I Hate Hate Hate Hate Us Airway

[momoftwins]

UGH -

DH was bumped from a flight in April. He was given a transportation voucher that has a value of $200.00. But guess what, they never, never have any seats that can used with the voucher. Oh, that is unless you want to travel the third Sunday, of the next leap year, between 1:01 AM and 1:02 AM -and only if you can turn around and do the hokey pokey, while patting your head and rubbing your stomach!

All we want to do is travel RT Philadelphia to Providence from a Friday evening to a Sunday evening. Just him, not 400 people. It's not like Providence is a travel mecca (sorry Ocean Staters, what I mean is not every seat can possbly be filled.

Anyway, got that off my chest - for now (until the next time I try to use that stupid, useless voucher)

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

DH was bumped from a flight in April. He was given a transportation voucher that has a value of $200.00. But guess what, they never, never have any seats that can used with the voucher.

Some things don't make sense to me here.

First, if a passenger is actually bumped — involuntarily denied boarding — by an airline, the passenger is supposed to get actual money, not a travel voucher. So this sounds like a case of your DH voluntarily accepting an offer from an airline, not a case of your DH being bumped. (If your DH was involuntarily denied boarding, but only given an airline voucher, then you should demand cash from the airline, and complain to the government.)

Next, whenever I've received a travel voucher from an airline, I've been able to spend it like cash toward any travel with the airline. (I admit I've never had a travel voucher from US Airways.) There's no guarantee that the voucher will be sufficient to pay for the entire ticket, nor is there any guarantee that a flight won't be sold out out. If the flight is $500, then a $200 voucher should bring the balance down to approximately $300. That might be more money then someone is willing to pay, but it's not the same as never, never having any seats that can used with the voucher — unless there's actually a highly restrictive booking class restriction on the voucher. Is there such a booking class restriction? And, if so, did the gate agent disclose the restrictions on the use of the voucher? (If there are restrictions, but they weren't disclosed, then it was essentially fraud on the part of the airline.)

Have you or your DH spoken to a supervisor at US Airways about how to make use of the voucher?

 

[bicker]

Airlines will offer a travel voucher and if that's acceptable to the passenger, then that's what they'll get. Saavy travelers know their contract with the airline, and know what they are allowed to demand in case of involuntary denied boarding. Do keep in mind that cash compensation is not as generous in the abstract as travel vouchers. Furthermore, even with involuntary denied boarding, if they can get you on scheduled flights that get to your destination within a couple of hours of your originally scheduled time, compensation is limited to $200. In that case, you're not really a displaced passenger, according to the contract you agreed to.

There are restrictions on most travel vouchers. These restrictions help keep our airfares low, so I'm not really going to complain about them.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Next, whenever I've received a travel voucher from an airline, I've been able to spend it like cash toward any travel with the airline. (I admit I've never had a travel voucher from US Airways.)

The vouchers USAirways give you work almost like FF miles. There are a certain number of seats alloted to each flight for voucher use, whether the voucher covers the whole cost of the flight or not. I won't take a voluntary bump from USAirways anymore becaue I have tried to use one of their vouchers and its impossible (and this was more than 6 months out).

 

[bicker]

I won't take a voluntary bump from any airline. They almost all operate in the same manner.

Check the archives, both here on any other travel-related website, and you'll see, week-after-week: "I hate US Airways." "I hate Delta." "I hate Continental." "I hate Southwest." "I hate Northwest." "I hate United." "I hate AirTran." "I hate Spirit." And so on. Coming to think of it, the only airlines that I see fewer "hate" messages than others are American Airlines and JetBlue.

I blame passengers. As a group, they are so maniacally focused on the lowest fare, no airline can ever hope to get a leg up providing better service.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

This happened to me with Northwest airlines. I couldn't use the ticket. It was not pleasant. I even wrote to the airlines, but it didn't help. I couldn't get a seat 1 year in advance.

Since then I have been bumped several times (always my choice I volunteer ), with AA & Delta.
I now know, to ask for AA voucher money, or DL money, this way I can use it towards my future flights.

I am not an expert, but this is my experience with the airlines. Know what you are getting, before you give up your seat.

