If United cancels a flight.....

[dudspizza]

*Editted to word my post a little better, I hope! *

Ok, I am flying to Reno on United out of MSP on 5/25.

I fly in 5 weeks. I watch the flight daily to see if it has been on time and what gates I may have to connect in Denver at.

Today (4/13) I noticed that the same flight had a last minute cancellation. If this were my flight, I am wondering what my options would have been.

Here is my question. What are my options if the flight is cancelled on the day of my flight (5/25)? I know they will try to put me on another flight that day, but what if that flight is much later. Does United book you on another airline to get you to your destination at a reasonable time? I just want to be prepared "if" it were to happen.

I am supposed to arrive in Reno at 11am. If cancelled, I would hate to not arrive until late at night or worse the next day since I bowl the team event of the USBC Open at 230pm the day after I arrive.

Experiences? I know Bavaria flys United a lot... any thoughts are appreciated.

Duds

 

[bavaria]

did someone call me??

they will try and rebook you. Priority goes to elite members.

Just this week, I was on a UA flight which went mechanical. The pilot would have gone illegal ie too many flying hours, so the flight was cancelled. As it was an airport with few flights, we were advised to collect our luggage and try and rebook via phone.

I called United elite reservations while I was walking to baggage claim; they rebooked me on a flight out the next day. They DID find a flight to Chicago that same day but it was overbooked - they told me to check with the ticket agent at the airport, who also could not get me onto the flight.

The phone agent then rebooked me onto an American flight, which would get me home 1 hour later.

Sadly the American flight then delayed, and I would have missed my connection, so went back to the hotel.

I did get out the next day. United has already thrown 1 system wide upgrade, 1 500 miler upgrade, and some travel vouchers my way.

For mechanical delays, they should provide an alternative ie another carrier if at all possible. With smaller airports it may be a challenge.

You may also want to read Bavaria's lessons in what to do if your flight is cancelled

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1363416

 

[bavaria]

oh, and today's flight was most likely cancelled due to weather.

Weather cancellations and mechanical cancellations are treated differently. With weather, airlines rarely put you up in a hotel anymore. They don't offer you compensation unless you really push.

With a mechanical delay, they are much more likely to work to find a solution, as one is usually available (vs weather, when they need to ride it out like every other airline)

 

[seashoreCM]

I don't think any airline gives you compensation or puts you on another airline's flight if the cancellation is days or weeks before the normal arrival at the airport and check in.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[dudspizza]

I don't think any airline gives you compensation or puts you on another airline's flight if the cancellation is days or weeks before the normal arrival at the airport and check in.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

I am fully aware of that.... I was talking in terms of cancelled the day of flight as was the flight yesterday...... My flight for 5/25 is still scheduled.

Duds

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If an airline cancels your flight the day of the flight, they will try and rebook you as soon as possible on their airline. Worst case, it could be days later. You would also have the option of a ticket refund so you can book yourself on another airline.

 

[bradk]

it's up to the individual airline's policy whether refunds are ever offered in cases where changes are made ahead of time. as a rule of thumb, the contract of carriage usually specifies flight times are not guaranteed and are subject to change when purchasing nonrefundable tickets.

the only thing you really can do is call them and see how much they'll work with you in the interest of customer service.

 

[Delaware Mike]

I feel your pain, as I've found myself in a similiar situation with another carrier.

Here's what United's CoC states concerning your options. This is the most current information from United, as I checked with their Customer Service reps (I'm also flying United very soon, so it was good for me to check).

