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Wednesday, February 7, 2018

London Gatwick Airport, England: Premier Inn = Weak

Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport A23 Hotel

Longbridge Way

Horley RH6 0NX

United Kingdom

Phone number +44 871 527 8406

Website: premierinn.com/en/gatwicka23
Prices: ££££

This will not take long because we were not there long and I was not impressed, even for the price. They did not even bother putting the cushions on the bed, they sat atop the wardrobe when we arrived.

Like the Premier Inn in Nuneaton, my only other Premier Inn stay, I found the stay inadequate. Arriving after 11PM for a 05:20 departure the next morning, I got about 2 hours sleep thanks to the noisy neighbor upstairs that I could hear walking around all night long (I am a light sleeper) and a cold. What a miserable night.

As was the case at the Nuneaton location, Wi-Fi was slow and nearly useless. This room was much bigger, but there were two single beds we did not need and one print adorned the walls, otherwise, they were bare. The TV remote did not work and there was mold in the grout on the bathroom walls. I have heard rumours (rumors for the Yanks) that they will refund your rate if you do not get a good night's sleep, but I saw nothing advertized and really do not care at this point. After two horrible experiences at Premier Inns, we will not be staying with them again.

They try to sell you breakfast at £9 ($12.50) a pop or a two course dinner and breakfast for £24.99 ($35) ... REALLY? There is also a £3 per person charge to drive you less than 1,000 feet to the North Terminal (via a 15-minute drive to the Marriott and South Terminal), so you obviously get nothin' for nothin' at Premier Inns. The room price was right at just £50 ($70) for an airport hotel, but they dime you to death for everything and the negatives far outweighed the positives, hence my rating ...

CombatCritic Gives Premier Inn Gatwick A23 Hotel 4 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Four Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Bend Over, Here It Comes Again"

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

United Airlines Personnel At Chicago O'Hare Disrespect U.S. Combat Disabled Veteran

United Airlines

233 South Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60606

Phone number (800) 864-8331

Website: united.com

Prices: $$$$

My wife and I have been flying United and Star Alliance airlines faithfully for years, both internationally (41 countries so far) and domestically. I also use my United Mileage Plus credit card for most purchases, totaling a great deal in the past few years.

Having accumulated over 100,000 miles, we decided to visit my wife's family in Italy. Redeeming the miles was relatively painless and so was the trip UNTIL WE GOT TO CHICAGO O'HARE ... United Airlines hometown for cryin' out loud!

O'Hare has some of the rudest employees of any airport I have traveled through and that totals quite a few. I love Chicago, but I hate O'Hare!

I had two United Club passes that we needed to use before they expired, but by the time we landed, we had just an hour and a half before boarding because the plane was delayed departing Portland because ground crew hit the plane with a vehicle, then there was an ill passenger that needed emergency attention upon arrival.

Upon arrival in Chicago, we found out that the Terminal C (where we landed and were departing from) United Club was closed for renovations, so we went to United's Polaris Lounge immediately next to our gate, assuming they would accept oir passes due to the closure of the Terminal C club. The woman who met us at the door was extremely rude, quickly ushering us out the door because we were just lowly "economy" international pax, not "business or first class". She told me we would have to walk 15 minutes (30 minutes total roundtrip) to the United Club in Terminal B, basically shooing us away. I told her that I am a disabled veteran (it was 11/12, the day after Veteran's Day) and that it was difficult for me to walk that far, particularly with such a short connection thanks mostly to United 's incompetence, but she could obviously care less.

We ended up making the 30 minute walk, leaving us just 20 minutes in the club (a huge waste of $100 worth of club passes) before having to make the return trip to catch our flight to Brussels. I then asked the gate agent about possible upgrades to Economy Plus or Business, but he looked at me like I had a dick growing out of my forehead, laughing as he said "absolutely not!"

Sitting in row 43 (of 46), two of the three dinner options (cream chicken and vegetarian) were gone by the time the flight attendant got to us, leaving only the pasta option which contained tomatoes. My wife is allergic to tomatoes, so I asked what our options were. The flight attendant gave my wife the tray with a small (disgusting) salad, a bread roll, and a cup of ice cream, saying "I guess you'll have to eat that". I told her that was unacceptable, asking how she could expect my wife to go without dinner. Feeling guilty, Anel (that was her name) said that she would give my wife her meal and eat the pasta herself, a very kind gesture. Anel arrived about 30 minutes later with a beautiful pork chop from First Class, so my wife finally had something to eat thanks to her kindness.

