[evilmousse]

[an approximate log of a phone call a minute ago with airtran airlines complaint line, i had been told to call by a prior representative who thought maybe the complaint department would do something for me]

[*snip* introductions and exchanging private info to establish myself as a customer]

i'm calling to complain because you canceled my departing flight at 5:30pm and rescheduled me at 10:30am. i'm supposed to work that day so this is more than a small inconvenience.

"do you want to reschedule your flight?"

no, that's not my complaint, i've already talked with a representative for that, and flying a day prior doesn't solve my problem of needing to work that day; you've put me on the sole flight you have that day and that's all that can be done. but getting to my complaint, before speaking to her, i was forced to listen to a several-minutes long recording detailing the 75$ change fee i would be expected to pay were i to make a change in my flight. i can't help but notice a huge inequity there: 75$ is no slap on the wrists, yet you can cancel my flight without even telling me why, owing me nothing?

"airtran reserves the right, sir, to.."

i know it does and that's my complaint. you _also_ reserve the right to charge me 75$ when i do what airtran is currently doing to me. my whole prior week is now complicated from having to get in another 8 hours of work in an already busy time. i can't help but notice the inequity of the situation; that you can change the terms of our contract freely without explanation, and i'd get charged severely for doing the same thing. [now that i've written this much, i can't remember just how the last sentence i said went, but somehow it involved the word 'thanks']

"you're welcome." *click*


the kicker is of course all the airlines are like this, so what does airtran care. i abhor industries that can get such a one-sided upper-hand on their customers. buying an airline ticket's one step better than buying a scratch-off lotto ticket; you're LUCKY to end up with what you intended to purchase. i don't think i'm alone when i say i avoid flying whenever possible, and it's because of how i'm treated rather than any fear.