EXCELLENT traveling w/segway on Northwest Airlines

[Hauptagon]

I'd called Northwest on three separate occasions over the span of four or five months regarding this flight... I was told there would be no problem checking in my completely assembled segway as luggage (I'm not disabled). And you know what? They were right!

So, this morning I led an i-series with six luggage pieces piled on the platform into NY's LaGuardia Airport. The luggage towered slightly above handlebar level. I wheeled it (in balance mode) to the Northwest desks, and none of the employees showed the slightest sign that they might not or should not check a segway. The employees were interested in it, but as far as they were concerned (from a professional standpoint) it was a piece of luggage (good).

I can't express enough how easy it was flying with Northwest. I just wheeled it up to the baggage-check area (after talking to a woman at the ticket counter) and asked "Just leave it here?" and they replied "Yep!". They didn't even ask about the batteries -- on that point I was almost disappointed because I had five pages of battery info ready and waiting in the front bag ;)

Of course, all this simplicity was getting the best of me during the trip; I spent the whole 5 hours to North Dakota (where my University is) wondering how well they had treated it in the loading process, and hoping it was even on the plane! I was especially concerned about the layover in Minneapolis -- when all the luggage makes the trip direct from one plane to the other (without my input or supervision, of course). But all my fears were put to rest when I arrived in Grand Forks, North Dakota, when an NWA official wheeled it out a side door and into my hands!

Again, I am not disabled and I didn't have to disassemble ANYthing.

As far as the seg's condition goes, their were a few dark streaks on the handlebar (that washed off) and a minor scuff on the fender. Nothing really noteworthy (and certainly worth the simplicity).

Come to find out (after looking at NWA's policies -- specifically the part about electric wheelchairs) that Northwest it actually quite liberal with transporting these kinds of things. Not only WILL they transport a wheelchair that has a WET cell, they won't take it off of the wheelchair! They're not in the business of hastling passengers, that's for sure.

-Justin

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams." -From Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

[IndyFIRSTengineer]

Great story Justin, thanks for the information. This should get NWA at least a bit of additional business. It sure would be great for the other carriers to wake up!

Stuart Bloom - Rolls-Royce Corporation
FIRST Team 1018 - Pike High School "RoboDevils"

“Who goes out and says, ‘You have a better probability of winning the state lottery than making a nickel in professional sports. And by the way, last year two million exciting technical jobs went unfilled in this country because you weren't there to take that job. And it pays you 10 times as much as flipping burgers, and it's fun and it's exciting and you get to create things and build things and help make the world a better place and help make yourself a better living.’ Who tells them this?”
Dean Kamen, founder - FIRST Robotics

[teekay]

Great news Justin, like I said keep it simple, luggage with 12 D Cells, "just don't scratch it please."

"Oh" and if there is room in the cabin, can we keep it there? You never kmow, the crew may want demos in flight.

Now that I think of it the Segway would be the prefect serving cart for the crew on a heavy aircraft!

Just think how stable it would be, take up less room than a cart, and work well even with the "fasten seat belt" sign on!

Hummmmmmm......I may be on to something, hold on LLC you may be gliding at 30,000 ft!

I knew I need to use more of the features of the GPS!

Stay Tuned!

:) Tim

[Sal]

This is wonderful news about NWA's reaction to the Segway, I know when I fly business, I'll be more apt to having my employer's travel services book me on NWA. One thing about the Segway as a travel cart... I would think the P series would be more appropo I doubt the aisles of a 737 thru 777 are wider than the 26" width of the i series.

It would be wonderful to see though.

-Sal

Think Different / Answers that Matter
www.apple.com / www.lilly.com

[Murray Fisher]

Great input re traveling with the Segway by air. I have been watching this thread a lot.....we go to Hawaii every year and I have checked a few times with the local Horizon Airline which is a sub of Alaska. I DO have a disabled permit, but have never used it this way at all. I was told they do not even ask to SEE it either here nor at SeaTac or Honolulu Int. I asked how those little girls that put the luggage on planes could handle this weight.....they said they have sort of fork lifts they bring out when needed for personally owned wheel chairs and this would be fine. Also they said that I would just bring it to the baggage counter and they would put it on the plane and that it would be waiting for me at the off ramp in Honolulu!!! That I will have to see, but that was their story. Apparently they put it in a compartment on the bigger plnes from SeaTac to Honolulu so it would be available to me instantly. I wonder if anyone has actually HAD this experience.


