Can I Get More Money? AirTran cancelled our flight

[TwoAtDisney]

Sat, 12/7, we were at the gate, time to board, & AirTran gave our plane to a flight to Chicago.

Yesterday, got email of $300 pp flight credit (use in 1 year). This is the amount volunteers get. Seems like those who get kicked off by the airlines should get more than someone choosing to postpone.

Anyone in this circumstance get more? If so, how?

BTW, rebooking us was horrible. We were in line about 1.5-2 hours, even though we were 5th in line! The employee had no idea how to work the computer for this issue. She could only complete a customer's arrangements when the manager wandered in to help her.

We didn't notice that the last 1/3 of our line was pulled & taken to another counter. Then 1/2 of what was left of our line was pulled to another counter. We, as 5th in line, ended up being next to last.

By the time we got to the untrained person, all of the current days flights were gone & only 2 seats were left on the next day - we, luckily, only needed 2 seats. But it was real scary that those would disappear before the employee helping us knew how to grab them!

A/T paid for the hotel of course & it was a nice one. But we spent about $40 on food, which was not covered - no car & not much to walk to (TGIFridays).

This trip was a quick one for us, only 6 nights. Usually we stay much longer & I take lots of extra RXs, just in case. This time, don't know what I was thinking??? Didn't pack extra of DHs heart meds. But at least the one night without was ok. Just had some panic time when it looked like it could have been 2 nites. Never again, no matter how short the trip - will always pack lots of extra RXs.

 

[seashoreCM]

Normally no in these circumstances.

Now you could have gotten a plain full refund in cash (or credit back to your account if you used a credit card) in exchange for surrendering the entire itinerary unused (or the prorated amount for the unused portion if you used some of it).

those who get kicked off should get more

When people get bumped involuntarily, they are entitled to monetary compensation according to a formula set by law or they can choose the same compensation package that volunteers got. If the airline failed to mention the monetary compensaion then the passenger can change his mind and get that.

Today's live and learn: When standing in line to rebook, take out your cell phone and call the airline and try to rebook that way. If you complete that before coming up to bat at the counter, then you don't need to finish waiting in line.

If you are bumped due to a substitution of a smaller airplane (here a zero-seater) then generally you don't get any compensation. But for a substituted plane that actually could take some people, airlines are still likely to ask for volunteers in a "normal" fashion.

Usually we stay much longer & I take lots of extra RXs, just in case.

Medicine should not be tucked away in checked baggage.

 

[TwoAtDisney]

Normally no in these circumstances.

Now you could have gotten a plain full refund in cash (or credit back to your account if you used a credit card) in exchange for surrendering the entire itinerary unused (or the prorated amount for the unused portion if you used some of it).

Today's live and learn: When standing in line to rebook, take out your cell phone and call the airline and try to rebook that way. If you complete that before coming up to bat at the counter, then you don't need to finish waiting in line.

Thanks for your reply. Our ticket costs was less than the $300, but some people did take a refund.

Didn't think of calling the airline. Good info. Will store for next time! - hopefully NOT!

 

[bumbershoot]

That day was just so horrid for flying. DH had flown in that early morning and was supposed to get out the same day. From and back to Dallas. Shudder. Not a fun day at the airports! All he got was three cancelled flights and then rebookings after upwards of 4 hours total on hold. And a flight that was delayed by a good amount. Wish he'd gotten some compensation for the time on hold and the worry.

 

[TwoAtDisney]

That day was just so horrid for flying. DH had flown in that early morning and was supposed to get out the same day. From and back to Dallas. Shudder. Not a fun day at the airports! All he got was three cancelled flights and then rebookings after upwards of 4 hours total on hold. And a flight that was delayed by a good amount. Wish he'd gotten some compensation for the time on hold and the worry.

So sorry for your husband's airport agony! I heard about the Dallas/Ft. Worth weather problems - horrible . I was advised that airlines do not compensate for flights cancelled due to weather. Our cancellation was not due to weather. I think our flight was not full & the Chicago flight was. So, I think, AirTran decided it would cost less in compensation to cancel us. I still think those involuntarily cancelled should be compensated more than those volunteering, but I doubt that will happen.

 

[sam_gordon]

I think you need to confirm whether it was weather that caused the problem. Assuming it was AirTran doing so with no "acts of God" contributing, you should be entitled to four times the cost of your ticket under the "Passenger Bill of Rights"...

Bumping. Todays rule doubles the amount of money passengers are eligible to be compensated for in the event they are involuntarily bumped from an oversold flight. Currently, bumped passengers are entitled to cash compensation equal to the value of their tickets, up to $400, if the airline is able to get them to their destination within a short period of time (i.e., within 1 to 2 hours of their originally scheduled arrival time for domestic flights and 1 to 4 hours of their originally scheduled arrival time for international flights). Bumped passengers are currently entitled to double the price of their tickets, up to $800, if they are delayed for a lengthy period of time (i.e., over two hours after their originally scheduled arrival time for domestic flights and over 4 hours after their originally scheduled arrival time for international flights). Under the new rule, bumped passengers subject to short delays will receive compensation equal to double the price of their tickets up to $650, while those subject to longer delays would receive payments of four times the value of their tickets, up to $1,300. Inflation adjustments will be made to those compensation limits every two years.

From: http://www.dot.gov/briefing-room/us-department-transportation-expands-airline-passenger-protections

It sounds like to me you're entitled to more (unless your tickets were <=$75).

