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View Full Version : Corals and airlines- BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


dgasmd
11/06/2004, 08:49 PM
I just wanted to let everyone know what happened to me today so that maybe you can avoid it in the future.

I flew into BWI (Baltimore) on Southwest Airlines last thursday for medical reasons. About 3 weeks ago before I bought my ticket and then again last monday, I called SW and asked them if there was any problems for me to bring back corals and fish on my return fly to West Palm Beach as cargo/luggage. The first time I spoke with some supervisor of god knows what that tells me so long as the containers are sealed and packaged appropriately, that should be no problem and that I could check them in as my luggage. I then was told the same last monday.

What I had in mind was to bing back all my corals that a friend has been more than generous to keep for me for about 5 months now since I moved. Given that it was OK by the airline, I spent 2.5 hours packing all my corals with my buddy this AM. Everything was good to go. I showed up at the airport and go up to the ticket counter where I was quickly told that they do not allow any containers on the plane with liquids and so the corals can't go. Same for the fish. I will spare you the mental picture of my anger to hear this bull**** at the last moment when my plane is now a little over an hour from leaving and I have my wife, my 2 year old, and an angry/hungry 7 week old next to me. To make the long story short, they "suggest" I look into the other airlines to see if would let me ship it as cargo or better yet send it via FedEx or UPS. First off, the cargo terminal for any airline is literally miles away from the terminal. At the very least you would ahve to drive over there. I walked to one of the counters of Delta to ask and was told that unless I am a "certified shipper" I am not allowed to ship anything via Delta or any airline. I asked what this certified shipper is and they tell me that since 911 unless you had either a shipping account with the airline before or have been certified by the government as a business that ships more than 6 times per month or some crap like that, nobody can ship anything via cargo with an airline. What a load of ****. So, I called FedEx and they tell me that for some ungodly amount of money they would ship it "same day". But, there is something to it. You have to have a FedEx account that was opened before 911 and you have to be home to have the package picked up. You can't even drop it off at the FedEx terminal, ahhh, it gets better, because FedEx actually ships it via airline cargo. Talk about monopoly feeding monopoly.............................

The only thing that saved the day was that my friend was around to quickly drive back to the airport to pick them back up. To say that I appreciate what he did would be a gross understatement.

To say that in principle alone I will never again fly via Southwest Airline is also an understatement. Not only that, but I will tell everyone I know too. I plan to send SW a letter, and although I realize it will not change anything it will make me feel better, detailing what happened and telling them how they will never see my business again.

The worst part of all to me is that it is amazing to me how far have we come driven by nothing but irrational fear. All these changes for "safety". I take my shoes off at the airport for "safety". What a load of crap. No wonder the rest of the world laughs at us daily.

Aged Salt
11/06/2004, 08:59 PM
Alberto, I trust the everyone is fine. What a great friend:thumbsup: BTW, venting is therapeutic:) Now, take 2 Tylenol & call me next wk. when I'm in my office:D Bob

Notanthr4
11/06/2004, 09:47 PM
why you are at it call mr bush and thank him for making it safe to fly, no more dreaded fish bombs!!!!

downset
11/06/2004, 09:56 PM
WOW all i can say is WOW

Aged Salt
11/06/2004, 10:00 PM
They agreed to ship his corals before he came to the airport desk with those Bootsy's shades on:D You have to ask yourself, if it were you looking at Alberto with shades/earrings, would you let him ship anything:eek: :lol: Bob. BTW my friend, it's pony-up time--ck. out the pix on the ZEOvit forum;)

dgasmd
11/06/2004, 10:26 PM
Do you have a specific link?

Aged Salt
11/06/2004, 10:49 PM
Alberto, YHPM:) Bob

Phan
11/07/2004, 03:00 AM
this is why you dont ship things that are fragile with a label on the box that says "fragile". or "this side up". because anyone who handels boxes on a regular basis....they see "fragile"....it means "kick" and "this side up" means "turn me upsde down and shake me". you pack it as best you can, then hope for the best.

its like when you move. and movers come and move your boxes....they see 45 normal boxes withought writing on them...then three with writing that says "fragile" in black letters....its human nature to kick it. its almost as if you dont trust the people moving the boxes to treat each as if they are fragile.

you tell a shipping company...."hey this is fragile life, living in fragile salt water, that if it dosent get there in time, is going to die". i would tell you to get bent too. im not taking that chance either. if im the counter guy or the owner of the business. i smell a lawsuit.

shipping is funny business. wrap whatever you ship the best you can, and just ship it normal fair and hope it makes it. special instruciions mean more of a beating.

steve

cwegescheide
11/07/2004, 08:41 PM
Hi dgasmd... I feel your pain buddy. Lucky for you ya had a buddy to take care of you.

Well I thought I would share with you all my stories of airline rediculousness. I will start though by saying that I have carried on a coral that I have gotten from a guy while i was outa town. No problems. Now for the story...

I have been traveling back and forth on a bi-weekly basis for a couple of years for work.... A few weeks ago I had a near altercation with a flight attendant because she wanted me to put my backpack containing my new 3k laptop in the overhead storage to be smashed by the other luggage... Anyways... To make a long story short I didn't do it and the next thing I know after we landed I was being escorted off the plane by a FEDERAL AIR MARSHALL.. Nothing happened but them trying to scare me into behaving while I was on the plane but I am not trying to reason with a person who hands people softdrinks for a living.

The airlines are really getting rediculous with their restrictions on carry-ons etc to the point of almost going communist. Its a little comforting in a way to the frequent traveler to be honest but they have to be a little willing to be reasonable or people like yourself will quit flying or atleast not fly certain carriers. Many airlines like ATA are all but belly up. There has to be a happy medium reached..

Glad that your story ended somewhat ok.. I think if you don't say anything and just carry on a couple corrals tripple bag and don't bring too much attention to it you should be fine. I think if you ask someone if you should be able to carry something like that your going to get someone that is going to try and exert their authority over you and say no to make your life a major hassle while in the airport. Just remember most of the carriers it seems are in a restructuring mode as is ATA and 90% of the people you deal with are not going to be employed with the airlines 4 mos from now and they are going to take out their frustrations on YOU. Atleast thats my experience lately. Eventually when all the airlines without deep pockets are weeded out I think the customer service might return to be acceptable. I'd say don't broadcast what your carrying on the plane.. If its a small box and does not have wires, timer and c4 that can be picked up by the x-ray machines you should be fine.

Ludwigia73
11/20/2004, 07:46 PM
Cmon guys, there's fish like stonefish and there's lionfish that are poisonous... Do we think the ragheads have figured out they can use these as weapons?