Potential problem.....advice needed

[pta-mom]

I have a potential problem that I need some advice on....

We booked a family trip to DW for September last year during their bounce back program that I have almost completely paid off many months ago. However, as luck had it, my husband became one of the many effected (again!) by the high-tech meltdown & was given his "pink slip" in February. As DW was almost paid by than, we decided to keep it as our family holiday & look for cheap flights which we found. In May, we booked four tickets from Syracuse, NY at less than 1/2 what it would have cost flying from Ottawa, our home.

Fast forward....good news, bad news....it looks like my hubby has found some work *but* as he is only starting in August, he will not be taking two weeks off in September!! However, it has been agreed that myself & kids will still go!

Potential problem: The flight ticket is non-refundable (of course) so I realize we will bite that cost but what do I do? Do I call the airline now to cancel the ticket? Will they charge me a fee to do that? Am I going to have problems getting across the border now with two kids (11 & 13) & no husband? Should I keep the ticket, allowing us an extra peice of luggage & just tell them at the airport, no hubby?

Thoughts?

 

[yxe dad]

I have a potential problem that I need some advice on....

We booked a family trip to DW for September last year during their bounce back program that I have almost completely paid off many months ago. However, as luck had it, my husband became one of the many effected (again!) by the high-tech meltdown & was given his "pink slip" in February. As DW was almost paid by than, we decided to keep it as our family holiday & look for cheap flights which we found. In May, we booked four tickets from Syracuse, NY at less than 1/2 what it would have cost flying from Ottawa, our home.

Fast forward....good news, bad news....it looks like my hubby has found some work *but* as he is only starting in August, he will not be taking two weeks off in September!! However, it has been agreed that myself & kids will still go!

Potential problem: The flight ticket is non-refundable (of course) so I realize we will bite that cost but what do I do? Do I call the airline now to cancel the ticket? Will they charge me a fee to do that? Am I going to have problems getting across the border now with two kids (11 & 13) & no husband? Should I keep the ticket, allowing us an extra peice of luggage & just tell them at the airport, no hubby?

Thoughts?

non-refundable - What about a credit??? Or can you change the dates and push it back to a point when you might be able to use it.

They shouldn't charge you a fee to cancel but you should call and find out all you options. Which Airline?

I'm divorced and take my kids across the border about once a year. Just get a letter from your husband saying that he knows your taking the kids across the border, that he has your travel info, and that you have his consent to take them. I always get the letter from my ex noterized.

I don't think you can use your husband's ticket for extra luggage, but I could be wrong?

Shayne

 

[yxe dad]

www.voyage.gc.ca/preparation_information/consent-letter_lettre-consentement-eng.asp

Above is a address for Passport Canada. It will take you to a sample letter that I have used many times for getting across the border with my boys.


Also, if you can't get a credit for the flight, why don't you see if your husband can join you for part of the vacation or at the very least a weekend?

 

[Sue M]

Doubt you can use his luggage allowance, as he isn't checking in. Congrats on him finding a new job. How flexible are his new employers? Sometimes if you tell them you already had this family trip planned, and paid for they make allowances. The worst they can say is no. Good luck.
As the other poster said, maybe you can get a flight credit if he can't go.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Federal aviation laws prevent the transportation of luggage without a passenger. So sorry, you can not use the luggage allowance that is associated with his ticket.

 

[coastgirl]

I hope this works out for you. My dh lost his job in Feb also, and got a new one just in late June...we had booked but only paid the deposit in case we couldn't afford it. As it turned out, when he got the job, he told them he already had a family trip booked for Sept, and as it's a few months into the job and only for a week, we're good... Anyway, I do know the position you're in!

Can you change the ticket so he can come for part of it at least? Might not cost you too much to adjust his dates...might be worth a shot. (Dh was quite reluctant to ask, I do understand...after being out of work for a few months, you don't feel like asking for favours right off!) Other than that, I'd call and ask for a credit. You'll probably lose some of it to a change fee, but with luck you won't lose all of it. US airlines seem much more flexible than, say, Air Canada!

Good luck working it out, and good luck to your dh on his new job.

 

[abirdd]

As a former HR Manager, already booked family vacations used to come up a lot during the hiring process. It would not hurt your husband to ask if there is any way he could get some time off (would you be okay if it was unpaid leave?) - even just two to three days tied into a weekend would give him some time with you. Better than losing out completely on the airfare, not to mention quality family time.

Basically, what I'm saying is no harm in asking...