| Last Minute Help - Chicago 12:39 - Sep 29 with 4263 views | Superhoops2808 |
Last year, Mrs Superhoops ran the Berlin marathon and I came here prior to travel to get some tips, some of which were very useful.
In a little under two weeks, she will be running the Chicago Marathon in her continuing attempt to complete the 7 World Majors.
I am hoping there are people here with knowledge about Chicago, places to see and how to get around using the public transport system etc. Also places to eat etc. We are staying in The Hyatt in Downtown Chicago (on East Wacker Drive) which fortunately is close to the start of the marathon
Any tips would be gratefully received
Thanks in Advance |  | | |  |
| Last Minute Help - Chicago on 18:58 - Oct 17 with 402 views | thame_hoops |
| Last Minute Help - Chicago on 21:14 - Oct 16 by Superhoops2808 |
So, got home lunchtime after a fab week in Chicago and thanks for all the tips. Mrs Superhoops completed her marathon but having been plagued and the heat on the day it wasn't her best but she completed it so another major off the list.
Hyatt hotel was superb although apart from the weekend it was mainly full with delegates from different conferences and if these people contribute to running the country no wonder its in such a state!! Arrogant and rude doesn't begin to describe them!!
Thank you all for the tips. We got to do plenty in our week there.
Up the 360 tower for a sunset evening and drink, Big Bus tour and sunset architecture river and lake tour. Then the marathon after which another river tour (going the other way this time). Also got to do a tour of the Chicago Fire film set, a favourite of Mrs Superhoops and an Ice Cream factory tour.
We ate at Giodarno's and Green Street Meats - both lovely food and great recommendations thank you.
CTA is brilliant, subway and bus
American Airlines is awful - Dont ever fly with them!! We booked with BA but coach shared with AA and I hated them with a passion. If anything could go wrong on both flights, it did - Avoid at all costs!!
But love Chicago and will be going back. |
What issue did you have with American? I don’t like them at all but fly with them regularly because they are cheaper than BA. And Texas ranger told me that BA have stopped their flight to Dallas now so no choice.
I find the cabin crew to be quite rude and condescending. Very stingy with alcohol, whereas BA will give you a couple of mini bottles at a time.
The customer service is terrible, I have got quite a few free seat vouchers, so I don’t have to pay for window seats. However, I’m always getting charged for it and it takes a long time to get a refund.
From New Orleans to Dallas in July, there was a four hour delay and the flight got cancelled. We were offered no hotel, it took me a couple of months of haggling just to get £100 back for the hotel.
They do seem quite a bit of a shambles however, I’ve never had an issue with flights from Heathrow to Dallas and vice versa, they always seem to takeoff on time |  | | |
| Last Minute Help - Chicago on 20:11 - Oct 17 with 306 views | Superhoops2808 |
| Last Minute Help - Chicago on 18:58 - Oct 17 by thame_hoops |
What issue did you have with American? I don’t like them at all but fly with them regularly because they are cheaper than BA. And Texas ranger told me that BA have stopped their flight to Dallas now so no choice.
I find the cabin crew to be quite rude and condescending. Very stingy with alcohol, whereas BA will give you a couple of mini bottles at a time.
The customer service is terrible, I have got quite a few free seat vouchers, so I don’t have to pay for window seats. However, I’m always getting charged for it and it takes a long time to get a refund.
From New Orleans to Dallas in July, there was a four hour delay and the flight got cancelled. We were offered no hotel, it took me a couple of months of haggling just to get £100 back for the hotel.
