I just got a summons for jury duty. I also have several flights already booked around the time of the summons. When I called the CP desk to find out what accomodations they would make if I had to stay in the Bay Area past my flight date. The rep said that they used to do that but now there are the usual panalties for last minute changes.
Can this be correct - that I am obligated to serve on a jury, but the airline can penalize me for honoring that obligation?

No waivers, no favors, no exceptions. Including death.

Write Deb a letter -- maybe she'll feature it in a future "Your Fault" column and we can all say we knew you before you were famous!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TomBascom:
No waivers, no favors, no exceptions. Including death.</font>

Isn't one's own death or the death of certain other parties usually included in the list of exceptions from the nonrefundable/nonchangeable policy in fare rules?

Tell the judge you can not come because U will not let you change your airline ticket.

I've seen judges get VERY angry at companies for not allowing their employees time off go on jury duty.

It might not work but it could be interesting.

I was summoned for jury duty that conflicted with a non-refundable/non-changeable ticket and just wrote to the court in question asking that my service be "postponed" due to "undue hardship". I was granted a postponement (but I pointed out that the trip was for the purpose of visiting my father in an assisted living facility and I would have to reschedule the trip ASAP after the jury service so THAT may have contributed to the decision to allow the postponement).

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by phillyguy:
Tell the judge you can not come because U will not let you change your airline ticket.

I've seen judges get VERY angry at companies for not allowing their employees time off go on jury duty.

It might not work but it could be interesting.</font>

Be sure to tell the court the fee that the airline imposes would cause you undue hardship.

1. Do not give the Chairman's desk or any telephone agent your flight information, because they will note your record that you were advised the change cannot be made. I hope you have not already given the CP desk your reservation information?;

2. Proceed to your favorite US local facility. This could be an ATO, club, CTO, sales office, etc. Ideally proceed to an agent that you regularly see or work with at the local facility;

3. Present your local facility with the jury documentation, and request the changes.

The above posters are correct so far as corporate policy, but I am always amazed even here on Flyertalk about how local agent discretion gets rather overlooked. The agents at the counter have the technical ability to do almost anything with your record, and they appear to be under a lot less scrutiny then reservations agents. Local agents tend to have much more latitude and discretion than telephone agents.

Your story is testament to this, and unfortunately highlights even how apparently the CP desk has little to no additional latitude or discretion than the Gold desk or general reservations.

The other suggestions in the post are good as well, but this is another one for your consideration.

It underscores what I think is a number 1 unwritten rule of travel which is your not going to get anywhere far over the phone, and this really applies to nearly any travel company. You will 99.99% of cases get further in a face to face interaction if the agent or representative likes you.

In almost any industry or occupation, if the agent or representative likes you, they can at will disregard company policies, rules, etc. This has been the case at all jobs I have worked from doing farm construction as a young boy, to washing dishes in high school, to the travel industry, to education, to the IT industry, etc. It is nearly an absolute and cardinal rule, but people often try to ignore it.

Just bluff to U that the judge told you to take it up with them in small claims court to recover the change fee. Even though it is small claims court, it will cost them more to defend this than just change your ticket.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by chalf:
Isn't one's own death or the death of certain other parties usually included in the list of exceptions from the nonrefundable/nonchangeable policy in fare rules?</font>

As of 8/27/2002 (aka "Black Tuesday") that's not good enough for US Airways. One's own death, jury duty and military service were all specifically listed as examples of unacceptable waivers and favors.

As one can see from following the financial news this has resulted in significant gains for US Airways http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/rolleyes.gif Load factors are up so high that they've had to reduce capacity!

Forget asking US. Simply write to Joe Brancatelli, the travel desk at McPaper (USA Today), and a letter to the editor to the Inquirer and Chronic and tell them that US won't allow you to change flights because you need to do your civic duty and serve on a jury.

Negative PR is the only thing that BBB seems to understand. Give it to them in the chops. Maybe you can get a mention in "Your Fault" in the next Attache. I'd love to read the spin that Deb Thompson puts on charging you to attend jury duty.

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Don't feed the trolls.

These kind of thoughtless US policies are one of the reasons I haven't flown them on a paid ticket this year. I'm with the poster who suggested that you sue them in small claims court; they'll either default by not showing up or wind up paying far more in legal fees than they collect from you in fees.

Personally I think all of the answers were great. Clue By Four has in my opinion the correct approach. Make sure given the delicate negotiations with the State of PA that Gov. Rendel and US Senators Arlen Specto and Rick Santorum recieve your letters as well. Also enclose a copy of your correspondance with the judge to the Senators and vice versa. Several well crafted letters will do the trick. Just stay away from Chris Elliot he is a twit of the first magnitude

[This message has been edited by PineyBob (edited 10-06-2003).]

Agreed, publicity is another good approach. So many choices?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jetsetter:
Agreed, publicity is another good approach. So many choices?</font>


Thank God for my business! Copiers and Printers! My suggestion is that you write a generic letter and wallpaper the free world with it. E-mail too. Consumer Affairs, anyone and everyone who might have interest in helping you. Copy in Ben & Dave.

This is a battle IMHO between good and the evil arrogance of an industry run amok. Only the cartel carriers can lose billions, recieve billions in government aid only to turn around and tell a paying customer that in order to perform his civic duty he has to pay the for that priviledge to an industry who benefits from the very same government it has its hand out to everytime the economy passes wind.

But hey you got to admire them for their brass testicles!

