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United Airlines embargo
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honda1

Since 11 Sep 2013
183 Posts

Stoked



PostWed Nov 15, 17 3:55 am    United Airlines embargo Reply with quote

So apparently there is an excess baggage embargo on United from nov 15 to Jan 15. I think excess is defined as greater than 62 linear inches. I have tried calling United but was unable to get any real clarification. I don’t want to plan on taking a board and then at the last minute get turned away. This embargo supposedly includes Baja. Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? Am I still able to take a board and may have to pay whatever fee? Anyone have any advice ? Now that this embargo is officially in effect it would be good to hear from anyone that has faced this issue with United.

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The minnow

Since 26 Jan 2009
395 Posts
argentina
Obsessed



PostWed Nov 15, 17 4:52 am    GOLD Reply with quote

If you have status is differant!!
_________________
-know as the SECRET AGENT-

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caps

Since 23 Dec 2010
343 Posts

Obsessed



PostWed Nov 15, 17 7:34 am     Reply with quote

Looks like holiday travel time: https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/embargo.aspx

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mp1

Since 23 Apr 2009
25 Posts
Portland, OR
 



PostWed Nov 15, 17 11:26 am     Reply with quote

I don't see Cabo on the list. I'm going to Ventana over Christmas and had the same concerns..

Temporary excess baggage embargo: November 15, 2017 through January 15, 2018

Customers traveling to, from or through the following cities are limited to one excess piece of checked baggage weighing up to 99.9 pounds. Oversized baggage is not permitted.
Acapulco, Mexico (ACA)
Aguascalientes, Mexico (AGU)
Antigua-St. John's, Antigua (ANU)
Belize City, Belize (BZE)
Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles (BON)
Caracas, Venezuela (CCS)
Chihuahua, Mexico (CUU)
Ciudad Del Carmen, Mexico (CME)
Cozumel, Mexico (CZM)
Grand Cayman Island, Cayman Islands (GCM)
Guadalajara, Mexico (GDL)
Ixtapa, Mexico (ZIH)
Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR)
Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD)
Manzanillo, Mexico (ZLO)
Merida, Mexico (MID)
Mexico City, Mexico (MEX)
Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ)
Morelia, Mexico (MLM)
Nassau, Bahamas (NAS)
Oaxaca, Mexico (OAX)
Oranjestad, Aruba (AUA)
Puebla, Mexico (PBC)
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (POP)
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (PVR)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
Queretaro, Mexico (QRO)
Roatan, Honduras (RTB)
San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO)
San Luis Potosi, Mexico (SLP)
Santa Cruz Huatulco, Mexico (HUX)
St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles (SXM)
Tampico, Mexico (TAM)
Veracruz, Mexico (VER)
Villahermosa, Mexico (VSA)

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eric

Since 13 Jan 2006
1803 Posts

XTreme Poster



PostWed Nov 15, 17 11:39 am     Reply with quote

Look again:

<Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD) >>

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Nak

Since 19 May 2005
4199 Posts
Camas
XTreme Poster

CGKA Member


PostWed Nov 15, 17 11:44 am     Reply with quote

Wow, that's BS. Solution: Don't fly the unfriendly skies with United. They might give you a beat down if you argue about the baggage! Smile

Try Delta or Alaska.

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ldhr

Since 21 Jul 2009
1470 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster



PostWed Nov 15, 17 12:37 pm     Reply with quote

Fly Alaska.
Just returned from Maui with a coffin bag that's 6 feet long and a small bag that I also checked.
Alaska - "What's in the bag"?
Me - " Kites and surfboard".
Outbound - $25 fee for 2 bags. No charge for oversize.
Return - - $25 fee for 2 bags. No charge for oversize.

Alaska customer for life!

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user124

Since 02 Aug 2012
390 Posts
Portland
Obsessed



PostWed Nov 15, 17 2:19 pm     Reply with quote

I'm pretty sure at least some of the airlines do this every year as I've seen this warning before. Something to do with heavy holiday travel and people bringing gifts.

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mp1

Since 23 Apr 2009
25 Posts
Portland, OR
 



PostWed Nov 15, 17 6:21 pm     Reply with quote

Doh! Good catch. Yet another reason not to fly United.

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toddjb

Since 16 Oct 2007
271 Posts
MD
Obsessed



PostThu Nov 16, 17 12:58 pm     Reply with quote

mp1 wrote:
Doh! Good catch. Yet another reason not to fly United.

I haven't bought a plane ticket since Spring, but was just looking to book a snow trip this winter and was surprised to find that
the rack rate for United (the one that comes up on your kayak search) no longer includes seat assignments! I think carry-on might even incur fees now.

Basically, if I want to pick my seat AND want the option to purchase Economy Plus for more leg room, I have to buy a higher priced ticket to begin with.

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck them. Frontier started this sh*t last year and I stopped flying with them. Started with luggage fees by most airlines, just continues to get worse...

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aksurfer

Since 30 Aug 2010
90 Posts
Anchorage, AK
 



PostThu Nov 16, 17 3:35 pm     Reply with quote

If you are a surfer/kiter its pretty tough to beat AkAirlines

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lewmt

Since 04 Aug 2010
182 Posts
MT
Stoked



PostThu Nov 16, 17 7:52 pm     Reply with quote

Another vote for Alaska! Delta is equally baggage anal. Sometimes even free Ak. Amber or wine in the low rent sections of the plane. Get their VISA card & 1st checked bag is free + airline miles. I think it also helps to let the desk people know you really appreciate their baggage policy. Hopefully they'll keep it.

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Nak

Since 19 May 2005
4199 Posts
Camas
XTreme Poster

CGKA Member


PostFri Nov 17, 17 12:46 am     Reply with quote

I think the biggest lesson you can take away from this is "Do your research." Most people that buy airline tickets just click on the lowest price their internet search comes up with. That is what drives up front prices down and add on fees up. It's a fact of life in the industry. If you want better service, fly an airline that gives it to you. Don't just click on the lowest price, check baggage policies and secondary fees before you click. Report your experiences here and on other forums. If you have a bad experience, report it with specifics. Call the airline and complain. It's kind of silly though to complain about fees you knew about before buying a ticket. But if the airline hid the fee or the baggage policy, then complain vociferously, but politely. You might be pleasantly surprised by what happens next if you do...

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skideeppow

Since 26 Aug 2011
518 Posts

Addicted



PostFri Nov 17, 17 7:27 am     Reply with quote

SO i showed up 40 minutes prior to dep to goto SJD last week. They wouldn't check my bags. This was a tiny airport, Aspen. So i went the next day.
$200 bag fee for my "golf" bag. They said, oh its international so its $200. I was like, WTF, you dont treat it like international on the weight limit. Int means 70lbs. But i can only bring 50lbs.
But they charge you the int'l fee for the golf bag.

They cant have it both ways. Such assholes.

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Hulk

Since 17 Feb 2017
29 Posts
Portland, OR
 



PostFri Nov 17, 17 10:21 am     Reply with quote

This post got me thinking about my February Caribbean trip on American, so I checked: https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/baggage/checked-baggage-policy.jsp

Long story short, $25 fee if the bag is under 158cm (mine's 155cm but I'm taking twin-tips, surf boards would probably kick it up to the $100 bracket).

I've had excellent experiences with Alaska Airlines too with my kite/board bags. I'll post about my experience with American after my trip.

Happy travels and good winds.

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user124

Since 02 Aug 2012
390 Posts
Portland
Obsessed



PostFri Nov 17, 17 11:42 am     Reply with quote

Nak wrote:
I think the biggest lesson you can take away from this is "Do your research." Most people that buy airline tickets just click on the lowest price their internet search comes up with. That is what drives up front prices down and add on fees up. It's a fact of life in the industry. If you want better service, fly an airline that gives it to you. Don't just click on the lowest price, check baggage policies and secondary fees before you click. Report your experiences here and on other forums. If you have a bad experience, report it with specifics. Call the airline and complain. It's kind of silly though to complain about fees you knew about before buying a ticket. But if the airline hid the fee or the baggage policy, then complain vociferously, but politely. You might be pleasantly surprised by what happens next if you do...


For sure - so much of the decline of services in the airline industry is because of the search for the cheapest price. Of course a flying cattle car is cheaper than a first class experience. Of course airline mergers and the monopolistic strategies of airlines doesn't help since sometimes there is only one option.

This is one of the reasons I love Alaska. We are lucky to have so many good flight options out of Portland. But I try not to focus as much on price alone for airfare. I'll fly Alaska even if it's a bit more expensive and I'll avoid United if at all possible.

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Ho-Toe

Since 30 Apr 2014
231 Posts
pissed-off science guy like Bill Nye
CO2 quantifier & upwelling specialist



PostFri Nov 17, 17 6:35 pm     Reply with quote

user124 wrote:
I'll fly Alaska even if it's a bit more expensive and I'll avoid United if at all possible.


Amen.

An aside: one interesting phenomenon I’ve noticed over the years is that generally speaking, the longer the flight & the more exotic the destination, the worse the service is. United rewards seniority among flight crew members by letting them select primo destinations, so it’s usually on those flights when you get the most hardened, crusty battle-axes pouring what used to be your complimentary drinks...

I have never more happily walked away from a pile of miles than when I ditched United.

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