usair national airport question

[caitycaity]

i know BL is on vacation right now, but I was wondering if anyone else had advice for my friends.

i am getting married at wdw in early november. a lot of our friends are flying out of national on usair.

right now, usiar won't rebook them out of dulles. they have been told that this policy may change on october 2. they can change by paying the fee, but these are college students we're talking about and they don't have a lot of $$$.

what is the best course of action??? i doubt national will be open by november, if ever.

[laurenk]

Caitycaity,

We are scheduled to fly out of National on USAir, for our November trip. They told me the same thing, and that once it is closed "permanently", or @ 2 weeks out, they will put us on a Dulles flight. I hope they are still in business to put us on ANY flight! Just be patient, I felt that they were doing the best they could under the circumstances. Have a GREAT wedding!!!

[apagano]

I wouldn't panic about it. It is possible that Reagan National could reopen by then. When the situation becomes more clear the airline will be able to reaccomodate you, either out of Dulles or BWI. I believe that the airport will reopen eventually. It's too much of an important part of the DC area's economy to close it forever.

[n2mm]

I agree, I too believe Reagan/National will reopen soon. I usually leave out of Dulles and leave for my next trip Oct. 24.

[JandD Mom]

Did you try to get rebooked from BWI? I know it may be a drive if you are in VA, but it is a very modern airport with very little flight delay. USAir has a lot of flights from there and it may be easier to get on a flight there.

[caitycaity]

yes j and d mom, that's the problem -- they won't let us rebook at all.

i just hope there isn't a run on their flights from dulles and bwi two weeks out. :(

i don't understand why uusair won't rebook since every other airline i have dealt with (american, united and delta) is letting people rebook out of dulles or bwi.

for those of you who are sure national is going to reopen by november -- i wouldn't bet on it. all of the local news staions here have been reporting that if it ever opens it will not be for months.

[laurenk]

Caitycaity,

I am with you. They really are sounding pretty pessimistic(?spelling) about National reopening. I am going to try and speak with a supervisor about getting rebooked without the $100 per ticket charge. American Express did tell me today, thay if US Air folds they will contest the charges, and get my money back. All I REALLY want is a flight out of Dulles, booked now. I really don't want to go to BWI.

Good luck to you, and try not to stress, I remember how stressful wedding planning can be!;)

[caitycaity]

thanks laurenk. :)

[laurenk]

Your welcome!! I will let you know tommorrow what transpires with US Air.

[laurenk]

I am sorry to report, that they still will only let me switch from National to Dulles for a $100 per ticket fee.:(

[BigDaddy1]

but we had USAir reservations to orlando in the next ten days. After checking the USAir website since last Friday, our flight(which runs daily) has been cancelled every day but once.

I called USAir and asked to be changed to a different time(did not ask for a refund just a time change). They gave me the $100 change fee blah, blah, blah. So I hung up and called back right away. I spoke to another agent and said that our flight # has shown a pattern of being cancelled daily. She looked into it and let us change times without the $100.

I would think that a closure of an airpot is a 'pattern' or worse and if you keep calling, you will get what you are looing for.

Good Luck and I hope it all works out well.

[Wiggle]

CaityCaity, I am booked on American at National for 10/5. They won't rebook me to another airport without the $100 fee. So, it's not just USAir, it's American also.

My biggest fear is that they won't rebook me until the day of the flight! Do you know how far out they've been agreeing that National will be closed so that they'll rebook your flight? I've been hearing only two days out, but that's just rumor.

Wiggle

[The Hunt]

According to today's Washington Post, several airlines have the following policy: for each day the airport remains closed, they are cancelling all flights five days out. This should allow you to rebook no later than five days before your scheduled flight.