My Vacation Rescheduling Saga:
It all started yesterday when I was notified of a flight time change by Continental for our return flight home from Disney World this summer. The change made it so our connecting flights no longer connected. I called Priceline.com since my vacation package is through them, thinking their customer service would be very helpful and be able to get us on a new flight that worked with our schedules. All started well, she saw that there was a 6pm flight out (we were originally scheduled for a 8:40pm flight out so we could spend the whole day at the parks before coming home) on that same day. I let her know that this wouldn't work, that we had plans and the 8:40pm was the earliest flight that would work. She then suggested that we take the 9am flight on the same day [not the NEXT day], so I had to repeat myself again. I finally caved and went to their website while I was on the phone and noticed they had a 6pm flight on the FOLLOWING day that would work good, except I would have to add another hotel night to our stay which isn't a big deal since we'd get more vacation out of it. She said she doubted the airlines would let us switch to the next day, but agreed to call them anyway "despite [my] extreme exception request" (thanks for making me feel like a douche). She then said ," if they can't get you on a flight the next day, do you want me to go ahead and book the 6pm flight on the same day?". I agreed since I felt like I had no choice- we have to get home at some point, right?
She called me back, saying that the airlines was offering me a full refund, which I said OK to because I saw an american airlines flight that would work better for us anyway. She said that if Continental gave me a refund I wouldn't be allowed to spend the money on another airlines for the same trip. How does this make any sense?? I tried reasoning with her telling her this made NO sense, but she was convinced they would somehow intervene if I made reservations with another airline... so I decided to decline the refund for now.
I then asked if they OK'd the flight for the following day. She said they could only allow moving the flight to the next MORNING, not the next evening so she went ahead and booked the 6pm on the same day instead of trying to see if there was a morning flight I could go on. I thought I made it clear that it would be preferred for us to spend the whole day there and leave sometime the following day..if she was listening to what I actually wanted I think she would have tried to work a little harder for me. I know dialing numbers and talking to people is SOoo hard and all, but come on....
So I asked if she would be able to contact Continental about moving us to a flight the following morning since that's what their policy would allow and then she snapped. She got REALLy bitchy and started being anrgy towards me: "you're telling me you're changing your mind now? The airlines already have given you your exception due to their scheduling changes so I doubt they'd let you move the flight again. I asked you if you wanted to book the 6pm if they couldn't book you the 6pm on the following day." I was stunned at this point. I tried to remain calm and nice since that's when people usually like to help you the most, but I'm sure I started to sound snippy at some point. I had to explain that I agreed to that BEFORE I knew that they could book a flight for the following MORNING, but now that I know what their policy is I'd like to book that morning flight. Turns out there is a 9am the following morning that would be perfect. Well, she called the airlines back after she calmed down and got my story straight.
So, we had the 9am flight booked and all was well...until I checked to see what it would cost to add another night at our hotel and it was $240. When I'm already paying $500 for 3 nights, $240 for ONE night is crazy. I did some more research...because I'm a crazy Internet person. We were being charged $716 for both of our round trip flights, thurs thru monday. I found very decent flights for $520 from thurs thru tuesday thru another airline company. I did the math and decided to call Continental myself.
Before I called Continental I decided to throw some rhetoric into my speech and try to see if the airlines would pay for my additional night in the hotel since essentially the next day's flight was the only feasible option for us due to THEIR schedule change after our trip was bought and paid for in full. The lady at the airlines was very nice, could actually speak english [thus I could actually understand her very well], and tried everything she could to help me out without reading me a bunch of pre-written script. She talked to her manager and said they couldn't accommodate the hotel, but would offer me a full refund without any cancellation fees & no restrictions [meaning I was free to book another flight through them, another company, or do whatever I want with the money]. I agreed and decided to book that other, much cheaper flight with American Airlines and stay another day on our vacation.
So with the money I saved on the new plane tickets, I was able to book another night in the hotel and basically extend our vacation for one more full day at the same price I was paying before. Good deal, huh?