ETA: While the language specifies being bumped from an oversold flight, and not a flight cancellation, I would contact the DOT [1 (202) 366-4000] to clarify.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I think you need to confirm whether it was weather that caused the problem. Assuming it was AirTran doing so with no "acts of God" contributing, you should be entitled to four times the cost of your ticket under the "Passenger Bill of Rights"...


From: http://www.dot.gov/briefing-room/us-department-transportation-expands-airline-passenger-protections

It sounds like to me you're entitled to more (unless your tickets were <=$75).

ETA: While the language specifies being bumped from an oversold flight, and not a flight cancellation, I would contact the DOT [1 (202) 366-4000] to clarify.

This was a canceled flight. OP was not bumped. The reg you quoted does not apply.

OP, you're lucky you got the $300 and your hotel room comped. All Airtran owed you was a refund or a booking on another of their flights at no further cost to you. Their responsibility to you is covered in their Contract of Carriage (see part 9):

http://www.airtran.com/common/pdf/AirTran_Contract_of_Carriage.pdf

Next time, don't wait in line to be rebooked; get on the phone immediately to your airline to rebook.

 

[bumbershoot]

Next time, don't wait in line to be rebooked; get on the phone immediately to your airline to rebook.

Good info for normal days, but on THAT day, probably not. Or at the very least they should have done both.

On the 7th DH was on hold with American for 2 hours before he had to hang up because our son's dance company performance was beginning. A few hours later he got through quickly. Then his re-rescheduled flight that was to leave at sick-and-wrong in the morning of the 8th (he should have been leaving at 7:40pm on the 7th but it was ALL cancelled) was cancelled, and it took us nearly 1.5 more hours on hold to get that rescheduled.

If we had known his early early flight had been cancelled (silly us, we kept hoping American would have emailed him, but it was flightaware that told us when we got home) we would have stopped by the airport on the way home from Seattle (airport is halfway home) and stood in line WHILE being on hold.


I'm just so jealous that the OP got their flight rebooked AND got $300. So jealous!

Especially since I wouldn't be surprised in any way to find out that it actually was weather-related. Nearly everything was, it seemed, on the 7th and 8th.

 

[TwoAtDisney]

Sorry I've been slow to respond - got the old "travel" cold & have been out of service for few days.

Here's why I thought I might get more money & why I thought AirTran paid us -
1. Weather was fine in & from MCO & in & to IND (Indianapolis). Other planes were flying that route. At that time, the weather was west of our route. Plus the Chicago passengers that took our plane flew the same route.

2. Our flight was "cancelled" because "our plane" was given to a scheduled flight from MCO to Chicago. So, to me, that was involuntarily being bumped, which equals more money than $300.

I found this on the site posted by Sam Gordon (thanks) -
Contrary to popular belief, airlines are not required to compensate passengers whose flights are delayed or canceled. As discussed in the chapter on overbooking, compensation is required by law only when you are "bumped" from a flight that is oversold.

So, I guess my question is - were all of us "bumped" or does the airline have a right to say we were just "cancelled"? I suppose only DOT (or an attorney/court) can answer that question, but oh lordy! Don't know if I want to get caught up in DOT's phone system - probably would last longer than my airport counter wait! Plus, the folks in the call system are not legal experts & I'm sure I could get lots of different answers.

Anyway, I must contact AT to get back my seat selection fees - not much, but I don't want them to have it! So, maybe I'll try to get more by using the above info - we were "bumped" from our plane to give it other passengers.

Any ideas, thoughts, or comments, please post.

Thanks everyone.

 

[LisaS]

If your flight flew it's scheduled route but some passengers were left behind because the flight was oversold, those passengers were "bumped". If your flight did not fly its scheduled route at all, your flight was "cancelled".

Re: medications, we always put ours in our carry on bags in case the flight is delayed or our checked luggage goes missing. We also carry enough medication for a few extra days because even if you get to your destination on time, you could have delays coming home due to weather. If a return flight gets cancelled due to winter storms, it could take a few days to get another flight home.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

So, maybe I'll try to get more by using the above info - we were "bumped" from our plane to give it other passengers.

You were not "bumped." As others have noted, "bumped" means involuntary denied boarding due to overbooking. Your flight was cancelled. The government's bumping rules do not apply.

Cancellations fall into two categories: cancellations that are the airline's responsibility (such as mechanical issues or lack of crew) and cancellations beyond the airline's responsibility (typically due to weather).

In the former case, the airline normally helps passengers to some degree. In the latter case, passengers are normally left to fend for themselves.

A particularly annoying circumstance is when the weather is fine at your departure and arrival airports, but the aircraft is substantially delayed or a flight is cancelled because of weather somewhere else in the country (where the plane is coming in from).

A flight credit of $300 per passenger and a room at a nice hotel was generous (compared to what airlines usually do) for a flight late in the day.

Over the years, I've had a number of significant delays in getting to my destination, due both to mechanical and weather reasons. I've never received such a generous flight credit. Usually I received nothing. Sometimes I received a meal voucher or extra frequent flyer miles or a token credit (such as $50).

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The above poster is correct.

OP, as already pointed out to you, you're lucky you got any compensation. Your definition of being bumped doesn't matter. You were not bumped. Let it go.

 

[TwoAtDisney]

Thank you so much for your responses. Looks like we'll count our blessings & appreciate our $300 each.