From: cid@athena.mit.edu (Derek H Cedillo)
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air
Subject: Continental (was: Airlines to Fly ***Please Read***)
Date: 11 Sep 92 15:16:56 GMT
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology


 marke@ultra.com (Marke Clinger) writes:

> Continental should be forced out of business
[lots of contintal bashing]

Seems like a lot of people have had a lot of bad service on continental.
thing is, I've always had great service.  I'm not calling anyone a liar, but
I want to make it known that there isnt just bad service.  I take many 
flights with them from Bos->ORD without any problems.  Ive only had one delay,
and it was due to weather.  I have never had a "personnel problem".
The only time I get funny looks from flight attendants is when I order 
a Diet Coke with a slice of lime.  Even then its just a quick look of puzzlement.
A few times, ive even joked around with the flight attendants.  they are always
curteous at the gate too.  

Last week, when I flew Bos->Ord, The pilot was going to the plane,
and spotted a little boy.  First thing he asked the kid was if he wanted
to see the cockpit.  He asked the father first, and then took the boy. 
He came back out a few minutes later, and then took his little brother who
was in the bathroom the first time he came around.  Sounds pretty congenial 
to me.

Once, my girlfriend got stranded in Newark due to bad weather on another
Bos->Ord.  Since this was a connecting flight, and she could not have been 
warned ahead of time, that she wouldnt make it to chicago,
Continental promptly gave her a nice hotel room and transportation there,
free of charge.


>[Some stuff about bad baggage handling]

again, Im not calling you a liar, but let me share a few experiences with you.
two times thier baggage department did wonders for me.  I was VERY late to a 
plane from Chicago to Bos one day.. (about 5 minutes before departure, and
in ohare, 5 minutes isnt a lot of time from counter to gate!)
In anycase, she gave me a quick spiel about how my luggage probably wouldnt
make it till the next flight.  Guess what, it made it there on time!
They had to call the plane and hold the door for me, yet my luggage made 
it on the same flight.  That is damn good service if you ask me.

Another time, I needed a voucher for discount travel.  Only thing is my 
girlfriend left hers at home.  So here we the afternoon before the flight
without a voucher.  Called continental, and they helped me to arrange
their cargo service to take it from chicago to the boston airport,
and it was waiting for me the following morning at the counter.

>[something about noise reduction trick turning into engine failure]

I dont think this could have been the case. An FAA certified pilot would not
try a noise reduction trick that jeoporadizes the saftey of his plane, crew,
and passangers.  I worked for an aircraft engines company in the past.
seeing that at take off the stall margin is close sometime, this may have been
the case.  beleive it or not, aircraft engines can be very sensitive to 
foreign objects too.  perhaps it injested a bird or other FO, and caused 
the engine to briefly stall.  Something like that cannot be prevented
by any maintainence.  Contintal isnt the only airline that may have had a flap
problem.  The Flap problem obviously wasnt too serious, or they wouldnt have
landed safely (i.e. no emergency landing).  They must have been able to steer
too turn around.
My mother flew on United once where the landing gear would not engage.
Belly landing, Foam runway, Emergency shoots.  That's alot scarier
than turning around as a saftey precaution IMHO.  But I dont hold anything
against united, because shit happens.  You cant prevent everything and
that is why accidents are called accidents.  They happen accidentally.

>[bad flight schedules]

Once again, I can only speak of Bos->ORD->Bos.
but the schedules work for me.  There is about 7 flights a day.
7 am, 10 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, 2:50 pm, 4:55 pm, and 6:45 pm.
Some days, one or two flights dont go, it depends on the day 
of the week.  And this is a rough estimate, but it should be close.
Usually these flights are pretty well booked.  the 7 am may be a little 
scarse at times, but not many people want to get up that early.

Anyhow, I cant say how happy I am with Continental's BOS->Ord
Service.  The only complaint I may have is I would like 
an occaisional Non-Stop.  But that isnt too important to me.  
In anycase, I hope you have had good experiences with Continental,
and continue to fly them.  If you havent, try not to hold a grudge too
much.  You may just be looking for bad things because its bankrupt
and you "expect" bad service and what not.  But if you think about it, customer
service should (and in my opinion is) be more important on the smaller
airlines than the larger, becuase thier jobs are at stake.  A few may be angry
at this, but most are working hard to please you so you come back, and
they stay in business and put food on the table.
all coments good or bad are welcome.  
have a nice day!  

Derek
Newsgroups: rec.travel.air