United Cancelled My Flight

[Kathy3]

We were scheduled to fly to Aruba on Sunday, Nov. 8. United emailed today that the flight had been cancelled and they could get us out on Monday, Nov. 9. That is fine but now we waste one night in Aruba - no refunds.
United will refund our ticket price but now there are no decent flights on any airlines.
Do we have any recourse or are we just stuck?
Kathy

 

[bnoble]

Well, it's not as though you can force them to add the flight back...

I would write a letter to their customer feedback address, explaining how inconvenient this is and it is causing you to look elsewhere for future air travel. If you've been even a semi-regular customer, they are likely to respond with a voucher good towards (part of) a future flight.

 

[vacationhopeful]

So some smuck who brought his ticket weeks after you did is paying LESS and you are expected to PAY MORE ... because United decided to cancel YOUR flight.

Seems United has figured out HOW to eliminate the CHEAP FARES and FILL the HIGH PRICE seats.

Which flight to cancel? Revenues (profits) of $300,000 from flight A or flight B with revenues (profits) of $400,000.

New business model?

 

[Sloane S]

What about going on Saturday the 7th, and getting a hotel for one night - is that an option? Where are you flying out of?

They've also got two flights out of Newark on the 7th - can they route you from your origin through there so you can get down there on the 8th?

 

[Passepartout]

For years, we've flown to/ from Mexico annually in Jan/Feb with one stop each way in 6-8 hours. I have been watching the flights for a couple of months, now all the carriers ( Delta, Alaska, now American with the demise of USAir) have dropped some flights, and it is 2+ stops and 26-30 hours travel time. With an overnight layover somewhere.

I feel committed this year with exchanges booked, and money spent, but this may well end our love affair with Mexico.

Jim

 

[VegasBella]

What about going on Saturday the 7th, and getting a hotel for one night - is that an option? Where are you flying out of?

They've also got two flights out of Newark on the 7th - can they route you from your origin through there so you can get down there on the 8th?

Those sound like good options. Squeaky wheel gets the grease. Just call andd complain about it. Every time they say they can't do anything, ask for a manager.

 

[bellesgirl]

For years, we've flown to/ from Mexico annually in Jan/Feb with one stop each way in 6-8 hours. I have been watching the flights for a couple of months, now all the carriers ( Delta, Alaska, now American with the demise of USAir) have dropped some flights, and it is 2+ stops and 26-30 hours travel time. With an overnight layover somewhere.

I feel committed this year with exchanges booked, and money spent, but this may well end our love affair with Mexico.

Jim

I don't know where you fly out of, but we booked through Southwest this year. The now connect to PVR and CUN through several cities.

 

[Passepartout]

I don't know where you fly out of, but we booked through Southwest this year. The now connect to PVR and CUN through several cities.

Thanks, but the destination is not either of those. Southwest doesn't serve where we want to go, and our 'Gateway' city is a somewhat underserved 2nd tier city (Boise). That doesn't mean it's Podunkville, and has had decent connections for years, it's just that since the mergers of United/Continental and USeless Air/American and Delta/Alaska, they have all cut the numbers of flights in order to increase profitability at the expense of paying passengers.

I'd LOVE if SW would serve us, as it's been a favorite carrier, but even with them, our routes have us zigging-and-zaging all over the continent to get to a relatively straight-line destination.

No wonder I've promoted drive-to timeshare ownership. You have no control over prices and access when you are dependent on the greedy airlines for your vacations!

Jim

[Soap-box mode= OFF]

 

[taterhed]

Most major airlines will honor other airlines tickets as long as they're not priceline etc... Call and ask another major airline: I have a ticket on united will you honor it? Or better yet, go to a ticket office and see if they'll print you one.


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[Sloane S]

Most major airlines will honor other airlines tickets as long as they're not priceline etc... Call and ask another major airline: I have a ticket on united will you honor it? Or better yet, go to a ticket office and see if they'll print you one.


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That's not necessarily the case anymore since deregulation. In United's contract of carriage it is Rule 24. It's at their discretion to put you on another airline. Southwest, for instance, doesn't have any interline agreements at all.

In this case, I think the best course of action is for the OP to figure out an alternate routing on United that works best for them, and call in to request it. The relevant section of the contract (although I wouldn't start out referencing it, and I would only bring it up if they give you a problem) is C.1) "Transport the Passenger on its own flights, subject to availability, to the Destination, next Stopover point, or transfer point shown on its portion of the Ticket, without Stopover in the same class of service, at no additional cost to the Passenger;"

 

[taterhed]

But, if another airline will accommodate him on his original schedule, so much the better


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[Sloane S]

Sure, but they have no guarantee of being reimbursed by United, so it's unlikely. That's also in section C:

2) At UA’s discretion, reroute Passengers over the lines of one or more carriers in an equivalent class of service when a Change in Schedule results in the cancellation of all UA service between two cities;

 

[camachinist]

Ha, ha, no wonder Oscar had a heart attack taking over after Jeff was fired.

I'm still seeing EWR-AUA on Nov 8 at 8:59am and 10:19am non-stop so don't know where OP is but a reroute could be possible if MCT is met. After doing a little more looking, I'm wondering if their feeder flight was cancelled since every point of departure I looked at routed through EWR en-route to AUA.

I'd suck it up and take the Monday flight and ask for some United funny money or miles as compensation for the inconvenience and hope that Oscar, and United, get better soon.

Edited to add that endorsing the ticket over to a non Star Alliance OAL is possible but I haven't seen that done lately except on day of travel. UA would often endorse me over to AA on day of travel if things went sideways (usually mechanicals). Worth an ask. They're not obligated by the COC but a suggestion, especially if you have already checked alternative flights for space, can bear fruit. Try calling late evening eastern time and, if the agent seems inept or resistant, simply thank them and hang up and try again.

 

[taterhed]

Dear God, please don't take Oscar.... We need him. V/r


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[Pat H]

Seems very strange that UA would cancel an entire flight 4 days ahead of time. Call United and tell them the options they offered you are unacceptable, then tell them what you want. If the original agent isn't accomodating, ask for a supervisor. Be sure to know what you want before you call, e.g. another flight the same day even if only first class is avaialble, flight on another airline, flight the day before with your original return, etc. Be polite but firm.

 

[sunshine3330]

Pat H is correct. When Virgin America canceled my flight they booked me on another airline. Because I knew United had a direct flight on the same day, I suggested that. They booked it with no problems. There were no out of pocket expenses or fees. If the OP finds another airline flight on the same day, it would be honored by the canceling airline...but then again rules and regulations do change!

 

[SMHarman]

You could of course rock up at the airport on departure day and check in.
Now you are standing in front of a Desk agent having the conversation of ok what's your re-accommodation. I'm here your plane is not find an alternate route.

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[theo]

Seems very strange that UA would cancel an entire flight 4 days ahead of time. <snip>

Original flight was reported by OP as being on November 8. Yesterday when OP posted was October 20. That's about 18 days advance notice by my math --- not 4 days (...not that the flight cancellation news is any less unwelcome).

 

[Jason245]

Did you buy Travel insurance, you might be able to get reimbursed for part of the trip. Other option is to try and get them to fly you out a day early?

 

[Pat H]

Original flight was reported by OP as being on November 8. Yesterday when OP posted was October 20. That's about 18 days advance notice by my math --- not 4 days (...not that the flight cancellation news is any less unwelcome).

OOPS, I just saw Sunday and not the date. That's even stranger that a flight would be canceled so far ahead.