Southwest Pole Charges
Moderator: Barto
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- PV Wannabe
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- ashcraftpv
- That one guy
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back in the good ol' days (95'-99') we almost never had to pay extra to fly our poles anywhere. I think United charged us $50 one time or another, but that was about it. I think we only ran into one instance where our poles didn't fit on the plane and we wound up getting(and jumping on for a couple jumps until they showed up with our poles) Air Force's pole one year at Stanford(but that's another story). All bow to almighty dollar!
PoleVaultPlanet is coming.....
- jmayesvaultmom
- PV Follower
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- Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas
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Poles
Jodie has a small pole for warmups and for heavy headwind/crosswinds. Then she has 4 13' Mystic Carbons at .8 flex intervals, then 4 13'6" poles at .6 flex intervals. Of course she does not use all these at every meet and she has 2 poles in the bag that she's never been on....but they are there and ready! We just always have them all in the bag. She went through all the "girl" poles they had the first year, then they started buying poles. The athletic department and coach are very supportive. I just say "this is what she needs" and they get it. (But I haven't been able to talk them into new uniforms for the girls!) They will have a great series of poles after she graduates. She is a junior this year. She also does not have a club to associate with within 2 1/2 hrs., so she has only the school poles to rely on. She is VERY lucky. Our hs also has a pit the size of most universities.
That's Jodie!!
A scripture that makes me think of all you girls and guys pole vaulting....
Habakkuk 3:19
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
A scripture that makes me think of all you girls and guys pole vaulting....
Habakkuk 3:19
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
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- PV Follower
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- Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2003 10:22 pm
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PVJunkie wrote:By the way US air will NOT under any circumstance trasport anything over 115 inches..................
Unless they have changed, Delta has in their reg's "Absolutely no vaulting poles". Bummer
“Mediocre efforts are like meaty okra. It’s hard to chew and even tougher to swallow.” Rusty Shealy
speaking agentese
Sounds like there was nothing Becca could do to persuade that agent. Occasionally, this approach has worked for me in the past:
Put the poles slightly off to the side (but not unattended). When you approach the agent, greet them like you're their most interesting (and considerate) customer of the day. Let them know you're headed to a track meet (or "athletics meeting" as they say in Europe) and politely ask where you should bring the 'pole vaults' (as the agents often call them in the U.S.). Don't check in any other bags - it's just you, the 'pole vaults' and your backpack (for carry-on). You're helping them and you don't have a lot of things to bring on the plane.
If the agent announces that they'll charge for shipping, say "Hmm, that changes things - I'll come back." Return 15 minutes later and take your chances with another agent, if possible. Remember, it could be worse; Try sneaking your poles on the trains in Europe! (Thank you Dean & Simon for these and other lessons.)
Put the poles slightly off to the side (but not unattended). When you approach the agent, greet them like you're their most interesting (and considerate) customer of the day. Let them know you're headed to a track meet (or "athletics meeting" as they say in Europe) and politely ask where you should bring the 'pole vaults' (as the agents often call them in the U.S.). Don't check in any other bags - it's just you, the 'pole vaults' and your backpack (for carry-on). You're helping them and you don't have a lot of things to bring on the plane.
If the agent announces that they'll charge for shipping, say "Hmm, that changes things - I'll come back." Return 15 minutes later and take your chances with another agent, if possible. Remember, it could be worse; Try sneaking your poles on the trains in Europe! (Thank you Dean & Simon for these and other lessons.)
- OUvaulterUSAF
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- jmayesvaultmom
- PV Follower
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- Joined: Mon Oct 21, 2002 10:38 am
- Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas
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Pole Charges
Just back from Reno... it was great until we all started leaving on Southwest this morning. I walked up behind the Oklahoma coach and they were telling him he would have to pay $35 per pole---4 bags with about 15 poles each! I could see that the ____ was hitting the fan, so I walked over to another agent and told him we had to check a pole vault POLE. He said one? I said YES...and got away with it. I'm sure he knew I was lying like a dog...or he thought the whole thing was stupid, too. After I went through doing that, they started opening pole bags and counting them. The OU coach said they didn't look in his bags and that the girl said "I'm sure you have at least 3 or 4 poles in each bag, but I'll give you a break and just charge for 2 for each bag." I think Becca talked them into that deal, too. We were there at 5:30 this morning. I'm sure that things got very heated as the day went on! I'm sure their corporate offices are going to get a ton of calls tomorrow!
