US Air Cancelled my Early AM Nonstop Flight

[JimmyJr'sMom]

Was booked on a 7:55AM flight into MCO on Tues Dec 15th- they cc'd and put me on a flight that does not get into MCO until almost 1PM. They put us on the later flight (just over 2 hours later) and list the new flight as 2 hours and 46 min. (TO MCO from PHL???)

My Sister is getting married at WDW at 2PM.
There are no earlier nonstop flights, and none operated by the actual US AIR.

My mom is on the 7AM Airtran flight that I can still get for $79.

Will US Air refund my $$$ so I can book an early nonstop elsewhere?

PS- I had concerns because the flight was only 1/3 full, that's why I kept checking the flight. The new later flight is ALSO ONLY 1/3 FULL. AARRGGHH.

Should I call US Air tonight or will I get better help in the morning?

THANKS!

 

[JimmyJr'sMom]

Just looking for an idea of what to expect... TIA

 

[maxiesmom]

I would go ahead and call tonight. I dont think they will give you your money back, but they should allow you to change flights for no charge as the new flight time does not work for you.

Do they have any earlier flights that will get you where you need to be on time? Could you maybe fly down a day earlier?

 

[MAH4546]

You are absolutely entitled to receive a full refund. The schedule change is considered significant. The usual standard for "significant" is 90 minutes, but airlines will typically give a refund for almost any schedule change more than an hour or that changes a flight from one-stop to non-stop.

Also, as a side note, you have no idea how full the flight is. Seat maps are not load information, only assigned seat allocation and availability based on your fare code and frequent flyer status, if any. Load information is proprietary.

 

[crashbb]

Is it at all possible to fly out the day before? I, personally, wouldn't risk a "day of" flight for something as important as a wedding. Especially in December where weather (i.e. snow storms) are a definite delay causing concern.

US Air should refund your money (they have done so for me in past) or allow you to book a flight the day before.

 

[Tara]

Was booked on a 7:55AM flight into MCO on Tues Dec 15th- they cc'd and put me on a flight that does not get into MCO until almost 1PM. They put us on the later flight (just over 2 hours later) and list the new flight as 2 hours and 46 min. (TO MCO from PHL???)

Yes, that's about what the scheduled flight time is. It will actually be less time in from wheels up to wheels down, but the flight time includes estimated taxi time. From ALB our flight times to MCO are always a solid 3 hours, 15 minutes for flight time. Usually it's little less than that, even with taxi time, but not much less.

My Sister is getting married at WDW at 2PM.

Good luck all around - you don't have a lot of margin of error there, so even if you get an earlier flight, you'll have to hope there's no winter weather slowing things down and creating delays!

 

[DebbieB]

I would fly in the night before, flying in the morning is cutting it close. One time I connected in PHL, the time from leaving the gate to takeoff was almost an hour, there was a long line of planes ahead of us.

 

[uva185]

My Sister is getting married at WDW at 2PM.

You would be crazy to fly in to MCO from PHL in December of all months on the day of a wedding. PHL is bad enough, factor in winter weather and a same day wedding...that is a disaster waiting to happen.

Even if you took a 8:00am departure that will get you to MCO at 10:45am if everything is on time. Factor in at least 45 minutes to get to Disney from MCO and you have a 2.5 hour buffer with no delays. I would not risk that! Doesn't sound like the best way to enjoy your sister's wedding.

Fly in the night before!!

Will US Air refund my $$$ so I can book an early nonstop elsewhere?

YES! or better yet have them switch you to a flight that leaves the day before.

There is NO WAY I would risk flying somewhere the day of a special event.

 

[Lewisc]

I hope the OP doesn't have your attitude when she calls. Most airlines will accommodate such a situation and allow her to take an earlier flight, even the previous day, or will allow a refund. I'd expect US Air would be accommodating.

The OP is absolutely entitled to exactly what is promised in the CoC.

Times shown in timetables or elsewhere are not guaranteed and form no part of the terms of
transportation. .... Schedules are subject to change without notice.US Airways is not responsible or liable for making connections, for failing to operate any flight according
to schedule, or for changing the schedule of any flight.

When a ticketed customer holding confirmed reservations on a flight will be delayed because of a...... or schedule change), US Airways will rebook
the customer on its next available flight to the customer’s ticketed destination without additional
charge.

