xxalex

Most recent activity

• Anybody from Belfast?

  in Belfast • 15 years

  

  We'll be out each wednesday - leaving custom house square at 6pm. Gears are grand.

• Anybody from Belfast?

  in Belfast • 15 years

  

  Hey guys, I apologise for the ridiculous 25% gradient in that ride.. Fra - you're lucky you missed it!

• Anybody from Belfast?

  in Belfast • 15 years

  

  Possible route for Wednesday. Start Custom House Square - end Boojum.
  http://tinyurl.com/ybqovc9

  and don't forget critical mass this friday...

• Anybody from Belfast?

  in Belfast • 15 years, 1 month

  

  Another week, another new face and another great ride.
  Critical Mass this friday; 18:30 Custom House Square.

  Kev, I'll look the skid comp video out and try to get it online.

• Anybody from Belfast?

  in Belfast • 15 years, 1 month

  

  Critical Mask video!
  CriticalMass on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

• Anybody from Belfast?

  in Belfast • 15 years, 2 months

  

  Another good ride - strong numbers and no texting!
  Same again next wednesday... and then we have 'critical mask' on the 30th.

• Airline Baggage Regulation / Flying with Bikes

  in Cycle Touring and Bikepacking • 15 years, 2 months

  

  Sorry seems to be the word they just won't use!
  But, I'm happy that they refunded the money. It took a lot of effort and put me in a pretty awful mood for the past couple of days; I wonder just how many people would have given up after the original check in refusal, two visits to American Airlines service desks in LA and London and then that first email.

• Airline Baggage Regulation / Flying with Bikes

  in Cycle Touring and Bikepacking • 15 years, 2 months

  

  Update! - I got a refund!

  Dear Mr. Donald:
  Thank you for contacting us again.

  I have checked the link you provided with regards to the transportation of your bicycle. As our agency website states that one bicycle will be accepted in place of one checked bag within the baggage allowance regardless of the actual dimensions of the bicycle, we are happy to offer you a refund of the baggage fee.

  We will issue an adjustment to the credit card account used to pay the baggage charge. A credit in the amount of $150.00 should appear on one of your next two billing statements. In the interim, we appreciate your patience.

  Mr. Donald, I regret any misunderstanding with regards to this charge and will forward your feedback to the appropriate supervisory staff for review. We hope this has now been settled to your satisfaction and look forward to welcoming you onboard again soon.

  Sincerely,

  Arjanne Suierveld
  Customer Relations
  American Airlines

• Airline Baggage Regulation / Flying with Bikes

  in Cycle Touring and Bikepacking • 15 years, 2 months

  

  Hi guys.
  I got hit by an excessive baggage fee by American Airlines on Monday.

  Flew Honolulu to Belfast.
  Checked in 1 box 95 x 72 x 20cms, 17kg.
  Charged $150 but http://www.americanairlines.co.uk/i18n/agency/travelExperience/baggageAllowance.jsp?locale=en_GB says

  Bicycle*

  • One non-motorised touring or racing bike.
    
  • Handlebars must be fixed sideways and pedals removed or pedals and handlebars must be enclosed in plastic foam or similiar material.
    
  • Restriction for travel to/from/through Zurich (Switzerland): Due to limitations of the X-ray machines in Zurich (ZRH), bicycle boxes cannot be larger than the dimensions of the X-ray machines, which are 31 inches wide by 39 inches high by 157 inches long and cannot weigh more than 70 lbs.
    **- One bicycle will be accepted in place of one checked bag within the baggage allowance regardless of the actual dimensions of the bicycle. **
    
  • Carry-on: No
    
  • Checked: Yes
    
    

  So, the website says Free I get charged $150.

  So I email American Airlines the website link and all the flight information. They reply with the following...excerpt, the full is below...

  Moreover, we depend on our agents to assess the items and collect the applicable charge. We do not countermand our airport agents' decisions regarding excess or overweight baggage. Accordingly, we must respectfully decline to refund the baggage charge you paid.

  They also include a completely different website link stating the bike charge is $100 not $150

  I have once again emailed and asked why 1. the website says free regardless of size and 2. why the other page says $100 and not the $150 I was charged.

  Any ideas of who I can copy this too? OFT? Trading Standards?

  Cheers
  Alex

  ---

  Thank you for contacting Customer Relations.

  I can appreciate your dismay at having to pay an additional charge for transporting a bicycle as checked baggage. Thank you for this opportunity to address your inquiry.

  While all sports equipment counts towards your bag allowance, there is an additional charge for some sports items that exceed our size and weight restrictions (bicycles, surfboards, hang gliders, and javelins, for example). While it may not be readily apparent, there are additional costs associated with handling these items. For example, such items generally cannot be placed on standard baggage conveyor systems and may have to be transported by other means to and from bag rooms and aircraft. In addition, the cubic space required to secure such items in aircraft cargo compartments is space that may displace other cargo and reduce our revenue. To recover some of these costs, we believe it is reasonable to charge those customers who choose to travel with these items. For more information, please click on the following link:

  http://www.americanairlines.co.uk/i18n/travelInformation/baggage/baggageAllowance.jsp#Sports%20Equipment

  Moreover, we depend on our agents to assess the items and collect the applicable charge. We do not countermand our airport agents' decisions regarding excess or overweight baggage. Accordingly, we must respectfully decline to refund the baggage charge you paid. I am sorry.

  Again, thank you for allowing me to explain why we charged to check your bicycle. Please travel with us soon. We look forward to welcoming you onboard again in the near future.

  Sincerely,

  Arjanne Suierveld
  Customer Relations
  American Airlines

• Anybody from Belfast?

  in Belfast • 15 years, 3 months

  

  @mmccarthy

  we're leaving at 6pm custom house square on wednesday - join us