| My wife and I and 2 friends were scheduled to depart February 7th to Maui on Hawaiian airline. The two friend were to depart on February 9th. We counted the days and were excited. We got great prices on these tickets. On our outbound flight, we paid for the cheap prices for both tickets. On our Return flight, we use our air miles. Saturday February 5th, at 12:10am, we received a phone call that my wife father has died. Our vacation plan is on hold for a week. Saturday Morning, I called Hawaiian Airlines, explaining what had happened and that we need to delay our vacation by a week. They said that we are sorry to hear of your loss. Asked if we want to rebook our flight now. Yes, I responded. Okay, your re-booking fee is $250 per tickets and you can't use your air miles. To redeposit your 40,000 air miles, it will cost you $150. I was outraged! Okay, you did hear that we lost a family member right! We didn't schedule them to die right before our vacation. You can send in your death certificate and they may or may not refund your non-refundable tickets and tickets. What about our friends, they have to rebook too because we have the time share and the car rentals. So their re-booking fee was $600, pretty much they could buy 2 new tickets for close to that re-booking price. Skip was pretty outraged too. Oh, yes, they charge $25 per check on bags, so really, it's these hidden fees that making me more mad. Friends, if you are going to fly Hawaiian, make sure you check the insurance box, read the fine prints, who knows, even that's probably out to take you for the extra insurance money that you thought might of given you peace of mind. The death of my wife father is hard on her. With this heartless Hawaiian airlines penalties, sure added more grief to our travel plan. I decided to forget flying on Hawaiian airlines all together and rebook my flight on Alaska Airlines. Probably one of the best Airlines out there. They treat you first class no matter where you are sitting. After booking 2 coach seat to Maui through Alaska Airlines, that flew from Portland to Seattle and than straight to Maui, I decided to change that to a direct flight and on first class. She doesn't know it yet. Alaska didn't charge us a change fee, they gave us two first class for $250 for both seat(hmmmmm, Hawaiian as I recall, was $600 for first class each), we get two check on for free and all the benefits of first class. Well worth it. You know Hawaiian, you need to take lesson from Alaska Airlines, this is the way you treat your bread and butter. You rip people off, negative press will spread fast, customer will go away and overtime, you are out of business and you find yourself going to bankruptcy. That was your last chance and you royally blew it. Remember, customer are always right. I will spread negative word to my friends and family. You are your own demise. On the positive side, my time share gave me my money back because I have been a loyal customer and they applied it to my new booking(I was way past the cancellation deadline). Hotwire said that if I prove the death certificate, I will get my money back for the car rental, not maybe. Hawaiian Airline, I hope you do the right thing and start treating people with first class, after all, we are your paycheck. Sounds to me you don't want to do this business anymore and you are looking for an exit door. Don't worry, it's not too far off, closer than you might think. PS, I don't wish this on you guys, but I do hope you shape up. Your airline is not the only one that fly to Hawaii. |
