Rust's Flying Service, Alaska - unhappy with bear watching excursion

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on August 14, 2002:

From:

RE: Rust's Flying Service, Alaska - unhappy with bear watching excursion

no response at all; very expensive; don't want others to make the same mistake. What else can I do or who else would be interested in my complaint?

How do I verify that this is true? Please help...

Stamford, CT 06902-8221 July 5, 2002 Mr. and Mrs Carl Dixon

Anchorage, AK 99508 Dear Mr. and Mrs. Dixon: My husband and I have just returned from our first visit to the beautiful state of Alaska. I’m a bear lover and was very excited about taking the vacation of my dreams. After a great deal of reading and research, I chose Rust’s Flying Service to view bears in their natural habitat. Realizing that we weren’t traveling during prime bear viewing season, I was careful about making my choice. I called Rust’s office twice and spoke two different gentlemen. Their knowledge was impressive and I welcomed their advice to try the Redoubt area as salmon often run earlier there. At 7:15 a.m. on June 26th a Rust’s van picked us up at the Captain Cook Hotel. Upon our arrival at the airport we were offered coffee and told that our flight would leave around 8:00. This was a surprise but we passed the time without complaint. Our float plane ride was wonderful with our pilot pointing out many sights along the way. Upon arrival at the Redoubt Lodge we were offered coffee and told we would leave shortly. We waited another half hour while it was decided who among the guests wanted to join us. Once they were ready we boarded the boat. Although we never assumed we’d have the boat to ourselves, we didn’t expect to share it with guests of the Lodge which in this case was 2 adults and 5 children. (A sixth child joined us later.) Jim and I are parents so we are accustomed to the energy children this age have. However as I stood to get a better view of something, my seat was instantly taken. When they weren’t asking for hot chocolate, views and pictures were often blocked. Our camera case was kicked and a lens brush went overboard. As hoped for, we did see bears. In fact, five at this time of year is good. (Also no one prepared us for the fact that we would be sharing this space with approximately 50 fishermen shouting, laughing, smoking and drinking.) Unfortunately after about 1