Murray Fisher

[dzdk6s]

Justin,

Thanks for this wonderful insight into Northwest. I'll be flying them to NH the second of Sept for a FIRST meeting. I'll report back and let everyone know how it goes. "Northwest the official airlines of Segway Owners everywhere" has a nice ring to it.

Is there anyone in particular that you spoke to gate agent, ticket agent, prior to showing up at the counter to check in so they weren't surprised?

Thanks
Don

[Hauptagon]

quote:Originally posted by dzdk6s

Justin,

Is there anyone in particular that you spoke to gate agent, ticket agent, prior to showing up at the counter to check in so they weren't surprised?

Thanks
Don



I hadn't talked to anyone I thought would relay direct information to the check-in people. Like I said, it was as though it was just another piece of luggage.

I mentioned having called Northwest three separate times, but what I left out was that one call resulted in a response of "I don't know" that led to a "yes". I'll elaborate: Upon calling customer service the third time (the day before the flight), the rep said she couldn't answer my question, and that she had to consult CRC (I don't know what CRC stands for, anybody?) -- I was put on hold. After about 10 minutes, I was told that mine was the first request Northwest had had regarding a segway, and that CRC would look into the matter and should have an answer by the weekend. I than replied "well... my flight's tomorrow". The rep gave me the direct number of Northwest's cargomaster at LaGuardia. This person had no idea what a segway was. I had to describe it from the ground up. I told him about the batteries and he said there shouldn't be an issue (like I said in the original post, Northwest will even transport wet cells without disconnecting them from a device). I really don't think the cargomaster bothered telling anyone about the segway in advance -- he'd decided the segway was indeed safer than a wheelchair to transport.

I really hope this is a continuing trend with Northwest... I'll be using them a lot, and I wish dzdk6s good luck with his experience in September. Let's hope it's the same!

-Justin

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams." -From Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

[Chadr]

I just want to be the first to welcome you to ND Justin.

Grand Forks is a great town, you should have tons of places to glide there.

Let me know if you ever get to Bismarck, we can hit the trails here...

Chad

Chad

[dzdk6s]

Message sent to NW Customer Service Re: ET-Luggage (KMM1484680V11622L0KM)


I will be traveling with a EMPAD (Electric Mobility Personal Assistive
Device) Segway on my trip to New Hampshire. I was told that I could check it as baggage at no additional charge is this correct? It weighs approximately 83lbs. I will also be returning to Phoenix with it on Sept. 12th.
Thanks for your assistance.
Don Knight

HERE IS THE RESPONSE:

Dear Mr. Knight,

Thank you for contacting Northwest Airlines regarding your upcoming
travel on September 12.

Passengers who are disabled are allowed to bring their assistive devices as checked luggage. This would not be included in the checked luggage allowance. However, if it is not used as an assistive device for a passenger with a disability, there is an excess luggage fee.

If you would like to know the charges for the excess luggage fee, please contact our reservations department at 800-225-2525.

Thank you so much for choosing Northwest Airlines.

Jodee Welsh
Customer Care,
Northwest/KLM Airlines

Cost to travel per customer service

Customer service excess luggage fee to travel with your Segway checked as luggage (not boxed)is $80.00 each way for non-disabled Segway travelers.

They said no pre-arrangements needed to be made. Just ride up to counter. Lower the control bar, tag it, pay your $80.00 and it's on its way.

[Hauptagon]

dzdk6s,

Yep, that sounds about right!

Chadr,

Thanks for the welcome -- I've actually gotten used to the town real quick and as for the segway on campus, I don't know what I'd do without it! Do you use it in the winter at all? I'm thinking of how I'd still be able to use it in the extreme cold in Grand Forks (The lowest temperature here last winter was -43 degrees F -- that was also an all time low). If I could leave it just inside the entrance to any building I have class in, than it should be able to keep it self warm enough when riding outdoors. Just as long as it doesn't sit outside, I think I can keep it within its temperature range. Also, I wouldn't be outside for more than 10 minutes at any one time. From what I hear, they plow the sidewalks very well here, too.

