Comments on: I’m officially pissed at Northwest Airlines

By: Jonathan Munson

Jonathan Munson — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:48:05 +0000

I recently had the most awful experience I have ever had with an airline. This situation is so ridiculous I would almost find it humorous if it hadn’t happened been me they screwed. Take my advice and never fly with Northwest Airlines!

I booked a multiple destination flight from Columbus to San Antonio, San Antonio to Dallas, and then Dallas back to Columbus through Orbitz. Northwest Airlines issued my ticket. Three days before my flight from San Antonio to Dallas, I decided instead to drive to Dallas early and just catch my flight back to Columbus. I called Orbitz to see if I could get some money back for driving instead of flying one leg of the trip and was told I had to cancel that flight. So I agreed and after the flight was cancelled, I was then told that my flight from Dallas to Columbus had been cancelled as well.

Evidently Northwest loves to collect extra fees for changing tickets. If you purchase a ticket that goes to multiple destinations, you not only can’t cancel any portion of the trip, you have to literally show up for every leg of trip or your entire trip is cancelled! Not only was I not allowed to cancel my flight from San Antonio to Dallas, they told me that if I didn’t show up for my flight in San Antonio, my flight to Columbus would be cancelled as well. How much would it cost me to drive one leg of the trip instead of flying….a minimum of $200, possibly more!

I can’t believe the desperation of Northwest Airlines to try and make an extra buck by hiding fees in their Terms of Agreement! When I called their customer service, they were extremely rude and obnoxious. I was shocked! I would never have believed I would receive this kind of treatment from any business much less a big airline. Now I’m out hundreds of dollars by missing my flight from San Antonio and have to pay a minimum of $200 if I want to re-book my flight from Dallas to Columbus.

People should be aware that Northwest might be cheap to fly, but they are hiding as many fees as they can in the small print of those online agreements you agree to when you click accept. I will never fly Northwest Airlines again and I hope many people will read this and avert disaster. Just pay a little extra and fly Southwest which is an honest company.

The only consolation I have had throughout this awful experience is the knowledge that companies like Northwest, who are dishonest and corrupt, will always go out of business when they resort to this kind of dishonest behavior.

In disgust,
Jonathan Munson

By: Phi

Phi — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:43:22 +0000

Thanks again to everyone for the generous offers of couches, etc. It’s nice to know that I have plenty of places in the Cities where I could crash if necessary. :-)

By: CoryQ

CoryQ — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:48:21 +0000

I’ve heard a couple of people pretty upset with the NWA/Delta merger as the customer service of NWA was one of the things that was tossed out. Much like the Dayton’s/Macy’s merger, customer service takes the hit first.

If you ever need a ride from the Cities somewhere, feel free to give Fortress FunkedeVoort a call as well or consider it a place with an extra bunk!

By: MJ

MJ — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:09:43 +0000

Ditto the couch offer. I should tell you the story of when my friend got married, and the bride’s maid’s dress belonging to his sister was put onto the wrong flight. Long story short (and several missed attempts to get the dress back) the airline told her that if she wanted to ensure that it arrived, she should have bought it its own seat.

By: Phi

Phi — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:25:23 +0000

Nick: Definitely a no go for 2019 :-).

Alex: Many thanks for the very kind offer; saving WeatherGirl on much of her driving will be really wonderful. She’ll be in touch to sort things out!

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:49:40 +0000

Hey Nic,
Just talked to WeatherGirl and told her that I could come and get you at the airport and drive you to Sauk Rapids where you’d be welcome to spend the night. It’s not all the way to Morris, but it gets you half way there and reduces the insane driving time for the rest of the family to get you. It’s also gives us a chance to show you the house, introduce you to Julian and spend some time with the McPhee & Gilbert clan (always a good thing). Let me know:)

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:30:18 +0000

I remember that from GECCO99! You asked me to call your wife as they carted you off to the ambulance.

So… definitely not on GECCO 2019.

By: Phi

Phi — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:04:21 +0000

Wouldn’t you know it, but I happened to be in a trial where they were buying non-refundable tickets. Weird, eh?

Thanks a ton for the kind offer. I think my family is going to come and save me, but I’ll give you a call if things change.

Oh, and remind me to not go to GECCO 2019. In 1999 I ruptured a disk in my lower back, and in 2009 this happens. Best if I just stay away 10 years from now :-).

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:39:30 +0000

Did you let the NSF travel agents book your trip? Usually they pay some sort of ridiculously high government rate that entitles you to fly on any flight, any time. (Every panel I’ve been on has ended early, and in each case I’ve taken a cab to Reagan/National and walked onto the first flight back to MSP, twice in front of standby passengers…)

If you do end up needing a place to crash Tuesday night there’s a futon in our office.