continental has posted its kiteboard policy

Speedo · Since 07 May 2007 262 Posts Obsessed

Bummer

bwd · Since 04 Aug 2007 385 Posts Obsessed

Though I have some friends from houston that might disagree, at least in the western routes,
Continental's policy has long been known to the eastern US.
The policy is,
"Continental: We Suck." Crying or Very sad

kochease · Since 03 Jul 2008 760 Posts In Ft. Stevens, OR Opinionated

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

This is funny. They are making it so hard on themselves. There i not a service person in the world that will remember all this.

Why not just: "hey if you can fit under these specs we'll take it. It doesn't matter what it is....you know except illegal stuff..."

stringer · Since 31 Jul 2007 694 Posts Chucktown Flying Tomato

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

Hey Guys ,
Huh?!
Maybe because the flight originated in Canada , although ....
I just flew with Continental , April 30 dep. Edmonton Ab. to San Antonio and returned after the Kite Roundup May 10 . I took all my gear in one bag and its just under 50 lbs , like 47 , 2 kites , board , harness etc. . Not one word over the luggage as I had prepaid online and even saved 10% (la dee da ) . Like $50.00 total .
My return was the same not one word . It's not a golf bag but a bag I had made to fit two boards , 2 kites , pump ,bar , blah blah .
I did everything legit as per their web site and even had to use the counter people for a boarding pass due to US policy blah blah . Like I said everything , they did not ask what was in the bag when I checked it at either end !
I've used this bag over the last five years the first time was to SPI as well . Stlucia West Indies 2x air Canada and West Jet, US Air to Haterass NC. all with no problems .
Cannot be my luck as I just dont have that much .!
They even list it on their website as OK to have kiteboards as luggage .
Good luck
JackZ

shred_da_gorge · Wed May 26, 10 6:52 pm

At the risk of being redundant I won't repeat the details of the hour-and-a-half ordeal I spent on the phone with their customer service rep trying to help them keep my repeated business and not screw over my friend. Only Comcast has done more to inspire me to tell as many people as I can that they suck.

jblum · Since 13 Jul 2008 306 Posts The Gorge Obsessed

Only Comcast and ATT could screw over people worse than Continental. Just had some friends fly back to the UK with gear and it was a huge ordeal. They suck. Never fly Continental. Tell all your friends.

DownStream · Since 18 Apr 2007 381 Posts Obsessed

true. continental is a pretty bad choice for kiters:

2 weeks ago i was checking bags for a continental flight out of harlingen (from spi). guy next to me is checking golf clubs (allegedly, they didnt ask to look). our bags were the same size. continental lady asked if there was kite gear in my dakine bag. said no, she demanded to look, found the board, wasnt amused by the usual diversionary tactics: its not a board its a coffee table, piece of art, souveneir, etc.

she wanted $100, straight up. didnt charge the golfer anything. i asked the golf guy, who had been watching the whole thing go down, how many kiteboards he had in his bag, and he responded on que nice and loud that he had 2. that was pretty funny.

anyways, pulled the board out, checked the bag without extra charges, tried to sneak it back in but that didnt happen, shipped it home for $20.

we got any lawyers in the sport? someone want to get to work on this?

lks · Since 06 Nov 2007 117 Posts Anchorage, Alaska Stoked

...I know just the guy!

http://listoftheday.blogspot.com/2008/08/classic-snl-clip-of-day-unfrozen.html

shred_da_gorge · Thu May 27, 10 5:11 pm

Classic SNL! Laughing

The thought came to me that maybe Continental could use this sampling of customer experience as feedback in improving their processes, so I poked around on my LinkedIn network but found nobody close enough to contact that would give a rat's ass (plus I'm a computer geek so not connected to the airline industry). Who knows, maybe the right person sending them a link to this thread might make a difference. (World peace may ensue!).

Plus, you know, kiteboards are really big and heavy and a huge burden on the suffering airlines. Maybe they can lighten their load by getting rid of all that free food they give out?

jcarlson · Since 10 Jun 2006 12 Posts Seattle

Why not just: "hey if you can fit under these specs we'll take it. It doesn't matter what it is....you know except illegal stuff..."[/quote]

This is a fair idea, but why would we expect fair to prevail? Do golfers spend more for their airfare? perhaps, since I guess it is a sport of the corporate well to do types. In my experience (not recently) they don't charge extra for ski bags.

On my trip to SPI a few years ago the Continental agent made some grunt about the kiteboard bag but did not charge me.

People are sometimes stuck with only one or two choices of airlines depending where they go and are likely to pick the low fair., but if I can I will avoid the gougers.
If we could somehow convince the airlines that we are organizing to avoid those that impose extra fees maybe they would revise their policies.