Local news/stranded travelers

[kaytieeldr]

WBZ-4 just interviewed some people (a couple, I think) stranded in Boston until Thursday - the earliest Delta can get them to their destination now that Logan has reopened.

They 'don't think it's fair' that Delta won't pay for a hotel room or a rental car for them, even though it's apparently been explained to them (probably patiently, probably more than once) that this is a weather related delay and nothing Delta can control. "I don't understand why they can't do something for us - they're Delta!"

 

[dudspizza]

WBZ-4 just interviewed some people (a couple, I think) stranded in Boston until Thursday - the earliest Delta can get them to their destination now that Logan has reopened.

They 'don't think it's fair' that Delta won't pay for a hotel room or a rental car for them, even though it's apparently been explained to them (probably patiently, probably more than once) that this is a weather related delay and nothing Delta can control. "I don't understand why they can't do something for us - they're Delta!"

I think someone needs to direct them to Bavaria's thread on winter weather delays!

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

Duds

 

[safetymom]

There are people complaining here in Orlando also about not being given a hotel room.

 

[Dax]

There are people complaining here in Orlando also about not being given a hotel room.

Tell me about it....you should have seen the line this morning for SW flights out!! Yesterday was full of ppl sleeping in the terminal..

 

[Uncleromulus]

Travel in Winter--you take your chances.

 

[goofy4tink]

A lot of the tv stations are doing bits about what the airlines 'owe' you and what they don't. And a hotel room and/or food is a 'don't owe' you..plain and simple. If the airline makes a mistake or they cause the problem, then sure, they may put you up in a room. But a weather delay? Nope. No way are they paying for all those passengers that are affected to be put up for the duration. That's what trip insurance is for.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, Sunday night or Monday morning, there were only about FORTY people 'stranded' in the entire airport. Everyone else had been able to make it someplace - home or to a hotel - or hadn't gone in the first place. So unless this couple wgre two of those forty people, WHAT were they doing at the airport without confirmed flights in the first place?

 

[drew64]

Lots of idiots out there. We had it up here in the New York area too.

People think the airlines "owe" them when they don't and hang around trying to get something for free.

I don't car eif the airline is paying or I am paying, I would get a hotel room and not sleep on floors at the airport - nor advertise my stupidity on TV. Where is their common sense!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

You should see the Atanta airport. Folks are camped everywhere and most have discovered that 'crying hysterically' doesn't seem to help. One woman was planning to sue (who? God?)

 

[uva185]

Personally I don't understand those people either. It's one thing to be at the airport without a confirmed flight to attempt to go standby. I've worked standby miracles for people without status so its definitely possible. However I really don't get why anyone would spend the night in the airport. Most airport hotels have distressed traveler rates and if not Priceline is usually a good option -- then again I've seen people on this site who actually plan to sleep in the airport the night before their flight to save money so who knows!

People these days seem to have little to no personal responsibility. If something goes wrong they want to blame someone else and be compensated.

 

[DebbieB]

I just saw on TV that the airlines are losing $100 million from this storm. They can't afford hotel rooms on top of that.

 

[Caribbeanprincess]

I'm stranded in Puerto Rico until tomorrow night. Our flight to Orlando this morning was cancelled because apparently the plane couldn't make it out of Boston last night. I've had to re-book our return flight and change our WDW reservations because of this. It's never happened before and it's been a great big mess, I don't want to go through it again.

 

[Brian Noble]

One woman was planning to sue (who? God?)

Good luck on serving that subpoena.

 

[goofy4tink]

There are so many variables here. Even if your particular airport is looking good, your plane could be scheduled to leave from an airport that is snowed in...so, now you sit and cool your heels. But, people just don't get that. Or, they never read the CoC for their airline. So...they think that if the airline changes their departure times, they can get a refund if they don't like it. Of course, that change is a change of an hour...but heck, they still want that refund.
The airlines provide plenty of fodder for complaint, much of it valid. But when there is stormy weather, up and down the east coast, then it's hard to blame the airlines.

 

[seashoreCM]

Delays are increased since many if not most flights into an affected airport are also cancelled if the plane can't make it back out before the snow flies.

