I know that I should know the answer to this, but... With the recent cancellations, I'm getting concerned about reservations we have right before Christmas. I know that if the airlines delay or cancel flights due to weather or mechanical problems that they help with other arrangements. What if it's an out and out cancellation? Are we out of luck?

United Shuttle told me (in answer to this same question when I called them about my plans) was that they do whatever they can to get you on another carrier's flight if they cancel the flight due to labor problems. If this inconveniences you a great deal and you decide to drive (or not go,etc.) they (UAL Shuttle) will allow you to use that ticket on another UAL flight for up to a year - it can be applied to another fare or used on the same routing). Weather problems are probably another thing ... each airline has different policies, you need to call yours and ask. On UAL Shuttle there is a $75 fee to change your ticket if you decide to do it.

Flights cancelled due to weather are considered "an act of God" and airlines do not have to route you on another airline. They do however re-route due to mechanical problems. If it is weather they are only obligated to get you out on the next available flight of theirs -even if its the next morning. The only other reason a flight might be cancelled is due to an aircraft swap. Contrary to popular belief, airlines do not "just cancel" flights. Each aircraft is needed at the next destination for another flight. Hope this helps- Signed an airline employee

I'm confused. What are the news stories about the many flights cancelled around Thanksgiving by Northwest and more recently by Delta -- the media claims it's due to employee problems??? I heard that with Northwest it was due to the mechanics (I think) and with Delta it was an issue around pilot overtime...

I thought UA had cancelled the $75 fee for changing a ticket until the end of 2000 because of the bad press they got during the slowdown. I know I changed a fight last month and was not charged a fee on United. It's really a shame that they can threaten peoples' holidays with their nasty labor difficulties. Certainly the consumers should have rights too.

Both my husband and I travel alot on business and vacations and have had more than our fair share of cancelled flights. Airlines cancel flights for a variety of reasons (union issues, weather, mechanical) and their "responsibility" is different depending on the cause of the cancellation. If it's a weather problem - they aren't liable for anything. If it's something they have control over, they are supposed to owe you a fix. But, overall, we have found that regardless of the issue that caused the problem - they all seem to try to get you to your destination. Sometimes better than others, and it might not be the same day - but they try to help (frankly, they want you gone as much as you do....). What we've learned is you take your chances (I improve my chances by not flying United, personally....) and keep a good attitude. When people get really angy and take it out on the poor people trying to deal with them at the gate - noone wins. So, don't worry about it - but remain flexible......It usually makes for great stories.

I read this online yesterday -- airlines build their flight schedules around the assumption that the pilots will all put in overtime. In the case of United last summer, pilots refused to work the OT, but United did not reduce the flight schedule, and as a result, there were many last minute cancellations and delays. The end result was that United pilots renegotiated and are now at the top of their industry pay scale.


Delta pilots observed these tactics and decided to do the same thing - start refusing OT. Delta, however, HAS reduced the number of flights in anticipation of this, hoping to avoid the kind of consumer discontent and chaos which surrounded United last year.


Delta is also trying to prove that the pilot's union encouraged wide-scale refusal of OT among its pilots in order to force a renegotiation and receive higher pay, just as United pilots did. If they CAN prove it, it is a violation of the National Railways Act.

Just FYI.

The airline we're booked on is Northwest. They cancelled some around Thanksgiving. Experiences with Northwest???

I've spent some of the most miserable hours of my life waiting for Northwest flights. I avoid them if at all possible. I have been booking flights through biztravel.com. They guarantee a number of airlines (Northwest is not on the list) and if you are late by an hour or more, or your flight is cancelled, you are reimbursed anywhere from $100 per ticket up to the cost of the ticket (if there is a cancellation.) It works. My boss has received reimbursements for delays and I got a total refund on a one-way ticket between Baltimore and Raleigh -- even though US Airways made other flight arrangements for my daughter. It takes some of the bitterness out of the experience if you get reimbursed. Those coupons good for free drinks or headsets the airlines give you are of little consolation!

We haven't had too many problems with Northwest. For awhile, my husband was working out west (for about a year) and flew them every week - there were some delays - but they were pretty good about handling them. I would worry alot less about them than I would United or America West......