That's Jodie!!
A scripture that makes me think of all you girls and guys pole vaulting....
Habakkuk 3:19
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
A scripture that makes me think of all you girls and guys pole vaulting....
Habakkuk 3:19
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
- rainbowgirl28
- I'm in Charge
- Posts: 30435
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
- Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
- Lifetime Best: 11'6"
- Gender: Female
- World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
- Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
- Location: A Temperate Island
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My story
Yes my personal drama managed to get turned into drama for everyone
Here is my story:
I drove all the way from Athens, GA to Birmingham (a bit under 4 hours, and a lot further away from Atlanta) just to fly Southwest. My coach told me SW would be the easiest airline to fly with poles. Our school has flown out of there many times with the poles, as recently as last spring.
The night before I callled the 1-800 number and talked to a lady for awhile. It took her a bit to find vaulting poles in the computer, but she did find them. Poles are too long to be regular oversized baggage, but they have special charges as sports equipment. She told me it would be $35, and that they might charge me a bit extra like $40 or $45.
My main concern at this point was how I was going to get my poles and my bags from long term parking to the terminal by myself, but the lady on the phone had a few suggestions and was very helpful. She also gave me the number of the SW baggage office in Birmingham.
I called there and talked to another lady. She mentioned that there was a weight limit of 100 lbs, which had me freaked out because the PVC pipe my coach makes me fly them in weighs a TON. She said that she thought the price had just been raised to $45 each way.
Neither employee ever mentioned anything about being charged per pole. They also never mentioned anything about not being allowed to use a rigid container. I have a flexible corrugated tube, but I do not have caps for it (yes, I drive cross country with 50 layers of duct tape on the end). We have always flown with our PVC pipes which are a pain in the butt and heavy, but also nearly indestructable.
I was very worried about the weight, so I went out and bought a scale and weighed the darn thing. It was only 60 pounds. I ended up taking out 3 poles anyway, so I went from 8 to 5.
Next day I drive to Birmingham. I got lucky, and the roommates of a HS classmate happened to be going by the airport and were able to help me carry the poles into the terminal. I set the poles by the counter and began to check in, really excited about going to Reno.
The problems began immediately. They started freaking out about the length of the container and the rigidity. They swore up and down there was no way it would ever fit on their planes. All I could tell them was we had flown SW many times with the exact same container and never had a problem. They told me that other people transport them in flexible containers and they are able to bend them around corners to get on the plane. I told them that I understood that, but a flexible tube full of poles is really not very flexible at all, and they could not possibly be bending them very far.
They suggest I just take the poles out of the container and ship them like that. I am already on the verge of tears at this point, but I try to explain to them how poles are very fragile, and the slightest scatch could cause the pole to break next time it is used.
This soon all becomes the lesser problem as they start asking me how many poles are in there. I explan that they only charge per container. The supervisor is already involved at this point and is frowning and saying they always charge per pole. Err I should say per pole vault. They really do not have an understanding of the equipment, but I will get to that in a second.
So the supervisor is swearing up and down they have always done it that way. I am like "sir I don't know what to tell you, except that my school has always flown out of Reno with these exact same tubes and been charged $35 per container. I know tons of other pole vaulters who have flown SW and I have NEVER heard of anyone being charged per pole."
He frowns and starts making phone calls to the corporate office. They tell him to charge per pole.
I get my coach on the cell phone and he umm discusses things with the supervisor for a few minutes, but it does not change anything. The supervisor swears he has been working there 11 years and has always done things this way. I am trying to explain things rationally to him. The number of poles in the tube does not change the diameter of the container, and does not significantly change the weight. He says it is a special handling charge and blah blah blah.
Coach tells me to just leave the poles behind, but then the baggage handlers tell me that they CAN fit them on the plane after all. Now I have to figure out if I want to pay $175 to ship them out there. I am a starving college student, that is a LOT of money to me. Why would I pay almost as much to ship my poles as my plane ticket? I am in tears at this point, because I don't know how I am going to be able to afford to ship them there and back. One guy working there wanted to just charge me $35, but he and the main supervisor went to the back and talked and came back out not budging.
I make a few phone calls. Daniel Ryland tells me he flew SW all the time last year and never had a problem like that. I finally decide to just pay the darn fee and try to get a refund.