US Air did exactly what the OP is entitled to receive, a reservation on the next available flight.

Some airlines define significant as a change of only 31 minutes, some 4 hours and others don't define a change as significant unless the day changes. US Air doesn't mention significant change in their CoC. The OP is looking at a change of about 2 hours.

You are absolutely entitled to receive a full refund. The schedule change is considered significant. The usual standard for "significant" is 90 minutes, but airlines will typically give a refund for almost any schedule change more than an hour or that changes a flight from one-stop to non-stop.

Also, as a side note, you have no idea how full the flight is. Seat maps are not load information, only assigned seat allocation and availability based on your fare code and frequent flyer status, if any. Load information is proprietary.

 

[MAH4546]

Some airlines define significant as a change of only 31 minutes, some 4 hours and others don't define a change as significant unless the day changes. US Air doesn't mention significant change in their CoC.

For liability and legal reasons, no airline gives a specific definition. Its vague for a reason.

The reality is that any schedule change past 30 minutes will earn a customer a refund if requested. Airlines know it, most customers don't know it, and that's how airlines like it.

I once had a schedule change with American Airlines that actually got me in earlier because the connection point was changed, making it a shorter routing. But I booked the flight because I wanted one long leg and one short leg, and received my refund.

 

[Lewisc]

You are absolutely entitled to receive a full refund. The schedule change is considered significant. The usual standard for "significant" is 90 minutes, but airlines will typically give a refund for almost any schedule change more than an hour or that changes a flight from one-stop to non-stop.

For liability and legal reasons, no airline gives a specific definition. Its vague for a reason.

The reality is that any schedule change past 30 minutes will earn a customer a refund if requested. Airlines know it, most customers don't know it, and that's how airlines like it.

I once had a schedule change with American Airlines that actually got me in earlier because the connection point was changed, making it a shorter routing. But I booked the flight because I wanted one long leg and one short leg, and received my refund.

Spirit's CoC

Customers involved in a Spirit Airlines initiated cancellation or schedule change in excess of 2 hours will have three (3) options available to them, re-accommodation, future flight credit, or a refund

AA is specific

available reaccommodations are not acceptable to customer.
Full refund of unused portion of the ticket as follows -
A. If schedule change is from a nonstop to a connection, a refund to form of payment (FOP) is allowed.
B. If schedule change is from a through flight to a connecting flight, a refund to the FOP is not allowed unless "C" applies.
C. If schedule change results in change of flight times of 90 minutes or greater, refund to FOP is allowed.
D. If schedule change is less than 90 minutes, refund to voucher only is allowed.

Your first post incorrectly claims the OP is entitled to a refund and your second post inccorectly states no airline gives a definition.

 

[MAH4546]

Spirit's CoC


AA is specific

Your first post incorrectly claims the OP is entitled to a refund and your second post inccorectly states no airline gives a definition.

Sorry. None of those are specific. None of them state what will happen outside those situations.

The OP will get a refund if he requests one. I'm on a plane at least twice a week. I deal with this all the time.

The Spirit CoC only says what happens in a situation involving changes in excess of two hours. It says nothing about less than two hours.

The AA CoC actually makes it clear that you can always get a refund, but a quick call to a supervisor will get you a refund to your card regardless of the time change, it just takes a little more work. In the end, it will be done.

If you really want to argue with me - and my experience as an aviation lawyer - feel free. But in the end, I'm right.

Drafting a CoC - which is something I have consulted over in the past for two different airlines while working at a corporate law firm - is an art, finding the balance between giving just enough information to make it seem clear, yet making it incredibly vague. The fact is that most customers don't even realize how much flexibility the slightest schedule change gives them with regards to getting a refund. The airline have you fooled, and they have almost everybody else fooled tool.

 

[Lewisc]

Sorry. None of those are specific. None of them state what will happen outside those situations.

The OP will get a refund if he requests one. I'm on a plane at least twice a week. I deal with this all the time.

The Spirit CoC only says what happens in a situation involving changes in excess of two hours. It says nothing about less than two hours.

The AA CoC actually makes it clear that you can always get a refund.

If you really want to argue with me - and my experience as an aviation lawyer - feel free. But in the end, I'm right.

You're all over the place. I agree the OP will get a refund if she asks.