United Rule 240: Failure to Operate on Schedule or Failure to Carry (not applicable to standby fares):
C) SCHEDULE IRREGULARITY
1) WHEN A PASSENGER WILL BE DELAYED BECAUSE OF A SCHEDULE IRREGULARITY INVOLVING A UA FLIGHT WHICH, FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS RULE, FOR TICKETS ISSUED ON/AFTER SEPT. 1, 1992, FLIGHT DELAYS
EXCEEDING 2 HRS., OR UA CANCELS THE PASSENGER'S RESERVATION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPHS A) OR D), RULE 135 (CANCELLATION OF RESERVATIONS) EXCEPT FOR CANCELLATIONS OF RESERVATIONS DUE TO A WORK STOPPAGE:
A) UA WILL TRANSPORT THE PASSENGER WITHOUT STOPOVER ON ITS
NEXT FLIGHT ON WHICH SPACE IS AVAILABLE IN THE SAME CLASS OF SERVICE AS THE PASSENGER'S ORIGINAL OUTBOUND FLIGHT AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THE PASSENGER.
B) IF UA IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ONWARD TRANSPORTATION
ACCEPTABLE TO THE PASSENGER, UA, WITH CONCURRENCE OF THE PASSENGER, WILL ARRANGE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION ON ANOTHER CARRIER OR COMBINATION OF CARRIERS WITH WHOM UA HAS AGREEMENTS FOR SUCH TRANSPORTATION. THE PASSENGER WILL BE TRANSPORTED WITHOUT STOPOVER ON ITS (THEIR) NEXT FLIGHT(S), IN THE SAME CLASS OF SERVICE AS THE PASSENGER'S ORIGINAL OUTBOUND FLIGHT AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THE PASSENGER.
C) IF SPACE IS ONLY AVAILABLE AND USED ON A UA FLIGHT(S)
OF A LOWER CLASS OF SERVICE ACCEPTABLE TO THE PASSENGER, UA WILL
PROVIDE A REFUND OF THE DIFFERENCE IN FARES PURSUANT TO RULE 260
(REFUNDS-INVOLUNTARY).
D) IF UA IS UNABLE TO ARRANGE ALTERNATE AIR TRANSPORTATION
ACCEPTABLE TO THE PASSENGER, UA SHALL REFUND THE FLIGHT COUPON(S) FOR THE UNFLOWN PORTION(S) IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 260 (REFUNDS-INVOLUNTARY).
EXCEPTION 1: UA SHALL HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO HONOR ANOTHER CARRIER'S
TICKET WHICH DOES NOT REFLECT A CONFIRMED RESERVATION ON UA, UNLESS THE
ISSUING CARRIER REISSUES THE TICKET FOR ANY CHANGES IN ROUTING. IN THE
EVENT SUCH CARRIER IS NOT AVAILABLE TO DO SO, UA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO
REROUTE PASSENGERS ONLY OVER ITS OWN LINES BETWEEN THE POINTS NAMED ON
THE ORIGINAL TICKET.
EXCEPTION 2: PASSENGERS HOLDING TICKETS FOR ANOTHER CARRIER PURCHASED
AT DE21/DE21E/ DE22/FE30/FE32 FARES (OR SIMILAR DISCOUNTED FARES WHICH
PROVIDE FOR TRAVEL ON FIRST CLASS SERVICE) WILL BE ACCEPTED ON UA FIRST
CLASS SERVICE UPON PAYMENT OF ADDITIONAL FARE TO THE LEVEL OF UA'S
NORMAL ONE-WAY FIRST CLASS FARES.
2) UNITED WILL, IN A TIMELY MANNER, GIVE ALL CUSTOMERS THE BEST
AVAILABLE INFORMATION REGARDING KNOWN DELAYS, CANCELLATIONS AND
DIVERSIONS INVOLVING THEIR FLIGHT.

In short, they can put you on the next flight where a seat is available
-or-
if the flight isn't acceptable to you, they should work with you to put you on a flight which is acceptable to you
-or-
if the two steps above don't work out, you can ask for a refund.

I know someone will be along very soon to post otherwise, but this information is direct from United's "mouth".

I hope this helps you with this situation. Good luck!

 

[bradk]

i'm gonna follow up on this in a minute, i have to look into the previous post in proper context, but i need to mention Rule 240 generally applies to flights that are changed/canceled within hours of the flight due to the negligence of the airline itself, so a flight changed days or weeks out wouldn't factor into it.

Rule 240 is also a leftover from a time when airlines were regulated by the government. most airlines do have a rule 240, but it will vary by airline as it is self-imposed and governed.

