So I'm flying to IND today on a nonstop from DCA. I called up to check about standing by, and she all but laughed at me. She also told me that the plane (ERJ) that they were going to use had a mechanical problem and is completely behind schedule. Hypothetically, what should I ask for if the flight is cancelled? Vouchers, hotel, etc.? Thanks.

So I'm flying to IND today on a nonstop from DCA. I called up to check about standing by, and she all but laughed at me. She also told me that the plane (ERJ) that they were going to use had a mechanical problem and is completely behind schedule. Hypothetically, what should I ask for if the flight is cancelled? Vouchers, hotel, etc.? Thanks.

You will find the answers to the sppecific questions you may have, depending on the circumstances here http://usairways.com/customers/travel_policies/terms/terms.htm Look under section IX

So after looking through the Terms of Transportaion, is it considered an IDB if I misconnect or if the flight is cancelled? How about when I'm on the last flight of the day, but I will misconnect due to the late incoming aircraft?

So after looking through the Terms of Transportaion, is it considered an IDB if I misconnect or if the flight is cancelled? How about when I'm on the last flight of the day, but I will misconnect due to the late incoming aircraft?

In the past I have been given a hotel room with transportation provided to and from the airport, two meal vouchers (dinner and breakfast at the hotel)and a calling card, then booked on the first flight the next morning. This was a circumstance that was exactly as you describe above and I was on an award ticket! Hope this helps

How timely...this article:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/ADVISOR/04/09/traveler.rights/index.html

says the Contract of Carriage says you get your money back, even if the ticket is non-refundable.

Did you know that you can get your money back if an airline cancels your flight, even if you are using a nonrefundable ticket? Many travelers don't realize that the airline is required to refund your money if your flight is canceled -- for any reason. This does not apply if your flight is only delayed -- it must be flat out canceled.

...

"The airline agents will always try to convince you to accept a voucher, to keep your ticket for future use, or to put you on a later flight. But travelers should know that if their flight is canceled, one of their options is to get their money back," says airline expert Terry Trippler of Cheapseats.com.

The article goes on to say this applies to all majors except CO, which apprarently says they'll give you a voucher.

Granted, this is CNN, not InsideFlyer, so they could be playing a little fast and loose with the rules.

The terms of transportation discuss refunds in Section VII:Involuntary (Refunds Provided When US Airways is Unable to Accommodate the Customer)
In the event that US Airways is unable to provide a previously confirmed seat and US Airways is unable to reroute the customer either over the routes of US Airways or another airline, US Airways will refund as indicated below:
If no portion of the ticket has been used, the refund will be the amount equal to that paid, minus any associated ticketing fees.
If a portion of the ticket has been used, the refund will be:
The amount equal to the lowest applicable one-way fare (50% of published round trip fares) from the airport of interruption to the destination, based on the fare type used; or
When the original promotional fare type used in the purchase of the ticket is not available at any intermediate airport where an interruption occurs, the amount refunded will be the same proportion of the normal coach (Y) fare published from the airport of interruption to the customer's original destination, as the fare paid is of the normal coach (Y) fare between the point of origin and the stopover/destination. No refund will be applied if ground transportation is offered for part of the ticketed itinerary and accepted by the customer.
In no instance will the amount refunded be greater than the amount paid. US Airways will not refund a ticket which does not indicate a confirmed seat on US Airways unless the ticket was issued by US Airways.
Section IX discusses delayed and cancelled flights. Here's an excerpt:Rebooking
When a ticketed customer holding confirmed reservations on a flight will be delayed because of a schedule irregularity (whether a missed connection, flight cancellation, omission of a scheduled stop, substitution of equipment or a different class of service or schedule change), US Airways will rebook the customer on its next available flight to the customer's ticketed destination without additional charge. If US Airways is unable to provide onward transportation, US Airways may attempt to rebook the customer on the next available flight of another airline with which US Airways has an agreement allowing the acceptance of each other's tickets.

Alternate Transportation
If US Airways is not able to reroute customers on its flights or other airlines' flights, US Airways may offer the customer ground transportation to the destination. If the customer does not accept the ground transportation offered, US Airways will refund the value of the remaining flight coupons to the stopover or destination.
So if they can get you there on a plane, that meets their side of the contract and you won't be able to get a refund. If they try to put you on a bus you can get your money back, but only if you find your own way to your destination from the point of interruption.

