FBO Horror Stories (Linden NJ - LDJ)

[GeorgePerry]

I've been doing this GA flying thing for a while now and I have never had this happen.  With regards to Linden FBO (LDJ) just west of Staton Island NY:

AVOID-AVOID-AVOID!!! This FBO Perpetuates the stereotype of rude, "in your face", New Jersey-ians. The access to NYC is great, but their landing & overnight fees are highway robbery.  I paid for 3 days tie down ($60). Our plans changed and we decided to depart after 2 days. I asked the lineman behind the counter for a 1-day refund.  His response was, “too bad, It's not our fault if your leaveing". He refused to refund my money.  To that I said, "no big deal...$20 isn't going to break me, but you can bet I'll write it up on AOPA and AIRNAV for everyone to read about." After which he became belligerent and even more argumentative. I calmly told him I'm not going to argue, and walked away. 

In a feeble attempt at retribution, the lineman locked the door that accesses the flight line and "took an extended break". His ploy essentially held me and my family prisoner in the lobby...That is until I found the electronic release behind the counter. With a push of the button I was FREE...Never to return to LDJ.

 

[Sven]

Looks like yours isn't the only horror story at that airport. Sounds like some slimy management.

[carusoam]

Linden, NJ is west of staten Island, NY.  South of Newark, NJ.

You were treated with east of Staten Island attitude, but you were actually west of Staten Island.

Welcome to Jersey, George...

-a-

[PTK]

That's too bad.  Sounds like you got a taste of some good down to earth NORTHERN NJ arrogance! We south NJians are actually very nice.  I have never been there but now will be sure to never go there!

[rob]

I have to ask if you wouldn't have been better off just leaving. Your comment about the write up was unnecessary and only served to inflame the situation. I can understand your frustration but it seems that the more prudent approach would have been to quietly leave and write your reviews once you were safely away from there.

[GeorgePerry]

 Hindsight is 20/20.  That would be the passive/aggressive way to handle it - sure....But at the time, I thought it prudent to let them know that their behavior is counter to good business and has consequences outside of my individual transaction.  Moreover, I'm a FIGHTER PILOT, by God...I don't back down from a fight!

[Tom]

Quote: rob

I have to ask if you wouldn't have been better off just leaving. Your comment about the write up was unnecessary and only served to inflame the situation. I can understand your frustration but it seems that the more prudent approach would have been to quietly leave and write your reviews once you were safely away from there.

[M016576]

I'm with you, George: that's quite possibly the WORST story I've ever heard about an FBO... It's a long ways from CA to NJ, but you can be sure I'll never be visiting LDJ....

Speaking of which, have you found a way to mount an AIM-9X on a M20F yet?  I'm getting close to an STC, I think....

[Immelman]

That's pretty bad. I don't think I've ever been to an FBO where I had to pay for parking ahead of time. Was that the case there at Linden?

[GeorgePerry]

ya-know, the guy behind the counter didn't seem to know for sure, but strongly encouraged paying in advance.  I didn't mind since it was one less thing to do on the outbound side of my trip. 

One thing is for sure, who ever owns the business cares little about customer service and giving his employees proper training on how to conduct day to day operations.

[smitty9006]

Sorry to hear about your bad treatment George. You would think that in this economic climate businesses would be appreciative of every customer. I work part time on the flight line at Clearwater Airpark, KCLW, and I would love to see more Mooneys. The beach is only minutes away, gas is reasonable, and one overnight fee is waved with fuel purchase. Here's the link, http://www.clearwaterairpark.com

Albert Whitted, KSPG, in St. Pete is also a great place to visit. You can eat at The Hangar restaurant and watch the planes come and go. Tropicana Field is just own the road so you could fly in, eat, and watch a Rays playoff game. http://www.stpete.org/airport/

 

[fantom]

What a jerk!

[jlunseth]

I landed commercial at Newark a few years ago.  I was struck by the fact that, walking down the concourse, no one would make eye contact. 

I got in the line for the taxis, we waited quite awhile, and alot of cabs went by in the outside lane, but none stopped.  The cab starter told the increasingly irritated waiting line that those were NY cabs, and they could only drop off.  Only NJ cabs could pick up.  After about 45 minutes I left and found a limo, came back by the cab line and people were running out into the street and throwing themselves over the hood of the NY cabs in the far lane to stop them, so they could get a ride someplace. 

Hate to say it, but it was not an overly hospitable place. 

[scottfromiowa]

I HAD to go to NJ for work in 1986.  I have NO plans to go back...

[Amelia]

Hey, George- Let us show you some North Carolina hospitality this Saturday- bring that Mooney down to Edenton and show 'er off! -  And invite all your friends. Guarantee there won't be any tie-down charge, and we don't HAVE a lock on our door.

[GeorgePerry]

Amelia

I've got it marked on my calender and I'm planning on coming.

