If an airline cancels a flight, what happens?

[gingersnapdrgn]

I've never had this happen, but am curious as to what would happen if it ever does.

If the airline is the one to cancel a flight at the beginning of the trip, do you have the option of saying you don't want a substitute flight and get a refund for the full amount you paid for the roundtrip fare, and not take the trip? Or, do you have to take a substitute flight or lose your money ~ and if take a substitute flight, do you have to pay the increase in fare if there is any? What about if you're coming home and the flight is canceled?

[katland]

I only had this happen once, on a "puddle jumper" from P.R. to St. Thomas. At that time, our flight was cancelled and all the subsequent flights went out un-delayed. I would've preferred they just push everyone back to the next flight, delaying everyone an hour or less, but I guess that would've caused more problems for the airline. As it was, we were delayed something like 5 hours.

A couple of my friends who travel a lot, have had this happen on the major airlines, and what they said is that the airline first tries to seat you on their next flight, then they would try for a seat on another airline (I don't know if you'd have to push for this, though). I think if you were on a non-stop, they would first try to book you on another non-stop. Sorry I don't know the rules.

But - if you are ever on a flight that is overbooked, and have some flexibility in your schedule, you can do well. Some of my friends actually hope for this. The airline first asks for volunteers to take another flight, and can offer you some nice perks for doing so - $'s or an upgrade to first class on your re-booked flight. The one flight I was on that was very overbooked, I did not want to rebook (although I had some extra time in my itinerary I didn't want to take a chance on missing my cruise), they actually had more people volunteer to get off than they actually needed. It seems to be that you can sometimes almost negotiate the deal you get, if no one's really interested in getting off (they raise the perks to try to entice people, they'd rather have volunteers than have to boot someone off).

[gingersnapdrgn]

Thanks, katland I hope I don't have a canceled flight but it's nice to know how it all works just incase.

[MystBlue]

I had a flight I was on cancelled last year - it was only from Providence, RI to NYC. Apparently the plane had a mechanical problem. I had a connecting flight to make and the airline, Continental, re-booked me on a flight with Delta. I made the connecting flight just fine - Continental took care of booking and paying (however they did that) with Delta for me. Other passengers were also re-booked, and some waited for the next Continental flight. I was happy with how they took care of me.

[AutumnShannon]

This happened to my daughter & her friend when they visited me when I lived in Hawaii a little over a year ago & they were heading back to MD. We went to the airport...along with many people on the same flight. They ended up cancelling the flight...and they offered many people a phone # to call to be put up in a hotel. Of course, they didn't need that...but they were delayed by 2 days. All around it just stunk. Apparantly it was mechanical something or the other.

[Mycyd]

I used to fly a lot on business. I've been stuck in Phoenix, Atlanta, Denver and Minneapolis and every time I was put up at a hotel for a night and flew out the next day. I also have been bumped and have received quite a few vouchers that I used for free flights later. If I wasn't in a hurry or was just getting in late, I would volunteer to be bumped and take the voucher.

[gingersnapdrgn]

It's nice that the airlines offer the hotel stays/vouchers, esp. for those who volunteer.

[HaroldS]

Several years ago our flight on America West (now US Air) from Omaha to Phoenix was cancelled due to "no crew". We were put up in an hotel but were only offered $10 meal vouchers for 24 hours. We finally settled for $60 (2 of us for 24 hours in an expensive hotel restaurant). However, the next day the flight was cancelled again - for the same reason. The hotel was now full and they were trying to put us up in a small motel with no food available - they suggested we eat at the airport before going to the motel. By then I was out of my diabetics meds so just walked over to Southwest and asked if they had any seats left on their flight. We ended up in middle seats but got home finally. They made no effort to get us seats on other airlines. I had to do it myself and wish I had done it the first day instead of being such a stupid traveller. I don't know how, but Southwest got paid by America West. After complaining when we got home they offered us vouchers for future travel but I told them I would never fly on America West ever again. And we haven't.

[gingersnapdrgn]

That's horrible what you went through with the airline, Harold. I hope you (or anyone) has to deal with that sort of situation again.

[Binny89]

Believe it or not there are no laws in the US pertaining to this!
Of course all airlines have a policy regarding cancelled flights. So what happens will vary greatly. It also seems to vary on the rep you get at the time unfortunately, as a lot of it is up to discretion of the individual airline.

The EU has laws now in place that safeguard your cancelled flights and they will protect you.


This website is really good at explaining the whole mess.


http://www.airsafe.com/complain/bumping.htm

[hardasrock]

Isnt there a passengers bill of rights somewhere. I had a friend print it out last year when she few during the winter believe it or not it came in handy when her flight was delayed leaving vegas...