Comments on: Stranded five days in Syracuse — what does the airline owe me? http://www.elliott.org/blog/stranded-five-days-in-syracuse-what-does-the-airline-owe-me/ The travel troubleshooter. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:57:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Allison http://www.elliott.org/blog/stranded-five-days-in-syracuse-what-does-the-airline-owe-me/comment-page-1/#comment-16165 Allison Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:56:56 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5560#comment-16165 Well, as for going to other airports, if Syracuse is having bad weather, Rochester (1hr away) and Buffalo (2hrs) wouldn't be any better, although American flies out of both as well. Another possible option would have been Ithaca, although it is a much smaller airport he could have tried Northwest from Ithaca to Detroit to Des Moines. But frankly, considering the weather issues that faces all upstate NY airports, I would not have tried a different airport. I'm surprised he didn't walk over to United--the United flights to Chicago are directly across the way from the American flights at Syracuse. United also has many flights to Des Moines. Sounds like this guy didn't try very hard to get home. Well, as for going to other airports, if Syracuse is having bad weather, Rochester (1hr away) and Buffalo (2hrs) wouldn’t be any better, although American flies out of both as well. Another possible option would have been Ithaca, although it is a much smaller airport he could have tried Northwest from Ithaca to Detroit to Des Moines. But frankly, considering the weather issues that faces all upstate NY airports, I would not have tried a different airport.

I’m surprised he didn’t walk over to United–the United flights to Chicago are directly across the way from the American flights at Syracuse. United also has many flights to Des Moines. Sounds like this guy didn’t try very hard to get home.

]]> By: ric http://www.elliott.org/blog/stranded-five-days-in-syracuse-what-does-the-airline-owe-me/comment-page-1/#comment-16137 ric Sun, 04 Jan 2009 08:22:44 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5560#comment-16137 i was stranded in nyc for 2 days because the airline gave my seat to someone from a cancelled flight.no other airline had a seat.airline said am on my own.calles travel agent she said she could get me home but not destination.when I told her not acceptable she got me a BA flight..when I went to get ticket endorsed original airline found me a seat.;I was out over 600 dollars,when I came home original airline said they would not re-imburse me untill I said I was going to small claims court and naming the ceo of the airline i was stranded in nyc for 2 days because the airline gave my seat to someone from a cancelled flight.no other airline had a seat.airline said am on my own.calles travel agent she said she could get me home but not destination.when I told her not acceptable she got me a BA flight..when I went to get ticket endorsed original airline found me a seat.;I was out over 600 dollars,when I came home original airline said they would not re-imburse me untill I said I was going to small claims court and naming the ceo of the airline

]]> By: Dave http://www.elliott.org/blog/stranded-five-days-in-syracuse-what-does-the-airline-owe-me/comment-page-1/#comment-16125 Dave Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:57:23 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5560#comment-16125 I agree with the posters above who said driving would have been better. If I were in that situation, and driving wasn't an option, I would live in the terminal and ask every few minutes about it. Reminding them that I am still here probably would have worked better than calling from a hotel. If a last minute chance to get a flight came up, he is probably miles away. I agree with the posters above who said driving would have been better. If I were in that situation, and driving wasn’t an option, I would live in the terminal and ask every few minutes about it. Reminding them that I am still here probably would have worked better than calling from a hotel. If a last minute chance to get a flight came up, he is probably miles away.

]]> By: Dang http://www.elliott.org/blog/stranded-five-days-in-syracuse-what-does-the-airline-owe-me/comment-page-1/#comment-16112 Dang Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:29:34 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5560#comment-16112 If you are afrequent traveller, it better to equipe with a credit card which cover the trip interruption expenses automatically like DINERS CLUB or Platinum Amex. I had several weather delay or interruption occasion and Diner Club reimburse promtply all expenses (very few limits with Diners Club). You don't have to wait for the charity of the Airlines, just ask a printout of the cause of delay and submit it with your claim to Diners Club. Diners Club give free access to several Airport Lounges around the world and it is very helpfull where there are long delays. Also, Diners Cub provide Priority Access Card which give access hundres of Airport Lounge with a fee but this fee will be reimburse when your flights is delay more than 6 hours. If you are afrequent traveller, it better to equipe with a credit card which cover the trip interruption expenses automatically like DINERS CLUB or Platinum Amex. I had several weather delay or interruption occasion and Diner Club reimburse promtply all expenses (very few limits with Diners Club). You don’t have to wait for the charity of the Airlines, just ask a printout of the cause of delay and submit it with your claim to Diners Club. Diners Club give free access to several Airport Lounges around the world and it is very helpfull where there are long delays. Also, Diners Cub provide Priority Access Card which give access hundres of Airport Lounge with a fee but this fee will be reimburse when your flights is delay more than 6 hours.

