Airline travel loophole ?s

[scooterbug44]

Why are airlines allowed to not be responsible for your lodging or rebooking your connecting flight when the delay/cancellation is due to weather?

This is a HUGE loophole that I think needs to be changed!

I was recently appalled when I arrived at the airport to check in and was told by the agent that:
1) I would miss my connection because of the several hour weather delay at the current airport
2) The airline would not rebook the connection when I missed it (through no fault of mine) even though my reservation was flagged by them hours prior to my flight because of this issue
3) They could not book me on another airline (as they are legally obligated to do) because other airlines wouldn't accept other companies' reservations except as standby because they wanted to save those seats for their stranded/delayed customers
4) The airline would not pay for or arrange lodging for me in either my current city or connecting airport's city..........even though in either case THEY could not fly me out until the next day - even to a nearby destination instead of my original

 

[Geo]

I am a frequent flyer and hold the airlines to pretty high standards. But I can't really say I agree that they should be held accountable for delays/cancellations that truly are weather related...

It's just a simple matter of dollars and cents. They wouldn't be able to maintain profitability if they were covering our meals and hotel rooms because of mother nature...

 

[scooterbug44]

My beef was that my problems weren't DIRECTLY weather related as much as they were a snowball/ripple effect of OTHER weather delays and the ticket agent basically said "sorry, you're F'ed, we accept no responsibility whatsoever, enjoy sleeping at the airport".

When I arrived at the airport (hours early because I was aware of the problem and was hoping to get an earlier flight or reroute to fix the problem) planes were arriving/leaving and the weather only continued to improve.

 

[Geo]

There isn't a distinction between indirect weather delay and direct weather delay...

The weather could be great in Ft. Walton (where I am), great in Dallas (where I am connecting) and great in Vancouver (my final destination). But it is possible that the plane for my first flight is coming from NY and can't take off due to bad weather there. This can cause me to miss my connection in Dallas and it isn't anyone's fault...

The best the airlines can do is try to get me on another flight to Dallas so I don't miss my connection.

But I am not the only one affected by this. The other 50 people on my Dallas flight are all trying to get on earlier flights. Let's say there are two earlier flights each with 20 empty seats. That covers 40 of the 50 people going to Dallas. But 10 are hosed. So if you don't have frequent flyer status or if you try too late (or if all other flights are full or there aren't any earlier flights) then you are hosed. They will put you on the next available flight OR GIVE YOU A REFUND even for a nonrefundable ticket (because just like it isn't their fault- it also isn't your fault)...

Anyway, I just don't agree that the airlines should be held accountable for weather. Maintenance- yes. Overbooking, yes. No one there to fly the plane- yes- so long as it is not due to weather...

2 cents. Sorry. Good luck.

g

 

[scooterbug44]

I understand the math/issues involved, I just think there DOES need to be some accountability because they use it as a "no fault blanket excuse" to avoid responsibility.

I'm a pretty frequent and creative traveler (which is why I was doing laundry and smelling dinner at a relative's house in another state at the time my flight was supposed to take off and strand me at the airport) so I tend to fare pretty well in these situations, but I know they are totally screwing over less knowledgeable and stubborn people.

A large portion of the delays is because they have everything stretched to the limit - no flex time in the schedules, no extra planes in the hangers, no extra staff in case of a problem, no extra flight time for pilots!

 

[Smiling JOe]

I am a frequent flyer and hold the airlines to pretty high standards. But I can't really say I agree that they should be held accountable for delays/cancellations that truly are weather related...

It's just a simple matter of dollars and cents. They wouldn't be able to maintain profitability if they were covering our meals and hotel rooms because of mother nature...

I disagree. If you pay for a service, such as a flight, and you receive only a portion of the services promised in exchange for full payment, the service is still due by the business. If I were in that situation, I would call American Express and tell them not to make payment to the airline which didn't render the service, and I'd let them handle it.

 

[Will B]

Why are airlines allowed to not be responsible for your lodging or rebooking your connecting flight when the delay/cancellation is due to weather?

Airlines have never been required by law to accommodate passengers for weather related inconveniences. It was always done out of courtesy. Once the era of huge financial losses hit, airlines cut out putting passengers up for weather related delays in a cost cutting move.

It sux, but I doubt it's going to change any time soon...

 

[6thGen]

If I were you, I'd only fly private from now on. It's so much easier not having to look at schedules, book flights, go through check-in, security, waiting, boarding, waiting, etc. The pilot is there waiting to take your bags, arrange a rental waiting when you land, and head back when you are done. Citations are good starter jets, and you can go up from there. Destin airport can recommend a full time pilot, there are a ton of retired air force types here that are waiting for work. Hope this helps.

 

[scooterbug44]

If I were you, I'd only fly private from now on. It's so much easier not having to look at schedules, book flights, go through check-in, security, waiting, boarding, waiting, etc. The pilot is there waiting to take your bags, arrange a rental waiting when you land, and head back when you are done. Citations are good starter jets, and you can go up from there. Destin airport can recommend a full time pilot, there are a ton of retired air force types here that are waiting for work. Hope this helps.

Thanks, that was as helpful and on topic as all your other posts!

 

[6thGen]

Thanks, that was as helpful and on topic as all your other posts!

No problem. Glad to help. I forgot to mention, the ground crew is much more attractive and the rest of the crews are much friendlier. I really don't understand why people fly commercial unless they are crossing the pond.