New Continental international baggage policy

"Dillon Pyron" <dmpyronINVALID@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:6suif1pk2lvd9t024lrs6n3covs9mlrlav@4ax.com...

> I believe it was United who just started charging for curbside check
> in.

Cost to the consumer isn't going to change because the vast majority of
people who use curbside already tip at or above the $2 per bag charge (so
say the Skycap contractors at Midway, Boston, Seattle, O'Hare). It's the
Skycap who is getting screwed....in which case additional tip may prove even
more effective than before.

I suspect the day of the pleasent, charming Skycap is now a thing of the
past though. Morale isn't likely to go up as gratuities come down.

"Greg Mossman" <mossman@qnet.com> wrote in message
news:11filk9lrj2k06@corp.supernews.com...

> I have a habit of cashing in small piles of green chips, when I'm lucky
> enough to accumulate them, for black chips which I promptly stick in my
> pocket so I can pretend I'm not too far ahead and keep my betting sane.
> Unfortunately, this last time, the pit boss told me I couldn't do that
> anymore and demanded I keep all my chips on the table.

That's because he cannot manage the table if he can't see all your chips,
maybe the house has been on him for his shift numbers. But still I haven't
ever seen that before.....nor have I seen a pit boss "yell" at a customer.
Most of them have enough authority in their demeanor to not have to act out
like that.

"Mark Lindsey" <mslf500@verizon.(remove)net> wrote in message
news:1123634792.bdf04071a6e34f07995aa8f47f85f1d6@t eranews...
> If weight is an issue, maybe they should weigh the baggage and the
> passenger together. Anyone over a certain total weight has to pay more
> for the excess fuel. That would be more fair to all.

There a very long thread on this very proposition not too long ago.

"chilly" <slarson@shaw.canada> wrote in message
news:_BcKe.162620$5V4.157726@pd7tw3no...

> OK, if you consider honesty as stupid, go ahead, and call me stupid.

It shouldn't be that difficult for you to understand that an honest inquiry
often belies what one would otherwise assume is an intelligent questioner,
and therefore no claim or implication of "honesty as stupid" exists in my
comment.

> sure someone with characteristics such as you have, couldn't hurt my
> feelings in the least.

I'm not trying to hurt your feelings. I simply responded with the same
smart-assed intent you first exhibited.

But now that you have assailed my "characteristics", my own feelings are
irreparably injured.

Ross Garrett wrote:
> "chilly" <slarson@shaw.canada> wrote in message
> news:_BcKe.162620$5V4.157726@pd7tw3no...
>
>
> I'm not trying to hurt your feelings. I simply responded with the same
> smart-assed intent you first exhibited.


Ross, I had told you before that you're a very perceptive man! I
didn't see your conversation, but I trust you had her sized up
perfectly.

chilly is ALWAYS a smart-ass, like several of her Dysfunctional Gang
pals, such as Alan Street. <Note to Alan: PLEASE put me in your
killfile. Else, DON'T cite the part of this post that
includes chilly and DING DONG -- just to bring them out behind
your noisy bark> ... at any rate ... there are folks here who
who have a one-link smart ass follow-up to my post, but cite
my ENTIRE post, to bring out the expected BLIND OSTRICHES
because they would have read my post or part of my post SECOND
hand ... to join the smart-ass in a chorus of caccaphonic noise.

Since I had clubbed her so hard on the head with whatever she
deserved, she has joined Mr. DING DONG Bell in putting me on
their killfiles.

Hallelujah, rec.scuba has been MUCH better off since.

Now if you can make her put YOU in her killfile, than your
problems are over. She never has anything useful to contribute
in any rec.scuba.* discussions anyway, other than "smart-assed"
intent and remarks.

This is ANOTHER orientation Public Service Announcement for
new comers to rec.scuba.* who have substance to contribute to
SCUBA discussions.

-- Bob.

"Ross Garrett" <frederickrossgarrett@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:e4nKe.5$ii3.2721@news.uswest.net...
>
> "Greg Mossman" <mossman@qnet.com> wrote in message
> news:11filk9lrj2k06@corp.supernews.com...
>
>> I have a habit of cashing in small piles of green chips, when I'm lucky
>> enough to accumulate them, for black chips which I promptly stick in my
>> pocket so I can pretend I'm not too far ahead and keep my betting sane.
>> Unfortunately, this last time, the pit boss told me I couldn't do that
>> anymore and demanded I keep all my chips on the table.
>
> That's because he cannot manage the table if he can't see all your chips,
> maybe the house has been on him for his shift numbers. But still I haven't
> ever seen that before.....nor have I seen a pit boss "yell" at a customer.
> Most of them have enough authority in their demeanor to not have to act
> out like that.

He didn't exactly yell. That was my hyperbole.

But he was very stern. It was not a polite request. And I've never seen
that before either. I get out to Vegas three or four times a year and I've
also gambled in PR, BON, and on a riverboat casino in Baton Rouge without
enduring that sort of nonsense. It's not as if I'm any kind of high roller
by Vegas standards so you think they would have let me alone.

"Ross Garrett" <frederickrossgarrett@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:TgmKe.3$ii3.2437@news.uswest.net...