Patricia

 

[NJDad18]

I have received vouchers from US Airways twice and neither time did I have any problems redeeming them. Both times my vouchers were for $150 per person. I could not book the flights online. I had to call to make the reservation and then go to the airport to pay for the flight with the voucher.

I received the vouchers b/c I complained about US Airways. The first time our flight was cancelled and they rebooked us on another airline and then US Airways lost one of our bags. The sent it by mistake to a cruise ship and when the person on the cruise said that the bag was not the right bag they told the cruise line to keep it b/c they did not have a record of a missing bag, which was a lie. The cruise line called us (b/c our info was on the tag, which was someting that US Airways failed to do) and they sent us the bag.

Maybe you and I had different kinds of vouchers but for me it has never been a problem.

 

[CarolA]

I take DL bumps, they give you DL Dollars. The biggest issue with those is that you can't use them for interenet fares and you have to pay the $10 ticketing fee.

However, USAir does have one of the worst "voucher" programs out there.

(And Bicker, personally I think you see less I hate AA threads because they have a very small flight base in and out of MCO. Based on my past experiences they have plenty of "haters" It's actually the only airline I do avoid like the plague...)

 

[DebbieB]

I fly USAirways alot and I usually hear them offer volunteers "a roundtrip ticket good for 1 year for anywhere in the Continental US". I've never accepted one, I know better.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

I fly USAirways alot and I usually hear them offer volunteers "a roundtrip ticket good for 1 year for anywhere in the Continental US". I've never accepted one, I know better.

The one above(roundtrip ticket good for 1 year) is the one everyone should avoid, I "Now" know better & ask for airline dollar vouchers.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I have received vouchers from US Airways twice and neither time did I have any problems redeeming them. Both times my vouchers were for $150 per person. I could not book the flights online. I had to call to make the reservation and then go to the airport to pay for the flight with the voucher.

I received the vouchers b/c I complained about US Airways. The first time our flight was cancelled and they rebooked us on another airline and then US Airways lost one of our bags. The sent it by mistake to a cruise ship and when the person on the cruise said that the bag was not the right bag they told the cruise line to keep it b/c they did not have a record of a missing bag, which was a lie. The cruise line called us (b/c our info was on the tag, which was someting that US Airways failed to do) and they sent us the bag.

Maybe you and I had different kinds of vouchers but for me it has never been a problem.

This is the type of vouchers I've gotten from USAirways too. Maybe things have changed since they merged with America West. We received ours because the price of our booked flights dropped (the exact itineraries have to match.) Instead of getting a refund to our credit card they give vouchers. I thought they were a pain because they could only be used by the original passenger. Also we had to go to the airport, stand in the long line watching people going on vacation to pay. That's what I love about Southwest. I can rebook online, save the credits and book our next trip online.

 

[alyssa810]

I have received bump vouchers from Northwest and Delta, and I never had any problems redeeming them, and I fly out of Providence or Boston....

 

[cynic957]

After flying them for over 20 years , way back to the controller strike, US Airways (aka Alleghaney Airlines), I can uncatergorily state that US AIrways employess are the surliest most obnoxious group of Airline employees in the world. This undoubtably flows down from the top.

Last year my daughter flew to Detriot on USairways ( a small 40 pass jet).

When she got to the other end the bags were missing. The baggage claim said they were lost. After 72 hours they had not been delivered. She called me and I call USAirways corpoorate offices. There I was told it was a small jet and the bags were not lost - thet were intentionally left in PHL for Airplane balance".

I was stunned ...I asked "so you intentionally left the bags behind ....and you couldn't inform the passenger at the other end or in flight, or when they called for the whereabouts of the bags....when it was a concious decison by the airline?"

Silence followed by - "what else can I do for you?"

Never ever fly USAir if you have any choice.

 

[maps]

A couple of weeks ago, i would have agreed with you (due to a horrible experience last yr). But we just flew we them last week to Charlotte and I have to say I was very impressed with the way they handled our situation.

After getting on the plane, we all had to get off because they found a hydraulic leak in one of the struts (sounds bad!). I thought it was going to be a nightmare.

