NEVER fly Virgin America

So before I begin my highlights, I have to share my horrific experience with Virgin America.

Jess and I arrived at SFO about 35 minutes before our flight. Apparently, because SFO is so big, they recommend that we arrive 45 minutes before our departure time, but we didn't know that. When we checked in, the agent didn't tell us anything either, so as far as we knew, we were on time. When we get to San Diego though, guess what? I don't get my luggage. They apparently never even loaded it on to the plane.

We talk to the Virgin America agent, who is a nice enough guy. However, when we arrived in San Diego, it was 3 hours before our ship was going to leave. We spent an HOUR with him trying to figure out first where my luggage was (back at SFO) and how I was going to get it. The whole time, he was saying stupid shit like "don't worry, it happens to everyone." THAT DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL BETTER! In the process, the agent tells me that I checked in late, which is why my luggage wasn't loaded, and that I signed a document acknowledging that and that I may not get my luggage, but I NEVER SIGNED ANYTHING! Toward the end of the hour, I was getting frustrated because he kept saying that Virgin was not responsible because I checked in late even though I didn't know!

Anyway, he says that he'll get my luggage down to San Diego and then they'll try to send it out to Cabo so that it can be picked up by Carnival. He also says that he'll look into compensating me for the days that I won't have my luggage. We don't have time to push anymore, so we leave.

While I was in Cabo, the luggage never made it to my room. Apparently, there was some miscommunication between Carnival and Virgin. The luggage arrived in Cabo, but Carnival reps didn't know where to pick it up. So I go the whole cruise with nothing to wear but what I was wearing when I came in. I had to buy clothes and shoes on the ship!

When we got back to San Diego, we went straight to the airport to find out what happened to my bag and how I'm going to be compensated for it. We call the Baggage Service Office (BSO) and the supervisor picks up. When I ask about my luggage, he gets defensive and says that he is not responsible for it, but that he will do everything he can to get it back to me. When I tell him that I don't expect to pay for my ticket, he flat out says no. Says he won't be responsible for baggage that was checked in late, even though nobody informed me that I was late. We tell him that we want to see him and he comes to meet us.

Jess goes at it with him. How can you not be responsible for this? VIRGIN did not tell us we were late, VIRGIN did not load our luggage, VIRGIN had custody of the bag since Carnival never picked it up, and VIRGIN was going to get our bag back for us. He babbles some shit about contract liability, so we ask for the contract. I look it over while Jess is still talking to him. When we ask for his name, he refused! He refuses to even consider the refund request, then says "this conversation is over" AND WALKS AWAY! I would've hit him if I wasn't a nice guy!

We asked for the next person up, and the station manager comes out. She is incredibly professional and right off the bat, apologizes for how things went. She gives us $25 a day for every day that I went without my bag and says that she will have to see if she can issue us a refund.

I already sent them an email. Word to the wise for everyone out there: NEVER fly Virgin America!
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Highlights from the Cruise Ship!

1/1/09 - Day one - Boarding
-NEVER fly Virgin America!
-San Diego at 60 degrees? Never though I'd see that day!
-hmmmm...Christmas decorations hung over pink lighting? ew.
-Free food all the time???? This is bad...
-DISCOUNT DRINK CARDS? 5 DRINKS FOR $24??? This is worse...

1/2/09 - Day two - Sea Day
-When you don't have a window and you don't check the clock, you never know what time it is!
-sleeping for 10 hours is nice
-first drink was at 10am! I think...
-Breakfast at 10:30, lunch at 4pm, dinner at 8pm, hahahaha
-What I learned from the mixology class - add LOVE to each drink! (and by love, I mean more alcohol)
-Alochol filled coconut heads. Whoever invented that is a GENIUS.
-first day spent searching for replacement clothes - duty free shopping is nice!
-Have you ever seen the sunset at sea? It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!
-NEVER fly Virgin America!

1/3/09 - Day three - Cabo!
-Was supposed to wake up at 6 and debark at 8:30 to get breakfast and buy shoes in Cabo. We woke up at 8:15. Sweet
-At the Paraiso Mall in Cabo: Quick! Find a shoe store! Oooooh, wait, that looks cute...oh yeah, SHOES!
-There's a hooters in Cabo?!?
-Jess: Pelicans are ugly
Me: They're birds
Jess: They're ugly birds.
-ATVing was sick!!! Really fun. Recommended for all.
-Vendor: "These ceramic turtles are hard to make! It's a great gift!" Then I saw the exact same turtles two booths over.
-You would think that sushi on a cruise ship is good. Boy, I was wrong about that one.
-so tired, we passed out at 10pm.
-Can you believe that we were surrounded by some of the most beatiful beaches I've ever seen and never once went swimming? haha...not enough time!
-NEVER fly Virgin America!

1/4/09 - Day four - Sea Day
-woke up at 10am. sweet.
-Breakfast at 11.
-There's a drink called suntan lotion. Taste better than it sounds.
-haha...we played Bingo. I felt like I was retired.
-Cruise ships - a way to be lazy while actually moving somewhere.
-oh yeah, NEVER fly Virgin America.

1/5/09 - Day five - home
-I only have 3 words to say - Carne. Asada. Fries.
-NEVER fly Virgin America

EDIT: oh, I forgot one more thing: NEVER FLY VIRGIN AMERICA!