US Airways cancelling flights? What to do?

[Pixieflip]

We just got an email from Expedia regarding our flight on 5-14. It says:

We have received notice from US Airways that they have made significant changes that impact your itinerary. We must speak with you as soon as possible to discuss the airline's available options, which may be very limited.

Okay, so we call and get put on hold for ten minutes and then we are disconnected. Over and over again. Ugh.

I'm so sad, this flight was the ONLY direct/nonstop flight that entire weekend and our trip is only 4 days and you know how it is rearranging DVC accomodations.

Anyone have any good ideas? Or at least send me some pixie dust!

 

[helenk]

Did you check the Us Airways website to see what changes have been made to the flight? I would go there first to see what has been done, check to see if there may be other flights that will work for you. You can request to be put on another flight.
Unfortunately, with your trip only 4 days away going with another airline would most likely not be cost effective.

 

[Pixieflip]

Did you check the Us Airways website to see what changes have been made to the flight? I would go there first to see what has been done, check to see if there may be other flights that will work for you. You can request to be put on another flight.
Unfortunately, with your trip only 4 days away going with another airline would most likely not be cost effective.

No, the trip is only 4 days long. It's in May. I just meant that changing it one day is 25% of the trip. And the website says error, there's been a change to your flight, but you don't get anywhere. You really have to get through on the phone.

I guess I was wondering more about US Airways or flights in general. Is this common? Is this what it's come to? We usually drive the 24 hours to WDW and this time we really wanted to enjoy the shortness of flying. Hmm.

 

[DebbieB]

No, the trip is only 4 days long. It's in May. I just meant that changing it one day is 25% of the trip. And the website says error, there's been a change to your flight, but you don't get anywhere. You really have to get through on the phone.

I guess I was wondering more about US Airways or flights in general. Is this common? Is this what it's come to? We usually drive the 24 hours to WDW and this time we really wanted to enjoy the shortness of flying. Hmm.

That isn't typical so close to the flight date. I've flown US alot in the past and the only time that has happened to me was when they discontinued flights between certain cities. In my case, it was Pittsburgh-Allentown. They discontinued the route. I had to fly to Newark and drive 70 miles. I could have connected through PHL and got on a prop but it didn't seem worth it.

What city are you flying from?

 

[Pixieflip]

We got through on the phone. It's the return flight from Orlando to Chicago. We have to get there by a certain time or we miss the last flight to Omaha. Now they want to route us through Charlotte then Chicago. Sounds like a looooong day. We did not accept it for now. Don't know if that's a good idea or not, but the lady recommended waiting and calling back in a few days because they may have more options then. Really? We are penciled in on the flight, we just haven't accepted it yet. We won't lose it if we wait a few days.

I have never heard of this, so weird. But, I'm grateful our fabulous nonstop flight down is not changing. Yet anyway.

 

[seashoreCM]

Check directly with the same airline (here, US Air) to see if indeed your flight was cancelled.

If so then check directly with the airline to see if there are other flights you can make use of. Then call #expedia again adn ask for those flights. There should be no additional charge.

 

[DebbieB]

Was part of your flight actually United? United is a Star Alliance partner with US. Chicago is a United hub, looking at the US website, those flights were actually United. Charlotte is a US hub. I would look at flight availability on the United website.

 

[dudspizza]

Was part of your flight actually United? United is a Star Alliance partner with US. Chicago is a United hub, looking at the US website, those flights were actually United. Charlotte is a US hub. I would look at flight availability on the United website.

Yep, look at United, Continental, and US Airways... they are all partners and see if there is something that can be done to get it to work out.....

Duds

 

[Pixieflip]

Yep, look at United, Continental, and US Airways... they are all partners and see if there is something that can be done to get it to work out.....

Duds

Okay, good idea, thanks.

 

[Pixieflip]

So here's where we're at. Called and spoke to them, finally someone answered. She would not admit that anything else was available but the flights that were randomly assigned to us. 3:30 out of Orlando with connections in Charlotte, then Chicago, then Omaha at midnight. She would not pass it off to a supervisor or admit anything else was available. Believe me, we tried. Nothing on the United or Continental websites was "available." (our previous flights were Orlando to Chicago to Omaha, in about 4.5 hours)

Then we didn't have seats. Wait, then we did.

She said we could take the long and winding road home or we could have a refund.

Really?? We planned this in January. When flights were much more reasonable. Now, 3 weeks away, can you imagine how much that would cost us??

US Airways won't deal with us at all, won't touch an account that was through Expedia. Expedia won't give us options, just basically took the rug out and told us what to do.

So we accepted it.

And when we call back now...all those amazing flight options are miraculously available to us...for a fee. We can pay our way out of it, but since we accepted the original offer, they are not obligated to make the transfer for free.

How mad should I be? Realistically. Because I'm super mad. It's not like these tickets were cheap to begin with.

I know, we still get to go to WDW and have my DD's surprise 13th birthday trip with my mom, I do have that perspective, but it just feels like we got so pushed around and dang, we paid a lot to fly. We normally drive the 24 hours to WDW, flying was supposed to be such a treat, a luxury.

Sigh.

 

[crashbb]

So here's where we're at. Called and spoke to them, finally someone answered. She would not admit that anything else was available but the flights that were randomly assigned to us. 3:30 out of Orlando with connections in Charlotte, then Chicago, then Omaha at midnight. She would not pass it off to a supervisor or admit anything else was available. Believe me, we tried. Nothing on the United or Continental websites was "available." (our previous flights were Orlando to Chicago to Omaha, in about 4.5 hours)

Then we didn't have seats. Wait, then we did.