A good mass posting in the PHL airport would probably do.

[This message has been edited by fried (edited 10-07-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by fried:
A good mass posting in the PHL airport would probably do.

</font>

All over the walls in baggage claim, where people are sure to spot the postings while waiting endlessly for their bags to (possibly) make their way to the carousel. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by TomBascom:
[B] As of 8/27/2002 (aka "Black Tuesday") that's not good enough for US Airways. One's own death, jury duty and military service were all specifically listed as examples of unacceptable waivers and favors.
[B]</font>

Sorry Tom, but that is no longer entirely correct. I have studied many a nonrefundable fare's terms recently, and all include the following: "WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER. NOTE - - ALSO WAIVED FOR DEATH OF TRAVELING COMPANION. - WAIVERS MUST BE EVIDENCED BY DEATH CERTIFICATE."

Are you impressed? What a savvy marketing move, huh? And not only do you get your money back if you die, but you also get your money back if your traveling companion dies. Now that's compassion!

Maybe US doesn't cover Jury Duty since most (all?) courts will allow you to postpone jury duty for planned travel? Just a crazy theory of mine I suppose ...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
Maybe US doesn't cover Jury Duty since most (all?) courts will allow you to postpone jury duty for planned travel? Just a crazy theory of mine I suppose ...</font>

I think you can defer your call. You just get called again in the next round.

Homer Simpson (on avoiding jury duty):

Just tell them you're prejudiced against all races... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Spiff:
Homer Simpson (on avoiding jury duty):

Just tell them you're prejudiced against all races... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif</font>

Or, that you're just prejudiced against all plaintiffs attorneys (in a civil trial, make that an uncivil trial).

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by lt1GM:
Sorry Tom, but that is no longer entirely correct. I have studied many a nonrefundable fare's terms recently, and all include the following: "WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER. NOTE - - ALSO WAIVED FOR DEATH OF TRAVELING COMPANION. - WAIVERS MUST BE EVIDENCED BY DEATH CERTIFICATE."

Are you impressed? What a savvy marketing move, huh? And not only do you get your money back if you die, but you also get your money back if your traveling companion dies. Now that's compassion!
</font>

Wellllll... we've known right along that not all the rules have ever been entirely correct -- $1,500 non-refundable F fares being subject to use it or lose it spring to mind... So I'm not sure that the existence of a few exceptions buried in the arcana of The Rules changes anything.

Perhaps if BBB were to publish a press release and speak of US' newfound compassion to the Washington Post & USA Today et al (as he did for the original announcements) I'd be more inclined to agree that the vile pronouncements of Black Tuesday have been rolled back http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
Maybe US doesn't cover Jury Duty since most (all?) courts will allow you to postpone jury duty for planned travel? Just a crazy theory of mine I suppose ...</font>

You assume that you are called to a court that allows you to defer. That also assumes that you have not already deferred for a legitimate reason.

Of course, I also assume that a company interested in customer service and good word of mouth and reputation would want to allow people to do their civic duty. I guess then that I am unemployable by US Airways.

What possible marginal revenue do you think that US would bring in from banging people out of the change fee/fare delta for jury duty versus the ill-will and understandably bad PR they will get if a stink is raised? Is it a shrewd business move?

I'm inclined to think not, but I try to keep my paying customers happy.

------------------
Don't feed the trolls.

So people on flyertalk.com are more ticked at our favorite airline (which would just impose a $100 change fee) than our government, which takes up days, weeks or months of our productive time (with a value of far greater than $100) with the stupid jury system, which even our friends the English, who gave us the idea of juries in the first place (as continental European countries generally don't have juries), have largely abolished as a waste of resources?

Just go before the judge and say that you can't fairly apply the law-- you're biased against criminal defendants, plaintiffs' lawyers, big corporations, etc. That will get you off. If it's a criminal case, just saying you've been a crime victim isn't enough.

The jerk in this situation isn't US Airways, which has to charge $100 or absorb the costs of changing tickets because of the jury system causing people to change travel plans-- it's our government, which consumes our productive time that could be better spent elsewhere.

[This message has been edited by NYCommuter (edited 10-09-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Spiff:
Homer Simpson (on avoiding jury duty):

Just tell them you're prejudiced against all races... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif</font>

Or just say that you lost all faith the justice system, also you could say it is against your religion to participate in government.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NYCommuter:
So people on flyertalk.com are more ticked at our favorite airline (which would just impose a $100 change fee) than our government, which takes up days, weeks or months of our productive time (with a value of far greater than $100) with the stupid jury system, which even our friends the English, who gave us the idea of juries in the first place (as continental European countries generally don't have juries), have largely abolished as a waste of resources?

Just go before the judge and say that you can't fairly apply the law-- you're biased against criminal defendants, plaintiffs' lawyers, big corporations, etc. That will get you off. If it's a criminal case, just saying you've been a crime victim isn't enough.

The jerk in this situation isn't US Airways, which has to charge $100 or absorb the costs of changing tickets because of the jury system causing people to change travel plans-- it's our government, which consumes our productive time that could be better spent elsewhere.

[This message has been edited by NYCommuter (edited 10-09-2003).]</font>

If the $100 bore some relation to the actual cost of changing the ticket I might have some sympathy with your position.

It might also help if US wasn't so bone-headed about needing to know when and where you want to apply the value of the ticket that you're changing.

But as it stands the policies surrounding this are a noxious and unjustified confiscation of customer funds.