US Air Tickets/School Vacation Week

[MargaretMary]

O.K. Here's our problem. With all the news about US Air going bankrupt, we're a little panicked. We're a family of 10 going on the 4/16 7 day Magic. It's school vacation week from departure city/Boston and our tickets are booked (last year at the ll month window to get a decent fare of about $220 from Boston, round trip) on US Air. We booked directly with US Air to have some control over our flight times and no DCL involvement. I believe I heard that if an airline goes bankrupt and your fare was paid for with a credit card, you'll get your money back, but honestly we're more concerned about getting to Port Canaveral. I sense it will be impossible to rebook 10 seats at a decent fare with short notice. And, since our final payment is due very soon for the Magic, we're in a dilemma about what to do.

Is anyone else facing this problem? Any thoughts or suggestions from your travel pros? Your comments are most welcome!!!

Margaret Mary

 

[mketting]

We also have an upcoming Disney trip booked on UsAir. My family lives in Pgh., the hub for USAIR and know some USAIr people. They have been hearing the following, even if USAir declares bankcruptcy it does not mean the airline will cease all flights and if in the worst case scenario the entire airline did shut down that accomadations for other flights are made for ticketed passengers.


I don't know if this is any real help because it is not official but I thought I'd pass what we have heard.

 

[my3kids]

I have US Airways flight for WDW next week. From everything I've read, this Friday and Jan. 15 are big hurdles for the airline to pass. If they get the financing by the 15th, they can hang on another couple of months. I think You'll know something far enough in advance to make arrangements to get to the port, even if it is by driving (but consider Southwest or Air Tran, which might be out of a different airport you could drive to fairly easily) I'll be at WDW on the 15th, after taking one of their latest flights on the 14th. If they quit at midnight, wonder what happens to my luggage if it is delayed???

 

[my3kids]

http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2005/01/03/daily10.html

This article talks a little about the deadlines and scenarios.

 

[ivanova]

other airlines are required to pick up "stranded" passengers if an airline closes down operations ... as long as the other airlines have available seats (they will not bump their own passengers to accommodate you) ... so you would be able to get on another flight with another airline, eventually, but no saying when if it's a busy travel time for the airlines.

are you flying in the day of the cruise or a day or more ahead of time?

 

[Lisa D]

We are booked on US Air out of Philadelphia 4/23 leaving on the 4/24 Wonder. I booked US Air right after Southeast went under (we used to be able to fly direct on Southeast out of LVIA 15 minutes from our house). I guess we could drive but it's a looooong time in the car - I guess we'll all keep our fingers crossed!

Lisa

 

[logan1_2000]

I used up USAir frequent flyer miles on a trip because I wanted to get something for the miles and was afraid they would go bankrupt, leaving me with nada. That trip, incidentally, was in July, 1995. In the mid-90's as a lawyer did some work for USAir Express--and when flying up to their offices booked flights on a different carrier because I did not want to get stranded on stand-by if they shut-down mid-trip. And this was on the advice of a partner who was in a position to know if such a shut down was, at the time, possible.

Good luck. I hope you get to take your flight as scheduled. Then never fly or book with USAir again.

Anyone want to buy an infrequently used Lifetime Membership to the USAir Club Room? Bought it in 1987 when I lived up north, where USAir at the time seemed like a real airline.

 

[TheWog]

I too have flights scheduled on USAIR. They are for this month though. The next big hurdle is tomorrow. The Bankruptcy judge (they filed for BK in September) will be ruling on the Mechanics contract and whether it can be thrown out and restructured. Depending on what the decision is, will be what happens to USAIR. If they make it past this they should still be in business for a little while longer. They also need to address lease payments for aircraft coming due on the 15th. If it doesn't go their way, they could cease operations as soon as this weekend.

I am hoping they last longer and I get my flights. Is flying out of Manchester/TF Green an option? They may have flights. I know with Southwest you can book fully refundable tickets, but that may cost you a small fortune for your party. Good luck.

here is a thread on another board following the situation closely.
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=116112

 

[DrBob]

I've been watching USAir very carefully; and I decided not to take a chance. I bought my wife, 2yo daughter and I three tickets on Delta (unfortunately not nonstop, through ATL) to hedge my bets. If USAir goes under this month, and no other carrier will honor the tickets (which is NOT REQUIRED of any other airline), I will have my Delta seats. If I can use my USAir tickets (on USAir or another) I will, and then will pay the change fees.

Expensive, but it beats missing the cruise!

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Hate to be negative but they are not going to be around much longer. After what happened christmas eve and now southwest going to fly out of pittsburgh that was the nail in the coffin for US Air. Also US Air is bankrupt already. When they liquadate it happens with no warning. All the flights will just instantly show up canceled. Also airlines to have to take you either becasue the law for that expired and has not been renewed.

Matt

 

[TravelingDi]

Magic 1/15 From PGH on USAir
My trip is just too close for comfort..... I too have my eye on every piece of news concerning US Air. There are 19 of us cruising, but only 4 of us flying. I was so hesitant to book US Air that I waited until the day before Christmas. It was pretty quiet for a brief period and then came the Christmas travel fiasco.

