SouthWest did a great job!!!!!!!!

[Russell Peters]

Kari and I came back from the Las Vegas Koi Show last night. We shipped our remaining Koi back on Southwest Airlines. We use Southwest all the time and have never really had any major mishaps. After picking up our bags and getting our car, we drove over to pick up the Koi. As we turn over our airway bill the gentleman behind the counter says to us, "you're the ones with the fish, please come back with me, there was a problem". Now any one hearing this knows exactly what is coming next. As we are walking back to the rear of the warehouse he then says, "One of the boxes got broken and we tried to save the fish. There was no water left in it and it is a shame because they were such big fish". Now we are expecting the worst and I let out an explative, but as we kept walking back I noticed a large ice chest with its lid open and two empty 5 gallon water jugs. At this point the gentleman says again, "there was no water in the bags when the koi got here and the fish were struggling to breathe". Additional worry starts to run through my mind but at this point we get to the edge of the ice chest and what do we see? We see four Koi swimming around in 10 gallons of Alhambra drinking water happy as can be. I am posting this because so often we hear about the problems that happen with shipping fish. These guys at Southwest did a great job and they did the right things. You should have seen the look of pride on their faces when we told them that they saved our Koi. It was very heart warming. Thank You Southwest!!!!!!!!!!

[ginfish]

That is great news. Thank goodness for employees with brains. If that had been some other airline we ar familar with your fish would have simply been dried up. Our experience with Southwest over "the other guy" has been wonderful service. It is great to know they can meet a challenge and saved your fish. I hope you acknowledge them somehow to Southwest Management.

We so enjoyed meeting you and Kari at the show. Thank you for being such an important part of our first show. Coming one week after your own show deserves a medal of COURAGE! It is a relief to know you and your fish made it home safely.

Janon

[ginfish]

Does anyone include an instruction sheet in the shipping box with "In case of emergency" instructions? This Southwest employee had the presence of mind to use bottled water. If that wasn't available and he had "emergency instructions", say in a sealed baggy attached to the shipping bag, with dechlor for ten gallons of tap water. Just a thought.

[KoiCop]

that was a great save! And I can just imagine your sigh of relief.

[dizzyfish]

Southwest did good for you Russ. I got these koi from a dealer in LA last year. The UPS guy walks in and hands me this box that was light as a feather. I knew something was wrong. The koi were in thin bags and packed in cardboard only. The box was not much bigger than the koi either. It wasn't even dripping wet either.

He did send me a replacement fish but the whole experience left me feeling disgusted.
Mitch