My Airline just filed bankruptcy!!!

[Rneighh]

We just leaved that TMA (Trans Meridian Air) has filed bankruptcy and ceased all operations. We have five tickets booked out of Rockford, IL to Orlando 1/28/06. I have been told they will refurn the ticket price (yea right).

Hubby and I are now thinking we may just drive --- are we insane?


We just bought a new car that we both love driving. Our daughter is 17. We would have three drivers, save almost $1,000.00 but the trip is 1200 miles. We can add a day or two more for travel. Will we be too exhausted to enjoy our stay? Does anyone really drive from northern Illinois to Orlando?

 

[Lewisc]

If you're saving $1,000 you're airline tickets are more than $200 R/T. Check SW out of Chicago. They have $50 flights for your date going down but I'm not sure tickets are on sale for your return flight. Book a one way ticket NOW while the tickets are available.

 

[FayeW]

We were supposed to leave 3 weeks from today! I booked new flights on JetBlue. We will leave a day sooner than planned, and the tickets cost $325. more. I am grateful we could get tickets that cheap at such short notice. Sometimes planning ahead sucks.

 

[vossjemi]

I'm sooo sorry this happened to you guys! My parents had flights booked w/Vanguard to Vegas a few years back when they went bankrupt, and they did get reimbursed, so it can happen.

 

[CarolA]

If you paid via a credit card call your card company now to find out what you need to do to get this process started.

Don't have a clue on the driving idea...

 

[Tjaleks]

We will be driving in Dec from Central IL to Tampa for a few days then to Orlando.

 

[siobhan1997]

You all have no idea how appreciative I am, at this moment ,for the people who post on these disboards. We have a flight booked with TMA leaving March 2/06, but because we are in Ontario Canada I probably would have not known if it wasn't posted here. Thank you . After I screamed I called my CC company right away and they told me that until they say they are bankrupt or my flight has passed and did not go they couldn't do anything. I told her I have Travel Protection on this card so she gave me the toll free number to call them and I have just gotten off the phone a bit more relieved. My claim has already started and they are sending the paperwork on Monday to me. I will now rebook another flight with still plenty of time and await my refund.

Thanks again

 

[inkkognito]

The drive from Chicago isn't too bad if you have three drivers. We started on I-57 and it would have taken 18 hours if we didn't hit an ice storm in Atlanta (that caused it to take 24). If you're planning to drive straight through, leave early in the morning so you'll be fresh all day and can hit the bed when you get to Orlando, and try to avoid Atlanta during rush hour. There were plenty of gas stations and rest stops (we hit a lot of truck stops), although the mountain in Tennessee is a bit hair-raising.
Barb

 

[CHIPSTER]

If you go on TMA's website there is a letter posted stating they are in Chapter 7 v. Chapter 11 - they are under and will not reorganize.

We are flying on Delta in 4 weeks who filed Chapter 11 so they are still operating. Last year I was considering using Southeast - am I glad I went with a little more expensive flight as we took 5 nieces/nephews who never flew before and I wanted assigned seating when I purchased tickets. Am I glad I went with a larger carrier - the week we were at Disney they closed up and left a lot of people stranded at the airport in Orlando.

 

[JDietz40]

We have driven a few times from the south suburbs taking I 57 to I 24 and it is not that bad of a drive if you can avoid rush hour in Atlanta. As far as saving money I am not so sure with gas prices. We just booked on SWA out of Midway and even with renting an SUV it will save a few $$$ for the 3 of us considering our conversion van gets about 12 MPG.

Good Luck,




John

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

We are from Rockford and considered driving, but knew it was not a smart idea with the price of gas, we got GREAt 45$ each way tickets on Southwest! i suggest you check them out! we priced the tickets/gas to get to midway/and parking at midway for the week and it was still SOOO much cheaper than driving, and we have a Honda Civic that we would have taken that gets GREAT gas mileage..

 

[chris7]

"If you paid via a credit card call your card company now to find out what you need to do to get this process started."

Is there a time limit for disputing a charge w. your credit card? What if you bought tickets many months ago and have paid off balance? I'm just not sure of the details of how this works. Thanks

 

[kathylovesdisneyworl]

Anyone who bought tickets with a credit card from Transmeridian will be able to get there money back. This is a charter airline and they hold money in escrow until you fly. This happened to us when Southeast went under and all we did is contact the credit card company, filed a dispute and recieved a credit back on our card in about 6 weeks. I am not sure what happens if you paid with a debit card or by cash or check, but at least with a credit card you will recieve your money back. We did not have to wait until after our flight date, since there is time limit on your claim. I believe it was 6 months.

 

[ScrapAng]

I'm going to talk to DH tonight about possibly driving from Toledo in December. It looks like I'll be losing $1000 from the TMA mess. I've started filing with my bank, but they didn't seem to think I would get anything back. Even if I do, sounds like it will be awhile, and it looks like it would be costing about $1500 at this minute to replace those tickets with similar tickets.

 

[vossjemi]

I feel really bad for the people who flew down to Orlando on TMA and may or may not yet know their return flight is cancelled.

 

[CarolA]

"If you paid via a credit card call your card company now to find out what you need to do to get this process started."

Is there a time limit for disputing a charge w. your credit card? What if you bought tickets many months ago and have paid off balance? I'm just not sure of the details of how this works. Thanks

You need to call. Different credit cards handle this in different ways.

Also, hopefully TMA did what they were suppose to do any your money is in their escrow account. This is especially important if you paid via a debit card.

 

[jendon1997]

We have-HAD-flights booked for end of January. Now I have to search again. Oh the headaches. I just have to remember I'M GOING TO DISNEY!!

 

[dzneelvr]

We live west of Rockford and drove down once. NEVER AGAIN. You waste a good 3 full days driving both ways and it's really fatiguing no matter how many drivers you have. We were going to use TMA again for our summer trip but now I have to research a Plan B. I so hate to think of having to use OHare.

 

[Autumngirl]

Because TransMeridian was a charter Airline, the money had to be held in escrow until the flight passed. No matter how long it's been, contact the credit card company and explain the situation... they can override the usual 60 days.

Also the money was held in escrow at
National City Bank of The Midwest
Travel Industry Financial Services
Dept TFPP
1001 South Worth
Birmingham, MI 48009-6943
248*901*2330
248*901*2384 FAX

Hold on to you receipts and don't take no for an answer. You general only have 48 hours after your flight was supposed to commence to submit.

I also had $1000 in tickets for Transmeridian... since June. I filed a dispute with my CC company, who had to override the usual 60-day thing, but I'm not taking any chances...I plan on contacting the above address as well!

 

[bicker]

Is there a time limit for disputing a charge w. your credit card?

Yes. For most banks, 60 days from the date the purchase was first made.