United Express WASHINGTON to MYRTLE BEACH what you pay for is what you get
Written: May 02 '05 (Updated May 03 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: It's direct and cheap!
Cons: United has such poor customer service
The Bottom Line: It's cheap and you pay for what you get, so you don't get much except getting THERE, eventually...
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| mrhonda's Full Review: United Airlines |
When I got wind of the fact that United Airlines was offering non-stop flights from Washington, DC to Myrtle Beach, SC, I was there! If you know me and have read previous reviews of mine, you already know that I'm a Myrtle Beach groupie. Plus, my best friend lives in Myrtle Beach, and I live outside of Washington, DC. So, this was the perfect solution to me slipping down there for a long weekend and not having to drive for 8 hours. Plus, I hate to drive that long and that far alone.
First of all, when I began to plan my trip, I did my homework. I found the best deal on expedia.com and managed to pay $75 one way, which came out to be $150 for a round trip ticket. I was thrilled because it used to be that I had to fly Delta from Washington to Atlanta and then change planes to go to Myrtle Beach. This also meant that I was paying an additional $100 because I had four flights all together, two down and two back. So, United it was!
On the day of my trip, I made my way to Washington Dulles International Airport. I was departing on an afternoon flight, and I honestly have to say that I had never seen Dulles Airport so crowded in my life. The lines at the United counters were horrible. I had to scratch my head in amazement and notice that United had the longest lines in the terminal! The ticket agents were taking their good old time checking people in. The counters at Dulles were understaffed and not very well staffed. I noticed several ticket agents who were holding a personal conversation with another ticket agent who was checking people in. Now, I also work a clerk job and I know how frustrating life can be on the other side of the counter, and yes I like to talk to my co-workers too, but come on folks! Save that chatter for when the lines aren't so backed up! Aside from their important conference that they were holding, I had never bought an e-ticket before and was new to this kind of check-in. When I asked the people behind the counter for help, they acted like I was stupid and had interrupted their day. UNITED, Pardon me for living! In the end, a Good Samaritan passenger ended up helping me with the e-ticket check-in machine instead of a ticket clerk. This whole process took about 45 minutes, so get to the airport EARLY!
The next problem I encountered in the Airport I don't blame United Airlines for, I blame Dulles Airport. I don't like having to catch a shuttle to the concourses. This was another 10 minute wait, so if you do take this flight, allow yourself plenty of time. I finally arrived at the concourse for United Express which was located in a crowded small building. The United clerks here were actually friendly and helpful when I stopped to ask for directions, and during the boarding process. I even told them that they were a lot nicer than the clerks back at check-in.
Upon boarding, I took notice that the plane that I flew on was a CRJ 200. This is a small regional jet which would take me to Myrtle Beach. This plane seats about 50 people, and when I said small, I mean small! I am 5"5' and I had to duck my head a little bit when getting onboard because of the low entry. I noticed others taller than myself having to duck when walking down the isle. The plane was four seats across, two on each side. The overhead storage bins were tight, and when I put one of my bags underneath of the seat in front of me, I ended up loosing significant foot room, which means leg space was also tight for me. Plus, on the window seat where I was sitting, I ended up sitting kind of cockeyed the whole flight because the side wall started to curve up where my left foot should've been. If I moved my feet over any further, I was getting in the way of the person next to me. Bottom line, I couldn't really find a comfortable position in these seats.
Despite the uncomfortable seats, I was on a shorter flight that was to last roughly around an hour, so I figured no biggie, I won't be here for long. I did a little bit better once I got settled into the flight and was given a pack of pretzels and a soda to drink. The snack was pretzels, good thing I like them because many people don't, and it was all they had. They did away with peanuts. It was smooth sailing the whole way to Myrtle Beach, and like I said, despite the uncomfortable seat, it seemed like just as I was getting settled in like I normally do on a longer flight, that the Pilot announced that we were beginning our decent into Myrtle Beach. We left Washington around 5:30 and it was 6:25 when we got into Myrtle Beach. When I got to the Airport, I embraced my friends who were there to get me and told them that I had never gotten to Myrtle Beach so quickly before. I had a blast on my long weekend and looked forward to getting home in the same manner. Boy was I wrong!!!
