AA Policy if Late to Connecting Flight
Jan 4th, 2014, 03:08 PM
#21
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Trip Report: Our taxi failed to arrive for our scheduled 5:30 a.m. pickup January 1. (My guess is that drivers were too hung over to show! LOL) A single (and sober) driver eventually arrived at 6:15, and we slid through snow out of our northern suburb until we got on the expressway. New Year's Day means light traffic, so despite the continuing snow, we did get to ORD in time, and the flight boarded on time. Full capacity.
Then we sat while de-icing took place -- eventually leaving the gate half an hour late. We sat in the increasing snow, waiting to take off. Just about the time I expected we'd have to return to the gate for another de-icing...we took off!
We arrived DFW with five minutes to speed walk to the gate to board our flight to OGG. Not a full flight, if you're considering flying AA on a 767 to Maui on some future New Year's Day.
Landed on time; picked up rental car; made the grocery stop at Safeway; showered; had light supper; crashed. (Only to wake at 4:30 a.m. because, of course my internal clock is still on Chicago time.)
If you think I'm foolish to worry about weather flying out of ORD this winter, look at your TV news! We make this trip most years, with minor concern. This year is different.
I posted here to find out what OPTIONS I would have IF the flight was delayed. Thanks to those who answered my question. (If I ever feel in need of judgement about my character, I'll ask *that* question.)
Then we sat while de-icing took place -- eventually leaving the gate half an hour late. We sat in the increasing snow, waiting to take off. Just about the time I expected we'd have to return to the gate for another de-icing...we took off!
We arrived DFW with five minutes to speed walk to the gate to board our flight to OGG. Not a full flight, if you're considering flying AA on a 767 to Maui on some future New Year's Day.
Landed on time; picked up rental car; made the grocery stop at Safeway; showered; had light supper; crashed. (Only to wake at 4:30 a.m. because, of course my internal clock is still on Chicago time.)
If you think I'm foolish to worry about weather flying out of ORD this winter, look at your TV news! We make this trip most years, with minor concern. This year is different.
I posted here to find out what OPTIONS I would have IF the flight was delayed. Thanks to those who answered my question. (If I ever feel in need of judgement about my character, I'll ask *that* question.)
Jan 4th, 2014, 04:36 PM
#23
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Chose, although I don't think I will ever in this lifetime be able to spend two months in Maui of fly first class to get there, I totally get your concern about comfort.i never used to care, but as we have more body issues flying has become much harder, so I can see that having set things up to be tolerable, a change would be very anxiety provoking.
I am glad it worked out.
I am glad it worked out.
Jan 4th, 2014, 05:16 PM
#24
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I am always amazed when people ask questions about Airline policies, rental car polies, hotel polices on this forum. why not just find out directly from the source. wrong info is given, well that could be a bummer.
Jan 4th, 2014, 05:39 PM
#25
Shar: Because they'd rather ask here and then be upset with the answers.
ChiSue - no one suggested you shouldn't be concerned with the weather. That is silly. What folks commented on was your just having to be on the 767.
Glad it worked out, but I'm still curious what you would have done if it hadn't . ..
ChiSue - no one suggested you shouldn't be concerned with the weather. That is silly. What folks commented on was your just having to be on the 767.
Glad it worked out, but I'm still curious what you would have done if it hadn't . ..
Jan 4th, 2014, 06:59 PM
#26
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It may not sound like I was on your side, but I really was. I wanted you to be able to get exactly what you paid for. I'm glad you did.
Looking back at the answers to your question, I don't know what else could have been said that would have made a Fantastic Situation(at least for 99% of the population) even better. Airlines don't control the weather and do the best they can under the circumstances. I think you were really lucky that you made it out of Chicago when you did.
When you get back, please report again. I would be curious what the airlines does if your return isn't as you booked it.
Looking back at the answers to your question, I don't know what else could have been said that would have made a Fantastic Situation(at least for 99% of the population) even better. Airlines don't control the weather and do the best they can under the circumstances. I think you were really lucky that you made it out of Chicago when you did.
When you get back, please report again. I would be curious what the airlines does if your return isn't as you booked it.
Jan 5th, 2014, 10:50 AM
#28
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I asked here because sometimes someone on the forum knows of options that the airline somehow neglected to offer me...easier for them not to have to deal with changes.
I am happy that we got out before the weather really closed in.
It seems unfair that the ticket contract for airlines allows the carrier to substitute a lesser 'product' than I've booked. If I pay for a balcony cabin on a specific cruise (first class, 767), I may be assigned a better cabin. The cruise line can't dump me into an inside cabin on the bottom deck of another ship (coach, 757, multiple connections) and say, "Why are you complaining? We're still getting you to your destination."