Our last resort back up plan is to drive, but I really hope that it doesn't come down to that. We wanted the Friday late evening non-stop so that travel would not interfere with work and school. Driving would certainly do that.

I am not a big worrier, but all kinds of things are coming to mind in this situation. Canceled flights, lost luggage and even more importantly, safety. Has anyone thought that this is not the best time to fly any US Air jet? They ran out of ticket sleeves in November and haven't gotten any more in. I know this is a small thing, but my thought is, where else could they be cutting corners?

Thanks for the linkTheWog. DrBob - what part of PGH are you from? We are east.

 

[my3kids]

With Delta's big across the board fare reductions, that has to be another bad thing for US Airways, since both fly our of a lot of smaller airports.

I am trying to arrange my child's exams schedule to take his Friday exams early so we can go to the airport and try to get on an early flight in case of problems. If they still aren't around come Friday, it will enable us to drive and still get there on Friday.

 

[TheWog]

Magic 1/15 From PGH on USAir
My trip is just too close for comfort..... I too have my eye on every piece of news concerning US Air. There are 19 of us cruising, but only 4 of us flying. I was so hesitant to book US Air that I waited until the day before Christmas. It was pretty quiet for a brief period and then came the Christmas travel fiasco.

Our last resort back up plan is to drive, but I really hope that it doesn't come down to that. We wanted the Friday late evening non-stop so that travel would not interfere with work and school. Driving would certainly do that.

I am not a big worrier, but all kinds of things are coming to mind in this situation. Canceled flights, lost luggage and even more importantly, safety. Has anyone thought that this is not the best time to fly any US Air jet? They ran out of ticket sleeves in November and haven't gotten any more in. I know this is a small thing, but my thought is, where else could they be cutting corners?

Thanks for the linkTheWog. DrBob - what part of PGH are you from? We are east.

Your welcome TravelingDi.... good luck.

 

[Dreamer04]

our tickets are booked (last year at the ll month window to get a decent fare of about $220 from Boston, round trip) on US Air. Margaret Mary

I'm sure you've checked other airlines. The cheapest I could find was $430 out Boston. Cheaptickets.com

Do you have travel insurance? If you do and you included airfare, you might have some recourse there. So, if you buy other tickets, and USAir does not go out of business what then? Well, how about if you cancel your existing reservation with USAir? I assume you will not be fully refunded. Will you get company credit?

This might sound naive, but how about calling a competitor and asking their policy on dealing with USAir runoff.

 

[LissafromSJ]

We flew US Air several weeks ago, and after having friends of mine have huge problems with their luggage, we did something different to avoid a problem. We all carried our own carry ons, including our dresses/good clothes in one of those long foldup suit bags. It worked fine, and we have three kids under 10 who managed without a problem. Yeah, we had to lug it with us, but it beat having our stuff get lost or delayed. It also forced us to pack wisely, although we had more than enough clothing for a week's vacation in the Bahamas. My friends who just traveled over Christmas vacation got their bags in New Orleans on their last day, and even with that, one was never found at all. Just worth considering, if you have to fly US Air. Good luck! Melissa

 

[belleandthebeast]

Actually, airlines are "required" to use free seats to help passengers stranded. But, only if they have available seats. And IF is what scares me. So basically, if US Airways shuts down, you can take your ticket to another airline, pay a $50pp fee, and fly that airline. But again, this only works if the other airlines have available seating and as others posted, if you are traveling during busy season, your chances of getting seats are slim.

Basically all we can do now is wait and see. Hopefully it will all work out.
I pray everyday that they don't go under. For those who are traveling US Airways good luck. I know what a pain it is to see the airline that you are flying go under.. I had free tickets to use on Southeast to use this April from our trip in September that we weren't able to use because of Francis.

Wound up shelling out $600 for tickets that just went down $200! This pains of travel in today's world!

 

[TravelingDi]

Just reported in the last 5 minutes. The announcer stated that in the next 24 hours we will see if US Air lives or dies. It is thought that the machinists will walk.

So, I have just booked a back up flight with Airtran. Not inexpensive and not non-stop, but now I will can let it rest. The tickets can be canceled and re-used for a $50 fee if it comes to that.

 

[my3kids]

I'm not sure anything is especially good news with that airline, but I thought it was best for US Airways for the judge to rule as he did. Now, they are not required to spend as much as the contracts required on labor costs and such. Now, we'll see if anyone works for the reduced salary, but I think if the judge ruled in the other way, they would have folded today.

 

[TravelingDi]

I have been tuned into local talk radio all morning - it is the non-stop subject and the general consensus is that this is about the worst it has ever been. It is sad for our local area and all of us regular travelers. I have been positive about them sticking around until now, but I do think that this may be it.

 

[joycepa]

Another poster mentioned a date of January 15...... What is that about?????