Due to an emergency, Mary�s mother couldn�t make it. We didn�t want Mary to fly by herself in first

In the spirit of New Years' Resolutions, we're choosing to be filled with love and light when it comes to airlines. So instead of focusing on the terrible TSA theater, the crappy meals served downtown chicago hotels in-flight, the nickel-and-diming onboard, the exasperated attitudes at the gate or the rampant idiocy in the baggage claim, we're focusing on airlines and flight attendants doing it right. downtown chicago hotels Below, downtown chicago hotels Charyn Pfeuffer , rejoins the Jaunted crew with a seating snafu on Alaska Airlines that went terribly...right.
As a frequent traveler who has often logged downtown chicago hotels 100 flights per year, I've jaunted far and wide and have seen the world�s best sights downtown chicago hotels and attended once-in-a-lifetime events. No matter where I�ve stayed, how I traveled downtown chicago hotels or whom I�ve met, I�ve learned the secret to travel success is to be gracious. In other words, don�t be a jerk .
A few of my girlfriends and I made plans to take a dear friend with cancer to Los Angeles for an extra special getaway. We booked flights downtown chicago hotels on Alaska Airlines . Two first class tickets � one for our friend Mary, one for her mother; downtown chicago hotels the rest of us booked tickets in coach.
Due to an emergency, Mary�s mother couldn�t make it. We didn�t want Mary to fly by herself in first class, but a quick call to Alaska Airlines told us it would cost $450 to transfer one of the coach tickets to the paid-for first class seat. FOUR-HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS! downtown chicago hotels Nearly double the cost of the initial ticket. Stunned by sticker shock, we didn�t know what to do.
In my experience, Alaska Airlines has had outstanding customer service. They�ve regularly engaged with me on social media � whether I was posting pix of pre-flight Bloody Mary to Instagram or singing the praises of an especially great flight crew. I figured it was worth a shot. I sent two tweets and crossed my fingers.
Within an hour, I received a tweet from Jordan at Alaska Airline asking me to send details. Jordan said Alaska Airlines would look into it the following day. I explained downtown chicago hotels the situation, being as polite as possible. Even as I hit �send,� I was aware that Alaska Airlines didn�t owe us anything � we bought nonrefundable tickets. Still, downtown chicago hotels it didn�t hurt to ask. The bottom line was we�re taking our sick friend on a trip of a lifetime, and due to her health, didn�t want her flying alone. It seemed downtown chicago hotels like a legitimate request.
After a bit of back and forth, Alaska Airlines agreed to waive the fee and we were able to switch the ticket downtown chicago hotels so one of us could fly in First Class with Mary. I was blown away by Alaska Airlines� understanding and efficiency in resolving the matter. Oh, and this was all done via Direct Message on Twitter. I was beyond grateful.
I thanked Alaska Airline downtown chicago hotels profusely on Twitter and reported the positive outcome to people who expressed interest in my two initial tweets. More than anything, it reinforced my loyalty to a local brand. (I'm based in Seattle.) I also believe that Alaska Airline granted my request because I was polite and reasonable. Sure, I was freaking out about the potential change fee. But as a customer, I thought it best to first present our circumstances and see if the airline could work with us. Thankfully, they were able to.
Over the years, I�ve encountered almost every travel downtown chicago hotels hiccup imaginable. After watching one too many travelers respond to adversity with temper tantrums, screaming matches and disrespectful behavior, I�ve learned it�s best to try kindness downtown chicago hotels first.