So, here’s my first major rant on my website. (I’ll post my trip report later)

Disclaimer: The opinions of this author in no way reflect the opinions of his clients, friends or family

I’m fucking pissed.  If it weren’t for the fact that I enjoyed the riding so much on this trip it would have been a complete bust.   Here I am in Vancouver airport so pissed off I’m sweating and shaking.  Small children are running away from me.  Adults are clearing the area.  Let’s start from the beginning.

Plane Fare - United Airlines/Cheaptickets.com

I purchased  ticket through Cheaptickets.com.  A roundtrip flight from San Diego to Vancouver.  It turned out some of my friends were going to be up there at the same time so I wanted to extend my ticket.  To do it though cheaptickets.com they wanted an ADDITIONAL $480.  That’s just to change the ticket.  WTF?   I called them on the phone thinking it was a mistake.  But no, it wasn’t.  I called United (Which I hate) and they told me after I check in they could change it and it would only be $150. (Oh thank you for only charging me $150 to change a plane ticket).  When I talked to them during that time they said it would be $85 each way to bring my bike with me.

Thursday, I checked in and they wanted $125 to check my bike in.  Uh, that’s not what they told me.  After some discussion they said “Oh, well, its really $100 because of when you booked your ticket.”  Ok, thanks, I appreciate you saving me $25 which you should have done in the first place.  More about the return trip after the rental car fiasco.  (Oh! It gets better!!!)

Rental Car - Budget

Online via cheaptickets.com I reserved a car.  It said the care was a mid-size like a Dodge Stratus, a Sebring, or Subaru.  All of these will fit my bike box.  I checked.  The seats fold down.  I show up and they have a Corolla for me.   This car is not even the same class.  And guess what!  They don’t have anything else for me but a Ford Explorer.  At three times the rate!!!  WTF AGAIN!!!  So, I argue with them and get to spend just twice the rate I reserved for the privilege of driving a vehicle that can take my bike.

Upon returning the car.  The attendent says “There is a small chip on the windshield, you need to come with me to settle up damages.”  I think my exact words were “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”  I gave me a blank stare, walked away, talked to someone, then walked back and said “You’re ok, thank you.”

Return Flight - United Airlines

I arrive at the airport this morning to check in.  Way early, they won’t let me check in for another two hours.  So I hang with Dave and Nik a little bit and get some breakfast.  When I do go to check in the lady at the counter says “$125 to bring the bike.”  I try to get the $100 rate they charged me on the way up.  She argues, I get tired of arguing so I say “Ok.”  Then she has me take the bike over to scale and weigh it.  72 lbs.  It weighed 65lbs on way up.  I have less stuff in there now.  Not sure how that happens.  Then she tells me its an additional $125.  So, now its $250 to fly my bike home from the $100 to fly it up.  Then, she decides she wants to weigh my other bag.  It weighs 52lbs.  Which she follows up with “That bag is over 50lbs, that will be $125 as well” WTF!!!!!!  I’m fuming at this point.  $375 to fly the same stuff back that I flew up with.  What total bullshit!

At this point I want to see a manager.  This nice guy walks over and tries to explain to me their fee structure.  I explain to him I didn’t pay this on the way up.  Why the hell am I paying it now?  He says “Their error isn’t our fault”  Then I proceed to tell him that my friends are flying Air Canada and paid $50 each way for their bikes.  I tell them to take me to their ‘partner’ airlines and get me on their flight.  Because buying a ticket the day of and paying $50 for the bike is probably the same price if not cheaper.  (Just looked it up, $266 one way)  But, go figure.  I missed the one flight they had leaving today for San Diego by 10 minutes.  The flight that Dave and Nik were on.

Sum it up

So, to sum it up.  It would have been far cheaper for me to just drive up here.  And, I would have had a better time.  Monday I write a letter to United.  And, if I show up in San Diego today and my bike is fucked up.  Watch the 10 o’clock news.  I might be a god damned celebrity.