I am cancelling my Mileage Plus card, along with the $95 annual fee, as soon as I get home. United Airlines had better train their Chicago employees on customer service skills, particularly considering it is their home city. Some compassion toward disabled passengers, particularly those who sacrificed 20+ years of their lives to protect your freedom, might also be in order.

CombatCritic Gives United Airlines 2 Bombs Out Of 10 ... 1 Extra Bomb For Anel's Compassion ... More Bombs Are Better!

Two Bombs Equates To

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

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Read Chris S.'s review of United Airlines on Yelp

Title: United Airlines Personnel At Chicago O'Hare Disrespect U.S. Combat Disabled Veteran

Key Words: United Airlines, United, airlines, airline, airplane, commercial, Chicago O'Hare, Chicago, O'Hare, airport, veteran, disrespect, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, business, review, Yelp

Translation for Civilians: Tango-Uniform = "Tits Up"

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Dallas,TX: I Wish Southwest Flew To Europe And Asia

Southwest Airlines

Dallas Love Field (DAL)

2702 Love Field Dr

Dallas, TX 75235

Phone number: (214) 792-4000

Website: southwest.com

Prices: $$$$

As we all know, major airlines suck ... snooty, rude crews that obviously hate customers, terrible food, and too many restrictions. I have flown Southwest for many years and have always been impressed with their efficiency, professionalism, and friendliness of the airline and its crews. Having been an Air Force Transporter, working with military aircraft and passengers for many years, I know how difficult a job they have and the constraints they must work under, so it is about time that I wrote this review.

Flying from Kansas City to Portland on Flight 518 (1/31/17), my Las Vegas based crew were Captain Criswell, First Officer Diamantopoulos, Flight Attendant Lisa, Flight Attendant Rob, and Flight Attendant Armando. On the return trip, Jules and Jennifer took good care of me on Flight 405 from Portland to Denver, even decorating the galley, and themselves, for Valentine's Day

Flight 405 (PDX-DEN) Crew - Jennifer (Left) and Jules (Right)

Southwest's boarding system is second to none. Lufthansa, being German and typically anal, also has very efficient boarding procedures and crews, but they are cold and aloof as most Germans are perceived to be (I am half German by the way, so don't go all PC on me you flaming liberals). We lined up in two rows, everybody respecting their numbered place in line. There is no need for the massive gaggle of passengers wanting to be the first ones on the plane as is the case with most airlines. The TV monitors tell you when to board and you effortlessly hand the agent your boarding pass and pick your seat. That is correct, no pre-assigned seats.

I was first warmly greeted by Lisa, then Rob came, as friendly as can be, to take my drink order. By the way, booze is just $5 on Southwest with room for a profit margin, but not gouging passengers like the major airlines do ($8-$9 for a drink). Then Armando graciously insisted that I pass on the way to the loo (that's toilet for you Yanks), even though he had a tray full of drinks in his hand.

Unlike United Express, which we normally fly out of KC (because we normally travel overseas), Southwest's aircraft was modern and spotless, even the loos. United Express planes are gross and held together with duct tape. I kiss the ground and thank the Lord every time I arrive safely on United Express and I am very far what you would call a bible thumper. Half of the plane was full, so we even had our choice of seats with just one person to a row if we wanted.

Southwest is always an easy ride and the crews are routinely friendly if not downright hilarious. I have flown there US-only competitors and there is no competition in my mind. Compared to the stuffy, I hate passengers, attitudes on United, Delta and other major airlines, Southwest is a breath of fresh air and the crews of Flights 518 (MCI-PDX - 1/31/17) and 405 (PDX-DEN - 2/7/17) were a delight. Heck, you can even watch free live TV on many domestic flights.

Thank you Southwest and thank you Captain Cris, First Officer I can't pronounce you Greek last name, Lisa, Rob and Armando, Jennifer, and, especially, Jules ... it was a pleasure flying with you ... WELL DONE!