George

[aerobat95]

When I saw the post I had to comment.  I am originally from NJ....notice the originally.  I cant stand the place. The only reason I ever go back is because familiy live there.   When I was in HS I decided I could not take the rude people and the severe overpricing of everything.  So I went to the NJ/NY annex...Florida....it was nice when I started college in '96 but as more and more people from NJ/NY moved there I could see the same trend.  I am now out in the midwest and spent a good bit of time in the deep south.  I have found that it is so much nicer out here.  Plus in NJ you always have to pay a landing fee....I managed to fly from Altus, OK - Enid, OK - somewhere east of Little Rock - Columbus, MS and never paid a fee.  And the people were all nice and friendly.  I can say that not all people from NJ are like that but a good majority are.  Another one to stay away from is KBLM.  I used to train there and I think it changed owners...anyway...from what I hear really bad service. 

[Sven]

Fight fire with fire, George. You did the right thing. Thugs like that need to know there are immediate consequences for their rude behavior and lack of customer service. You could get away with it years ago but now with Yelp, TripAdvisor, AOPA, EAA, and the list goes on, folks are relying more and more on places with high ratings. My dollar is more valuable to me now than ever before in this economy. I'm not going to spend it on folks at Linden. I will go out of my way to give my business to people who care about me as a customer. And because I have a cell phone, I can find out who those people are in less than a minute. Rude New Jersey culture took generations to hone and perfect. But New Jersey thug FBO operators never saw the internet and review sites coming. When I know I can get real value for my dollar next door from someone who appreciates me, guess where I'm going. Isn't there a business principle that says if you piss off one customer, they will tell at least 12 others? With the internet, I think that number grew exponentially. So, good job, George.

[carusoam]

Let's keep the focus gentle people......

I believe we are pouring fuel on the flames at Linden, not so much NJ in total.

There are several very nice FBOs throughout NJ that are friendly and welcoming some even have a very nice restaurant with nice people working there.  Unfortunately, none so close to NYC as Linden. 

Teterboro, NJ and Westchester, NY are also available for those flying in to see the Big Apple.

Thank you for your consideration.

Best regards,

-a-

[66Super21]

I agree with a lot of what is being said about NJ.  I grew up in South Jersey, got my license at Cross Keys, and enjoyed flying around the area back in the late 70's.  Flew to Linden in '86, but now enjoy life further south (Myrtle Beach, SC) and enjoy my Mooney without a lot of hassle down hear.  Fly on down and enjoy southern hospitality.

I think you have to be from NJ to enjoy it, but things change and I wouldn't move back.  I do visit though.  My brother still lives there and I remind him about how high his taxes are (whew).

[LuvFlying]

Ok... Let's not paint all NJ FBOs with this brush. There's some really good, helpful ones in the state. CDW / avantAir comes to mind.

Now... MY experience with LDJ.

Was not as rude, but totally apathetic and not helpful.

It was my first Pilot-and-paws mission and LDJ was my first stop.  Well, the starter give up the ghost there. It was Sunday.My first thoughts were "Ok... Now is the time GA is going to SHINE!"  And looked forward to that legendary GA/FBO help. What I got was just the opposite.

The guy behind the counter could give a hoot (except to get the landing fee).  I was there for hours looking for help. Trying to get a rental car (Everyone I called was closed). All during this time, the guy behind the counter was totally unhelpful... even though I was engaging him, asking for advice, guidance.  All I got was "I don't know" to my answers.

Yeah... that stupid door lock was a pain too. The guy would disappear and I'd be outside freezing, trying to get in. I finally found another door, about 50' away that was not locked that I could enter/exit.

During this, I found some other residents while hunting around that where extremely helpful... a guy in the adjoining shop and an angel of a guy who hand propped me so I could get home.

After flying into TEB the other day (for the first time) I was going to recommend that some of the Angel Flights that use LDJ, but now I see that what I experienced was, what I thought was Sunday morning part-time help syndrome, really a reflection of how really lousy they are. I'm certainly going to discourage the use of LDJ now.

[hansel]

Quote: Sven

Rude New Jersey culture took generations to hone and perfect.

[Sven]

Quote: hansel

 This is hilarious.

[Jeff_S]

There's a reason the celebrated "housewives" show depicts New Jersey-ites (-ians?) instead of Carolinians or Georgians. The in-your-face attitude of Jersey women is much more comedic and interesting than the passive-aggressive, smile in your face and stab you in the back approach of many Southern Belles.

(My wife never reads this forum, so I'm safe. And besides, she really isn't a practitioner, but I know many who are!)

[GeorgePerry]

Update to the LDJ issue:  To my surprise when I went to retrieve my snail mail today I found a check from the LDJ FBO.  It was a refund for my unused parking.

My initial thoughts were, I guess the management reads their reviews online, (sometimes the internet is a good thing), and second that it was awfully nice of whomever went through the trouble of mailing the check to do so. 

I'm not one to hold grudges, so if I ever have to go back to NYC, I suppose I'll give'em another try.