Questions about flight cancelations

[Lthouseprincess]

I called to find out why we don't have confirmed seats and was told that we do on MPLS to Chicago but Chicago to orlando is overbooked so we have to wait until we get to the chicago airport (which we get there 1 hour before) to get seat assigned. What happens if we get there and there are no more seats left? We are on the last flight out from Chicago to Orlando, so we would have to stay over night, and what about our car rental in orlando, do we lose that? and what about our prepaid disney hotel? do we lose that also?

 

[Poohlovr]

If you get to the airport and your flight truly is till overbooked, (remember, people frequently do not show up), they will ask for volunteers to be bumped...(the last flight I was on, they offered 600.00 travel voucher). Usually, they get enough volunteers to take care of the overbooking problem because of the incentives.

Also, if you do get bumped, they are required to try to find you a seat on another airline leaving that day, so, don't be worrying too much yet.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Lthouseprincess
I called to find out why we don't have confirmed seats and was told that we do on MPLS to Chicago but Chicago to orlando is overbooked so we have to wait until we get to the chicago airport (which we get there 1 hour before) to get seat assigned. What happens if we get there and there are no more seats left? We are on the last flight out from Chicago to Orlando, so we would have to stay over night, and what about our car rental in orlando, do we lose that? and what about our prepaid disney hotel? do we lose that also?

You lose your prepaid hotel in Orlando. Generally you can call the car rental place and let them know the situation, and thye will hold the car. They would put you up overnight in a hotel in Chicago. They will also give you vouchers for future flights generally between $200 and $400 per person.

They will always ask for volunteers first.

If it were me...I'd call back and ask how many seats they are oversold by. If it's 4-5, I wouldn't worry.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Poohlovr
Also, if you do get bumped, they are required to try to find you a seat on another airline leaving that day, so, don't be worrying too much yet.

That is absolutely NOT the case. Some carriers do not have reciprical prgrams with any other carriers. Also, if it's the last flight out, there's nothing they can do. And when it's a really low promotional fare, the other carrier does NOT need to accept it.

Anne

 

[Poohlovr]

Rule 240

Rule 240 states that an airline must deliver you to your destination within two hours of the originally scheduled arrival time. If they cannot, they must place you on another carrier. Under Rule 240, you are also entitled to a meal voucher, a free phone call, and a lounge pass.


To provide for differences in fares-


Once an airline has granted you a "Rule 240" exception in the event of a delay, you should get either a "Flight Interrupted Manifest" (FIM for short) or your ticket endorsed over to another carrier. Without this, the new airline will not accept you without charging you more money. Simply taking your ticket to another carrier will not get you on the flight -- the original carrier must provide either the endorsement or the FIM.

 

[yoopermom]

My sympathies are with you, since we're in the same boat (I have a post a little higher up about the same thing). Basically, the Delta rep told me, "You only paid $100/ticket, and they're $800-1000 now, so don't expect to get moved to a different flight." One thing I will *never* do again is make a nonrefundable hotel ressie for the first night! (My excuse: I made it in January, for the Hard Rock Hotel, it'll be my bday, at a *very* reasonable rate, but I'll still never do it again!) Just keep calling and be polite but firm in stating your request for assigned seats or a different flight. I hope you have better luck than I've had!
Terri the Yoopermom

 

[Lthouseprincess]

Thanks everyone, I am feeling a little less frustrated, I called the car company and they Will NOT hold the same rate for me, I even said charge my card and I will just pick it up the next day and they said no we will have to charge you a new rate (which of course is $300 more than what we are paying now). As long as one of us gets on that flight it will be OK, I feel a little better knowing that they will ask for volunteers first. I was afraid of them just bumping us. Do you know when they will start to ask for them, we will be there just 1 hour prior to departure.

 

[CarolA]

Keep in mind that once you check in for your first flight you are checked in all the way thru. SO they know you are coming even if you don't get to the next airport until an hour before your plane leaves.

It is very rare that the airlines wind up doing involuntary bumps. They usually try to buy their way out to the situation by giving away free tickets etc... first! Plus if first class is not full, they can bump some of their frequent flyers up which opens up seats in Coach. For example on my Delta flight this Thursday there were only 2 seats in coach last time I checked. However, yesterday I upgraded to first class which opened up a coach seat. Unless you have LOTS of miles you can't upgrade until a few days ahead so those seats are still blocked by people like me.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Poohlovr
Rule 240

Rule 240 states that an airline must deliver you to your destination within two hours of the originally scheduled arrival time. If they cannot, they must place you on another carrier. Under Rule 240, you are also entitled to a meal voucher, a free phone call, and a lounge pass.

Before deregulation, rule 240 was federally mandated. It no longer is. Now it's part of the rights of carriag that each carrier files with the DOT. Rule 240 varies from carrier to carrier, and class of service to class of service.

You can read Delta's policies in plain English here: http://www.delta.com/care/faq/travel_faq/irreg_op_faq/index.jsp

Anne