Rock’s Rantings!

I am normally a mild mannered person but this morning I lost it.

It is bad enough that another one of our legacy airlines(United Airlines) is screwing the passengers by charging a $15 fee for the first piece of checked luggage but their customer service is HORRIBLE!!!

Let me rant about the $15 dollar fee. They say it is in response to ever increasing gas prices. I am confused because I have to pay higher ticket prices because higher gas prices so why must I also pay a luggage fee as well for the same reason. Sounds like the airlines are trying to screw the passengers once again.

I know airlines are struggling and I feel for them but it is their own fault for not locking in long term fuel contacts and for having a bloated bureaucracy best suited to meet the demands of the 1950’s rather than the 21st century.

Do not give me the excuse that it is hard to compete. My answer is horsepuckey. LOOK AT SOUTHWEST. They seem to do a pretty good job!!!!!

As for the straw that broke this morning here it is and I am still boiling mad.

Over the 4th of July holiday I am taking my girlfriend home to meet my parents for the first time. Now the number of flights between Chicago, Il and Rapid City, SD are few so I booked my flight on United over a month ago … let me repeat for the people at United Airlines in case they are reading this ONE MONTH AGO… and selected both my and my girlfriend’s seat assignments.

Since I am two weeks out from my trip I decided to check my reservations and see if there was a problem and much to my surprise - Note my sarcasm - I did not have a set assignment for my flights. That seemed odd to me since I selected those seats and had them confirmed for me over ONE MONTH ago. Once again for effect ONE MONTH people!

My girlfriend had the seats assigned to her that i selected but according to United irlines I did not exist anymore. My credit card which paid for the flights existed for them but I apparently was shuttled off to another dimension!

I called customer service a little upset as I was concerned that there was a problem and I hoped it would be corrected. (I use the term customer service very liberally) I was told that there was nothing they could do as the airport was in charge of the seat assignments now but they could sell me an upgrade if I wanted to guarantee my seat assignment. - Are you kidding me!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Nothing like the old bait and switch from United Airlines.

After I told them I was not paying twice to guarantee a seat - I ALREADY PAID FOR AND SELECTED ONE MONTH AGO - They told me I could check in on-line the day before and maybe I would get a seat assignment. I said that was unacceptable and I wanted to have the seat i selected and I repeat myself ONE MONTH ago.

I asked why did everyone else in my party get the seats that I selected and I was told maybe it was a technical error but not to worry I had a confirmed reservation on the flight. However as I stated earlier this technical error could be fixed if I ponied up just a little bit more cash.

Anyone who flies frequently knows exactly what that means NOTHING!!! I have been in the airport where the airline has oversold the flight and there were not enough seats and the passengers get SCREWED!

It is not as if I can catch the 10:15 flight to South Dakota. Anyone who lives in rural America knows exactly what I am saying. We are taken advantage of by the airlines over and over again.

You want just one more reason why airlines like United are near collapse … look at the way they treat customers. They gouge us when we buy our tickets, they gouge us on luggage and they they use deceptive practices to try and force you to pay even more more for your flight to purchase an upgrade to ensure a seat assignment you already paid for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

I cannot wait until the day the Southwest rules the Airline wrold.

The Daily Herald had a great editorial today about the danger faced by llinois’ Taxpayers because the Legislative Session is coming to and end.

Elected Officials wonder why the people are fed up with their antics and distrust government.

I am sure you will be filled with the same level of disgust at our government after reding this editorial

Get fed up with our state officials

Daily Herald Editorial Board

Published: 5/30/2008 12:11 AM

We can’t recall a time when there wasn’t questionable spending in last-minute state budget and construction plans that never get publicly vetted.

Watch out. You might not realize it yet, but the next few days are very hazardous to all Illinoisans’ financial health and well-being.

State legislative leaders and Gov. Rod Blagojevich suddenly are careening toward trying to approve a multibillion-dollar state budget and a $31 billion capital construction plan.

Democrats who control both the House and Senate face a midnight Saturday deadline to push through financial deals. If they don’t, then super majority votes are required and Republicans gain more power at the bargaining table.

We’ve seen it all far too many times before. Months were wasted and now Democrats Blagojevich, Senate President Emil Jones and House Speaker Michael Madigan are trying to hammer out a back-door deal. Sadly, the game remains the same and the frustrating truth is that Illinoisans lose no matter the outcome.

If legislators ram budget or construction plans through both houses by midnight Saturday, we all lose because none of us or the rank-and-file legislators most of us elected will have much of a handle on any of the details.

If they don’t, they have failed to do their jobs and the state’s business is not being managed.

Click Here to read the full story.

I was shocked last night as I watched the local Chicago Fox News 10:00 PM news broadcast of a story of the continued abuse by elected officials in Chicago, Il.  Fox News should be praised for having a reporter take the time to go through the mountain of misc. expenses of Chicago’s Aldermen and uncover the “questionable” expenses.

The highlights were $1500 for lawn care for one Alderman to the company of one of her poltical supporters; the paying of one Alderman’s subscription to the magazine of the Communist Party of the United States; and the hiring of of a magician for an event for the Alderman.

The news report points out that many of these expenses were paid without question.

If you would like to view the news report please click here.

The taxpayers of Chicago deserve better.

Stay tuned as the reporter promised to reveal the political expenses of Aldermen that were paid for with your tax dollars.  I will bring you his report as soon as it is aired.

The title says it all.  I am alive.  I never knew that moving and setting up a home could take so long.  Since I last talked to you I purchased furniture and a new bed.  Yea! -  a new bed.  Furniture should be delivered soon after a mix up at the company.

Over the past two weeks I have visited Arizona and New Mexico for my job and have come back energized.  While it feels from watching the national media that free market ideas are in the decline in America meeting with groups of libertarian and free thinking people in those states gives me hope.

I work with a lot of great people and am amazed each day by their knowledge and energy.  I am truly honored to be working at SAA.  I feel as if we can change the world.

Well I will try to be back on more often.

When I came to live in Chicago I knew my daily commute would begin and end at the train station with the running of a gauntlet of people asking me to give them money.  No, I am not talking about government officials but people asking to spare a dollar to help them out. 

I am as generous as I can be with people I think are truly needed but this past morning I was struck by a wierd sight. 

A man asking for a donation from me was wearing a New York Yankees baseball cap.  As a strong Yankees fan I was more than willing to help out a fellow fan but I worried about his marketing theory.

Asking people who live in Chicago for money …. shouldn’t he have been wearing a Cubs or White Sox cap?

I made it to Chicago!!!!  

After a long trip down I-94, I have arrived in Chciago to begin my new job and my new life.  I plan to use this blog to write about my views on life and waht is going on in my life on a daily baisis …. well as daily as I can get to this site. 

Back on the road tommorrow ….. will write more then!

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