the U.S. gov’t??

I work for the state government.  Not the Feds.  Altho technically the program is 95% funded by the feds it’s not the same. >OSHA??  If so, I’m curious about your flying a non-U.S. carrier for >gov’t business.  I thought this wasn’t allowed.  I can only suspect that >it was due to a huge cost differential on a U.S. carrier out of IAD or a >connection out of BWI.  Please let us know.

My ticket cost $434 RT without a Saturday stay. >As to your trying to pull one over the agent about the lost ticket,

I wasn’t trying to pull on over the agent!!!  I was just hoping that I had an e-ticket and that all I had been given was the itinerary.  The last time I flew for business, I was only given an e-ticket. . >I wouldn’t recommend that again in the future.  Their records are quite >clear as to whether a paper ticket or an e-ticket was issued, and >catching you lying to them may flag you for other concerns.  And you >were very fortunate that you only had to pay $75.  My experience with my >travelers has been that you have to buy a new ticket (at the same fare >as originally issued) and wait for a refund on the lost ticket.

Yes I thought I was fortunate too, although I wasn’t (on my salary) thrilled at having to pay anything. >The lost ticket, if found, has no value.  Sounds like you want to cheat >the airline by cashing it in or selling it to someone else if you find >it.  Is that what you mean by "what can I get for it?"

No, what I meant was, the agent said to me that the ticket "was as good as cash" which I interpreted as meaning that if I’d lost it at the airport say, that someone else could have used it.  So I was trying to find out what that meant in terms of turning it in (and I meant to the travel agency as I would have no use for it).  In the past, if I’ve changed a ticket and paid $75 for a change, the ticket itself had some value, and I thought that might be the way this was. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Started out on a bad note.  While packing I couldn’t find my ticket > (bought by an agency for my employer – was a business trip).  Searched > everywhere.  Hoped against hope that it was an e-ticket.  It wasn’t. > I tried to gently persuade the guy at the counter (Air Canada/Air > Ontario) that it was an e-ticket, and he did check, but they didn’t > buy that.  Had to pay a $75 lost ticket fee (haven’t told my husband > about that yet).  Anyway, he issued me a new ticket (RT) and said the > flight was nearly empty so I could have my choice of seat. > Unfortunately, 4 of us were flying together and my former boss was at > the check-in counter at the same time as I was, so he knew I lost my > ticket.  :-( > What chance is there that anyone can cash this ticket in, if I find > it?  What can I get for it.

grandma Rosalie

Response:

>>I believe you’ve previously posted that you worked for the U.S. gov’t?? >I work for the state government.  Not the Feds.  Altho technically the >program is 95% funded by the feds it’s not the same. >OSHA??  If so, I’m curious about your flying a non-U.S. carrier for >gov’t business.  I thought this wasn’t allowed.  I can only suspect that >it was due to a huge cost differential on a U.S. carrier out of IAD or a >connection out of BWI.  Please let us know.

I did talk to someone who works for the US Army, and they routed him through Chicago.  His ticket, with an over Sat stay, was about $100 less than mine.  I don’t remember what airline he used if he said – it was just casual conversation on the shuttle bus. >My ticket cost $434 RT without a Saturday stay.

grandma Rosalie

Response:

> >As to your trying to pull one over the agent about the lost ticket, > I wasn’t trying to pull on over the agent!!!  I was just hoping that I > had an e-ticket and that all I had been given was the itinerary.  The > last time I flew for business, I was only given an e-ticket.

I was only responding to what you posted.  You said you tried to "gently persuade" the agent that it was an e-ticket.  To me, that’s different from walking up and saying something like, "I have misplaced my ticket. Hopefully it was an e-ticket so there won’t be any problem." – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I wouldn’t recommend that again in the future.  Their records are quite >clear as to whether a paper ticket or an e-ticket was issued, and >catching you lying to them may flag you for other concerns.  And you >were very fortunate that you only had to pay $75.  My experience with my >travelers has been that you have to buy a new ticket (at the same fare >as originally issued) and wait for a refund on the lost ticket. > Yes I thought I was fortunate too, although I wasn’t (on my salary) > thrilled at having to pay anything. >The lost ticket, if found, has no value.  Sounds like you want to cheat >the airline by cashing it in or selling it to someone else if you find >it.  Is that what you mean by "what can I get for it?" > No, what I meant was, the agent said to me that the ticket "was as > good as cash" which I interpreted as meaning that if I’d lost it at > the airport say, that someone else could have used it.  So I was > trying to find out what that meant in terms of turning it in (and I > meant to the travel agency as I would have no use for it).  In the > past, if I’ve changed a ticket and paid $75 for a change, the ticket > itself had some value, and I thought that might be the way this was.

