Cheap Flights From Idaho Falls, Idaho To Denver, Colorado

“Worst counter attendant experience ever”

by mjeppsen on June 16, 2010

Flight from Idaho Falls to Denver

Airline:

United

RT/OW

Round Trip

Number of Stops:

No stops

Date of Flight:

June 2010

Seat Class:

economy

I was a ticketed passenger for a United flight to Denver, #6484 scheduled for 7:50am. Given that the airport was a small one in a rural area, I planned on arriving at 7:00am to check my single bag and go through the short security line. It turned out that my hotel shuttle was running late and I arrived around 7:15am. As I walked up to the United counter, the counter attendant (I'll call her "P.J." here) asked "What is your name?" I thought it a little odd that she hadn't greeted me first with a "hello" or "how are you today" but ignored that for the time being. She looked up my name and immediately informed me that I was too late and had missed the baggage cutoff time. I'd never heard of this rule before so I asked politely what that rule was and what the cutoff time was. She replied in a very angry tone that the cutoff time was 7:20, 30 minutes prior to the flight. I looked at my cellphone, it showed 7:19 and I said so. P.J. again angrily said that her screen showed 7:21. I explained that I was at the mercy of my hotel shuttle, and she snapped that there was nothing she could do about it and then turned away to do something on her computer screen.

I stood in silence for a short period of time, as it appeared she was doing something and I didn't wish to piss her off further. I really was taken aback at her attitude...I had been courteous and friendly throughout the conversation and was quite shocked at her unprofessional behavior towards me. I actually apologized at one point and said "I hope I've not offended you in some way ma'am, that has not been my intention." This was basically ignored. Without anger or frustration I then politely asked what my options were. This was an honest question, as I'd never missed a flight before and didn't know what the procedure was. To which she replied angrily "you'll have to be rebooked on a later flight!" This was essentially shouted.

At this point P.J. is ignoring me, pounding away on her computer keyboard. I'm standing in silence, making notes of the situation on my iPhone, as I've been stunned and already decided that I will be filing a complaint about her behavior. A few minutes later, I hear an "aircraft overweight" announcement on intercom asking for volunteers to leave plane. It's my flight. Clearly this was the real issue, and I was being discarded from the flight on a technicality. At this point I knew this, P.J. knew this, but she didn't give me the professional courtesy of acnowledging this. Nor was I offered anything for my trouble, like the passengers checked in were being offered.

Ultimately, P.J. rebooked me on a later flight, which would put me home about 11hrs later than my original itinerary, and with a massive 6hr layover in Denver. She didn't even offer the courtesy of waiving the $25 baggage charge as an apology, nor was I offered anything for my extensive trouble. Insult to injury.

At all times I maintained professionalism and respect, and she did just the opposite. P.J. treated me worst than I've ever been treated by anyone at an airline before. And I fly 3-5 times a month so there are plenty of opportunities for people to treat me poorly. I am literally stunned at her arrogant, disrespectful, angry attitude. P.J. behavior is completely unacceptable, and it reflects very poorly on United as a company.