Here is my story:
I drove all the way from Athens, GA to Birmingham (a bit under 4 hours, and a lot further away from Atlanta) just to fly Southwest. My coach told me SW would be the easiest airline to fly with poles. Our school has flown out of there many times with the poles, as recently as last spring.
The night before I callled the 1-800 number and talked to a lady for awhile. It took her a bit to find vaulting poles in the computer, but she did find them. Poles are too long to be regular oversized baggage, but they have special charges as sports equipment. She told me it would be $35, and that they might charge me a bit extra like $40 or $45.
My main concern at this point was how I was going to get my poles and my bags from long term parking to the terminal by myself, but the lady on the phone had a few suggestions and was very helpful. She also gave me the number of the SW baggage office in Birmingham.
I called there and talked to another lady. She mentioned that there was a weight limit of 100 lbs, which had me freaked out because the PVC pipe my coach makes me fly them in weighs a TON. She said that she thought the price had just been raised to $45 each way.
Neither employee ever mentioned anything about being charged per pole. They also never mentioned anything about not being allowed to use a rigid container. I have a flexible corrugated tube, but I do not have caps for it (yes, I drive cross country with 50 layers of duct tape on the end). We have always flown with our PVC pipes which are a pain in the butt and heavy, but also nearly indestructable.
I was very worried about the weight, so I went out and bought a scale and weighed the darn thing. It was only 60 pounds. I ended up taking out 3 poles anyway, so I went from 8 to 5.
Next day I drive to Birmingham. I got lucky, and the roommates of a HS classmate happened to be going by the airport and were able to help me carry the poles into the terminal. I set the poles by the counter and began to check in, really excited about going to Reno.
The problems began immediately. They started freaking out about the length of the container and the rigidity. They swore up and down there was no way it would ever fit on their planes. All I could tell them was we had flown SW many times with the exact same container and never had a problem. They told me that other people transport them in flexible containers and they are able to bend them around corners to get on the plane. I told them that I understood that, but a flexible tube full of poles is really not very flexible at all, and they could not possibly be bending them very far.
They suggest I just take the poles out of the container and ship them like that. I am already on the verge of tears at this point, but I try to explain to them how poles are very fragile, and the slightest scatch could cause the pole to break next time it is used.
This soon all becomes the lesser problem as they start asking me how many poles are in there. I explan that they only charge per container. The supervisor is already involved at this point and is frowning and saying they always charge per pole. Err I should say per pole vault. They really do not have an understanding of the equipment, but I will get to that in a second.
So the supervisor is swearing up and down they have always done it that way. I am like "sir I don't know what to tell you, except that my school has always flown out of Reno with these exact same tubes and been charged $35 per container. I know tons of other pole vaulters who have flown SW and I have NEVER heard of anyone being charged per pole."
He frowns and starts making phone calls to the corporate office. They tell him to charge per pole.
I get my coach on the cell phone and he umm discusses things with the supervisor for a few minutes, but it does not change anything. The supervisor swears he has been working there 11 years and has always done things this way. I am trying to explain things rationally to him. The number of poles in the tube does not change the diameter of the container, and does not significantly change the weight. He says it is a special handling charge and blah blah blah.
Coach tells me to just leave the poles behind, but then the baggage handlers tell me that they CAN fit them on the plane after all. Now I have to figure out if I want to pay $175 to ship them out there. I am a starving college student, that is a LOT of money to me. Why would I pay almost as much to ship my poles as my plane ticket? I am in tears at this point, because I don't know how I am going to be able to afford to ship them there and back. One guy working there wanted to just charge me $35, but he and the main supervisor went to the back and talked and came back out not budging.
I make a few phone calls. Daniel Ryland tells me he flew SW all the time last year and never had a problem like that. I finally decide to just pay the darn fee and try to get a refund.
- rainbowgirl28
- I'm in Charge
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The Policy
The supervisor printed me out some stuff I would need to get a refund. Here is an exact copy of what is in their computer as policy regarding poles:
---
SAAS OUTPUT
Category - Bar - Subject - VLT ... Vaulting Poles Page No 01
***** All charges are one way 12/02
Vaulting poles may be transported for a fixed charge of
$35 each. Vaulting poles have an assigned transportation
charge and may not be included in the list of free sports
equipment items nor can they be substituted in the free
baggage allowance.
Vaulting poles may not be cabin loaded. Containers or
converage cannot be made of rigid materials since poles must
be flexed in order to bin load.
... G/L12
---
OK so reading that I can understand why they are thinking they need to charge per pole. But why did no one tell me this on the phone? Why did no one else ever have to pay this?