CombatCritic Gives Southwest Airlines And The Crew Of Flights 518 (1/31/17) And 405 (2/7/17) 10 Bombs Out Of 10 And, An Airline First Ever, Spot On My "WALL OF FAME" ... More Bombs Are Better!

Ten Bombs Equates To:

"Phonetic spelling of the acronym HUA, which stands for 'Heard Understood Acknowledged.' Originally used by the British in the late 1800's in Afghanistan. More recently adopted by the United States Army to indicate an affirmative or a pleased response." - Urban Dictionary

"The Department of Military Science and Leadership, University of Tennessee claim HOOAH 'refers to or means anything except no' ... Regardless of its meaning ... the term is an expression of high morale, confidence, motivation and spirit." - WarChronicle.com

"The U.S. Air Force stole 'HOOAH' from the Army because we were part of the Army until 1947 and rather than waste a bunch of time coming up with something new and unique, we said 'fuck it, let's go with HOOAH' ... thanks Army ... HOOAH! - CombatCritic

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16/'17

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube

Read Chris S.'s review of Southwest Airlines on Yelp

Title: Dallas,TX: I Wish Southwest Flew To Europe And Asia

Key Words: Southwest Airlines, Southwest, airline, airlines, plane, Dallas, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Denver, crew, airplane, airport, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, service, review, Yelp

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Munich, Germany: Efficient, Clean, But Poor Communication

Munich Airport

aka Flughafen München "Franz Josef Strauß" (MUC)

85356 Munich, Germany

Nice, clean and efficient ... it's Germany after all!

Trains shuttle you to the terminals like in Atlanta. However, after I started this review they changed gates on us just as the plane was supposed to board. We had to run to the new gate only to find out that the plane was delayed 20 minutes. Nice of them to post the wrong gate on the board and wait until the last minute to make the announcement!

They used to have free coffee in their coffee machines, but now it is €2 which is not a bad deal for Germany. The airport is clean and efficient like all things German. I have never had any problems here, unlike Frankfurt where security is an inefficient nightmare, particularly for Americans.

CombatCritic Gives Munich Airport 5 Bombs Out Of 10 With Deductions For Poor Communication ... More Bombs Are Better!

Read Chris S.'s review of Munich Airport Terminal K, L on Yelp

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Lincoln, NE: At This Cheap Hotel, You Get What You Pay For

Horizon Inn

2901 NW 12th Street
Lincoln, NE 68521
Airport Area
Phone number: (402) 474-5252
Website: horizoninnmotel.com
Prices: $$$$

Decent, and I use that term loosely, inexpensive hotel on the outskirts of Lincoln near the airport, so you have to drive if you want to see any of the nice parts of Lincoln. There is a sex toy shop next door and the train tracks run less than 50 feet from the guest rooms, so that should tell you something. Do not plan on getting a restful night's sleep unless you are a very heavy sleeper.

The rooms are clean and the beds comfortable, but the wallpaper in our room was in serious disrepair and the windows (with a view of the train tracks and National Guard depot) were filthy.

The "hot breakfast" consisted of a waffle machine. Otherwise, all you can get are bagels and bread (there is a toaster), peanut butter and jelly, Fruit Loops and Corn Flakes, watered down juice, and weak coffee. When I returned for a second cup at 9:05 (breakfast is served until 9am), there were still people eating breakfast, but the manager was pouring a thermal pot of coffee down the sink. When I asked if there was any more coffee, all he said was "Breakfast was over 5 minutes ago and if you're really Jonesing for coffee, walk next door to the QuikMart". Wrong answer Bubba!

CombatCritic Gives Horizon Inn 3 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better ... Bubba!

Three Bombs Equates To:

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie

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Title: Lincoln, NE: At This Cheap Hotel, You Get What You Pay For

Key Words: Horizon Inn, horizon, inn, Lincoln, Nebraska, booking.com, budget, breakfast, airport, hotel, motel, accommodation, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, review, Yelp, Zomato, Tabelog

Translation for Civilians: "SNAFU" = Situation Normal, All Fucked Up

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Chicago O'Hare Airport - Wild Goose Chase, Premature Closing Left This Weary Traveler Unimpressed

United Club

O'Hare International Airport - Concourse F

Chicago, IL 60666

Web: United.com

My experiences with United Airlines are hit-and-miss, occasionally brilliant, but more often than not disappointing.

