Konrad <konrad>
writes:

I just wrote United Airlines in order to ask them to review their
recent change in the odd size luggage rule for sports equipment that has a
length restriction that would not allow us to travel with hang gliders on united
anymore. Please take a few minutes and write some words to
<customerrelations>
asking them to go back to the previous rule the more of us write we'll increase
the chances the corporation might do something about it, ask your fellow pilots
to write too.

My letter:

I am a international athlete in the sport of Hang Gliding, for over ten years
United Airlines has been my airline of choice for all my international travel
needs. United has served me so well that, over the years, I've referred several
other hang gliding athletes that have also been very satisfied with the care and
attention your team handles our sensitive equipment.

Recently in July, probably because of the merger with Continental something
changed in the rule for odd size, I think it's a length issue, that would not
allow us to check in our gliders anymore. This was discovered when Ms. Randee
Azzar, an Athlete, on her way to a competition in Rio de Janeiro Brazil, was
checking in at LAX on August 18th at the odd size counter at LAX. The very
friendly and efficient lady at the counter, Sue, who also knows me by name had
to make several calls to supervisors in order to get Ms. Azzar on board with her
gear. Sue also told Ms. Azzar that we should contact customer relations in order
to work out this issue in order to avoid trouble upon check in of athletes on
future travel.

I am traveling from Rio de Janeiro to a competition in Arizona flying into LAX
and back to Rio (locator N8HWRQ), starting Sept 13th and I would like to have
the confirmation that I will get the usual courteous and efficient service I've
been getting for over ten years that United has been my airline of choice when
traveling with my hang gliders.

To have the exact info about the rule that changed I suggest you contact Sue who
works the UNITED odd size counter at LAX during mornings she can explain you in
detail what had changed in the rules that is causing this problem. It's worth
saying that airlines such as American, Tam, Lufthansa, Iberia, Quantas, LAN,
Aerolineas Argentinas, Virgin, just to mention a few, welcome us to travel with
our gear, so I see no reason why you should rule us out as customers, specially
if you take in consideration that the additional excess fees we pay on check in,
usually, get close to the original price we paid for the airfare.

I'm sure that working together we will be able to sort out this issue and allow
me and other fellow hang glider pilots to continue choosing United over other
airlines when travelling the world for hang gliding competitions.

It would be great to have an answer shortly before I check in on Tuesday. My
suggestion is that you simply go back to the original United rule that was in
use prior to the recent change.

Best Regards,

Konrad Heilmann - Mileage Plus # 03125 834 492