Like I said, I don't know what I'd do without the segway. It truely HAS become a necessity and a tool. The university's grounds are HUGE and I would need ten hours of sleep a night if I had to walk everywhere -- and there are so many cars, there's almost no parking spaces available anyway! When leaving the university Barnes & Noble the other day, I had fun gliding past a long line of cars that were waiting to get out of the parkng lot. The only alternative I could possibly see to using the segway is either a bicycle or one of those electric scooters, but neither of those are at all practical when you're carrying several textbooks and a heavy laptop bag on a shoulder. If I were riding a bicycle or scooter, I'd fall over! The response from the other students and the faculty has been nothing but positive (not a SINGLE negative comment!) And you all can bet I've given more demos than I can count. I've also had two fraternities request my membership in one week! (not that I'll be joining [:P]).


-Justin

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams." -From Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

[Chadr]

Its great that campus is allowing you to glide with it.

I worked at the Marketplace of Ideas (@ the alerus center)last year when Dean Kamen spoke. We provided the segway that our state senator Kent Conrad rode for the joint press conference. The campus police had a field day harrassing us about riding our Segway around. When they found out we were there to provide support to Conrad, they changed their tune pretty quickly.

I tend to use my Segway all winter, I dont ride it when it is extremely cold, but for the majority of the days, it is nice enought out to get a glide in. Since you will be outdoors for such a short amount of time, I dont see a reason for worry.

Chad

[Hauptagon]

quote:Originally posted by Chadr

Its great that campus is allowing you to glide with it.
I tend to use my Segway all winter, I dont ride it when it is extremely cold, but for the majority of the days, it is nice enought out to get a glide in. Since you will be outdoors for such a short amount of time, I dont see a reason for worry.

Chad


That's great to hear! Also, I had called the campus police far before I moved here to see what they'd say -- they said it would be no problem. So far, I've passed a few cops gliding, and none of them batted an eye.
-Justin

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams." -From Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

[KSagal]

In the process of trying to make arrangements for a flight to Florida in October, for a reason that I'll leave to your imagination, I am not getting a warm, fuzzy feeling from any airline.

I have not been able to get any substantially consistant committment from any airline. They mostly all say it is up the individual airport and local management.

I like policy. I do not like, "Joe said it should be okay?!!"

Has anyone got a consistant good story to tell, about getting to Fort Myers and back?

I am glad that Justin had a good experience, but I am afraid it may be cudos to Laguardia, and the Northwest folks at Laguardia, not the entire airline. Out of Boston, they did not expect that there was anything they could commit to at all.

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[dzdk6s]

Just talked to another NWA customer service agent this morning to double check on traveling with the Seg. Called 800 number - she was in Baltimore, MD, knew what Segs were, said NWA classifies them as wheelchairs, and there is no charge. I explained I was not disabled and she said that didn't seem to matter. She double checked with a CRC person and came back with the same answer.

Will let you all know how it goes?

Hauptagon did not make any baggage insurance arrangments or have to declare value of the Seg? How did you tag it?(luggage tag?)She's asking for compressed dimensions and weight.

Thanks

[Hauptagon]

quote:Originally posted by dzdk6s


Hauptagon did not make any baggage insurance arrangments or have to declare value of the Seg? How did you tag it?(luggage tag?)She's asking for compressed dimensions and weight.

Thanks



Nope... No insurance arrangements were made, I didn't have to declare its value, and the person at the counter put a regular luggage tag on it (wrapped it around the CS).

-Justin

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams." -From Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

[dzdk6s]

Didn't take the Segway on my trip and a good thing.

Anyway CSA at the Phoenix ticket counter was rude because I wanted to be assisted by a human versus a touch screen. Perhaps she was aware she's being replaced. Wonder how long it will take the airlines like the banks to add a "service fee".

Then Northwest managed to loose my luggage on the return flight. Apparently the ship "Luggage by destination" which must be different that they transport people. My luggage arrived at the airport about 4 hour later than I did on a different plane, all of which I thought was pretty interesting. Apparently an approximately 2 hour layover in Detroit, isn't enought time to get luggage from the arriving gate (3)to the departure gate (75).