After being told by the agent at the United luggage transfer desk in Terminal 5 that my connecting flight would leave from "Terminal 1, Concourse C", I made the mistake of believing him, finding out once there that it was actually leaving from Terminal 2, Concourse F, a 30-minute walk away. By the time I finally found my gate, I was not a happy camper, so I decided to waste one of my two United Club passes I get each year on their Chicago O'Hare (Concourse F) facility.

With two hours before my departure just a few gates away, I asked the woman at reception what time they closed and was told "10pm, giving me a little less than two hours before I had to board my plane. Tired after nearly 20 hours of travel and 30 minutes of unnecessary walking, I decided to use my last pass and what a mistake that was!

What little food there was available (olives, hummus, pita chips, cheese cubes and Skittles) was mostly depleted at 8:15 when I arrived. An hour after I arrived and 45 minutes before their scheduled closing they started putting food and alcohol away as I was told "last call" by the bartender. Seeing little reason to stick around during the commotion and chaos of employees eagerly preparing to flea work, I decided to leave.

I asked the women at the front desk why the employees were shutting everything down well before closing time and with several customers still in the club, but was told "they want to go home". I said, "yes, but you told me they were open until 10pm and it is only 9:15". One of the women said, "you can make a complaint on the website if you aren't happy".

The only reason they get two stars is because of the free booze (well drinks, bottled beer, and wine), the place was clean, and the employees relatively friendly (a rarity in Chicago O'Hare).

CombatCritic Gives United Club (O'Hare - Concourse F) 3 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

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TripAdvisor - "Top Contributor"

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Title: Wild Goose Chase, Premature Closing Left This Weary Traveler Unimpressed

Key Words: United Airlines, United, airlines, airline, fly, airplane, United Club, club, Chicago, O'Hare, airport, terminal, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, food, definitive, review, guide

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Lawrence, KS: Reliable, Affordable, Professional Shuttle To Kansas City Airport

SDM Transportation
P.O. Box 3783
Lawrence, KS 66046
Email: reservation@sdmtransportationks.com
Web: sdmtransportationks.com
Phone: 785-979-2428
Fax: 785-371-4024

Hours: Hours based on availability, primarily evening, nights, early mornings, weekends, holidays and all day Thursday services.

I found SDM Transportation on a University of Kansas (KU) Questions and Answers page when my friend bailed on a promised ride home from the airport a week before my arrival. They had several options available, but arriving late at night (midnight) left me few options except for a dedicated vehicle. The few I contacted wanted $100 to $125 for a midnight ride from Kansas City International Airport to Lawrence, Kansas. Shannon, SDM's owner and sole driver, came back with a very fair quote of $65. Sold!

Shannon was very professional and responsive from the start, quickly confirming availability and pricing, then sending me a reservation confirmation in an email. On the day of my arrival, he even sent me a photo of the vehicle and information about where we would meet, leaving nothing to chance.

When I arrived, he was outside the arrivals baggage claim doors as promised, helping me to put my bags in the car even though he is disabled with Cerebral Palsy (his disability does not effect his driving, he is an excellent and very safe driver). Shannon gave me a brief overview of his business to put me at ease and we spent the next 50 minutes chatting as we made our way to Lawrence. He helped me with my bags when we arrived and he even waited until I found my keys and opened the front door before leaving.

If you want reliable, friendly, professional, and cost-effective transportation to and from Kansas City Airport and surrounds, then Shannon should be your first choice. The only drawbacks being his schedule and the size of the vehicle. He works full-time at another job and has no other employees, so his availability is limited to Thursdays and nights only. The vehicle, a Hyundai hybrid, is large, new, and comfortable, but it has a rather small trunk and seats four comfortably, making it a challenge to fit more than two riders and a bag or two each in the car. I also recommend that you contact him as early as possible if you want to ensure that he is available.

CombatCritic Gives SDM Transportation 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Read Chris S.'s review of SDM Transportation on Yelp

Title: Reliable, Affordable, Professional Lawrence (Kansas) To Kansas City Airport Shuttle

Key Words: SDM Transportation, SDM, transportation, Lawrence, Kansas, airport, MCI, Kansas City, international, shuttle, Shannon, McCoy, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, food, definitive, review

* Photos courtesy of SDMTransportationKS.com