Then, after the storm, there are no planes ready to take on people when the airport re-opens; we must wait until the next batch of planes from elsewhere come in.

I still suggest reporting to the airport early to "see if" I can snag a seat out before the storm. If that fails, I would just leave, and come back for my appointed flight (or stay and standby again if the airport hasn't closed yet).

Would (could) Disney magically express you back to the World and rebook you (space permitting) at your resort at the same rate you paid last night if your ability to fly home was delayed for days and days? (No free tix or meals)

 

[Karlzmom]

Why are we surprised that the news found people willing to carryon about being owed *something* from *someone*? We've had more than a generation raised on the notion that *someone* will take care of whatever they need...(or think they need)....... Of course, some politician will make this their pet issue and start a whole new raft of legislation to save us from ourselves should we get record snow ever again.....

 

[drew64]

Delays are increased since many if not most flights into an affected airport are also cancelled if the plane can't make it back out before the snow flies.

Then, after the storm, there are no planes ready to take on people when the airport re-opens; we must wait until the next batch of planes from elsewhere come in.

I still suggest reporting to the airport early to "see if" I can snag a seat out before the storm. If that fails, I would just leave, and come back for my appointed flight (or stay and standby again if the airport hasn't closed yet).

Would (could) Disney magically express you back to the World and rebook you (space permitting) at your resort at the same rate you paid last night if your ability to fly home was delayed for days and days? (No free tix or meals)

No one should show up at the airport at times like this without a confirmed reservation on a flight that has not been cancelled.

The airlines have pulled inventory on remaining flights and are already rebooking travelers on alternate flights - the people doing this are not at the airport counters.

Those that show up just clog the lines and delay others who do need to check bags, etc for thier flights, delaying even more people. I have been stuck behind these types who insist on monopolizing an agent endlessly when it has been already explained that there is no room on the flight for them.

Disney or any hotel will gladly give these people a room that is available at the current rate. It is up to them as adults - not the airline, disney, god, or their mommy - to pro actively help themselves book a hotel and make arrangments to get there.

These messes at the airport would get cleared up sooner, if the airline reps were left to do their job instead of having to listen to everyone's 20 minute sob story of the life and death reason they need to get home before everyone else.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I wouldn't want to be a frontline airline employee with this mess going on.. But I also would not be so quick to blame pax for getting to the airport to find out that a flight is cancelled.

Our neightbor called about four hours prior to scheduled time to be told that the flight was delayed, but that he had to checkin before the scheduled flight time. By the time he got to the airport, about 1 1/2 hour before the time, the flight was delayed four hours . . . about two hours later it was cancelled.

When he asked to get his bag back, they told him that it was on it's way to Atlanta . . . airline doesn't know when they can get him out, nor do they know if they will get his bag back. They do claim that he will get a refund.

 

[drew64]

I wouldn't want to be a frontline airline employee with this mess going on.. But I also would not be so quick to blame pax for getting to the airport to find out that a flight is cancelled.

Our neightbor called about four hours prior to scheduled time to be told that the flight was delayed, but that he had to checkin before the scheduled flight time. By the time he got to the airport, about 1 1/2 hour before the time, the flight was delayed four hours . . . about two hours later it was cancelled.

When he asked to get his bag back, they told him that it was on it's way to Atlanta . . . airline doesn't know when they can get him out, nor do they know if they will get his bag back. They do claim that he will get a refund.

Totally agree sometimes you are there before the flight is cancelled. I mean these people who know it is cancelled ahead of time and still go and camp out at the airport hoping a stand by seat will miraculously appear just for them with thousands needing to be rebooked.

 

[bicker]

Why are we surprised that the news found people willing to carryon about being owed *something* from *someone*? We've had more than a generation raised on the notion that *someone* will take care of whatever they need...(or think they need).......

Amen. It is shocking and saddening just how broad this problem goes - just how many people are so invested in this self-centered, out-of-touch-with-reality, "I'm a consumer so I'm always right" perspective. It's such a pervasive self-deception that it very effectively feeds on itself: One person feeds the delusion within dozens of others. The Transportation Board is one of the few places online (not just on the DIS) where there is a significant reliance on reality in dealings between consumers and service providers.