US Air canceled flight question

[Pezalicious]

Hi,

I'm not sure if anyone here can help me, but I'm hoping someone's been through this before. Last February, my boyfriend bought a ticket on US Air for June, but US Air canceled the flight and put him on a different one that didn't work for him. Because of this, he found different airfare and ended up with a credit for US Air. They told him he had one year to use the credit, but when he tried to use it today for a flight in May, they told him that he had to use the credit within a year of the purchase date (Feb), not within a year of the canceled flight (June). The credit is for $500, so it's enough that we really don't want to waste it. And since he canceled because they changed his flight, it wasn't even his fault! Should I speak with a supervisor to try and get them to make an exception for us? And if they won't, does anyone know if we can buy a new ticket for the amount of the credit, cancel the flight, and get a credit towards another flight (thus extending the original credit to fit our needs)?

I'm so frustrated by this considering it was their changes that caused the situation in the first place!!

Sorry to fill this board up with a non-Disney thread. I just really don't know where to ask right now.

 

[Beth76]

I don't really know the rules, but that really doesn't sound right. What if someone bought their airfare over a year before they planned to use it? I would definitely talk with a superviser. And then talk to their superviser, if that doesn't work. You never know if they have the "lower end" people just saying things like that hoping the customers will believe them.

 

[Padstack]

Sorry to hear about your problems. I would suggest two things:

First, hop on over to flyertalk.com and ask the question in he USAir message board in the "miles & points" section. They would probably be able to help you out more and point you in the right direction.

Second, never try to fly with USAir again. They have one of the worst run airlines of the bunch and that is saying something. I was unlucky to have to fly them once and will go out of my way to not have to fly on one of their planes again.

 

[bumbershoot]

Find out if it's possible to extend that credit. I once had to cancel a trip on Delta, and they told me VERY clearly that the credit would end one year (or possibly two) from when I made the reservation, but that at the end of that I could pay a fee to extend it.

 

[21yankees]

My travel nightmare (this past week) was with US Air. I had a flight from LAX to Vegas to Charlotte to Jacksonville (NC) on Monday. Well I get to Vegas only to find out my connection has been delayed by 3 hours which means I'm going to miss my next connection. So I have them put me on the next available flight to Jacksonville (the last flight of the night). Well they tell me I'm #3 on the standby list (later I find that is a lie). So I'm waiting at the NC airport for like 4.5 hours, they start the standby list (9 people were called and I was not one of them). Then they tell me that the flight is closed so I'll have to fly out in the morning. Oh and because it was an air traffic problem and not something they caused that I have to pay for my hotel room. Tuesday morning comes and they messed up my ticket and I didn't have a seat on that plane and then about 2 minutes before the doors closed they let me on. I land in Jacksonville only to find that they lost my luggage, they didn't get it to me until Wednesday night and I was going back home on Friday. Plus on Friday I find out with the changing of flights earlier in the week that someone cancelled my return trip, thank goodness there were still seats on both of my flights.

Sorry for the novel but I just wanted to let you know that they are not flexible, compassionate, or courteous.

Stephanie

 

[blessdmommy]

I bought a ticket from Spirit Airlines May 31, 2007 for a flight out Sept 1. A week before our flight they called to say it was cancelled and we could rebook and get vouchers for free flight in the future.
I just found out this week that those vouchers must be used by May 31st and I thought I had until September.
Very aggravating.
I don't know what they would do if someone had bought a year in advance.

Just wanted you to know that it isn't only US Air.
Good luck!

 

[Padstack]

I don't know what they would do if someone had bought a year in advance.

Just wanted you to know that it isn't only US Air.
Good luck!

There are very few people that book flights a year or more in advance. Most people do not know if they will be traveling that far out. Most fares come down in price closer to departure date, so it would be bad practice to buy tickets for travel that far away.

All airlines have their share of troubles. I have been bounced around with United (my airline of choice) several times over the years. Some are just better about handling these things than others. US Air just seems to be one of the worst.

After doing some research about the OP, it doesn't look like much will come of contacting US Air. United has the same rules. Every airline has there rules and there is little that the CSR can do. But, you never know unless you try as the response from the OP's flyertalk.com post stated.

 

[Pezalicious]

Thanks for the help everyone! I'll be giving it a shot tonight, so we'll see what happens. I have a feeling the answer will be no, which makes me wonder...


If I buy a ticket with the credit that I have no intention of taking, can I cancel that flight and get a new credit?

 

[bumbershoot]

I know that doesn't work with SW, and they generally have more relaxed rules than the other airlines.

Sounds like you guys might have the opportunity for a very quick, last-minute, mini-break to somewhere close-ish in your near future.

 

[Pezalicious]

This is absolutely insane! Now they're telling us that since the credit is for a flight that was in his name (that THEY canceled!!!) that it can only be used on his flight, not mine, PLUS they want to charge him a $100 out of pocket (it can't come from the credit) for the 'change' fee. I have never been so angry with an airline in my life and I will do everything I can to NEVER fly US Air again, and to spread the word about their crappy customer service.

 

[Dizholic]

Hi,

I'm not sure if anyone here can help me, but I'm hoping someone's been through this before. Last February, my boyfriend bought a ticket on US Air for June, but US Air canceled the flight and put him on a different one that didn't work for him. Because of this, he found different airfare and ended up with a credit for US Air. They told him he had one year to use the credit, but when he tried to use it today for a flight in May, they told him that he had to use the credit within a year of the purchase date (Feb), not within a year of the canceled flight (June). The credit is for $500, so it's enough that we really don't want to waste it. And since he canceled because they changed his flight, it wasn't even his fault! Should I speak with a supervisor to try and get them to make an exception for us? And if they won't, does anyone know if we can buy a new ticket for the amount of the credit, cancel the flight, and get a credit towards another flight (thus extending the original credit to fit our needs)?

I'm so frustrated by this considering it was their changes that caused the situation in the first place!!

Sorry to fill this board up with a non-Disney thread. I just really don't know where to ask right now.

To begin with, if USAir cancelled his flight, and the new one didn't fit his schedule, they should have totally refunded his money. My DH flies USAir all the time for business, so I aways try to book with them first. A couple of years ago, I booked a flight to MCO, and they changed my flight 4 times. After the 4th time I had had enough, and called to say the new schedule did not work for me, and that I wanted my money back. They credited my CC with no problems. I just had the same problem with Airtran also. I booked a flight to MIA in April, and they changed my flight 3 times. Coming home they changed the flight from 12:30, to 5:30, with a 35 minute layover in ATL. This was just not going to work, so I called, and they totally refunded my money.
So you might want to have your DB call them, and very nicely explain, that originally USAir cancelled his flight, due to no fault of his, and that they should have refunded his money to begin with, and that the least they can do is honor his credit. It can't hurt to try. Good Luck!