Bottom line: people who don't know what they're talking about should shut up and listen to their customers.
In Other News:
It's snowing outside at the moment! It's not supposed to last because a warm front is on it's way....which is also bringing about a nice weather forecast for this saturday! This saturday is our birthday party, woohoo. I need to send out some info to people about dinner and when the party starts. I'm not sure that we're all on the same page.
Jake and I came down with these terrible colds at the same time last week and it was AWFUL. There's no way we could work out while coughing and sneezing all over the place. So we took a week off AGAIN. We've been sick twice since we've started this program. We're starting it up again tomorrow, though and hopefully we'll keep going for a while before something else comes up. I need to get in shape for our trip! I'll be walking about in shorts and stuff!!! Not that I'm terrible obese, but I want to feel good...Bad Shopping Experiences
Speaking of which. Jake and I have been clothing shopping lately since he has birthday money and I've been putting away money for some new clothes for a while now. We went to Express on monday and boy we were disappointed. I bought a pair of jeans there 10 months ago. Size 4. Now I went to try on another pair two days ago and I could barely get into a size 10! And I was WEARING the size 4 when I walked in there, so I know I didn't gain crazy weight in the past 10 months! In fact I've lost weight because I've been working out like crazy! They've changed their sizes and their clothes fit weird and all their jeans are thin and "stretch" jeans now. Ick. Some stretch is ok, but super stretch isn't flattering at all. Hold on, let me go paint my jeans on so you can see every contour of my butt and legs, ok? Not to mention the crazy sales lady!!! She was high-pressure. Trying to get me to buy all this ugly stuff. Ewwwww...no spanks.Ok, I think that's enough negativity!!
It's still snowing!!! And it's small and light flakes now, like the type when it's super cold out and about to stick...Hrmmmm.......warm front? So, so pretty though. I keep staring out the window.
MOTORBIKES!!
I got a new back tire for my motorcycle:
It's pretty much awesome. Nice and knobby for some off-roading fun! And I'll actually have more traction riding around on the streets now, especially in the rain. My old tire was pretty much bald down the center. Next project is putting new front brake pads on and putting in the new light bulb for my speedo. I can't see how fast [read: slow] I'm going at night.I also got Jake the Dunlop d606 he's been wanting for his bike on his birthday [yesterday].
I installed it myself while he was away for a few hours this past weekend. I put his bike back where it was and pushed some boxes around it and he never noticed. I'm sneaky hehe ^.^Stephan, Erika, Jake and I have planned a sport bike & dual sport ride for next saturday & I'm really hoping the weather is nice because I've been looking forward to it since forever ago! I hardley get a chance to go ride with people. I'm always out riding by myself. Even Jake's been too busy to come with me =(. It's been pretty cold, though. When it warms up I'm sure there will be more trips planned!
Speaking of bikes... there's an XT250 for sale on craigslist in Everett....
$4k only 16 miles on it, with a nice rack [heh heh], and it's the '08 which is the black and white color scheme that I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. But....I can't. Well I could...but I REALLY shouldn't. I planned a DW vacation instead. But it's been on their for like 2 months so he'sprob desperate and I could maybe offer him $3400 and see what he offers back? UGH. I want that bike. But I still ♥ my TW200. Nothing else compares to that little thumper.I've joined a motocycle adventure riding club. We don't know what our name is, yet. I'm the smallest bike and the only girl...but that's ok! I think the gal that works at the bike shop is joining with her 250 ninja. She's a nice lady, about my age too. She has the riding pants I want, too O.o. Anywho.. We plan rides for the last saturday of every month and we get discounts at Monroe adventure motorsports on our meeting days. Pretty sweet deal if you ask me. We're getting together somegroup t-shirts and going to do some community service come Christmas time. Me likey.
I think that's all for now....
♥Sara
Another girl with a Ninja 250!?! Awesome!!!
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