Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Flight service--it is buyer beware

Gents:
I'm not sure of the regulations for posting here and I will be vague to avoid a "flame war" but, after reading this, you can email me for details.

I booked a caribou hunt for last August from a service I've been with three years prior. Long story short, I signed a contract that if my party shot too many animals we would be charged $1500 for an "extra meat haul." In the end we were charged this fee but no extra flight was needed!

Three email from me to clear up the matter were ignored by the owner. Three requests by the BBB to mediate the matter were also ignored by the owner. Two letters from the Attorney General's office have been ignored.


I have a good lawyer (you Alaskans will all recognize his name) and he is assisting me me in fillsing out small claims paperwork which we will file upon receipt of the final letter from the AG's office.

This flight service also charges different rates for different clients. We were charged high as my two friends on the trip were an MD and a CEO of a big corporation. Others were charged far less, some as much as 50% less. Some have the "extra meat haul" and are not charged. All this is documented.

I have posted this on my website and will share with any of you who contact me.
Cheers, and be careful. This is a bad outfit.
Cal[spoiler][/spoiler]

You need to name names.

This has no value otherwise.


...and sorry for your troubles.

http://www.calpappas.com/search/label/Updates


His blog names 70 North FWIW. Will be interesting to see how it plays out in court I guess.

This site isn't run by an Alaskan outfitter... it's OK to name names...

70� North, can't say I'm too surprised.

OK Gents. The Alaska Outdoors won't allow any negative posts. If it's OK here, all the better. The flight service is 70 North Air Taxi. Bob Gill and Mike McCrary are the owners who have snubbed me, the BBB, and the AG. Shortly I will file with the small claims courts and it will be interesting to see if Bob and Mike snub the courts. As soon as the final letter comes from the AG I will file. A great attorney has found past case law that will be of great help in my situation. It is so simple. The contract calls for a charge if an extra flight is taken. But, no flight AND a charge.

For some, Bob and Mike charge $2000 for the drop off and pickup. Others are charged $1750 and still others are charged $750 per hour--which equates to about 1/2 of the flat fee.

I will keep you all posted. Thanks for your interest.
Cal

They can't handle the truth.

I'd think it can't happen to charge IF you have extra flights, but since you didn't, they can't charge.

As to charging some one rate and others another, I doubt that stands up at all.

Good luck!

Sounds fishy to me. Flight time is charged by the hour.



After 4 years as a return client, did you happen to mention to them as to where you wanted to be transported to, or did they pick the spot?



So the 1500.00 cost is split between your "party"?


Were you able to harvest caribou this last year?

That depends, most air services I've ever flown with charge a flat rate depending on location and number of passengers.

Exactly. What changed?



This means something, though I'm not sure what.

Chicken. You're just jealous cause you don't appreciate the fun of calling up random air service operators and giving them an earful.

Nothing, it's been that way ever since I started doing fly in hunts, which has been probably 20 years or so.

Thanks for your input, gentlemen. To answer your questions.
70 North charges a flat rate, not by the hour--for some of us.
The flat rate varies between customers.
The hourly rate was charged to six the week prior to my hunt--price was about 1/2 of what we paid.
We did get our caribou but did not exceed the weight limits for the return to base. However, we were charged for an extra flight as called out in the contract as an "extra meat haul."
The flight service set us down in a vacant area, away from other hunters. They picked the spot. In the area we wanted to go, in the Brooks Range, was void of caribou.
You gents can see the details of the situation on the Updates page of calpappas.com. Also some of my caribou taken with double rifles are on the double rifles and hunting trophies page.
By traveling with two gents who are upper income, it is only a guess we were charged a higher rate than others. Only speculation as to why, but a fact as to the prices charged.
I paid the fee and later split it with one other member of my party. If I get the refund in the court case, I will (of course) send 50% of it to my mate. As the contract was in my name, the complaint and other communication is in my name.
Again, thanks for your comments.
Cal

I have made dozens and dozens of fly in hunts in Alaska with many different flying services. (over a dozen in the Brooks Range and on the North Slope alone). I have never flown with any flying service that is more honest and was treated more fair than Seventy Degrees North. I have flown with close to a hundred small plane pilots and it is my observation that Mike and Bob are excellent pilots with safety as their major concern. Their care for their clients before and after the schedule trips is above and beyond what is expected.
I don't understand when a person agrees to the terms of the cost of the transportation for a hunting trip and the service was provided as stated in the agreement, then complain afterwards.

I think it was clear, they get charged extra for extra trips. Those extras never happened or were needed. But still they were charged.

If thats the case, thats a BIG problem.

Interesting that Samson as a new member just happens to pick this subject to do his first post . . . his motive for being here?

Samson:
Read my post. I was charged for an extra meat haul but the extra flight was not needed or flown. I was charged the $1500 but no flight. That is a problem. I tried to contact Mike and he ignored all three of my attempts. He and Bob ignored three contacts from the BBB. They also snubbed the Attorney General. So, what is it you don't understand? If I can be more clear, please let me know. To simplify, if you were charged for two flights but only took one, would you have a problem?

I'm far from rich I emailed 70 north last yr they told me $2,000 a person wtf and extra for a meat haul. Needless to say I will go a different route... At one time when 70 north was getting back into the game 09-10 they were charging $1500 a flight. mike strahan was really pushing people towards 70 north as well. Far as Samson probably one of the owners from 70north.

Well this isn't AOD so better put on your big boy britches over here... [bleep] they were charged for a meat haul that never happened that's what op is complaining about. 70 north got greedy and are going to pay for it hell already a bunch of sheep hunters that are cussing them..