I am happy that we got out before the weather really closed in.
It seems unfair that the ticket contract for airlines allows the carrier to substitute a lesser 'product' than I've booked. If I pay for a balcony cabin on a specific cruise (first class, 767), I may be assigned a better cabin. The cruise line can't dump me into an inside cabin on the bottom deck of another ship (coach, 757, multiple connections) and say, "Why are you complaining? We're still getting you to your destination."
Jan 5th, 2014, 01:20 PM
#29
"If AA can tell BEFORE we leave ORD that we will miss the DFW-OGG flight, can we ask to be cancelled and rebooked later for the whole shebang?"
FYI: They are not supposed to put you on a flight if the schedule shows that you will not make your connection. They have to find you another routing, even if it means putting you on another airline. And even if there are only first class seats available on that other airline. The best way to handle these situations is over the phone, not at the gate. On the phone they generally stick to the rules.
FYI: They are not supposed to put you on a flight if the schedule shows that you will not make your connection. They have to find you another routing, even if it means putting you on another airline. And even if there are only first class seats available on that other airline. The best way to handle these situations is over the phone, not at the gate. On the phone they generally stick to the rules.
Jan 5th, 2014, 03:14 PM
#31
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I totally get what you are saying. Usually people want to get where they are going, even if it means a lesser seat/class.
I guess we will never know. Perhaps they would have allowed you to delay your departue a day or two, if there were other first class seats available then. Perhaps they would have given you the difference back or voucher with perhaps even a bit of extra compensation. This might totally depend on the person and what kind of mood they are in that day.
It's the same way when you rent a car sometime. You can reserve a Cadillac but you might end up with Malibu.
On a different note, yet somewhat similar. Airlines overselling their seats is somewhat of a mystery to me too. I get the concept, but still doesn't seem fair.
I guess we will never know. Perhaps they would have allowed you to delay your departue a day or two, if there were other first class seats available then. Perhaps they would have given you the difference back or voucher with perhaps even a bit of extra compensation. This might totally depend on the person and what kind of mood they are in that day.
It's the same way when you rent a car sometime. You can reserve a Cadillac but you might end up with Malibu.
On a different note, yet somewhat similar. Airlines overselling their seats is somewhat of a mystery to me too. I get the concept, but still doesn't seem fair.
Jan 6th, 2014, 01:18 PM
#32
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A a first class seat on a 767 is more than just transportation. It is superior to any coach seat -- or first class on a 757. That's why the airline can charge more for it. You also get food and drinks.
A few years ago this flight was cancelled due to weather. AA offered to fly us to Maui the next day, but had only one confirmed first class seat open. We opted to fly two days later, when they had two confirmed seats in first class. I was hoping to find the same options existed this year, in the event the ORD departure was *not cancelled*, but was also not going to permit us to make our connection.
Spiro -- The car comparison you bring up frequently happens to us at OGG because they run out of the smaller car we've contracted to rent. However, while they can give us a 'better' car than we've paid for, they can't substitute a 'lesser' car if we've paid more for something bigger/better. I can't see why this doesn't apply to air travel. I paid more for the better flight. I'd like to be offered a choice of flying another day or getting a refund.
Anyone else reading is probably sick to death of this subject, so I'll just count my blessings and leave it at this!
Thanks, Clarkgriswold. *Next time* I will be armed with that knowledge. I will ask to fly another day if it looks like AA can't get us to our connection. Thank you. (If I were AA, I would prefer to have more time to reschedule two people.)
A few years ago this flight was cancelled due to weather. AA offered to fly us to Maui the next day, but had only one confirmed first class seat open. We opted to fly two days later, when they had two confirmed seats in first class. I was hoping to find the same options existed this year, in the event the ORD departure was *not cancelled*, but was also not going to permit us to make our connection.
Spiro -- The car comparison you bring up frequently happens to us at OGG because they run out of the smaller car we've contracted to rent. However, while they can give us a 'better' car than we've paid for, they can't substitute a 'lesser' car if we've paid more for something bigger/better. I can't see why this doesn't apply to air travel. I paid more for the better flight. I'd like to be offered a choice of flying another day or getting a refund.
Anyone else reading is probably sick to death of this subject, so I'll just count my blessings and leave it at this!
Thanks, Clarkgriswold. *Next time* I will be armed with that knowledge. I will ask to fly another day if it looks like AA can't get us to our connection. Thank you. (If I were AA, I would prefer to have more time to reschedule two people.)
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