Trip to Grand Canyon coming up in June 2013, paid for trip in full one year ahead of time for my wife and child. Still got a bill for additional fee in May of 2013. (extra $118, not enough people). Then email from the school with the trip schedule, they booked a trip from Newark NJ to Las Vegas on United, no problem as there are no extra fees if you use a carry on and we all live on the NJ side of the river. For the return trip, the incompetent travel company booked a red eye(not so bad) with a change of planes (thanks for the wake up call) on Spirit Airlines which has more extra fees than the US Tax code, so $35 extra per carry on if you purchase in advance, or $100 at the gate. This is a sixth grade trip, where does this company expect a child to come up with this money to fly their clothes or other items home.(if the parents don't pay ahead of time) The first girl I spoke with said that these fees were news to them, they didn't know when they took effect. (are they that incompetent....how about over 1 yr ago, and fees increased in Nov 2012.) Then director of Customer Service got on, he said they have used Spirit Airlines in the past and they always suggest that we buy the checked bags ahead of time to save money. (how about not using Spirit) So it gets better, the return flight lands at LaGuardia airport in NYC(weekday morning during rush hour), 4 bridges and $28 in tolls round trip , and possibly hours of NYC traffic from where we live. (thanks again) So, at 1145am, I ask to speak with the company president Mr Maxwell and I am told that he is out to lunch and will be back after 230pm. What sounded like a nice school trip is turning into a big rip-off, the price was high and keeps getting higher. A competent travel agency would be looking to save you money, not Grand Classroom. SAVE YOUR MONEY, keep it in your own pocket, you could book this all yourself at a greater savings.
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