]]> By: Teresa http://www.elliott.org/blog/stranded-five-days-in-syracuse-what-does-the-airline-owe-me/comment-page-1/#comment-16111 Teresa Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:34:13 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5560#comment-16111 This is one of those situations where a travel agent would come in handy. On Dec. 18th I had a client scheduled to leave Montreal on a late flight to Seattle. United had made a mistake in the rebooking of his codeshare flight (his return was originally scheduled on the 19th but he finished early), and US Airways wouldn't let him on the plane. With the weather in the Chicago/Toronto/Minneapolis areas around that time, and the fact that it was the weekend before Christmas, it wasn't easy getting him on a flight home. In the end, he made it home by the morning of the 20th, on our 8th attempt (some flights were cancelled due to weather, some were delayed to the point where he would have just gotten stuck somewhere else, and once he forgot to check in for the flight). He was also originally booked by United on a US Airways flight, and over the course of two days was rebooked at no additional charge on Delta and Northwest, and finally made it home on American and Alaska - I can guarantee you, without me working the phones and my reservation system, he would not have made it home when he did, and they would not have agreed to protect him on another airline. This is one of those situations where a travel agent would come in handy. On Dec. 18th I had a client scheduled to leave Montreal on a late flight to Seattle. United had made a mistake in the rebooking of his codeshare flight (his return was originally scheduled on the 19th but he finished early), and US Airways wouldn’t let him on the plane. With the weather in the Chicago/Toronto/Minneapolis areas around that time, and the fact that it was the weekend before Christmas, it wasn’t easy getting him on a flight home. In the end, he made it home by the morning of the 20th, on our 8th attempt (some flights were cancelled due to weather, some were delayed to the point where he would have just gotten stuck somewhere else, and once he forgot to check in for the flight). He was also originally booked by United on a US Airways flight, and over the course of two days was rebooked at no additional charge on Delta and Northwest, and finally made it home on American and Alaska – I can guarantee you, without me working the phones and my reservation system, he would not have made it home when he did, and they would not have agreed to protect him on another airline.

]]> By: Chris http://www.elliott.org/blog/stranded-five-days-in-syracuse-what-does-the-airline-owe-me/comment-page-1/#comment-16110 Chris Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:45:13 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5560#comment-16110 While I sympathize with the OP, I'm not sure I understand correctly. 5 days?! I would have been renting a car or finding some other form of transportation rather than sitting idly by and waiting on the off-chance that there would be a flight to open up. CERTAINLY after a day or so. At least in a rental or on a train you are moving away from SYR, not just sitting there. I have a feeling we are not getting the whole story here... While I sympathize with the OP, I’m not sure I understand correctly.

5 days?! I would have been renting a car or finding some other form of transportation rather than sitting idly by and waiting on the off-chance that there would be a flight to open up. CERTAINLY after a day or so.

At least in a rental or on a train you are moving away from SYR, not just sitting there.

I have a feeling we are not getting the whole story here…

]]> By: Monica http://www.elliott.org/blog/stranded-five-days-in-syracuse-what-does-the-airline-owe-me/comment-page-1/#comment-16109 Monica Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:52:27 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5560#comment-16109 I agree with you Bob. The psgr would most likely have not had to wait 5 days if he was constantly in the face of the airlines. I'd be camping in front of every gate waiting for any flight out. I've flown in and out of SYR several times in the last few years. It is not a large airport, so tracking down someone to help should be easy. But yeah, calling from a hotel (probably 15 minutes away) is not going to help, and they certainly won't hold a flight for him to arrive when others are standing are already in the terminal. I agree with you Bob. The psgr would most likely have not had to wait 5 days if he was constantly in the face of the airlines. I’d be camping in front of every gate waiting for any flight out. I’ve flown in and out of SYR several times in the last few years. It is not a large airport, so tracking down someone to help should be easy. But yeah, calling from a hotel (probably 15 minutes away) is not going to help, and they certainly won’t hold a flight for him to arrive when others are standing are already in the terminal.