 

[bradk]

okay. here, the immediate problem with invoking Rule 240 as I mentioned, is as it's quoted above by PP, it specifically deals with Schedule Irregularity which is defined by Rule 240 as the following, in part:

8) SCHEDULE IRREGULARITY MEANS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING
IRREGULARITIES OCCURRING ON DATE OF DEPARTURE:

so a change or cancelation any day prior to the day you're leaving won't be covered by 240.

i've skimmed through this thing a couple of times and don't see where it addresses changes ahead of day of departure, so maybe i'm misintrepeting, missing something or maybe it's not in there. i know delta is pretty clear on it.

anyway, contract is here for anyone interested: http://www.united.com/ual/asset/COC12FEB07.pdf

 

[Delaware Mike]

Since January 1, 2007, three of my flights were cancelled (two were 10-14 days before the date of travel) for business and vacation travel. These involved United and USNightmair. In one instance, I got a full refund. In the second I got moved to another carrier to meet my scheduling needs, and for the third (occurring on the date of travel) I was put on the carrier's next flight to my destination.

The OP should call and provide United the opportunity to rectify this situation. You'd be amazed what an attempt to gain a little customer service will get you, bradk...all you have to do is ask. (...and that was not scarcasm, please don't take offense.)

 

[bradk]

no offense taken, because that was already my advice in response #7, so no worries

 

[bavaria]

Duds' flight has NOT been cancelled. I think that you are reading the situation incorrectly. His future flight is still scheduled but he is trying to find out what may happen should that flight cancel on the day of departure

He was looking for information should a situation like the one I noted above occur - ie the flight is cancelled on the day of departure due to weather or mechanical or other reasons.

it's up to the individual airline's policy whether refunds are ever offered in cases where changes are made ahead of time

I don't think any airline gives you compensation or puts you on another airline's flight if the cancellation is days or weeks before the normal arrival at the airport and check in.

 

[Delaware Mike]

no offense taken, because that was already my advice in response #7, so no worries

Sweet! I love it when a plan comes together...

Have a good night.

 

[dudspizza]

Duds' flight has NOT been cancelled. I think that you are reading the situation incorrectly. His future flight is still scheduled but he is trying to find out what may happen should that flight cancel on the day of departure

He was looking for information should a situation like the one I noted above occur - ie the flight is cancelled on the day of departure due to weather or mechanical or other reasons.

Thank you.... beat me to it.

Yep folks, just trying to be prepared "if" something were to happen. If you are one step ahead of the uninformed traveler, you are doing alright....

I just went back and editted my original post to be a little more clear about what my intentions were... sorry if the original post was a little confusing.....

Duds

 

[bradk]

oh well.. my bad.. sorry.. that would be a rule 240 scenario then.. i read that a flight 5 weeks out was canceled so i sorta assumed it was a now what? question. guess i need to learn to read better. my apologies to all.

 

[dudspizza]

oh well.. my bad.. sorry.. that would be a rule 240 scenario then.. i read that a flight 5 weeks out was canceled so i sorta assumed it was a now what? question. guess i need to learn to read better. my apologies to all.

and I need to learn to be more clear with my writing... I went back and updated the original post to try to be more clear...

Thanks.

duds

 

[SuzanneSLO]

If you are looking ahead and want to know all your possible options, with United you may have one more alternative. If your flight is cancelled on the day of, as noted above, United will rebook you in the same class of service.

I assume you are flying coach and thus, would not be booked into first class, even if the next flight had empty FC seats. Those seats would be filled at flight time with elites and then some coach standby passengers would be accomodated in those then empty coach seats.

If you really need to get there on the next flight and money is not an option, United will sell you a first class ticket on the next flight with available FC seats, even when there are 100s of coach passengers who also want to be accomodated on that flight. Apparently, when Denver shut down before Christmas last year, one passenger stranded in Boston was able to make it to Denver by Christmas by buying a FC ticket even though there was a huge backlog of passengers trying to get to Denver due to flight cancellations over several days.

This doesn't work on all airlines. Some of airlines accomodate stranded passengers in any empty seat and stop selling new tickets for the affected flights until all the stranded passengers have been accomodated.

Anyway, hope this is not an issue for you and you have a smooth flight with no cancellations. -- Suzanne