A ticket is only as good as cash if it’s non-restricted and fully refundable.  But once the agent has entered that the ticket was lost and a new ticket issued, there is no value to a ticket, whether it was refundable or not. Turning a ticket in and changing it is totally different from a lost ticket, especially in your case, where the full value of the ticket has been used.  And my response was based on what you posted.  "Anyone" doesn’t necessarily mean a travel agent.  People try to sell tickets all the time. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> Started out on a bad note.  While packing I couldn’t find my ticket >> (bought by an agency for my employer – was a business trip).  Searched >> everywhere.  Hoped against hope that it was an e-ticket.  It wasn’t. >> I tried to gently persuade the guy at the counter (Air Canada/Air >> Ontario) that it was an e-ticket, and he did check, but they didn’t >> buy that.  Had to pay a $75 lost ticket fee (haven’t told my husband >> about that yet).  Anyway, he issued me a new ticket (RT) and said the >> flight was nearly empty so I could have my choice of seat. >> Unfortunately, 4 of us were flying together and my former boss was at >> the check-in counter at the same time as I was, so he knew I lost my >> ticket.  :-( >> What chance is there that anyone can cash this ticket in, if I find >> it?  What can I get for it. > grandma Rosalie

Response:

I believe you’ve previously posted that you worked for the U.S. gov’t?? OSHA??  If so, I’m curious about your flying a non-U.S. carrier for gov’t business.  I thought this wasn’t allowed.  I can only suspect that it was due to a huge cost differential on a U.S. carrier out of IAD or a connection out of BWI.  Please let us know. As to your trying to pull one over the agent about the lost ticket, I wouldn’t recommend that again in the future.  Their records are quite clear as to whether a paper ticket or an e-ticket was issued, and catching you lying to them may flag you for other concerns.  And you were very fortunate that you only had to pay $75.  My experience with my travelers has been that you have to buy a new ticket (at the same fare as originally issued) and wait for a refund on the lost ticket. The lost ticket, if found, has no value.  Sounds like you want to cheat the airline by cashing it in or selling it to someone else if you find it.  Is that what you mean by "what can I get for it?" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Pretty uneventful in the air. > Started out on a bad note.  While packing I couldn’t find my ticket > (bought by an agency for my employer – was a business trip).  Searched > everywhere.  Hoped against hope that it was an e-ticket.  It wasn’t. > I tried to gently persuade the guy at the counter (Air Canada/Air > Ontario) that it was an e-ticket, and he did check, but they didn’t > buy that.  Had to pay a $75 lost ticket fee (haven’t told my husband > about that yet).  Anyway, he issued me a new ticket (RT) and said the > flight was nearly empty so I could have my choice of seat. > Unfortunately, 4 of us were flying together and my former boss was at > the check-in counter at the same time as I was, so he knew I lost my > ticket.  :-( > What chance is there that anyone can cash this ticket in, if I find > it?  What can I get for it. > Anyway, we were on an Air Ontario flight – a Dash 8 (?) – small plane. > Very comfortable.  I had a wheeled bag which I checked, a waist pack, > a coat (I thought it would be cold in Toronto in June), and a > computer.  Overhead bin was full of pillows – put my coat there. > Tried to put my computer bag in the other overhead bin as another lady > also tried to put her bag in there.  I kept taking things out of my > bag to make it thinner, but it turned out to be her bag that was the > problem.  My boss got tired of waiting in the aisle (he was supposed > to sit next to me) and sat somewhere else . > Flight was nice, although I couldn’t get good pictures of Toronto from > the air because of cloud cover.  Our plane is called the City of > Harrisburg.  On the other side it is the Ville de Harrisburg. > Got off the plane, took a bus to the main terminal, went through > immigration, changed some money ($60), got my luggage, and I suddenly > remembered that I’d left my coat on the plane (because I put in a > different bin).  Found the lost-and-found.  The L&F lady called, and > they said they’d send a guy over with my coat.  There was a certain > amount of confusion because a) I was so intrigued by the plane name > that I told that to the lady and she assumed that was where I came > from, and b) I confused my flight time (1540) with my flight number > (1435).  