]]> By: Mike http://www.elliott.org/blog/stranded-five-days-in-syracuse-what-does-the-airline-owe-me/comment-page-1/#comment-16107 Mike Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:09:59 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5560#comment-16107 Well, I spent several days in Vancouver during the recent storms. It seems that my choice of Air Canada didn't work out very well. United was getting its flights out on the 21st and 22nd (although with long delays), while Air Canada was canceling right and left. By the time AC canceled a flight, there were no more seats and I had to make numerous calls to the 800 number to rebook. I spent Sunday night at the airport hotel, but after having my flights on Monday canceled, I finally gave up and went to my nice, warm apartment. I couldn't take another day playing standby. Seattle was just as bad, if not worse, and Amtrak was having problems as well, so I figured a warm place was better than the airport. On the other hand, I'm not asking for any compensation because I ultimately made the decision to wait a few extra days. Well, I spent several days in Vancouver during the recent storms. It seems that my choice of Air Canada didn’t work out very well. United was getting its flights out on the 21st and 22nd (although with long delays), while Air Canada was canceling right and left. By the time AC canceled a flight, there were no more seats and I had to make numerous calls to the 800 number to rebook.

I spent Sunday night at the airport hotel, but after having my flights on Monday canceled, I finally gave up and went to my nice, warm apartment. I couldn’t take another day playing standby. Seattle was just as bad, if not worse, and Amtrak was having problems as well, so I figured a warm place was better than the airport. On the other hand, I’m not asking for any compensation because I ultimately made the decision to wait a few extra days.

]]> By: Bob http://www.elliott.org/blog/stranded-five-days-in-syracuse-what-does-the-airline-owe-me/comment-page-1/#comment-16106 Bob Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:48:09 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5560#comment-16106 This comment may not go over well, but............ He went and stayed at a (comfotable?) hotel with entertainment, food, etc. Why wasn't the psgr at the aiport actively seeking a flight? There must have been many who did and got on a flight. He should have taken an active roll in such storm related conditions, not just making phone calls away from the airport. If a flight that shows oversold on a reservations screen does wind up (and in these conditions many times will) with any seats available at flight time, they will go to the psgr who are there in person standing by. No one is going to call him, ask if he still wants a seat and then hold he flight till he gets there. This comment may not go over well, but…………

He went and stayed at a (comfotable?) hotel with entertainment, food, etc.

Why wasn’t the psgr at the aiport actively seeking a flight? There must have been many who did and got on a flight. He should have taken an active roll in such storm related conditions, not just making phone calls away from the airport.

If a flight that shows oversold on a reservations screen does wind up (and in these conditions many times will) with any seats available at flight time, they will go to the psgr who are there in person standing by. No one is going to call him, ask if he still wants a seat and then hold he flight till he gets there.

]]> By: Ratatouille http://www.elliott.org/blog/stranded-five-days-in-syracuse-what-does-the-airline-owe-me/comment-page-1/#comment-16105 Ratatouille Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:56:20 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5560#comment-16105 I am not elite on any airline, but I know how to ask and what to ask for when IRROPS occur -- and that doesn't mean yelling or screaming at ANYONE! Where there's a will, there's a way. My guess -- there was something preventing him from leaving SYR -- a handicap, severe aversion to other forms of public transportation, girlfriend(?), etc. Which I can understand... We are only getting the sugar coated version here on both sides. We're not getting the complete story, here -- we never do.... I am not elite on any airline, but I know how to ask and what to ask for when IRROPS occur — and that doesn’t mean yelling or screaming at ANYONE!

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. My guess — there was something preventing him from leaving SYR — a handicap, severe aversion to other forms of public transportation, girlfriend(?), etc.

Which I can understand…

We are only getting the sugar coated version here on both sides.

We’re not getting the complete story, here — we never do….

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