But, within one hour, they had another plane which everyone boarded and they got us to our destination only 40minutes later than we orginally booked. And the luggage was all there too!

We had something simialr happen 10yrs ago with AA and it was handled horribly (although I think that had more to do with the employees at Puerto Rico airport than AA).

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

DH was bumped from a flight in April. He was given a transportation voucher that has a value of $200.00. But guess what, they never, never have any seats that can used with the voucher.

You are EXACTLY correct. That is why you never see a savvy traveller accepting these useless vouchers. You need to hold out for a CASH payment if you are bumped.

It's not just USAir anyway, it's hard to use vouchers on just about every airline.

 

[bavaria]

Check the archives, both here on any other travel-related website, and you'll see, week-after-week: "I hate US Airways." "I hate Delta." "I hate Continental." "I hate Southwest." "I hate Northwest." "I hate United." "I hate AirTran." "I hate Spirit." And so on. Coming to think of it, the only airlines that I see fewer "hate" messages than others are American Airlines and JetBlue.

I blame passengers. As a group, they are so maniacally focused on the lowest fare, no airline can ever hope to get a leg up providing better service.

And frankly, that's why I find that the transportation board has become tedious (combined with all the SW threads) and is no longer of great value. I recommend that anyone posting here should read flyertalk.com and their airlines's own website first to educate themselves a little.

Sorry that we are all sounding a little harsh to the OP, but as with most things, a little education goes a long way.

I'm not a very frequent US Airways flier, but I do find that their operations in Charlotte are excellent. But everyone's experience can vary.

 

[cynic957]

A couple of weeks ago, i would have agreed with you (due to a horrible experience last yr). But we just flew we them last week to Charlotte and I have to say I was very impressed with the way they handled our situation.

After getting on the plane, we all had to get off because they found a hydraulic leak in one of the struts (sounds bad!). I thought it was going to be a nightmare.

But, within one hour, they had another plane which everyone boarded and they got us to our destination only 40minutes later than we orginally booked. And the luggage was all there too!

We had something simialr happen 10yrs ago with AA and it was handled horribly (although I think that had more to do with the employees at Puerto Rico airport than AA).

Remember that was just the latest example - in general I find US Airways to provide poor service and a lot of attitude. From two broken planes in PHL/Charlotte 2003, Abandonment on late flights into newark (1983), refusal to allow use of any credit anywhere but at the airport(1998),lost bag as detailed (2005), Rerouting direct non-stops from PHL to PIT in three puddles jumps in PA (1994), Cancellation of flight from Logan to Toronto where the staff abandon the gate (1982). You are aware of the Xmas baggage snafu in 2004 as reported on the national news. need anymore? OVER 25 years worth. America West needs to trashout that entire organization and bury the name.

Just trying to let the travelers on this board how horrible they are. Until the last five years they had no competition in PHL. Now they do and I have not flown them since 2003 and that has been my only flight on them in the 21st century.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

And frankly, that's why I find that the transportation board has become tedious (combined with all the SW threads) and is no longer of great value. I recommend that anyone posting here should read flyertalk.com and their airlines's own website first to educate themselves a little.

I agree. Keep in mind that many of these I hate xxxx airlines threads are started by infrequent travellers who have trouble understanding that every airline has pretty much the same types of problems and that they are not owed anything for experiencing a flight delay, a seat change, cancellations, poor airline food, etc.

Just trying to let the travelers on this board how horrible they are.

That has been your US Airways experience. My husband and I fly the US AIR Shuttle between Boston and DC often and our experience has been 100% positive.

 

[bicker]

Indeed. There is another "I hate xxx" thread going on right now... with the object being Delta, not US Airways. (As a matter of fact, I've seen far more "I hate Delta" threads in recent years than "I hate US Airways" threads, even adjusted for the relative sizes of the airlines.)

 

[safetymom]

The vouchers on US Airways come out of the same pool of seats as freq. flyer award seats. I am a preferred flyer with US Airways and find most of the front line employees some of the best out there.

I was flying them almost weekly for about 5 months this year with no problems. I would rather my bags be left behind in order for me to have a safe flight. This happens with all airlines so it isn't just US Airways.