I had always had good service from Era until just recently I had a bad experience. And after talking to other customers I see that I was lucky up untill now. I have learned that what happened to me has happened to others as well. BOTTOM LINE: Era leaves early so that you miss your plane. Then they charge you a change fee$ to put you on the next plane. Read on:
Era flights often leave early. 15-30 minutes EARLY! They say the flight leaves at 3:30? BEWARE, It could be throttling down the runway at 3:10. So whats the problem? Everyone knows you should show up to the airport early. Era recommends checking in an hour before the flight leaves. They also have a sign at their counter (which they enjoy pointing at) which states that you MUST check in 20 minutes before departure. Otherwise you might miss your flight. Ok thats fine.
The problem is we all have bad days, late flights, or missed connections. Some days you just aren't able to show up early and hang around waiting. But if you do show up before departure and before the 20 minutes is up you ought to make it. Nope. Not with Era.
Ok whatever. So their planes leave whenever they feel like it. Even thats fine with me, so long as they put me on another flight... I payed for a ticket. You decided to leave early. I was at the ticket counter within the 20 minutes. So put me on the next plane.
Yes they will, for a $ change fee. Bull*! You're going to charge me extra? You scheduled a flight plan, printed tickets, and then you decided to leave 20 minutes early and you're going to CHARGE ME FOR IT? RIPOFF.
"Here comes some suckers, quick take off!" Thats what I must assume. Its some kind of money making tactic.
Originally at the counter, I got to the ticket counter girl. She said "you're on the 3:30? Ohh... Let me check.." She calls someone. She tells me the flight is gone. She points at her 20 minute sign and tells me i'm late. I point at my watch. It is only 3:10. So I get a supervisor, and calmly and politely explain that I was in fact there exactly within 20 minutes of departure, and that I did not feel the change fee was fair, and how is it my fault you leave 20-30 minutes early? (And by the way, this gate and this plane is a 60 second walk from the ticket counter. If they departed when they were supposed to there would have been all the time in the world for me to board.) Not only was she totally unsympathic, she walked away from me before I was finished talking to her. As she did I stated that I wouldn't do business with them again. She said "okay..." I think they could care less.
I urge you to do business elsewhere.
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