Show travel -- ThaBsbla: How it came tGbe - The way to complain How to seek recourse with airlines flight was delayed Your hours late and it’s playing time at claim Get ready for an even bumpier ride: Your lugall your gage is on its way to Haiti with clean underwear Soon you’ll be among the 12000 passengers to US airlines each year Grievances run the gamut from overbooked flights to undercooked meals But look on the bright side: Airlines are primed to please The slow economy and war worries took a big bite out of air travel — in recent months domestic traffic dropped about 3 percent travel fell by half ic and While bookings have picked up airlines still are eager to do the right thing and die customer has never been so right So don’t blow your stack There’s a fine art to complaining Of 794 complaints counted by the US government in January 253 dealt with disrupted flights 152 with missing or damaged bags and die rest included service food and fares If you’ve a bone to pick here’s advice from the Aviation Consumer Action Project a non-progroup set up advocate consumer by Ralph Nader: who-compla- says phone calls often are more effective because you’re less apt to leave out key details “We pay more attention to things that aren’t subjective It’s the customer’s perception for example about the quality or quantity of food" Be specific in your complaint “Simply to say that service was ‘highly unsatisfactory isn’t very helpful” says United Airlines spokeswoman Sara Domacker Give the flight number date and any pertinent frets Don’t forget to supply your name address and phone number in a legible form Save receipts If you seek reimbursement send away copies not originals trans-Atlant- fit Pont sylk Try to solve things on the spot Find someone in authority and state your case firmly but reasonably If your flight was delayed or canceled the airline might put you on another flight give you cab fare or put you up for the night You need to ask If luggage was damaged or lost file a report immediately at the baggage claims office (usually in the baggage claim area) If the company can’t find your bags you’re entitled to up to $1200 per lag but be for an prepared investigation that could take 6 months If you’re stranded some airlines will repay the cost of necessities such as toiletries Get facts records straight If the direct approach doesn’t work go to a higher authority Jot down names times and quotes then call or write a clear concise letter to the airline’s cus- tomer relations office Deborah Thompson a USAir spokeswoman D Check the fine print Ask to see the airline’s customer contract which spells out policy on everything from lodging to who gets bumped By law ticket agents must keep it handy for customer inspection You also can request a free copy by mail Some airlines will pay for a longdistance call taxi ride or lunch if your flight is delayed more than 4 hours On overbookings the first passenger to get the boot is usually — but not always — the last to arrive at the gate If you get bumped you might be entitled to compensation Most airlines try to coax passengers from overbooked flights with free round-tri- p tickets anywhere on their US routes But occasionally someone with a ticket gets bumped involuntarily Under US law the airline then must pay “denied boarding compensation" worth twice the value of the ticket up to $400 or a free round-tri- p ticket plus passage on the next available flight out Note: This may not apply to commuter flights Don’t give up If all 42 may go to bat for you And for $2 you’ll receive die booklet Facts & Advice for Airline PassenWashgers Write: PO Box 19029 The group DC 20036 Another re- source: the US Department of Transportation Office of Consumer Affairs 400 7th St SW Washington DC 20590 By Peter Wagner 20 USA WE£K£ND April — FREE— Mail j else fails call the ACAP at ington It's interesting how many persons read the Bible and quote the Bible without knowing anything of the story of how the Bible came to be written Not that the Bible's story is more important than the Bible itself But some knowledge of the background helps to avoid many false notions One such false notion is that which sees the Bible as the adversary of the Church and vice versa Another is the notion that the Bible can be read in a vacuum as though it had no history at all or no dependence for meaning upon the history and culture of its human authors and their communities Quite apart from avoiding error a knowledge of the history of the Bible helps to enrich one's reading of the Bible and thereby deepens one's faith For a simple introduction to the great subject of the Bible's beginning and development write for our free pamphlet "God's News to Man'' No one will call on you 5-- 7 1 991 19 I Coupon Today! Please send Free Pamphlet entitled "God's News to Man'' This offer is limned to usa-- Name Address State City CATHOLIC INFORMATION EtniGHTS 3 I one free pamphlet Zip SERVICE of COLURIDUS PO Box 1971 New Haven Conn 06521 Jmumffwp |