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  • Report:  #192539

Complaint Review: Southwest Airlines - Reno Nevada

Reported By:
- South Lake Tahoe, California,
Submitted:
Updated:

Southwest Airlines
Reno NV, Los Angeles, Dallas, TX Reno, 89511 Nevada, U.S.A.
Web:
N/A
Categories:
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I recently had the displeasure of flying on Southwest from Reno to Los Angeles. I was flying Southwest from Reno to Los Angeles to catch my Qantas flight to Sydney. When I first checked in the agent at the counter REFUSED to check my bags all the way to Sydney. I fly well over 100,000 miles a year and have never ever had an airline refuse to check my bags all the way through. I only had about a 2 hour connecting window in Los Angeles, so the last thing I needed was to have to wait to get my bag.

The dis service contines. Next the plane was an hour late due to a problem with a computer on the airplane. Now I am getting real concerned about my connection since Qantas has a 60 minute cut off. We finally get under way and I start to relax. Once airborne, the flight attendants are doing their stupid cutsie little jokes that Southwest is famous for, and in their lack of attention spilled a tray of drinks on me. I was wearing a NEW Ermenegilo Zegna suit that I had paid over $2,000.00 for. I complained and demanded that someone meet the airplane in Los Angeles so I could get reimbursed for my suit. Part of the spill was red wine, so it would be ruined.

Upon arrival in LA, the Customer Service Stupidvisor said that the only thing Southwest would do was to pay for dry cleaning. Hey Stupid, this is RED WINE, it wont come out. Needless to say I told him I would not risk missing my Quantas flight, I would take it up with Southwests corporate office. I ran down to get my bags and run to the Qantas desk. By the time I got to the Qantas desk, they had already closed checkin, they offered to rebook me for the next day, but I would have to pay for business class since coach was already full.

I went back to Southwest, to see what they could do which was basically nothing. I got the same stupidvisor I had before. He REFUSED to pay for my hotel saying all they are responsible for is getting me to LA. He refused to help with my connecting flight. (Again another first from any airline I have ever flown.) He refused to reumburse me for my ruined suit.

I asked to be flown home to Reno and back to LA the next day free of charge, to avoid a hotel cost. He refused. I wound up having to pay $250 for a hotel, and Qanatas was nice enough to assist a stranded traveler and ultimately rebooked me free of charge. Southwest needs to go to customer service school. They are the true Greyhound of the sky.

David

South Lake Tahoe, California
U.S.A.


7 Updates & Rebuttals

Sherri

Piedmont,
California,
U.S.A.
ACTUALLY, SOUTHWEST DOES FLY OUT OF RENO

#2Consumer Comment

Mon, May 22, 2006

When I go to Reno, I always use Southwest. They do fly to Los Angeles, with a couple of non-stops and several stopping in Oakland or San Jose. As much as I hate SWA, using them to get to Reno in half an hour beats being stuck in traffic 4-6 hours both ways. For a "discount" airline, though, their fares are not really that cheap. I usually do better on when I fly within California and don't have to deal with the cattlecar seating and the snotty attitudes of the twenty-smomethings manning the customer service area at LAX. Though I don't buy the OP's entire story, I have had bag checked through from one airline to another, at least on international flights. Never tried it domestically. sorry, allowing you to give a competitors name would instigate others to just file against their competition, to only come back later to suggest their company your comments on this policy are welcome! CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.


Alma

Menlo Park,
California,
U.S.A.
Chose airlines in the same airline group

#3Consumer Suggestion

Mon, May 22, 2006

Recommendation for travellers using more than one airlines: As a frequent world traveller I am very familiar with this problem. My recommendation, if you have to change airline, chose ones in the same airline allience group. Some examples: AA-BA-Qantas etc.(see One World Alliance) Air Canada - United - Singapore etc. (see Star Alliance) Airlines are required to accept, check in baggages all the way through to the final destination of any other airline in the same allience group. If it is OUT of US trip. It is important: coming back to the US, many airports (for example LAX) requires you to claim your baggage, go through costume before transferring to any airlines. (Because small airports do not have costum service). Southwest is NOT a member of any group. To David: AA and Alaskan both provides direct flights from Reno to LAX. AA and Qantas are both member of the "One World Alliance".


Doug

Houston,
Texas,
U.S.A.
American, Alaska Airlines fly that route

#4Consumer Suggestion

Mon, May 22, 2006

Gotta agree with Peter on this one. Quick check on the internet shows that both American Airlines and Alaska Airlines fly Reno to LAX, non-stop. Even if I owned a $2000 suit I sure wouldn't wear it for a 16 hour flight. Especially in coach. Red wine? Lucky some little kid didn't vomit on you in coach.


Sean

Portland,
Oregon,
U.S.A.
Wrong David

#5Consumer Comment

Mon, May 22, 2006

You're wrong that Southwest is the only airline that flies from Reno to LAX. In fact I don't think SWA even goes through Reno. You could have also taken a direct flight from Reno to Sydney, Australia through United or US Airways with a stop in San Francisco.


David

Fort Worth,
Texas,
U.S.A.
None of you know what you are talking about.

#6Author of original report

Mon, May 22, 2006

First of all I fly over 100,000 miles every year. AA to BA. BA to LH. LH to SQ. SQ to JL. NEVER has any airline refused to check my bags all the way through to the final destination, regarless of what airlines I am flying. As for why I was flying this trashy airline to LAX, I have no choice, they are the only ones flying the route. Southwest Airlines is a trashy airline, with trashy clientele, and stupid employees.


Leticia

Anytown,
Other,
U.S.A.
Okay.. good luck getting your bags to your final destination

#7Consumer Comment

Sun, May 21, 2006

First how was Southwest supposed to put your bags through for the entire trip when you are going on the next leg on ANOTHER AIRLINE! Also good luck getting your bags to your final destination when you back from out of the country since the US has a law that have to pick up your baggage at the before leaving the secure area whether or not you have a connection to make. (and before uniformed people start trying to flame me for this remark. I currently live in Germany, and have flown home several times. So trust me I know because it is mentioned on the plane, and in the airport.)


Peter

Pony,
Alabama,
U.S.A.
Huh?? Your report raises more red flags than a Nascar race.

#8Consumer Comment

Sun, May 21, 2006

I fail to see how it is reasonable to expect Southwest to check your bags when you are being transported to your final destination by another airline. How about going to the counter of the other airline to see about checking your bags? Southwest has nothing to do with the screwy itinerary that you booked. Additionally, who wears a $2,000 suit when traveling coach on a budget airline? Methinks either you are exaggerating about the cost of your suit or you are only making up a story to get some free cash from the airline. Regardless of what, if anything, was spilled on you, Southwest offered to clean your garment for you, and YES, there ARE ways to remove red wine from clothing these days. As far as the mix-up with your connection, it appears as though spending time at the counter fighting with the underpaid employee over nonsense, was more important to you than running to the terminal gate to catch your connecting flight. Like I said, your story does not add up. Someone who takes a cross-continental trip wearing a $2,000 suit while traveling in coach yet demanding unreasonable things for no reason ... I'll stop right there. Your tale sounds a bit ridiculous.

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