All I can say is, I have never had such a bad experience from any airlines whether domestic or international! If any, all are minor incidents compared to Alaska airlines. My worst travel experience started when I made my reservation. I was told that I couldn’t bring two pets in the same flight. Therefore, I had to make a separate reservation date for my eldest son to travel the next day with our second pet. When I got to the front desk on my original flight date, the person couldn’t figure out how to check in my over-sized extra baggage of two. Fortunately, my friend who dropped me off at that airport used to work there and was familiar with their software. She was able to tell the front desk person what to do. It took a good 20 minutes to figure out the baggage check in procedure. While this was happening, I told my friend to stay during this process so that I could go back and pick-up my pet which was to be checked in as well to save some time. While picking up my pet, Jacob the airline rep told the front desk to unseat me 50 minutes before the flight takes off. When I got back to the front desk with my pet, they refused to check in my pet and had to cancel my flight. They told me I could go but not my pet . When I told them I wouldn’t go without my pet, then all of a sudden they can offer to have the two pets fly with me and my son the following day (which was my original flight plan) but remember, I couldn’t do this when I was making my reservations. I also had to make two more extra final trips back home to take back my luggage and then my pet to check in again the next day. My nightmare didn’t end here! The next day, I came in one hour earlier than the day before. Checked in the same amount of luggage without a problem since they already know what to do from the day before. Told them pets are coming in next to be checked in. When I finally got back to check in my two pets, they acted as if they didn’t know I was flying with them. I told them to look at my reservations because it should have been there. I called it in two days before my flight schedule to make sure it was not cancelled and that I was there an hour ago checking in my extra baggage. Because of this, missed the flight again! We were at the gate when they pulled they wouldn’t let us on even when the ramp was still attached to the airplane. When I told the person at the gate that I wouldn’t let them do this to me and now with my eldest son the second time/day in a row, a senior staff offered to transfer me to another flight leaving in 45 minutes to a neighboring city. I am not willing to miss another day spending time with my family, so I took the offer…but because of ill-trained staffing and lack of serious customer service, I lost one more day to spend time with my younger son and husband which is Priceless! Instead of them just rushing us on the plane to catch our flight.
Other inconveniences incurred were: First, that I had to explain this to my 12 year old son without the emotional disappointment which was the hardest! Second, made my friend late to work that could have cost her, her job because instead of dropping me off at the airport on the original date, she had to watch the extra baggage after it was checked in then checked out, so that I could take my pet first back home and then come back for the extra baggage for the second trip back home again. Third, made an inconvenience request with her on the second day airport drop-off. Fourth, had to ask the husband and his help to drive another three (3) hour trip on the second day flight to pick me up and my eldest son at a different city airport and another extra three (3) hours back due to the sudden flight transfer. Not to mention the change of seating arrangements that was really minimal and bearable. Followed by a sleepless night due to the extra hours of travel time. After 5 days of blessed family togetherness, I almost missed my flight again if I had not listened to announcements on the sudden change of gate to check-in!
Unbelievably the worst flight experience I ever had!!! No recommendation from me, ZERO!!!
We called customer care with Alaska Airlines and talked to Dwayne, he said that everything was our fault (even though we were early both days for our flight) and said there’s nothing they will or can do. I’m very shocked with their lack of concern and irresponsibility. I was told that they incurred a fine for taking off late because they chose to unload our 2 dogs, and transfer them and us to the flight in the neighboring city. Yet, they don’t want to offer us any compensation.