Airline bumped us! Need BCV 5/10

[llane]

This happened to us last year. We had 6 tickets. 3 adults and 3 children. I told the customer care rep that I didn't think anyone would want to be on the plane if I wasn't there with my kids. She understood and was able to rearrange things.

Our seat assignments also got changed, but were also corrected.
A refund was offered also.

I think part of the problem was because I booked the flight online. I was unable to get all 6 tickets on one order and had to use two seperate orders, they were eventually linked together so any changes to one happened to the other.

 

[KNWVIKING]

But if not: You book a year in advance.Wouldn't the airline contact the most recent bookings and work their way backwards till they got to you if needed ? How small is the replacement plane ?

 

[Doctor P]

Airlines generally bump nonpaying passengers first, then start bumping those that are on non-full fare tickets by fare category as I understand it.

 

[TroyWDW]

Ask USAir's customer service to explain to you their "Contract of Carriage" rules with respect to your vouchers. Below is a link to their website and to the BBB.

USAir Terms of Transportation (click here)

USAir Customer Service Commitment (click here)

BBB for USAir Consumer Complaints (click here)

It appears that US Air doesn't resolve all complaints.
[...Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to unresolved complaint(s).]

Here is a link to a website that explains your consumer rights.
My Travel Rights (click here)

Here is one snippet from "The Bumping Game" on that website.
On oversold flights, there is a difference between the ticket counter and the departure gate. If the person checking you in says you do not have a seat, ask if it is because you do not have a preassigned seat. If the answer is yes, tell that agent that, according to federal rules, you can only be denied boarding based on the airline's published boarding authority as follows:

AirTran, Aloha, America West, Southwest, US Airways, and Vanguard: First come, first serve at the boarding gate.

There is more info that can educate you on your consumer rights.

Remain polite and professional, but continue to inquire about your rights as a consumer with USAir. My concern is that since you aren't a paying customer and you are traveling on a voucher, that you may not have the same rights. But, then again you may. Check the terms of the voucher.

I'm assuming that you voluntarily gave up your seat on a previous flight. Remind them how you helped them out previously with an overbooking situation. Is this how they repay that act of generosity on your part?

Very simply, be professional, but be vigilant. Keep a log and record the names of people you talk with and what time. Below is some contact information that you may already have.

Good Luck.

Troy


USAir Contact Information
US Airways employees are empowered to address consumer issues appropriately and effectively at the time a concern arises at airports, city ticket offices, and through reservations.

The US Airways Office of Consumer Affairs will respond to written complaints within 45 days from receipt of the complaint. The Office of Consumer Affairs may be contacted via telephone, letter, or fax.

Telephone:
866-523-5333
Available 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., EST
Monday through Friday

By US Mail:
Ms. Deborah Thompson
Managing Director, Corporate and Consumer Affairs
US Airways
P.O. Box 1501
Winston Salem, NC 27102-1501

Fax:
336-661-8031

Corporate Headquarters
US Airways
2345 Crystal Drive
Arlington, VA 22227
Telephone: 703-872-7000

David N. Siegel
President and CEO

 

[shelly3girls]

Just to let everyone know, there was one 2 bedroom villa available for the night I needed! I got the last one! Now I just need to call USAir. Not that I believe it will make much difference, but I will feel much better if I call and write a letter. Thanks again for everyones help!

 

[AnnaS]

We are flying Delta on Sun. Easter (4/20). Our flight was for 8:00 am. We have now received new e-tickets in the mail. They changed our flight to 9:15 - the originial 8:00 is not on site anymore and this new one is full. I remember somone saying Delta was switching aircraft or something and is it also possible that they are cancelling flights and condensing due to the economy/war situation?

 

[shelly3girls]

I just spoke to USAir Consumer Affairs. I was told that they have the right to change my flight time to whenever they want as long as it is the same day. When I mentioned their own policy of compensating customers that cannot be accomodated within 1 hour of their original flight time, she told me that it did not apply to me because they gave me advance notice. I was told I had no recourse, but she would submit a complaint on my behalf. I plan to write a letter, but I believe my complaint is falling on deaf ears.

 

[NJmouse]

shelly our departure 4/30 and return flight 5/9 were also changed for USAir. When we notified by mail and my DH called and was told because this is their normal spring changes that was about 2 weeks ago. Our flight was originally scheduled for 6:30 am and now we are leaving at 8:15 am. Our return flight we were notified last week by phone. We were supposed to be on the 6:50 pm flight and it was changed to 6 pm. She asked my if that flight was ok or if I wanted the 8:20 pm flight I opted for the 8:20 one. My DH flies frequently on USAir almost every other week and he upgraded our tickets to 1st class and we have our original seats. I hope you can find a suitable answer to this problem. Hopefully we will see you in the WDW.