[sporter410]

My husband and I missed our honeymoon cruise (first ever cruise for me) and missed family that was waiting at the gate to go with us. We did not realize you had to ck in 1 hr ahead for international; our e-ticket stated on the bottom 30 minutes. We were at the counter signing in for our flight and it said to check in at gate. That was at 8:12(12 minutes lates). When we told the attendant, she said we would have to schedule another flight, but no other flight would get us there in time to catch the cruise. She called the gate again and told them we had a cruise; they obviously didn't care. She called a manager over and she also tried to call the gate. They didn't answer. She called again while they were still trying to see if there was any flight to get us there in time for the cruise. When she called the last time, which was now 8:25, she told them she could walk us thru and be at the gate in 10 minutes. She put the phone down and told the other attendant that they hung up on her!
We have been so upset about the fact that despite the 12 minutes, the attendant at the gate, could not be more understanding of the situation. Family was waiting at that same gate and we would miss a cruise. Missing the honeymoon cruise was bad enough after all the planning we did to get ready for it, but most of all, we are so upset because my husband's 87 year old mother who had been waiting for us to go on a cruise with her has now been disappointed.

My husband is a teacher and he can not go after a certain time and I had planned my vacation at work for quite some time now and the rest of the summer is booked by other employees for their vacation time so we could not reschedule the cruise.

His mom, who had purchased our flight ticket in the first place was willing to pay for us to fly to Juneau, Alaska to get on the cruise there when they docked. She e-mailed the next day to see if we could work that out. The cruise was also going to allow us to come on then, but CONTINENTAL AIRLINES would not honor the ticket to fly back at the original price and wanted to charge us 1200 a ticket. We just did not have the finances to do it. All they had to do was honor that so we could board at Juneau and it would have made this horrible experience to be worked out. It would have given them that chance to live by what their phone number reads, 1-800-"WECARE2." That is a joke. We have been so stunned by their uncaring attitude at trying to work with us. The airlines has no idea what trauma this has caused. I wake up at 4, have angina pains, and anxiety attacks. All over 12 minutes, which I know now we were suppose to be there at 8:00, but they could have worked with us to help it all work out.

My husband and I both filed a complaint with the airline; he by e-mail and I called. They would not try to make things right at anytime that we have contacted them and we have tried several times.

I know my friends at work, at the vet, and family that I have talked to all have a negative attitude towards CONTINENTAL AIRLINES now. They are all shocked at this also.

So, if you plan on taking a trip, maybe you should see if anyone else other than CONTINENTAL flys to where to want to go.