How well you're treated depends on why the flight is late. If it's mechanical, this is apparently considered "within USAirways' control" and you get food and lodging. If the delay is due to Air Traffic Control or weather, you're on your own, even if it's the last flight of the day:US Airways will provide a food voucher to customers whose flights have been canceled or delayed for two hours or more during normal meal times, when the delay is not due to Air Traffic Control, weather, or other circumstances beyond US Airways' control. The food voucher may be used at a restaurant in the airport or a hotel restaurant for customers who are also accommodated overnight. The value of the food voucher will vary according to whether it is for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Food vouchers will not be offered to customers who are reaccommodated on a flight with meal service.

In the event of a delay or cancellation, overnight accommodations will be arranged by US Airways at their expense for customers at connecting points whose flights are delayed or canceled because of circumstances within US Airways' control for whom no alternate transportation is available. Overnight accommodations will not be provided for customers whose flights are delayed or canceled due to circumstances beyond US Airways' control such as Air Traffic Control or weather. Overnight accommodations include a hotel and transportation to and from the hotel selected by US Airways. Food vouchers will be provided if the delay or cancellation causes the customer to miss dinner and/or breakfast, or if a meal is not provided on the rerouted flight the next day. A prepaid telephone card or access to a US Airways telephone will also be provided.

Left Hand? Hello, this is Right Hand. What are you doing?

AAaarrgghhhH!!!

EXACT same issue with a different result occurred to two friends (including a CP) today. Gainesville to Charlotte flight 2970 took rolling delays - first delayed due to a late crew on the FIRST flight of the day and finally a mechanical - causing all passengers to miss their connections. GNV ticket desk REFUSED to supply vouchers of any type to the passengers - instead telling them that they could get a $62 rate at the hotel. Some passengers were successful in obtaining vouchers by refusing to leave without one.

Apparently they are leaderless at the airport right now as the station manager is on vacation. My friend's phone was running out of juice, so I intervened and called the CP desk trying to get someone to contact the Gainesville ticket desk to explain the US Airways contract of carriage to their employees. Unfortunately, the excellent and concerned liason could not get through, but agreed that given the track record for the plane today, it was certainly was a series of events fully in the control of the airline (Mesa).

The plane's record for the day:
Flight 2847 PHL - DCA
Comments: This flight arrived in Washington Reagan, DC at 11:25am. The flight is operating behind schedule because the flight crew was delayed in its arrival.

Flight 2673 DCA - IND
Comments: This flight arrived in Indianapolis, IN at 1:00pm. The flight is operating behind schedule due to a lack of a flight crew for a prior flight.

Flight 2811 IND - CLT
Comments: This flight arrived in Charlotte, NC at 4:00pm. The flight is operating behind schedule due to a lack of a flight crew for a prior flight.

Flight 2811 CLT - GNV
Comments: This flight arrived in Gainesville Fl, FL at 6:00pm. The flight is operating behind schedule due to a lack of a flight crew for a prior flight.

Flight 2970 GNV - CLT
Comments: This flight is estimated to depart from Gainesville Fl, FL at 9:15pmThe flight is delayed due to aircraft maintenance. The flight is operating behind schedule due to a lack of a flight crew for a prior flight.The flight is currently waiting to depart.

The current time is 9:53 PM, Eastern Daylight Time on April 9, 2004

The ticket desk passenger processing could best be described as inept. At 6:20 PM the passengers of this CRJ were called back to the ticket counter and at 9:10 PM many of these passengers were still in line. My friends (including a CP) did not get a chance to go back to the counter to insist on a voucher because at 9:10 - based on the number still in line waiting to be rebooked and attempting to get to the counter for the FIRST time it would have been AT LEAST another hour and a half. One would think that they had offloaded an A330.

As someone who deperately wants US to survive, I can't believe that they could screw this one up so badly. US Customer Relations will be getting a bill for the hotel and meals, a copy of their contract of carriage for them to share with the GNV staff, as well a copy of two well-deserved complaints filed with the DOT.

CWPFLY

Ah, the wonderful world of Mesa! I'm not sure who staffs the GNV station, a wholly owned express carrier or an affiliate. Either way, the staion staff could have done better.

Ah, the wonderful world of Mesa! I'm not sure who staffs the GNV station, a wholly owned express carrier or an affiliate. Either way, the staion staff could have done better.

GNV is staffed by Piedmont.

The real lesson is to avoid the last flight of the day. If you have to take it, know your alternatives. Very few destinations are more than 3 hours by car from another. Examples:MIA, FLL, PBI, MCO, TPA. Or PHL, DCA, BWI, RIC, IAD,LGA, EWR, JFK. You can often find a one way rental, on airport, without an advance res, for a decent price. You can also ask to be involuntarily rerouted on another carrier to that nearby destination, and often the original airline will give you some future flight credit to offset your car rental expense. Next time they cancel a flight to, say Charleston, just go to Columbia, or Savannah, or Myrtle....you get the picture.