After a bit, a guy came with my coat. > Went out to get the bus to the hotel (the other three in my group were > long gone), and just missed one.  While I was waiting for the next one > (20 minutes), I realized that the guy in the ticket booth had not > given me credit for the discount coupon ($1 off the fare) that I had > given him.  Went back and he gave me $1 in cash (after I convinced him > that he hadn’t already given it to me). > Got to the hotel (after a walk because the ticket guy convinced me to > go to the Sheraton and walk to the Hilton rather than go to the York > and take a shuttle to the Hilton).  Checked in.  Got FF miles. > Found that the Hilton, as usual (I think this is SO tacky), charges > for local calls.  Went down to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (in the hotel) > for dinner.  Always wanted to eat there in Baltimore, but there’s no > convenient parking.  WOW It’s EXPENSIVE.  All ala carte.  Cost me > $58.87 Canadian, and I just had tea, a steak, a salad and an Ameret. > freeze (which was $6.50). > I put a thing on my door saying I wanted a paper, but didn’t find one > the next morning.  Complained, and they said it was probably stolen. > Every other morning I had a paper.  The TV has very few cable channels > – just local TV news/weather/sports/PBS/CNN etc.  Not even HBO or > anything – just A&E, which I thought was an odd choice.  Not a big > deal for me as I mostly watched the local weather channel anyhow. > The next morning I investigated where I could pick up my e-mail etc. > The business center said it would be $10 for 15 minutes, or $20 for > 1/2 hour on the internet.  No way will I pay that.  Went to the > convention which I was attending.   Make the mistake of trying to get > breakfast there – $6.74 for a small pastry, a small plastic cup of > fruit pieces and a can of juice.  A man who was also at the table I > was sitting at said he picked up his e-mail at the Royal York and it > was $5 for a half an hour. > It is pretty hot – people are complaining because it is 34 deg C. > When I phone my husband he says it has been at least 99 deg F at home. > We have a horrendous thunderstorm in the afternoon. > After the convention is over for the day, I go to the Eaton shopping > mall and buy birthday presents for two grandchildren, have them > mailed, and eat dinner, buy 6 bagels for $2.50 for breakfasts, and > then take the subway back. > I try to call long distance to a computer in Buffalo to pick up my > e-mail that way, but, while I can make the connection, I can’t get my > computer to talk to their computer.  Give up. > The rest of the week, I attended the convention during the day.  I had > dinner in the CN tower (you get to ride up for free if you have dinner > there, and you get to sit and watch the city go by) on one evening, > and went down to the harbor and did a harbor tour, went shopping and > had dinner there another day.  Not as hot as Monday.  There are > shuttle buses from the hotel to and from the convention center, and I > manage to leave my bag on one and my camera on one, but in each case > someone yells at me so I don’t lose them. > I also went to the Royal York and looked at my e-mail – it is $5 on a > credit card for 25 minutes.  I think it is supposed to be for hotel > guests.  The last night I gave up and ate at the Hilton.  I had > intended to go to the museum.  They had a nice buffet with some > unusual items (squid salad, Cajun shark). > I finally find a local post office (it is in an under the street mall > in a drugstore a couple of buildings over – they aren’t listed in the > phone book), and buy a box.  I take it back to the hotel and pack > whatever I can fit into it, and go down to the business center to get > it sealed.  Then I mail it (mostly dirty clothes and convention > materials) back to myself.  This makes it easier to pack to leave. > I see my boss twice – once on a shuttle and once from the shuttle.  I > don’t see my former boss at all, and the other lady in the group I see > once at the convention. > I had $10.36 Canadian left – I left it for the maid. > Trip back was uneventful.  Had to take the luggage to customs first > and then put it onto the conveyor.  Then take a bus to the other > terminal.  It’s nice not to have to board by rows a half an hour in > advance – just everyone gets on.  They gave us lunch – a bagel > sandwich, a piece of cheese and two crackers, a bite size candy bar > and a drink.  It was good although not enormous in size.  I read a > book. I don’t leave anything on the plane this time. > Found I didn’t have 35 cents to phone my husband to pick me up and had > to use a credit card to phone.  Got home and pick up my e-mail etc. > Nice trip.  I like Toronto in the summer. > grandma Rosalie