Well after I go through security I give Zack a call. He looks the thing up on the SW website and finds something interesting (emphasis mine):
---
http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/ ... pment.html
Vaulting poles may be transported as checked baggage for a fixed charge of $35.00 each way. Rigid covers or containers cannot be used to transport them.
---
Funny how one little word can make a big difference in the way something is interpreted!
I got the supervisor upstairs and discussed it some more. I told him what the website said. He said he had just talked to a VP at SW and that was their policy, but he would look into the website thing blah blah blah.
I called Zack again and that is when we sent out the mass email to warn you guys. I was very worried about everyone flying out Thursday.
This is also on the website:
http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/baggage.html
Weight and Size Allowance: Maximum weight is 70 pounds and maximum size is 62 inches (length + width + height) per checked piece of luggage. Overweight items from 71 to 100 pounds and oversized items (i.e., surfboards, bicycles, vaulting poles) will be accepted for a charge, ranging from $35.00 to $70.00 per item. Any item weighing more than 100 pounds must be shipped as Air Cargo. However, Customers cannot use SWA Cargo unless classified as a Known Shipper as defined by the FAA or FAA approved Indirect Air Carriers (IAC). For all Cargo inquires please call the Cargo Sales and Service Center at 1-800-533-1222
---
SAAS OUTPUT
Category - Bar - Subject - VLT ... Vaulting Poles Page No 01
***** All charges are one way 12/02
Vaulting poles may be transported for a fixed charge of
$35 each. Vaulting poles have an assigned transportation
charge and may not be included in the list of free sports
equipment items nor can they be substituted in the free
baggage allowance.
Vaulting poles may not be cabin loaded. Containers or
converage cannot be made of rigid materials since poles must
be flexed in order to bin load.
... G/L12
---
OK so reading that I can understand why they are thinking they need to charge per pole. But why did no one tell me this on the phone? Why did no one else ever have to pay this?
Well after I go through security I give Zack a call. He looks the thing up on the SW website and finds something interesting (emphasis mine):
---
http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/ ... pment.html
Vaulting poles may be transported as checked baggage for a fixed charge of $35.00 each way. Rigid covers or containers cannot be used to transport them.
---
Funny how one little word can make a big difference in the way something is interpreted!
I got the supervisor upstairs and discussed it some more. I told him what the website said. He said he had just talked to a VP at SW and that was their policy, but he would look into the website thing blah blah blah.
I called Zack again and that is when we sent out the mass email to warn you guys. I was very worried about everyone flying out Thursday.
This is also on the website:
http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/baggage.html
Weight and Size Allowance: Maximum weight is 70 pounds and maximum size is 62 inches (length + width + height) per checked piece of luggage. Overweight items from 71 to 100 pounds and oversized items (i.e., surfboards, bicycles, vaulting poles) will be accepted for a charge, ranging from $35.00 to $70.00 per item. Any item weighing more than 100 pounds must be shipped as Air Cargo. However, Customers cannot use SWA Cargo unless classified as a Known Shipper as defined by the FAA or FAA approved Indirect Air Carriers (IAC). For all Cargo inquires please call the Cargo Sales and Service Center at 1-800-533-1222
Last edited by rainbowgirl28 on Mon Jan 12, 2004 4:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
- rainbowgirl28
- I'm in Charge
- Posts: 30435
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
- Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
- Lifetime Best: 11'6"
- Gender: Female
- World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
- Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
- Location: A Temperate Island
- Contact:
The Return Trip
Once I got into Reno, I talked to many vaulters, and no one had ever heard of anything like that.
Today (Sunday) I get to the airport. Lots of vaulters flying their poles out. I am watching a bunch of bags, and I notice the vaulters in front of me having problems. They are trying to pull the same stuff again! I figured this would not be a problem coming back... grrrr
So I get up there and am trying to figure stuff out. A comment is made about a note being in the computer about the Summit this weekend and making sure to charge up per pole. At first I thought this was a note specifially in MY record!!! But no, it was something sent out to management for everyone's pleasure. I tried to obtain a copy, but they said it was an internal memo and I could not see it.
Fortunately, the supervisor there was willing to compromise and avoid a riot. She charged most everyone who checked in around when I did, 2 poles per bag. I hope she does not get in trouble for this!! I do not know what happened to the vaulters who checked in the rest of the day (I was there at the same time as the Mayes, around 5:30am).
