A Mother's Rant as it happens!

[litlpixie]

My 19 year old and his 2 friends have been spending the last 17 hours stuck at airports on standby!!! They have never flown without their parents before and they are exhausted waiting for a flight from Dulles airport to MCO. Due to their flight from Albany last night being delayed 3 hours, they missed their connecting and now they wait!!

I'm a wreck because I cant help them . I have called the WDW travel co. and I have called the vacation ins. dept. No one can do anything about getting them to MCO any quicker. It is so frustrating. I fly southwest non stop and have never ran into any problems. This is crazy. I realize stuff happens, really I do. I just needed to vent and I didnt know where else to put this. I just want to cry because I know I would be insane spending my vacation at an airport.

Sorry for the rant just wish they could get there asap and start enjoying their stay is all.

 

[carolina_yankee]

What airline? I get very nervous when I fly airlines that have agreements to book on other airlines when that happens.

I hope they get out soon and have a long enough trip that these just becomes part of the adventure of their first travel alone. (Yeah, silver lining and all that - I would frustrated, too!)

Dirk

 

[LisaRN97]

I fell so bad for them! Are they large waitlists for standby? Is this why they are not getting any flights? Keeping my fingers crossed for them...keep us posted!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Which airline are they flying? Most airlines with the exception of smaller carriers, SW and JetBlue have extensive agreements to rebook on other carriers if they have room.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

Well, on the bright side, if there is a bright side....

They are together and they will have quite the story to tell when their adventures are over!

I hope they get to their destination soon and safely! My thoughts are with you!!!

 

[disneymom2003]

Sorry for all the problems. As a mother I know how you must feel. Two things. First there is a law that says if you are bumped for anything besides they have an obligation to get you on the next available airplane (and company) Sorry I can't remember what it is called. The other thing is if they bump you they have to compensate you with a voucher. I think the amount for a 1 to 2 hour delay is $400.

 

[uva185]

Are they flying United??

Jet Blue has 4 seats available (no standby required) on flight 337 right now (departs at 4:10pm).

You could purchase them seats on that flight and tell UA (assuming they are booked on UA) that they have found alternate transportation to MCO. This will prevent UA from cenceling their return tickets if they don't take a UA flight to MCO.

 

[Lewisc]

Which airline are they flying? Most airlines with the exception of smaller carriers, SW and JetBlue have extensive agreements to rebook on other carriers if they have room.

Sounds like tickets were purchased through Disney travel. The tickets could be a fare class (consolidator) that can't be endorsed over to other carriers. DIS flying to Orlando rarely get rebooked on other airlines. SW, JetBlue, Allegiant, Spirit, AirTran are popular airlines used by DIS.

Sorry for all the problems. As a mother I know how you must feel. Two things. First there is a law that says if you are bumped for anything besides they have an obligation to get you on the next available airplane (and company) Sorry I can't remember what it is called. The other thing is if they bump you they have to compensate you with a voucher. I think the amount for a 1 to 2 hour delay is $400.

The OP wasn't bumped, IDB, as the result of an overbooked flight. They missed their connecting flight. Very little, if any, compensation is owed if the problem was weather related.

 

[litlpixie]

Here's an update, and I'm afraid it isn't any better-they were at the top of the standby list for the 12:19 flight.....and THEY GOT BUMPED!!!!! Why, you ask....WELL it seems that United has a policy that if someone comes along with "miles" and $$ to buy a seat, they can bump off standby people!!! CAN U BELIEVE THIS? So the kids got bumped and there they sit. I dont , at this point know what to do, however, if this is normal procedure, IMHO, that is so unfair! These kids have been waiting there in Washington since midnight!! I'm going to check and see if I can call someone at the airline.

 

[brp]

Sorry for all the problems. As a mother I know how you must feel. Two things. First there is a law that says if you are bumped for anything besides they have an obligation to get you on the next available airplane (and company) Sorry I can't remember what it is called. The other thing is if they bump you they have to compensate you with a voucher. I think the amount for a 1 to 2 hour delay is $400.

The OP wasn't bumped, IDB, as the result of an overbooked flight. They missed their connecting flight. Very little, if any, compensation is owed if the problem was weather related.

To expand upon this- they should try and determine the reason for the initial delay. If it is weather then they are owed little, as noted. If it was something over which they had control- aircraft mechanical of crew issue, for example, they can push for better accommodation on a later flight or different airline, plus meal vouchers. They won't get this automatically, though, and will have to ask for it.

Cheers.

 

[crashbb]

Yes that is the policy - stand-by passengers are behind any passenger willing to pay for their ticket (either with cash or with miles).

I'm not sure if US Airways flies between Dulles and Orlando, but they should easily be able to have their tickets transferred over to US Aiways, since they are UA partners.

 

[uva185]

Here's an update, and I'm afraid it isn't any better-they were at the top of the standby list for the 12:19 flight.....and THEY GOT BUMPED!!!!! Why, you ask....WELL it seems that United has a policy that if someone comes along with "miles" and $$ to buy a seat, they can bump off standby people!!! CAN U BELIEVE THIS? So the kids got bumped and there they sit. I dont , at this point know what to do, however, if this is normal procedure, IMHO, that is so unfair! These kids have been waiting there in Washington since midnight!! I'm going to check and see if I can call someone at the airline.