Response:

Pretty uneventful in the air. Started out on a bad note.  While packing I couldn’t find my ticket (bought by an agency for my employer – was a business trip).  Searched everywhere.  Hoped against hope that it was an e-ticket.  It wasn’t. I tried to gently persuade the guy at the counter (Air Canada/Air Ontario) that it was an e-ticket, and he did check, but they didn’t buy that.  Had to pay a $75 lost ticket fee (haven’t told my husband about that yet).  Anyway, he issued me a new ticket (RT) and said the flight was nearly empty so I could have my choice of seat. Unfortunately, 4 of us were flying together and my former boss was at the check-in counter at the same time as I was, so he knew I lost my ticket.  :-( What chance is there that anyone can cash this ticket in, if I find it?  What can I get for it. Anyway, we were on an Air Ontario flight – a Dash 8 (?) – small plane. Very comfortable.  I had a wheeled bag which I checked, a waist pack, a coat (I thought it would be cold in Toronto in June), and a computer.  Overhead bin was full of pillows – put my coat there. Tried to put my computer bag in the other overhead bin as another lady also tried to put her bag in there.  I kept taking things out of my bag to make it thinner, but it turned out to be her bag that was the problem.  My boss got tired of waiting in the aisle (he was supposed to sit next to me) and sat somewhere else . Flight was nice, although I couldn’t get good pictures of Toronto from the air because of cloud cover.  Our plane is called the City of Harrisburg.  On the other side it is the Ville de Harrisburg. Got off the plane, took a bus to the main terminal, went through immigration, changed some money ($60), got my luggage, and I suddenly remembered that I’d left my coat on the plane (because I put in a different bin).  Found the lost-and-found.  The L&F lady called, and they said they’d send a guy over with my coat.  There was a certain amount of confusion because a) I was so intrigued by the plane name that I told that to the lady and she assumed that was where I came from, and b) I confused my flight time (1540) with my flight number (1435).  After a bit, a guy came with my coat. Went out to get the bus to the hotel (the other three in my group were long gone), and just missed one.  While I was waiting for the next one (20 minutes), I realized that the guy in the ticket booth had not given me credit for the discount coupon ($1 off the fare) that I had given him.  Went back and he gave me $1 in cash (after I convinced him that he hadn’t already given it to me). Got to the hotel (after a walk because the ticket guy convinced me to go to the Sheraton and walk to the Hilton rather than go to the York and take a shuttle to the Hilton).  Checked in.  Got FF miles. Found that the Hilton, as usual (I think this is SO tacky), charges for local calls.  Went down to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (in the hotel) for dinner.  Always wanted to eat there in Baltimore, but there’s no convenient parking.  WOW It’s EXPENSIVE.  All ala carte.  Cost me $58.87 Canadian, and I just had tea, a steak, a salad and an Ameret. freeze (which was $6.50). I put a thing on my door saying I wanted a paper, but didn’t find one the next morning.  Complained, and they said it was probably stolen. Every other morning I had a paper.  The TV has very few cable channels – just local TV news/weather/sports/PBS/CNN etc.  Not even HBO or anything – just A&E, which I thought was an odd choice.  Not a big deal for me as I mostly watched the local weather channel anyhow. The next morning I investigated where I could pick up my e-mail etc. The business center said it would be $10 for 15 minutes, or $20 for 1/2 hour on the internet.  No way will I pay that.  Went to the convention which I was attending.   Make the mistake of trying to get breakfast there – $6.74 for a small pastry, a small plastic cup of fruit pieces and a can of juice.  A man who was also at the table I was sitting at said he picked up his e-mail at the Royal York and it was $5 for a half an hour. It is pretty hot – people are complaining because it is 34 deg C. When I phone my husband he says it has been at least 99 deg F at home. We have a horrendous thunderstorm in the afternoon. After the convention is over for the day, I go to the Eaton shopping mall and buy birthday presents for two grandchildren, have them mailed, and eat dinner, buy 6 bagels for $2.50 for breakfasts, and then take the subway back. I try to call long distance to a computer in Buffalo to pick up my e-mail that way, but, while I can make the connection, I can’t get my computer to talk to their computer.  Give up. The rest of the week, I attended the convention during the day.  I had dinner in the CN tower (you get to ride up for free if you have dinner there, and you get to sit and watch the city go by) on one evening, and went down to the harbor and did a harbor tour, went shopping and had dinner there another day.  Not as hot as Monday.  There are shuttle buses from the hotel to and from the convention center, and I manage to leave my bag on one and my camera on one, but in each case someone yells at me so I don’t lose them. I also went to the Royal York and looked at my e-mail – it is $5 on a credit card for 25 minutes.  I think it is supposed to be for hotel guests.  The last night I gave up and ate at the Hilton.  I had intended to go to the museum.  They had a nice buffet with some unusual items (squid salad, Cajun shark). I finally find a local post office (it is in an under the street mall in a drugstore a couple of buildings over – they aren’t listed in the phone book), and buy a box.  I take it back to the hotel and pack whatever I can fit into it, and go down to the business center to get it sealed.  Then I mail it (mostly dirty clothes and convention materials) back to myself.  This makes it easier to pack to leave. I see my boss twice – once on a shuttle and once from the shuttle.  I don’t see my former boss at all, and the other lady in the group I see once at the convention. I had $10.36 Canadian left – I left it for the maid. Trip back was uneventful.  Had to take the luggage to customs first and then put it onto the conveyor.  Then take a bus to the other terminal.  It’s nice not to have to board by rows a half an hour in advance – just everyone gets on.  They gave us lunch – a bagel sandwich, a piece of cheese and two crackers, a bite size candy bar and a drink.  It was good although not enormous in size.  I read a book. I don’t leave anything on the plane this time. Found I didn’t have 35 cents to phone my husband to pick me up and had to use a credit card to phone.  Got home and pick up my e-mail etc. Nice trip.  I like Toronto in the summer. grandma Rosalie

Response: