God damn it

[mustangjoe]

So I just got off the phone with those dimwits down at the airmiles HQ, and boy did those guys get an earful.

I spent the last 10 years collecting those stupid ass airmiles and I just find out now there are pretty much damn useless. I have 9,567 of them and this is the first time I tried using them.

I phoned up the fuckers and told them I wanted a freebie ride to Vegas. This is how the convo went down more or less:

Me- 2 tix to vegas please

Them- That'll be 4800 airmiles.

Me- Okay, I got plenty to spare

Them- When would you like to go

Me- Friday

Them- This Friday?!?

Me- Ya damn tootin.

Them- Sorry, we need a week in advance at least.

Me- Ok, that's reasonable enough. I'll go a week today then for 3 nights

Them- Can't do it. you need to stay on Saturday.

Me- That's crazy. why

Them- That's our policy

Me- Ok, why is it your policy then?.

Them- It just is.

Me- I need a better reason.

Them-That's our policy

Me- I heard you the first time. I need a reason behiend it.

Them- It just is.

Me- Sigh... Ok you win. Give me 2 tix for next Thursday for 3 nights.

Them- That'll be $450

Me- WHAT THE FUCK DID U SAY??!?!?1

Them- PLease watch your language sir, or I will terminate this call.

Me- Why do you need money? I'm putting it on airmiles.

Them- You need to pay the taxes.

Me- * Yelling, screeming, more yelling * I can get 2 tix for $600 paying straight up, what's the point in collecting all these god damn miles for?

Them- For free rewards, sir

Me- Are you fucking nuts?? I spent years collecting these damn miles and collecting 4800 airmiles for this flight means I spent $67,500 at Safeway to get them.

Them- That's your choice, sir

Me- That's fucking bullshit. I spend $67,000 at Safeway and all you're going to do is save me $150?? That's nuts.

Them- That is our program, sir.

Me- Ok, whatever, a couple hundred bux saved is better then nothing. Give me the damn tickets and flight times.

Them- Okay you are scheduled to leave YVR at 6:23 am, and will arrive in at McCarran airport at 9:56pm.

Me- you mean 9:56 am, right?

Them- Nope 9:56 pm. There is a lay over in LA

Me- * more yelling* 15 hour flight to Vegas???? Fuck off, give me a better flight.

Them- That's all that we have.

Me- * more yelling * you guys are a bunch of fucking con artist fucking assholes, you know that? Thanks for wasting my time, you fucking prick. Your card ain't worth the plastic it's written on you dumbass.

Them- I am terminating this call.

Me- Fuck you!

Them- *click*

 

[maverick73]

So I just got off the phone with those dimwits down at the airmiles HQ, and boy did those guys get an earful.
Them- *click*

You're hilarious . I need you on my how to tell somebody off committee.

 

[mustangjoe]

how many committees do you have?

I thought I was already on your 'help you fly a plane committee'

 

[Arizona40]

It's a good thing your not on his "help him put it in the pocket" committee!

 

[Venuschic]

Air Miles...

go Nowhere Faster

 

[LonelyGhost]

LOL ... just substitute CABLE and SHAW and you would have my last customer service call ...

 

[SFMIKE]

Gdi

Get an alaskaairlines VISA and you will be there with only 20000 miles, or $20,000 spent.

 

[dbrw42]

They are right about the taxes. I have family who are travel agents, and one got a chance to go to Laughlin Nevada for three days for $150. $100 of that was tax.

 

[tom25]

What A Rip Off!

$450 in taxes????? What a fucking rip off. I just did a search on destina.ca for flights to Vegas on Air Canada for Mustangjoe's dates (which you gotta figure is going to be more expensive than other options). Total fare including taxes was 967.53 and here's the list of taxes and other fees.


Canada Airport Improvement Fee 15.00
U.S.A Transportation Tax 34.72
U.S.A Immigration User Fee 8.62
U.S Passenger Facility Charge 5.54
Canada Security Charge 7.94
September 11 Security Fee 9.24
Canada Goods and Services Tax (GST/HST #10009-2287) 59.49

I see a total of 135.55.

Now this fare is the cheapest fare available. But I bet they are calculating the taxes based on the most expensive fare available, but I'd wager they won't tell the gov't that's the fare category that was sold. They'll pocket the $300 bucks difference.

Tom

 

[sexgoddess]

surcharges and service fees...

Canada Airport Improvement Fee 15.00
U.S.A Transportation Tax 34.72
U.S.A Immigration User Fee 8.62
U.S Passenger Facility Charge 5.54
Canada Security Charge 7.94
September 11 Security Fee 9.24
Canada Goods and Services Tax (GST/HST #10009-2287) 59.49

I see a total of 135.55.

Navigation surcharge 30.00
Fuel surcharge 15.00
Service fee including gst 42.80

135.55 + 87.80 = 223.35 x 2 tickets = $446.75

Next time you want to go last minute, call a travel agent and get yourself a charter package sell off. If you really want to use your airmiles to fly, book well in advance and try not to go to the States, or the UK as they have the heaviest taxes.

 

[tom25]

Missed the x2 part. I have the same problem when calculating my taxes.

Navigation surcharge 30.00
Fuel surcharge 15.00
Service fee including gst 42.80

135.55 + 87.80 = 223.35 x 2 tickets = $446.75

Next time you want to go last minute, call a travel agent and get yourself a charter package sell off. If you really want to use your airmiles to fly, book well in advance and try not to go to the States, or the UK as they have the heaviest taxes.

 

[Kev]

I phoned up the fuckers and told them I wanted a freebie ride to Vegas.

If you had managed to swing a trip to Vegas you only would have been shafted over there. In Vegas they would have asked you to sign up...gamble...gamble...gamble....for glorious prizes. They'll sell you on the idea that if you play X amount of time, you can win prizes, prizes, prizes. So you play the slots or whatever is your thing...you drop hundreds as in $$$$$$$$, and what do you get at the end..............a fucking t-shirt.

These marketing scams that major companies use are shameful.

 

[LonelyGhost]

As for my "god damn" of the day its that shrew mother nature.....she needs to get off of her fat granola eating macrame ass and stop the fucking rain!!!!!

HFS

LOL ... no kidding! went for a great bike ride in the sunshine, came home and washed the car, watered the lawn and just put the hose away and massive downpour!

 

[Savage]

I'm sorry for your experience but that was some funny shit. LOL @ the 15 hour flight to Vegas. You could almost drive there in that time.

 

[mustangjoe]

May I ask if you were talking about RBC Avion card or CIBC AeroGold?

I was talking about airmiles. You know, that little blue card. You get miles at Safeway, Boston Pizza, Rona, etc.

 

[mustangjoe]

If you had managed to swing a trip to Vegas you only would have been shafted over there. In Vegas they would have asked you to sign up...gamble...gamble...gamble....for glorious prizes. They'll sell you on the idea that if you play X amount of time, you can win prizes, prizes, prizes. So you play the slots or whatever is your thing...you drop hundreds as in $$$$$$$$, and what do you get at the end..............a fucking t-shirt.

These marketing scams that major companies use are shameful.

Oh, I know...

I've been there a dozen times over the last 5 years or so.

I blow so much dough down there they give me free rooms at Caesar's. The math works out like this: play anything and they will booze you up for free. Play $10 hands for 8 hours a day and they will comp your room. If you play $10 at really high house advantage games, such as roulette they give you even more free stuff like free show tix and free meals. All these comps are the MOTHER of FALSE ECONOMY. However, it's all the cost of entertainment I suppose.

 

[mustangjoe]

The only thing Airmiles are good for are the knicknacks in their catalog like electric toothbrushes or coffee grinders. One of my friends is a doctor and she saved a passenger who was having a heart attack during a flight. The airline gave her 5000 airmiles for a reward. Cheesy or what?

That sucks ass.

Do they charge you tax on the knicknacks??

 

[mustangjoe]

Navigation surcharge 30.00
Fuel surcharge 15.00
Service fee including gst 42.80

135.55 + 87.80 = 223.35 x 2 tickets = $446.75

Next time you want to go last minute, call a travel agent and get yourself a charter package sell off. If you really want to use your airmiles to fly, book well in advance and try not to go to the States, or the UK as they have the heaviest taxes.

You and Tom,

Good sleuthing.

 

[shak]

yo mustangjoe, I feel you. I had similiar experience. Tried to book a flight to london, I had 120,000 miles saved, so I said to myself, heck, i will book the first class. Arranged a time with my parents and my brother and planned a nice get away for the family. Called in 3 month ahead to make the reservation, tells me that the desire day is not available. So, I said okay, how about the week after, still not available. I was like what da fuck, i never see the first class full when I travel internationally. I ask the operater, what are the dates where seats are still available. He gave me a date, and I thought, fine since I am getting this for free and its first class too. The operator tells me that I have to make 2 stops before taking on a direct flight from toronto to london. I just told him, no thank you and hang up.


End up trading in my miles for a panasonic PV-GS200 and 20g ipod bundle(with inmotion speakers,3years extended warranty,itrip, and car adapter).
Items arrived after a week or two.

Still, i find it quite easy to collect miles so i am not really complaining, its just rather frustrating when you actually try to use those miles.

 

[HeMadeMeDoIt]

I recently decided to redeem some of my airmiles (NWA-Worldperks) for a flight to Brazil (approx 17 hour flight) It ended up costing me $99 in taxes and surcharges and was able to fly on less than a week's notice.

Airmiles is the most useless "reward" customer loyalty bullshit around!