She said we could take the long and winding road home or we could have a refund.

Really?? We planned this in January. When flights were much more reasonable. Now, 3 weeks away, can you imagine how much that would cost us??

US Airways won't deal with us at all, won't touch an account that was through Expedia. Expedia won't give us options, just basically took the rug out and told us what to do.

So we accepted it.

And when we call back now...all those amazing flight options are miraculously available to us...for a fee. We can pay our way out of it, but since we accepted the original offer, they are not obligated to make the transfer for free.

How mad should I be? Realistically. Because I'm super mad. It's not like these tickets were cheap to begin with.

I know, we still get to go to WDW and have my DD's surprise 13th birthday trip with my mom, I do have that perspective, but it just feels like we got so pushed around and dang, we paid a lot to fly. We normally drive the 24 hours to WDW, flying was supposed to be such a treat, a luxury.

Sigh.

So you were speaking to Expedia, right? Not US Airways?

While I would be very mad, I'm not sure there is anything that can be done at this point. It is a risk you take when you don't book directly with the airline - the "travel agent" can add their own rules on top of those of the airline.

I know that with US Airways, I once accepted an offer (due to a flight change) and was able to renege of that acceptance when United offered a new (and better) option.

How much are the fees? Are they worth it to you? How much more would new tickets cost (i.e. if you go for the refund)?

This really does stink for you.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I am not sure that this is going to help the OP, but the thing to do is KNOW your options before you call. So if there was a USAir flight you liked better have that one ready when they give you option one and fight for it.

Once you accept it's harder.

And dealing with Expedia makes it even tougher. It's an online TA, do you really think they have good "human" customer service agents????

 

[ancestry]

How mad should I be? Realistically. Because I'm super mad. It's not like these tickets were cheap to begin with.

Sigh.

So sorry you are going through this.

This is why I will never ever book with a 3rd party for airline flights. I will only book directly with the airline that I am flying. If you would have been able to deal with US Air directly you may have been given more options.

I hope that everything works out for you.

 

[seashoreCM]

SoUS Airways won't deal with us at all, won't touch an account that was through Expedia. Expedia won't give us options, just basically took the rug out and told us what to do.

So we accepted it.

And when we call back now...all those amazing flight options are miraculously available to us...for a fee. We can pay our way out of it, but since we accepted the original offer, they are not obligated to make the transfer for free..

I would very quickly write to corporate headquarters (Expedia) and ask for a refund.

THey misled you, lied to you, deceived you.

Next time -- Look on Expedia, book directly with the airline.
deleted, didn't read the question.

 

[crashbb]

I would very quickly write to corporate headquarters (Expedia) and ask for a refund.

THey misled you, lied to you, deceived you.

Next time -- Look on Expedia, book directly with the airline.

They already offered a refund - that doesn't help the OP!

 

[Pixieflip]

Correct, we were speaking to Expedia. US Airways would not deal with us at all.

The thing is, it's not like we were asking to make the changes and now it's more expensive or yes, there's a charge to make changes to our plan, etc. They took away our flight and gave us a crummy schedule. And now they want us to pay more for ANY other options.

 

[Pixieflip]

I am not sure that this is going to help the OP, but the thing to do is KNOW your options before you call. So if there was a USAir flight you liked better have that one ready when they give you option one and fight for it.

Once you accept it's harder.

And dealing with Expedia makes it even tougher. It's an online TA, do you really think they have good "human" customer service agents????

We were given NO OTHER OPTIONS. That is the frustration.

 

[seashoreCM]

I suppose you can give it one last ditch try. Using the phone to Expedia higher up or email to Expedia higher up.

Explain that (all of the following must be true otherwise don't do this last ditch try):

1. You booked such and such flights.
2. Expedia notified you that there was a change.
3. You hand picked alternate flights you would like.
4. Expedia said that your choice was not available.
5. Later Expedia said that your choice was available for a fee.

Then in your letter name the flights you hand picked.

Do not use words like "lie", "deceive", or "mislead".

Simply given steps 3 and 5 is enough that Expedia should relent and give you your choice for no extra charge.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

We were given NO OTHER OPTIONS. That is the frustration.

You have to KNOW the options before you call. Assuming Expedia is going to spend any time trying to help you is a big error. They gave you what was "easiest" for them? Did you tell them "but I see USAir has the following flights that work better for me?" If not that's where the first error occured....

For those of you in this situation in the future.....

When you get the phone call/email BEFORE you talk to Expedia (or Orbitz, or Travelocity or the airline or anyone) go look at the options on the airlines webpage.

So they have flight A that goes from XYX to YYY at 1 with a layover in CLT for 2 hours or flight B that goes from XYX to YYY with 2 layovers... when Expedia says "your option is A" ask them why not B. When they say "you can't have B' that's when it gets tricky. If you booked with USAir direct you probably could. With Expedia I guess I would try asking for a supervisor.

 

[maxiesmom]

Correct, we were speaking to Expedia. US Airways would not deal with us at all.

No airline will deal with you if you did not make the reservation directly with them. As you made your reservation thru expedia, you have to deal with expedia.

Do what seashoreCM suggests. And as angry and frustrated as you are ( as I would be too!) be nice! You won't get anywhere if you yell or are mean or tell them they are stupid. As tempted as any human being may be to do or say those things, they won't help. Good luck!