I'm confused. Were they confirmed on the flight and then given Involuntary Denied Boarding due to an oversold situation or did someone simply purchase a seat before the standby list was cleared?

 

[brp]

Here's an update, and I'm afraid it isn't any better-they were at the top of the standby list for the 12:19 flight.....and THEY GOT BUMPED!!!!! Why, you ask....WELL it seems that United has a policy that if someone comes along with "miles" and $$ to buy a seat, they can bump off standby people!!! CAN U BELIEVE THIS? So the kids got bumped and there they sit. I dont , at this point know what to do, however, if this is normal procedure, IMHO, that is so unfair! These kids have been waiting there in Washington since midnight!! I'm going to check and see if I can call someone at the airline.

This is standard policy. Ticket purchase (be it with $$ or miles) takes precedence over people flying standby. Also, for most airlines, if an elite member decides to standby, they will go on the standby list ahead of non-status folks, even if they request later. The airlines are geared toward revenue and their frequent fliers, for better or worse.

Cheers.

 

[crashbb]

I don't have access to my KVS software here, but looking at the publicly accessible airline availability sites, things don't look great I am afraid. Only JetBlue appears to have seats on any flight between 3pm and 10pm today (note - not all airlines show up). I looked up DCA as well (thinking it might be worth the hassle of a new airport), but it doesn't look much better.

On a slightly better note - there appears to be a fair bit of room tomorrow morning.

If it were me, I'd be tempted to ask for a confirmed (i.e. NOT stand-by) ticket for UA38 tomorrow morning (leave IAD at 7:54am) OR take a PP's advice and buy a JetBlue ticket today (and just eat the cost - UA is highly unlikely to give you any reimbursement).

 

[robinb]

What airline? I get very nervous when I fly airlines that have agreements to book on other airlines when that happens.

Don't you mean you get nervous flying airlines that DON'T have agreements?

Here's an update, and I'm afraid it isn't any better-they were at the top of the standby list for the 12:19 flight.....and THEY GOT BUMPED!!!!! Why, you ask....WELL it seems that United has a policy that if someone comes along with "miles" and $$ to buy a seat, they can bump off standby people!!! CAN U BELIEVE THIS? So the kids got bumped and there they sit. I dont , at this point know what to do, however, if this is normal procedure, IMHO, that is so unfair! These kids have been waiting there in Washington since midnight!! I'm going to check and see if I can call someone at the airline.

I'm sorry the kids got bumped but yes, that is standard operating procedure. Non-revenue passengers come after revenue passengers. It's frustrating to be sure. I hope they get on a plane soon.

 

[chartle]

Sorry for all the problems. As a mother I know how you must feel. Two things. First there is a law that says if you are bumped for anything besides they have an obligation to get you on the next available airplane (and company) Sorry I can't remember what it is called. The other thing is if they bump you they have to compensate you with a voucher. I think the amount for a 1 to 2 hour delay is $400.

I'm not sure its a law anymore. I remembered reading this from MSN about travel myths a week or so ago.

http://guides.travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1083446

U.S. airlines are required to compensate you if a cancellation is their fault:

This fable is based on the so-called “Rule 240,” which no longer exists — thank the Reagan-era frenzy of deregulation. Today, there is no government requirement at all covering canceled flights. What happens to passengers depends on the particular airline’s “contract of carriage,” and these vary widely. You may or may not be rebooked on another airline; you may or may not be offered a hotel if you’re stuck overnight or a meal if it’s an all-day breakdown. Most U.S. airlines, at least grudgingly, provide some level of care, though. At the very least, they do have to honor their contract and get you to your destination, when possible. Want compensation if, say, you miss the first night of your honeymoon? Good luck.

Here's more about "rule 240"

http://airtravel.about.com/od/travelindustrynews/qt/rule240part1.htm

 

[uva185]

I'm not sure its a law anymore. I remembered reading this from MSN about travel myths a week or so ago.

http://guides.travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1083446




Here's more about "rule 240"

http://airtravel.about.com/od/travelindustrynews/qt/rule240part1.htm

Rule 240 would not apply if the original delay was due to weather or ATC.

 

[dotcomguy]

You're on vacation, stop worrying and enjoy yourself. It sucks that they aren't getting to enjoy vacation yet, but that's not your fault and not something for you to worry about. (It won't get them to MCO any faster).

Look on the bright side, they're getting a crash course in problem solving/coping skills, and other life skills in the safest environment possible, a US airport! In today's world some kids might not get a learning experience like this until after college.

Go to the parks and tell him to send you a text when they get a flight. If he asks what to do while he waits, tell him to read a book and to stop calling you. You're on vacation!

(Seriously, I do feel for you. I just want to encourage you to not worry about something you can't change. View this as an unplanned adventure for your son.)

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Technically, these are revenue passengers who should be given confirmed seating on the first flight with seats available in their original cabin class. Not sure why they are being placed on standby lists like non-revs.

 

[crashbb]

Technically, these are revenue passengers who should be given confirmed seating on the first flight with seats available in their original cabin class. Not sure why they are being placed on standby lists like non-revs.

Granted I only looked after reading the first post but there were no flights today with 3 available seats for them to be confirmed on (heck, there were no flights with 1 available seat). That's why I suggested getting confirmed for tomorrow NOW (they can still try stand-by for the other flights today).