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Skybus's bankruptcy affects honeymoon plans 35 years in the making
Skybus is still making front page of Columbus's newspaper. We're still having the tail end of Skybus drama at my house. Two nights ago, my friend called telling me that he had received the e-mail from Skybus telling him his flight in May was no more and that there weren't any refunds. My friend is out $300, I would guess, because he paid for the ticket back in September and rebooked it in October. Too bad he doesn't have the $300 for a flight to Columbus on another airlines because those flights can be found. My husband was able to cancel the charge on our credit card for the cost of the ticket he booked for this August. Our problems are nothing compared to the folks who are out of a job without warning.
There is another Skybus story that really pulls on the old heartstrings. A Columbus couple who had been dating for 35 years and finally got married had planned to fly to California for their honeymoon. The couple are in their 70s. They haven't flown in years because of the cost, but family bought them the Skybus tickets for a wedding present. This is a couple who decided to get married so he wouldn't have to drive home at night. The wedding was the day after Skybus' last flight so their honeymoon bit the dust until the groom's sister sprung for the flight on United Airlines. The couple is now heading to San Diego next week. I hope they have good weather and a good flight.
The groom's sister just happens to live in San Diego so they are staying with her. If United Airlines wanted to capitalize on this story, I'd think they could come up with something catchy. At least on a United Airlines flight they can get something to drink and a snack without paying extra--at least not yet.
What strange things have been found on planes?
Read more wedding horror stories from AisleDash:
- Couple spends not-so-romantic wedding night in jail
- Heathrow's Terminal 5 debacle counts bridal gown among lost possessions
- The Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark loses wedding ring
- Proposal prank of epic proportions: Real or fake?
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Stories, United States, Airlines, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Keith Forrest Apr 10th 2008 7:14AM
yea, right pal.... lets see, yea, lets go beat up the guy, maybe youll end up killing someone, then we can see you on the HBO series "San Quentin Lockup".... bet you probably live in a ncie double wide and have your empty beer bottles laying all over your yard in the trailer park.... So yea, the CEO Im sure is just laughing his ass off about screwing people....no more likely he is out of a job and bankrupt himself... not something a reputable company TRIES to do.. they are about the FOURTH airline in a month to go under... see the thing about $4.00 jet fuel? and all you people whine when you cant get round trip new york to LA for $199 much these days? I paid $299 in 1983....
BRUCE Apr 10th 2008 3:00PM
GO GET 'EM KEITH.
kaaran Apr 10th 2008 7:21PM
AMEN! I wish the airlines would raise their prices so when you fly it's not like riding a GREYHOUND Bus! And that's what flying has become. I remember in the 70's when I was a kid, flying was a luxury and women and men dressed up. Now days it's like riding a fricken bus. People showing up like slobs. Let's put the bus people back on the bus and keep the airline industry profitable. Let's put the class back in flying. PLEASE RAISE YOUR PRICES and kick the trash of the plane..
? Apr 11th 2008 5:22AM
I dont know what the San Quentin part is all about, but I don't feel sorry for the CEO. How is it that the company president has no idea, absolutely no idea, that the company will go under, untill the very last second? He left work wednesday, all was fine. Thursday morning, "oh crap, what happened, we were doing fine 7 hours ago"? What a load of crap. The exec surely got millions in severence and golden parachute. How is it legal to take money for a service, then not provide the service, but keep the money?
DEB IN OHIO Apr 10th 2008 7:35AM
First, to Mr. Casy I hope you were just being dramatic, because violence is never the answer.
As for Skybus, I think the way airlines are allowed to simply close down is wrong ethically, even if it is legal. I think we should all write to our Senators and Congressmen and suggest that alll airline be required to hold enough money in reserve to honor return flights. Even if they had to contact people and tell them they needed to return within 48 hours (or make other arrangements), it would be better than stranding them.
My family is out the money for 5 flights, hopefully my credit card will eventually refund the monies. It would certainly help those of us who need to file disputes with our credit card companies, if they would reinstate their website links so we could print out itineraries in order to prove to the credit card companies that the flights were for future dates. Unfortunately by the time we get things straightened out; it won't be in time for us to rebook a flight for our planned vacation.
Good Luck everyone who is struggling to recoup their money from any of the failed airlines.
Eileen Apr 10th 2008 9:45AM
Anna in Columbus. In the beginning of Dec. we were on a skybus flight home from fort lauderdale. We checked in online the night before. All we needed from skybus was for them to take our luggage, they did not have any employees at the ticket counter and myself and about 7 other people missed the plane. The sad thing is that I had an employee of the port authority go to the skybus gate and ask them to come get the luggage. The response was too bad. This was 45 minutes before take off. Skybus rules of carriage was to have someone at their counter until 30 minutes prior to take off. I sent emails, sent snail mail, filed a complaint with the better business bureau and attorney general. What worked ... filing a complaint with our credit card companies. 2 billing cycles the money was credited back. When this happened I called six on your side, I called channel 4, I wrote to the dispatch. I simply wanted them all to tell the public not to waste their time with Skybus with complaints, go right to your credit card company. No one responded. Now, everyone on TV is talking about it. Going out of business was no surprise to me!!! Oh,,, by the way US Airways has something on their web site about accepting Skybus tickets ..you may want to read it.