> To think one could actually wait until receiving the desired service
> before handing over the tip How much better would life in this world be if
> LA folks shared all their keen insights with us :^)
>
> I'll assume this was an opportunity to show solidarity with chilly.
> Otherwise I'm left only to conclude you are as brilliantly dopey as she
> often seems.

I guess I must be both brilliantly dopey and in solidarity with chilly who
has plenty good reason to think you an ass because you're the typical
condescending know-it-all who's full of shit.

You had said:

"Ross Garrett" <frederickrossgarrett@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:2z2Ke.16$IC2.4565@news.uswest.net...
> Check-in curbside, and have your $10 or $20 in the same hand you use to
> hand your ID and ticket/reservation to the agent on duty.

Which obviously meant you tip before receiving the desired service.

So I said:

>> I think it will be funny when Ross slips 'em a fast $10 before they take
>> his bags and they come back asking for $25 per overweight bag. It's a
>> new world.

And yes, I think it will be funny when you tip them expecting them to ignore
the overweight requirements and they pocket your tip for handling your bags,
then stick you for the overweight charges. I've had a skycap cart my bags
over to the airline's check-in counter specifically so I could pay the
overweight charges. According to you, if I had handed him $10 or $20 at the
beginning of our transaction, he wouldn't have been such a stickler. But
then you also claim that most passengers tip more than the usually expected
$2 per bag, so he would have no reason to believe I wouldn't have given up
$10 or $20 after he cleared my bags. Make up your mind. You're sounding
like the dopiest one around here. Have you actually flown in the last
couple years?

"Greg Mossman" <mossman@qnet.com> wrote in message
news:11fk6v2fbrh36a6@corp.supernews.com...

> I guess I must be both brilliantly dopey and in solidarity with chilly

I can only take your word on that.

> You had said:
>
> "Ross Garrett" <frederickrossgarrett@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:2z2Ke.16$IC2.4565@news.uswest.net...
>> Check-in curbside, and have your $10 or $20 in the same hand you use to
>> hand your ID and ticket/reservation to the agent on duty.
>
> Which obviously meant you tip before receiving the desired service.

Always be careful of "obviously".

> I've had a skycap cart my bags over to the airline's check-in counter
> specifically so I could pay the overweight charges.

You managed that situation perfectly, didn't you?

> According to you, if I had handed him $10 or $20 at the beginning of our
> transaction,

No, that's according to your insufficient understanding of what I wrote,
your brilliant dopiness or your solidarity with chilly. I never said you
hand him the money when you hand him the ID/ticket. I said you have it in
the same hand you use to give him the ticket and ID.

Let me recap and quote: "same hand you use to hand your ID and
ticket/reservation". Do you see any words in there that even imply you hand
him the money along with your ticket and ID?

So much for "obviously".

> he wouldn't have been such a stickler. But then you also claim that most
> passengers tip more than the usually expected $2 per bag, so he would have
> no reason to believe I wouldn't have given up $10 or $20 after he cleared
> my bags.

The fact that he carted you to a scale gives some indication he didn't think
you were going to give him anything worthwhile. Maybe it was your "dopey"
look. Or maybe it was the fact that you didn't show him your intended tip
for the service you might need.

I'm not saying it is right, but I am saying it isn't unlike most other
negotiations one enters into. Where's the inducement?

> Make up your mind. You're sounding like the dopiest one around here.

My thoughts on you, precisely. How badly could someone manage a situation
that the skycap/porter is so certain no decent tip is coming, that he would
step away from normal work (which is being available to travelers so he can
earn a gratuity) to take you and your bags to a counter for weighing? In the
time it took him to drag you and your bags inside to a counter scale, he
probably missed a tip or two.

Nah, I don't think he looked at you and thought there was any possibility
whatsoever you were going to supplement his day's income to the tune of an
extra $ 20. Instead it seems like he might have been out to "get" you. Maybe
he thought you were an "ass".

> Have you actually flown in the last couple years?

Yep. And no Skycap has ever carted me and my bags inside to a ticketing
counter to weigh and then charge me for being over the limit. I attribute
that to the fact that when I am overweight I place my intended tip in the
same hand I use to hand him my ID and ticket, so he has a clear
understanding that I need something extra and knows how much I am offering
for that service.

"Ross Garrett" <frederickrossgarrett@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:IAnKe.7$ii3.2958@news.uswest.net...
>
> "chilly" <slarson@shaw.canada> wrote in message
> news:_BcKe.162620$5V4.157726@pd7tw3no...
>
> > OK, if you consider honesty as stupid, go ahead, and call me stupid.
>
> It shouldn't be that difficult for you to understand that an honest
inquiry
> often belies what one would otherwise assume is an intelligent questioner,
> and therefore no claim or implication of "honesty as stupid" exists in my
> comment.

Unh hunh

>
> > sure someone with characteristics such as you have, couldn't hurt my
> > feelings in the least.
>
> I'm not trying to hurt your feelings. I simply responded with the same
> smart-assed intent you first exhibited.

It shouldn't be that difficult for you to understand that honest inquiry is
not the same as "smart-assed intent".