So... everyone else I talked to paid $35 per container. While we were at the Summit a memo gets sent out telling them to charge us per pole... Oklahoma was in line in front of me and had 3 tubes. I hear they had 15 poles per tube. That means on the way out, they likely paid $105 to transport the poles. On the way back, the airline attempted to charge them $1575!!!
I don't know much about price gouging, but one website defined it as "Price gouging
Pricing products or services unreasonably high in the presense of unusual demand, disaster, or monopoly status."
I would say that the travel of over 2000 pole vaulters to Reno creates an unusual demand I don't know if it is actually illegal, but it sure seems wrong to me.
I don't know how much people were actually charged, but I hope you all will post on here and share your experiences.
Today (Sunday) I get to the airport. Lots of vaulters flying their poles out. I am watching a bunch of bags, and I notice the vaulters in front of me having problems. They are trying to pull the same stuff again! I figured this would not be a problem coming back... grrrr
So I get up there and am trying to figure stuff out. A comment is made about a note being in the computer about the Summit this weekend and making sure to charge up per pole. At first I thought this was a note specifially in MY record!!! But no, it was something sent out to management for everyone's pleasure. I tried to obtain a copy, but they said it was an internal memo and I could not see it.
Fortunately, the supervisor there was willing to compromise and avoid a riot. She charged most everyone who checked in around when I did, 2 poles per bag. I hope she does not get in trouble for this!! I do not know what happened to the vaulters who checked in the rest of the day (I was there at the same time as the Mayes, around 5:30am).
So... everyone else I talked to paid $35 per container. While we were at the Summit a memo gets sent out telling them to charge us per pole... Oklahoma was in line in front of me and had 3 tubes. I hear they had 15 poles per tube. That means on the way out, they likely paid $105 to transport the poles. On the way back, the airline attempted to charge them $1575!!!
I don't know much about price gouging, but one website defined it as "Price gouging
Pricing products or services unreasonably high in the presense of unusual demand, disaster, or monopoly status."
I would say that the travel of over 2000 pole vaulters to Reno creates an unusual demand I don't know if it is actually illegal, but it sure seems wrong to me.
I don't know how much people were actually charged, but I hope you all will post on here and share your experiences.
- rainbowgirl28
- I'm in Charge
- Posts: 30435
- Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
- Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
- Lifetime Best: 11'6"
- Gender: Female
- World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
- Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
- Location: A Temperate Island
- Contact:
Now What?
I am hopeful that we can work out a solution with Southwest. Unfortunately there are not many airlines that fly poles anymore. Southwest has always enjoyed a reputation in our community as being the friendliest and easiest airline to fly poles on. It is unfortunate that that appears to be changing, and I am sorry if I did anything to make this happen.
I will be on the phone tomorrow trying to figure this out. I'll keep you all posted here. Please post here or email me and let me know what is going on on your end.
I am hopeful that we can work out refunds for people affected by this, and clarify the policy in a way that is beneficial to vaulters.
I will be on the phone tomorrow trying to figure this out. I'll keep you all posted here. Please post here or email me and let me know what is going on on your end.
I am hopeful that we can work out refunds for people affected by this, and clarify the policy in a way that is beneficial to vaulters.
- jmayesvaultmom
- PV Follower
- Posts: 528
- Joined: Mon Oct 21, 2002 10:38 am
- Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Contact:
POLES
The clarification should be that they have always charged $35 PER BAG and they should look at their records over the past few years and just see how many charges have been made. That will let them know how many people have been specifically choosing SW for the positive, easy way they have been handling poles up to this point. That is the amount of business they stand to lose. Not only will they lose the vaulters, but as one coach put it when we were talking, they fly 75-80 people every time they go to a meet because they fly SW because of the poles. They will lose income from entire TEAMS...not just the vaulters. When we look to go to a meet, if Southwest doesn't fly close to the meet, we reconsider going to the meet unless we can drive there. We flew American one time and they charged $80 each way and then didn't even put the poles on the plane. It took them 1 1/2 hours to tell us that they were still in Miami and then we had to wait another 4 hours for the flight to come in with the poles! That experience convinced us to never fly anything BUT SW! Now what???
That's Jodie!!
A scripture that makes me think of all you girls and guys pole vaulting....
Habakkuk 3:19
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
A scripture that makes me think of all you girls and guys pole vaulting....
Habakkuk 3:19
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
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