Chris Apr 10th 2008 2:27PM
okay, you're a little naive. businesses close suddenly all the time. the hotel i worked at in las vegas shut it's doors without notice 8 years ago leaving 1500 employees on the street. call your senator if you wish and good luck with that. i feel badly for the employees and the passengers but there are many options out there for travel.
Kim Apr 10th 2008 8:14AM
Deb,
I feel your pain. My family & I are out five tickets also for next month....our first family vacation ever! Our tickets were not all that cheap. We paid $1305.00. Still no word yet from my credit card company. We even purchased travel insurance and were told by AIG, too bad too sad. Although yesterday they changed their tune & said they would at least refund us our insurance premium. Wow, how great of them, huh?
We were able to rebook on other airlines but only because my family is amazing and wouldn't let me have to tell my three children, sorry you are not going on your first vacation afterall, not going to have your first plane ride, and aren't going to see the ocean for the first time. Thank God for family!
Good luck to you as well!
Eileen Apr 10th 2008 4:01PM
Kim,
In case you didn't see my email on this site. Go to www.Usairways.com I saw something on their site about accepting SkyBus tickets. I'm sure there is a twist to this but, thought you should check it out.
Paul Apr 10th 2008 8:14AM
Its to simple of a problem - "listed retail" corporations, especially airlines, should be bonded for an amount equal to the liability oustanding to its customers - insurance - yes remember what we all have to have to protect the bank for our mortgages, autos etc. Buy having that bond people are not completely out the ticket and all this nonsense ends.
Small premium added to all tickets -- 1% lets say for example -- cheap and no future worries.
Julie Apr 10th 2008 8:13AM
My congrats to the author of this article. Way to go Cousin!!
lee Apr 10th 2008 8:15AM
35 years in the making?.. & they didn't save a cent towards it in all that time? I am a widow on social security but I still work & frankly wouldn't have much time for a man who just wanted to play footsies for 35 years.. sorry to sound cynical but there's something wrong w/ the picture.
Michele Apr 10th 2008 10:50AM
I agree with Lee. 35 years with the same person and never being married to them. Something's wrong with the picture. No way, would I hang with someone for 35 years like that!
Dryb Apr 10th 2008 5:22PM
Come on. That is the problem with we as humans. We judge others based upon our own personal feelings and beliefs. Our lives are based upon tradition. Who cares if it took them 35 years to get married? Maybe they both had bad marriages in the past. Maybe they are non traditional. You do not know the reasons, and it is no concern of anyone, except said couple. Getting married does not mean you love someone more or less. Paper means nothing. As far as I am concerned, they have been married in their hearts for 35 years.
Skygoddess Apr 10th 2008 8:24AM
Skybus was CHEAPER, they got what they paid for. We've been spoiled in the US on airline fares for years as fuel costs went up. It's about time the fares caught up to the product. Airline employees no longer have their pensions so fares could remain cheap. Take that for a tale of heartbreak after 35 years of waiting!
Helen McDermott Apr 10th 2008 8:26AM
NO PROBLEM. I HATE PLANES. I GO BY BUS. BRING BACK THE RAILROADS! I remember going to sleep in Montana in my pullman berth and waking up in Chicago. Only way to travel.
INLOVE Apr 10th 2008 8:46AM
Well I worked for them and DGS(delta) due to skybus outsourced thier employees. We never got any warning. I worked all day Friday never told anything woke the next morning no job. DGS basically said screw you to all of us and layed all of us of also we didn't get any type of compinsation took all of our stuff out of our lockers and threw it in the floor. I raise 2 kids on my own and in 2 days is my 15 year old birthday. You may have lost money on tickets and I'm so sorry I wish you the best of luck getting it back but I have now lost everything. I have been out searching for a job and not much luck.
So thankyou SKYBUS for ruining our lives, thank you for making me feel like I have let my children down even though it was not my fault. Maybe you would like to explain to my daughter why there is nothing for her on her birthday
Doug Apr 10th 2008 10:13AM
You have not let your children down...they will understand the situation, though it is tough....things will get better, keep your head up, one door must shut before another opens...you will see that something much better will come along !!!
Reality Check Apr 10th 2008 6:02PM
I am sorry you lost your job and all, but at least they gave it a try and invested loads of money to create you job in the first place. We can't blame comapnies we have to blame bloated gov't and regulations THEY ARE TO BLAME FOR MOST FAILURES. The market works the gov't needs to stop making MORE AND MORE useless laws and get outta the way.
I feel bad for you but we need to also feel bad for the investors that had an idea and a dream and had enough guts to give it a go. I am sure they lost loads of money also.
Until we shrink gov't and get rid all the hacks to a bare minimum and get rid of entitlements we will all suffer. It is not rich and poor it is gov't that doesn't even need to exist (mostly). Why do we need fulltime hacks making laws everyday does life really change enough that we need full time law makers? THAT IS THE PROBLEM too many laws and too many hacks.
Self responsibility and self reliance. Gov't messes up everything it gets involved in so why are they involved in raising kids? Etc. We need to have a gov't that convenes a few times a year (very part time) to resolve the few matters to come up. Other than that they should be employed elsewhere.
Julia Apr 12th 2008 6:02AM
At 15, your daughter should be able to understand that this of course, wasn't your fault. She will also learn a good deal from this experience your family is facing. Let her know that you will postpone the birthday celebration until you are in a more stable position. Keep the lines of communication open. Kids are resilient. I am a firm believer that whenever the doors close, a window will open. Don't give up.