In regards to compensation, weather delays are not seen as the airline’s fault… because they don’t control the weather. So you may not be compensated but you may want to know how to handle rebookings. Right now I’m still in Dallas (instead of Puerto Vallarta) because of the weather, so it seems like a timely sharing.
If a flight is canceled for whatever reason, they will try to get you in on the next available flight. They are really good about this. People are worried that they are on stand-by but it’s not just stand-by.
For example an airline employee flying on stand-by would be pretty screwed in a storm. They just have to wait for the next flight with open seats. (Which none of the flights around here will have that).
But when your flight is canceled you can be booked on another flight. They will look to get you to your destination on the same airline. But let’s say AA has 5 flights from ORD to DFW a day and the first two are cancelled. You call quickly and you get a seat on the 5th flight.
However, you can still fly stand-by for flights 3 and 4. This means you wait at the gate and if a seat opens up sooner, you may get that seat. However, if on stand-by, if there are none on the 3rd flight, you can try again on the 4th.
But remember, the important thing is to ticket in on the first available flight. Trying your luck on standby for flights 3 and 4 don’t negate the fact you have a ticket for the 5th flight.
Because it is a first come first serve, keep checking your flight. And when it’s cancelled, get on the phone.
In this case, I’m flying American Airlines and there are no other flights to Puerto Vallarta for over 2 days, period. So they looked at other OneWorld flights for me. Of course, they are the only OW partner that flies this route, but they told me, “all our other partners flying this route have canceled”.
Whatever.
So I asked them if they could book me into AeroMexico as it would get me there the same day. But they said they don’t have a ticketing agreement. I don’t have inside knowledge on their ticketing agreement, but never the less, since they were failing to get me there at a reasonable time they looked outside their alliance, like on Delta and friends.
But airlines that actually fly there apparently aren’t on their list. They would not book me on AeroMexico because it was outside their agreement.
Meanwhile, I’m on ITA Matrix just searching for flights DFW-PVR and there are basically none they are willing to buy. So I ask for DFW-GDL. There were seats open to Guadalajara… which is 4 hours away.
But honestly, some of our best friends are meeting us for this week and it was pretty important to me to make the most of it. So I would rather have a mexican bus adventure and get there late the 7th (tonight) or early the 8th. One day late.
Keep calling and checking availability
For whatever reason, this morning an agent found flights on the 8th getting in really late. Which is still a day ahead of what my options were.
But he also found that he could book an AeroMexico flight from GDL to PVR on the 8th. Well, as much as I was looking forward to a mexican bus adventure at night… I opted for this option. I’d get in before noon on the 8th.
Now hold on…
I thought you could not book on AeroMexico? This is the entire reason I’m not already there!
Can someone explain this crap to me?
Anyways.
Why I really hate change fees
Want to know what makes me mad? On the flight from Europe yesterday, or whatever day it technically was, I asked at the lounge for them to change my flight, predicting I’d have a cancellation issue in Dallas because of the weather.
Because it was not technically cancelled yet, their hands were tied. They even tried to call a reservations “specialist” to see if I could change.
See I heard the storm was coming into Dallas and I knew it would be trouble… Okay, really I mean my daddy kept calling and telling me to avoid DFW.
Either way I was flying LHR to ORD to DFW to PVR. Yet, there were direct flights from ORD to PVR. So I said, hey, just let me skip DFW and take the ORD to PVR.
But they treated me like an overprotective mother. “Don’t worry”, “Just go”, “try and see”, “it will be okay”, “that’s funny, it’s not cancelled yet.”
Soon as I get to DFW I looked and thought, “frick, I told you dummies! I hate change fees!”
If it were Southwest or if they had any sense, they would have just let me change it. And it would have been better for everyone. I’d be in Puerto Vallarta. They wouldn’t have to rebook me on an Aero Mexico flight. They wouldn’t have to deal with me for 1.5 hours on the phone and wouldn’t have that hold time. Etc…
And yet, airlines are so dumb, rigid, cheap and nickel & dimey. The agents couldn’t do a thing and now I’m still in Dallas.
Original Mileage Credit
Although I’m taking a shorter AA flight. According to some FTers, I could likely get credit for the flight I paid for, DFW-GDL. It’s not a huge difference here.
And when I was on the phone, basically she said:
A) we can refund you and you can book with someone else, and you’ll get no mileage credit.
or
B) We can fix this, and you’ll get the miles.
Basically, if you’re flying and paying them, you get miles.
Hotels
If an airline cancels your flight and it’s their fault, they will likely give you a hotel and compensate you.
But if it’s because of weather… you basically get nothing. The only hotel compensation you get is a crappy distressed passenger rate. Some times the rate is a good discount, but it doesn’t earn points. Not worth it.
Either way, book hotels quick. As soon as you know. And if it’s possible, hold a room. Most hotels allow to cancel until the afternoon of arrival. Usually 4pm or 6pm. Book and cancel before then if it’s not cancelled by then.
It’s not that bad
I’m a little pissed as I was so eager to see my friends. Although arriving back at the airport put things into perspective. Cots all over the airport, filled with people living in there. And I came from a big old suite and although I have to spend the night 4 hours away from my friends… I don’t know, but I’ll probably stay at the InterContinental.
And really, I’m going on vacation with some great people in a beautiful area. How much can I really complain?
How much can you really complain? From your post, a LOT. It’s a weather delay – in a season where there often are weather delays.
And I’ll let you in on a secret, they happen every year around this time…
lol, well… that’s true.
I’ve decided there are 5 stages of cancelations:
1) Denial.
“It might make it”
2) Anger.
“Stupid airline!”
3) Bargaining.
“Just put me on another flight and call it even”
4) Depression.
“Everyone is in the sun.”
5) Acceptance.
“Weather happens…”
But I will say, it was avoidable as I didn’t have to route through DFW.
In other news, we got a 4.5 hour mechanical delay. Still in DFW. Oh well…
Actally, it’s not even acceptance, I will be REALLY glad to get there.
Sorry to rub salt in your wounds, but I got to hang out with your friends S and B tonight in the lounge for a little bit. 😀
Whaaaat. Seth and Ben? I’m coming soon. Just got to GDL and have flight in the morning. :-p
So jealous.
I thought airlines were getting good about allowing changes ahead of crap weather – like United offering free changes ahead of the bad storm that hit the NE and Chicago the week of Thanksgiving.
I am sorry you lost a day and had much stress to go along. But, on the other hand, I suppose it will inevitably hit anyone who travels much.
Hope you made it to PV! Enjoy the beach!
Honestly, we’ve been very lucky. I think it’s because we avoid winter lol
So this crap happens. And the airline can only do so much I guess with 1,200 flights canceled. Each with 100-350 people. It’s insane.
So at this point I’m so grateful to be out of DFW!
maybe be like the Rabbi and write a complaint letter to AA to try to get miles as compensation
The Rabbi? Oh, the guy who wrote like 1 million complains to delta?
Dear AA,
Your weather sucks! Can I have a voucher?
Drew