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What to do after your flight gets canceled
My weekend sucked. On Friday, I was suppose to fly out to Pittsburgh to visit my girlfriend, but my flight was inexplicably canceled. Well, Continental did offer a reason--Newark was too windy to take-off. But the funny thing was US Airways had a flight that departed 50 minutes later, with no problems.Isn't that wind fickle, I tell you. I should probably kick myself, considering my long-time policy to actively avoid flying on US Airways. As my girlfriends says, there honestly should be a rule that if US Airways flies, then everyone else should be forced to. I would call it the "bare-bottoms rule."
I did invoke Rule 240 at the ticket counter, which I wrote about a couple weeks ago--this little-known rule requires the major carriers to put you on another airline's flight, at no charge. But aside from this small victory, which got me nowhere because the US Airways flight was already booked full, I'm out over $100 for my troubles getting to and from the airport.
I did get a refund of the ticket, but I still feel miffed. What are my options? An executive e-mail bomb may be in order, but first, I'm going to try the "senior" customer service line. Last time I did that with US Airways, they gave me a $250 voucher on top of my flight refund.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
M-D Nov 19th 2008 11:18PM
If it makes you feel any better, I was delayed 4 hours at TPA on Friday afternoon waiting for my CO flight to EWR to take off. The reason given for the delay was "low ceiling/visibility".
Planes were landing, but apparently ATC had backed everyone up; a 2-something Continental flight from TPA to EWR was turned back to the terminal after taxiing out, and only re-boarded at 5:45 (when my flight was supposed to take off).
Not much you can do in those situations, unfortunately, except get a cup of overpriced coffee, find a power outlet, and settle in.
Blu-Sam Nov 20th 2008 9:49AM
In 2001 of spring, I was delayed 5 hours at Newark after stop there after Rochester, NY to home in Dallas.
I sure wish I have enough money to spend on taxi for rush hours at downtown New York City. All, I do is stare at the incredible skyline.
Jmoney Nov 20th 2008 10:14AM
Same exact (everything but the excuse was rain not wind) thing ewr to pit on co 2 summers ago. and then at happened again to friends of mine(same route/carrier) this summer. Moral of the story: NEVER FLY EWR TO PIT ON CO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!