> But now that you have assailed my "characteristics", my own feelings are
> irreparably injured.

Sure they are. Just imagine how you'd feel had I impugned your whole
character instead of just the characteristics evidenced in this thread.

I'm still waiting to hear how you plan to get your overweight bags through
without paying the airline extra, at the new self-checkin counters, merely
by tipping a skycap.

I'm also curious about this practice you have of giving your passport (ID)
to a Skycap. How does that work when the attendant checks the passport?
Does he look over his shoulder and point at you, thereby distracting the
attendant as he sneaks your bags onto the conveyor belt without them being
weighed?

When was the last time you flew and was it an international flight?

"Ross Garrett" <frederickrossgarrett@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:QnqKe.31$ii3.5982@news.uswest.net...

>> "Ross Garrett" <frederickrossgarrett@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:2z2Ke.16$IC2.4565@news.uswest.net...
>>> Check-in curbside, and have your $10 or $20 in the same hand you use to
>>> hand your ID and ticket/reservation to the agent on duty.
>>
>> Which obviously meant you tip before receiving the desired service.
>
> Always be careful of "obviously".

>> According to you, if I had handed him $10 or $20 at the beginning of our
>> transaction,
>
> No, that's according to your insufficient understanding of what I wrote,
> your brilliant dopiness or your solidarity with chilly. I never said you
> hand him the money when you hand him the ID/ticket. I said you have it in
> the same hand you use to give him the ticket and ID.

I see. Now you're claiming that your hand with the $10 or $20 that also
holds the ID and ticket/reservation just hands over part of what's in the
hand, like some magician doing card tricks.

Let's see how this works. Assuming you hold the ticket/reservation and your
ID with a typical thumb opposing four fingers grip, the money must be
stacked either on top or under or in between the documents. How do you
control that the skycap doesn't grab the whole shebang? Don't you look
silly standing around with the bill in your hand after he's taken the
documents, or do you then put the money back in your pocket?

>> I've had a skycap cart my bags over to the airline's check-in counter
>> specifically so I could pay the overweight charges.
>
> You managed that situation perfectly, didn't you?

I usually play the "flash the big money at the skycap" game too, though I
use different hands because it's more practical. It obviously didn't work
in this case. I guess I'll try the same hand sleight of hand next time.

> Let me recap and quote: "same hand you use to hand your ID and
> ticket/reservation". Do you see any words in there that even imply you
> hand
> him the money along with your ticket and ID?

Same hand obviously implies it. The other implication, that you stand
around with the bill in your hand after he's taken the documents is just too
ridiculous and I didn't take you for a silly guy. I guess I was wrong.

> So much for "obviously".

Obviously.

> The fact that he carted you to a scale gives some indication he didn't
> think
> you were going to give him anything worthwhile. Maybe it was your "dopey"
> look. Or maybe it was the fact that you didn't show him your intended tip
> for the service you might need.

Since I did the latter, it must have been my "dopey" look, while you hopping
around with your bill in your hand, waving it in the skycap's face like
you're giving a dog a treat, don't look dopey at all. Or it could just be
their policy and perhaps the airline doesn't appreciate that they take
bribes to get around it. Maybe he's had baggage refused before by the
airline and he had to pay the $25 charge out of the $10 or $20 that some
dopey gave gave him and he doesn't want to get burned again.

>> Make up your mind. You're sounding like the dopiest one around here.
>
> My thoughts on you, precisely. How badly could someone manage a situation
> that the skycap/porter is so certain no decent tip is coming, that he
> would
> step away from normal work (which is being available to travelers so he
> can
> earn a gratuity) to take you and your bags to a counter for weighing? In
> the
> time it took him to drag you and your bags inside to a counter scale, he
> probably missed a tip or two.

Perhaps he believes his normal work is to cart the bags for the customer and
allow him to avoid lines inside the airport, but he doesn't believe his job
is to contravent airline baggage policies. What's next, do you tip the TSA
guy a $50 and he lets you bring your gun on the plane?

> Nah, I don't think he looked at you and thought there was any possibility
> whatsoever you were going to supplement his day's income to the tune of an
> extra $ 20. Instead it seems like he might have been out to "get" you.
> Maybe
> he thought you were an "ass".

Now you're confusing me again. Ass or dope, which is it?

> Yep. And no Skycap has ever carted me and my bags inside to a ticketing
> counter to weigh and then charge me for being over the limit. I attribute
> that to the fact that when I am overweight I place my intended tip in the
> same hand I use to hand him my ID and ticket, so he has a clear
> understanding that I need something extra and knows how much I am offering
> for that service.

That used to work with cops too, and maybe it still does in certain
jurisdictions. Nowadays, most bureaus have cleaned up and they'll ignore
the $100 you pass over with your driver's license or possibly arrest you for
attempted bribery. Heck, most Vegas shows won't even let you tip the host
for a better seat. Obviously skycaps are cleaning up their act too. The
next time I see some dopey-looking guy getting carted away by airline
security for attempting to induce a skycap into defrauding the airline, I'll
yell "Ross!" and see if it's you.