You first said she's entitled to a refund. US Air's CoC gives her no such right.

You said no carrier defines "significant change", that's false.

 

[MAH4546]

You're all over the place. I agree the OP will get a refund if she asks.

You first said she's entitled to a refund. US Air's CoC gives her no such right.

So what? That doesn't change the fact she is entitled to a refund. The CoC is not a bible.

What entitles the OP to a refund typically flows back to the airline's merchant contract with third-party credit card companies.

You said no carrier defines "significant change", that's false.

Neither of the two CoC have a specific definition. Both are quite vague and allow for flexibility. I stand by what I say.

 

[JennSaint]

to the OP:
Did you call yet? What happened? I also recommend you fly out the night before especially in December. I would never chance it with something so special as a wedding.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

MAH, I completely disagree, the contract of carriage is the be all end all in terms of obligation the airline has to its customers. No airline is OBLIGATED to offer a refund, the only thing the airline is OBLIGATED to provide is a seat on a plane that departs and arrives on the date of your original flight. Outside of that, they have minimal obligation to offer a refund, but again most will if asked. I travel a quite a bit myself, I am aware of my rights as a customer and hold no entitlement.

In regards to the OP, I would never consider flying on the day of such an important event, it doesn't even make sense to me why someone would. Flight cancellations, delays, etc happen all the time.

 

[JimmyJr'sMom]

Just wanted to post an update- there has been much discussion within my family whether to come in on Sunday or see if US Air will cx the tickets and rebook on Airtran for less $$ and a flight that gets in at 9:28 AM.

Saving $$ and same # of days
or adding 2 days for same price flights.

Note- Not interested in flying on Monday with my 7 yr old (lots of business travelers)
Also- Doesn't airtran have a record of changing flight times?

ARRGGH.

Will be calling to US AIR today.

 

[JimmyJr'sMom]

Just got off the phone with Rudy from US Air Cust Serv (800-428-4322) and he switched my flight to Sunday morning at no charge and with no hassle.

I do recall the Sunday flight being considerably more expensive when I booked months ago.

They were great.

I didn't ask about a refund so I'm not sure what the answer would have been.

Note- He did mention that my return flight Sunday evening was less than half full, and I might want to keep an eye on it.

(Then I started to wonder if I should have cancelled and went with Airtran.

 

[kaytieeldr]

For liability and legal reasons, no airline gives a specific definition. Its vague for a reason.

The reality is that any schedule change past 30 minutes will earn a customer a refund if requested.

The reality is, an airline ticket guarantees (barring uncontrollable circumstances) passage from Point/airport A to Point/airport B on a given day. Period.

Sorry. None of those are specific. None of them state what will happen outside those situations.

Because nothing needs to happen on the part of the airline. Might they give a refund? Perhaps. Might they refuse to give a refund, especially given the airlines' respective Contract of Carriage? Sure.

The Spirit CoC only says what happens in a situation involving changes in excess of two hours. It says nothing about less than two hours.

Reasonably meaning that nothing will happen if a change is less than two hours.

The AA CoC actually makes it clear that you can always get a refund,

Not in the portion quoted by Lewisc.

So what? That doesn't change the fact she is entitled to a refund. The CoC is not a bible.

The Contract of Carriage is a contract - an agreement into which two or more parties enter. Contracts are legal documents, correct?

 

[MAH4546]

The reality is, an airline ticket guarantees (barring uncontrollable circumstances) passage from Point/airport A to Point/airport B on a given day. Period.

Because nothing needs to happen on the part of the airline. Might they give a refund? Perhaps. Might they refuse to give a refund, especially given the airlines' respective Contract of Carriage? Sure.

Reasonably meaning that nothing will happen if a change is less than two hours.

Wrong. There is a vague defintion for changes under two hours in order to drive the consumer into believing otherwise. That's the beauty of writing a CoC.

Not in the portion quoted by Lewisc.

Absolutely in the part quoted by Lewsic. Read it again.

The Contract of Carriage is a contract - an agreement into which two or more parties enter. Contracts are legal documents, correct?

CoCs are often trumped by credit card merchant contract, not to mention local state business laws, hence they are so vague.

Continue to argue with me, I don't know anything, I only used to write/consult over CoCs for a living a few years ago.