When I left to come home, the United Clerks at the check-in counters in Myrtle Beach were friendlier than in Washington. I was breathing a sigh of relief, but then found that it was the other way around from my trip down. In Washington the Ticket Clerks were rude and the Clerks at the Gate were friendly. In Myrtle Beach, the Ticket Clerks were friendly and the Gate Clerks were rude! What's up with this?
Here's what happened. The plane that I was to fly back to Washington on was delayed in Washington due to the weather. The Washington passengers and I were sitting in the terminal at Myrtle Beach waiting to board. We were to board around 2:15 PM. 2:15 came and went and at about 2:25, the Washington passengers and I were getting restless. Many were calling loved ones to let them know that we were being delayed. I was talking to a couple and a lady who were sitting nearby and the four of us decided that we wanted some answers. So we went to the clerks who were just sitting there doing nothing to ask them why we hadn't been boarded yet. They said "Oh, the weather in Washington is bad and the plane hasn't even left Washington yet". Well it would have been nice if they would have told us sooner and made an announcement instead of them just sitting there doing nothing! We were told our flight was going to be delayed until 4:10 PM. So we waited all this time. 4:10 came and still no indication of what was going on. It was 4:20 before they decided to tell us anything. It turned out we didn't board an airplane until almost 5:PM. I was so close to just saying to heck with all this and calling my friends and telling them to come get me that I was going to stay one more night and rent a car to drive home. But they finally boarded us.
We got onboard and I got into the same uncomfortable seats I talked about earlier on the flight down and we taxied out to the runway. Then the Pilot announced we would have to hold here for 20 minutes because of traffic at Dulles being backed up due to the weather. We got off of the ground and the flight home was extremely bumpy and stormy. At this point, I wasn't feeling well. We were served Pretzels and drinks. Despite all these downfalls, the Flight Attendant on this flight was very friendly and reassuring to everybody. We finally landed in Washington and taxied toward the concourse where we were to exit and then we were told we would have to hold here for a gate to open up. This was another 15 minutes. By this time everybody was practically shouting "GET ME OFF THIS AIRPLANE!" I was almost ready to open the emergency exit and jump off onto the Taxiway and walk to the terminal.
I finally got off of the airplane, claimed my bags and headed home. I had left my friend's house in Myrtle Beach around 12:noon to go to the airport. By the time I got back to my house in Maryland from the airport, it was coming up on 10:PM. Remember when I was amazed at how quickly I got to Myrtle Beach going the other way? Well, I could have driven home from Myrtle Beach in that time. All in all this was a very maddening experience. I know that the weather can't be helped but United did nothing in the way of Customer Service for anybody after all of the pumping for information from rude clerks and delays that we had to go through. I came home from my vacation feeling more stressed than I was when I left for my vacation.
So, now to the bottom line. If you live in the Baltimore/Washington area like I do, I found out that Spirit and U.S. Airways now offer direct flights from Washington's Regan National Airport to Myrtle Beach, and that Hooter's Air offers direct flights from BWI to Myrtle Beach. We went from our area having no direct flights to Myrtle Beach, to having many. This flight was cheap, and the flight down was quick, and that's why I choose it. Use it if you must and I'll use it again if I have to, but I think next time (if I don't just get in my car and drive) I'll take one of those other airlines from one of the other area airports, and I also recommend others to do the same. Somebody in an earlier review on United used the title "Life in the Cheap Seats", well I second that! Since it's cheap, you'll get cheap service!
If you liked this review, check out some of my others:
Washington Dulles International Airport - “A local's love-hate relationship with Dulles”
http://www.epinions.com/content_176033402500
Baltimore Washington International Airport – “Fly High at BWI”
http://www.epinions.com/content_173045026436
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – “I can't wait to go back!”
http://www.epinions.com/content_32552816260
Southwest Airlines – “Ideal Airline from Baltimore to Orlando”
http://www.epinions.com/content_172996267652
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
mrhonda
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Member: Dan
Location: Maryland, USA
Reviews written: 30
Trusted by: 5 members
About Me:
I'm a bargain hunting travel buff who enjoys beaches and cities.
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