narcimund 0 #1 January 7, 2003 I have a Continental Airlines flight to mexico in a few weeks and the Delta thread scared me. So I wrote to Continental telling them of my concerns and asking for reassurance and assistance in boarding the flight with my rig. Several days later I received a confirmation email stating that sport parachuting equipment is allowed on Continental flights and a promise to tag my ticket record with the notation that my equipment is allowed. Hopefully this note will lessen the chance of some freshman staff member's kneejerk reaction about cheesy adventure movie scenarios. I'm very happy with their response and recommend this proactive pre-flight planning to all skydivers. The more of us who get out in front of the problem, the more the airlines will be inclined to assert pro-skydiver policies and training. First Class Citizen Twice Over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lippy 918 #2 January 7, 2003 Good idea. I'm gonna email United right now re: my flight to AZ in 8 MORE DAYS!!!!!!I got nuthin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sassy 0 #3 January 7, 2003 As a travel agent I recommend you take this one step further. Call Continental Airlines and tell them you have the letter confirming your gear. Give them the record locator of your itinerary and ask them to document your flight record with the same information. Then get the AGENT SIGN...NOT the name of the person that did this. It's called CYA as much as possible. And I know this one well from dealing with the airlines on a daily basis. Sassy Edited to add: Do this with ALL airlines. And most importantly....whenever dealing with an airline agent always get the AGENT SIGN....NOT the name....I can't stress this enough. Anyone can use any name but all airline agents have unique signs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
narcimund 0 #4 January 7, 2003 Thank you very much for that inside information. I'll do that first thing tomorrow. First Class Citizen Twice Over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #5 January 7, 2003 I've always had good luck with Continental too. Even great service with International flights, unlike some other airlines, *cough*United*cough*.Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #6 January 7, 2003 QuoteEdited to add: Do this with ALL airlines. And most importantly....whenever dealing with an airline agent always get the AGENT SIGN....NOT the name....I can't stress this enough. Anyone can use any name but all airline agents have unique signs. This isn't an issue for me yet, but so I know, what is an "AGENT SIGN"? I don't understand.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverbrian 0 #7 January 7, 2003 Quotewhat is an "AGENT SIGN"? I was wondering the same thing. I'm guessing it's some code they use for the computers. Each agent has their own?? In a world full of people, only some want to fly... isn't that crazy! --Seal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sassy 0 #8 January 7, 2003 Morning, An Agent Sign is the unique code assigned to anyone at an airline/travel agency that can touch your reservation. Everytime something is done on an airline reservation it's recorded in history and is connected to that agent sign. But please know that doing all of these will not necessarily guarantee that it all goes right. I had a client traveling to Moline, IL last year for a gun shooting competion. She is licensed by the city and the state for her guns. We did all the right paperwork and her record was documented to the hilt. I must have called the airline 4 times to confirm it was all in her record. In the end a baggage handler in St. Louis refused to load her competition gun on the plane. He even put a nice big hand written note that said "do not load". She was unable to compete and she had been winning the gold at this event for years. I'm still fighting the airline over this to try and get some money back for her. I realize guns and rigs are not the same thing but you just never know about people. Sassy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #9 January 7, 2003 Quote He even put a nice big hand written note that said "do not load". Maybe he was just warning the other handlers not to load the gun with bullets. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
narcimund 0 #10 January 7, 2003 Here are the relevant quotes from my responses from Continental. I consider this very friendly and helpful and (assuming it's not just customer service fluff) it's exactly what I'd want an airline to do. QuoteI received your e-mail today, and looked up the policy for parachutes. It does state," CO accepts sport parachutes in lieu of one piece of free baggage. A parachute or parasail taken on board the aircraft must meet carry-on size restrictions (51 linear inches) for placement underneath the aircraft seat." If you want to send me your record locator, I can put a note in your record that it is allowed. As far as Continental is concerned it is okay to carry it on. However, I can't speak for security. Best Regards, Customer Care Manager And later... QuoteI have put a note in your record that parachutes are accepted as far as Continental is concerned. I hope this will help. First Class Citizen Twice Over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chivo 0 #11 January 7, 2003 Quote...However, I can't speak for security. What's that supposed to mean? Isn't the point of all this to be able to go through security without all the hassle? Am I missing something? ~Chivo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites AndyMan 7 #12 January 7, 2003 I've also had very good luck asking the individual airlines for a letter documenting their policy on official letterhead. So far, Delta and Southwest have both complied. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites dex 0 #13 January 7, 2003 Quote What's that supposed to mean? Isn't the point of all this to be able to go through security without all the hassle? Am I missing something? Generally security (TSA or whatever) defers the parachute question to the airline... that's where people normally run into problems.... Airlines can't always speak for what the TSA will allow onboard but they can promise to not tell the TSA not to disallow parachutes.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites GrumpySmurf 0 #14 January 7, 2003 I've had good luck with Conti as well - just brought along a print out of thier policy from the webpage - showed it to the CSR, who would then double check on thier ticketing system - and life was good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Gravitymaster 0 #15 January 7, 2003 The problem the airlines have isn't with parachutes. They all have policies in which they state parachutes are O.K. The problem is with your Cypres If you read what I have written in the *Warning re: Delta Airlines thread and what Delta has responded with, you will see this is true. The problem is with your Cypres. Don't be fooled by Deltas response. I have other information I may post in the future which shows them to be dishonest and deceptive with regards to other dealings I've had with them. Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites lippy 918 #16 January 7, 2003 Quote The problem is with your Cypres. Not so in my limited experience. When I was going home last May, they totally freaked over the fact that I wanted to take a parachute on board. Once I finally had airline personnel escort me through security to verify that parachutes were ok with them, my rig went on the belt and they didn't blink an eye. Of course, the Cypres was the reason they knew it was a parachute right off the bat...They asked if I had any electronic devices.I got nuthin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
AndyMan 7 #12 January 7, 2003 I've also had very good luck asking the individual airlines for a letter documenting their policy on official letterhead. So far, Delta and Southwest have both complied. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dex 0 #13 January 7, 2003 Quote What's that supposed to mean? Isn't the point of all this to be able to go through security without all the hassle? Am I missing something? Generally security (TSA or whatever) defers the parachute question to the airline... that's where people normally run into problems.... Airlines can't always speak for what the TSA will allow onboard but they can promise to not tell the TSA not to disallow parachutes.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GrumpySmurf 0 #14 January 7, 2003 I've had good luck with Conti as well - just brought along a print out of thier policy from the webpage - showed it to the CSR, who would then double check on thier ticketing system - and life was good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gravitymaster 0 #15 January 7, 2003 The problem the airlines have isn't with parachutes. They all have policies in which they state parachutes are O.K. The problem is with your Cypres If you read what I have written in the *Warning re: Delta Airlines thread and what Delta has responded with, you will see this is true. The problem is with your Cypres. Don't be fooled by Deltas response. I have other information I may post in the future which shows them to be dishonest and deceptive with regards to other dealings I've had with them. Bob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lippy 918 #16 January 7, 2003 Quote The problem is with your Cypres. Not so in my limited experience. When I was going home last May, they totally freaked over the fact that I wanted to take a parachute on board. Once I finally had airline personnel escort me through security to verify that parachutes were ok with them, my rig went on the belt and they didn't blink an eye. Of course, the Cypres was the reason they knew it was a parachute right off the bat...They asked if I had any electronic devices.I got nuthin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