They do seem quite a bit of a shambles however, I’ve never had an issue with flights from Heathrow to Dallas and vice versa, they always seem to takeoff on time |
You're gonna wish you'd never asked
So, we booked our whole package with BA but despite there being 2 BA flights to LHR around the same time we had to fly with AA. We didnt get notified we had to pre book seats so the only option by the time we found out was 2 seats next to each in the aisle or pay $296 dollars - I booked the aisle seats but closer to the time I decided to surprise Mrs S with extra legroom and booked the premium seats. However, the website took my money twice and no confirmation. When we got to the airport I had not been given the seats. Fortunately the check in girl resolved it for free but we had to wait 7 working days for our refund of both lots of $296
Then I discovered that despite booking the seats that promised priority boarding, hand luggage space we got none of that. We did get the promised complimentary drinks and alcohol but it was only on the way home I found out EVERYONE does - And like you when I dared ask for some more it was like asking for the crown jewels - Apart from that it was ok
The return journey however was what made me/us most mad. On check in, my wifes case weighed 16.5kg and mine weighed 27kg. Allowance is 23kg each and all airlines I have flown with allow a combined total - AA point blank refused to the extent that we had to carry clothes in our hand luggage, I had to throw away a pair of trainers and move other things around to get it to 23kg. It was either that or pay $100. I had already paid $140 for a window seat so we could sit together again. I knew not to tangle with airport security so I unusually kept my mouth shut and let it go but trust me an email will be inbound to them next week. The flight was 1.5 hours late but we had no update as to why. The cockpit probably said about 30 words for the whole flight. Someone had a medical emergency on the flight and at one point we made a turn towards Iceland, clearly shown on our flight map but no announcement apart from an appeal for nurse or doctor.
Food was shocking as was the service and the crew both ways so yep I am with you on that too. If I book with BA when we go to Boston, I will cancel if they bump us on to AA thats for sure. I hate them but you've probably guessed that too | | | |
| Last Minute Help - Chicago on 23:42 - Oct 17 with 246 views | thame_hoops |
| Last Minute Help - Chicago on 20:11 - Oct 17 by Superhoops2808 |
You're gonna wish you'd never asked
So, we booked our whole package with BA but despite there being 2 BA flights to LHR around the same time we had to fly with AA. We didnt get notified we had to pre book seats so the only option by the time we found out was 2 seats next to each in the aisle or pay $296 dollars - I booked the aisle seats but closer to the time I decided to surprise Mrs S with extra legroom and booked the premium seats. However, the website took my money twice and no confirmation. When we got to the airport I had not been given the seats. Fortunately the check in girl resolved it for free but we had to wait 7 working days for our refund of both lots of $296
Then I discovered that despite booking the seats that promised priority boarding, hand luggage space we got none of that. We did get the promised complimentary drinks and alcohol but it was only on the way home I found out EVERYONE does - And like you when I dared ask for some more it was like asking for the crown jewels - Apart from that it was ok
The return journey however was what made me/us most mad. On check in, my wifes case weighed 16.5kg and mine weighed 27kg. Allowance is 23kg each and all airlines I have flown with allow a combined total - AA point blank refused to the extent that we had to carry clothes in our hand luggage, I had to throw away a pair of trainers and move other things around to get it to 23kg. It was either that or pay $100. I had already paid $140 for a window seat so we could sit together again. I knew not to tangle with airport security so I unusually kept my mouth shut and let it go but trust me an email will be inbound to them next week. The flight was 1.5 hours late but we had no update as to why. The cockpit probably said about 30 words for the whole flight. Someone had a medical emergency on the flight and at one point we made a turn towards Iceland, clearly shown on our flight map but no announcement apart from an appeal for nurse or doctor.
Food was shocking as was the service and the crew both ways so yep I am with you on that too. If I book with BA when we go to Boston, I will cancel if they bump us on to AA thats for sure. I hate them but you've probably guessed that too |
Sorry to hear this.
AA charge extra for window seats, it’s crazy. With my extra miles and status I have a shed load of free seat vouchers now fortunately. But like I said, I use a voucher and they still charge me £80 and it takes ages to get refunded. I’m definitely not doing anything wrong as my email confirmation is always correct, but on my credit card, they take the seat cost!
FYI, if you email them, I was quoted around a 30 day wait before they will even get to your email. I had to wait a long time to get acknowledged for a refund for my hotel. They agreed to pay me the hundred pound and it says I will get it within 45 days. I’m currently on day 35, despite giving them my bank details and no money yet. It’s not a lot, but it’s the principal.
They are strict on the 23 kg, purely as the self check-in won’t give you any leway. At Heathrow, my bag was 24.5, the advisor moved my bag slightly so that it was off the scale and under 23, to trick the system! So sometimes if it’s slightly over, I will exit out and do this trick. Annoyingly, it’s always because of all the English food I take out like Jaffa cakes, jammy Dodgers and shortbread | | | |
| Last Minute Help - Chicago on 00:01 - Oct 18 with 231 views | kensalriser |
I flew on AA quite a lot in the 90 and 00s. It doesn't sound like they've changed. A company that were in the vanguard of the now ubiquitous openly hostile customer service. |  |
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