US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - What about award tickets

Ok.. If chapter seven happened, but say american/delta/northwest pickup the US customer base by taking over the dividend miles program, would they honor already issued award tickets on US. Or are those just vapor... I know award tickets on another carrier would be iffy. Not sure this has happened before but figured I would ask.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by vtflyer:
I know award tickets on another carrier would be iffy. Not sure this has happened before but figured I would ask.</font>

I'm guessing like everyone, but here's my (hopeful) interpretation:

After Vanguard folded last Summer, the D.O.T. beat up a bit on the surviving carriers, issuing a notice reminding them that a clause in the Aviation Security Act requires the airlines to carry any ticketed passengers, whether by standard or electronic tickets stranded by a carrier's suspending operations, on a space-available basis, and allowed only a minimal fee ($25 MAX) to be charged to account for such costs as issuing a boarding pass, a meal, and the delta cost (to the airline) of transporting the additional weight of the passenger plus his bags.

There seems to be nothing in the Act or in the D.O.T. notice that addresses how the stranded passenger obtained his ticket - full fare, deep discount or free award ticket.

In fact, in the case of an E-ticket, you just have to present an E-ticket itinerary as proof that you were impacted by the airline that ceased operations - I have a US award e-ticket and the printed itinerary doesn't state that it's an award ticket.

Since the surviving airline is only getting the nominal fee they collect from you, it really doesn't matter to them how much you paid the opriginal airline for your ticket - if anything.

This thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/Forum11/HTML/009037.html) contains a link to the DOT notice (http://dms.dot.gov/general/orders/aug02/183624_web.pdf).

Disclaimer: I've only read the DOT notice, not the text of the Aviation Security Act. Maybe soon (since I'm likely to be a stakeholder in the outcome).

PDH

edited for clarification of costs within the $25 max fee.


[This message has been edited by pdhenry (edited 12-17-2002).]

OK, I have read the entire Section 145 of the Act. Here's what is says

(Reference http://thomas.loc.gov , search for "Aviation Security Act" then item 17, "Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate," select Sec 143 to view Sections 143-147.)

(quote)
SEC. 145. AIR CARRIERS REQUIRED TO HONOR TICKETS FOR SUSPENDED SERVICE.

(a) IN GENERAL- Each air carrier that provides scheduled air transportation on a route shall provide, to the extent practicable, air transportation to passengers ticketed for air transportation on that route by any other air carrier that suspends, interrupts, or discontinues air passenger service on the route by reason of insolvency or bankruptcy of the other air carrier.

(b) PASSENGER OBLIGATION- An air carrier is not required to provide air transportation under subsection (a) to a passenger unless that passenger makes alternative arrangements with the air carrier for such transportation within 60 days after the date on which that passenger's air transportation was suspended, interrupted, or discontinued (without regard to the originally scheduled travel date on the ticket).

(c) SUNSET- This section does not apply to air transportation the suspension, interruption, or discontinuance of which occurs more than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act .
(Unquote)

Note that the 18-month date in the sunset clause falls somewhere in Mid-May of 2003.

My particular issue, however, concerns international routes to and from the USA. I fear that this law may not apply...

PDH

Edited to fix typos.
Edited to remove volatile link to Thomas.


[This message has been edited by pdhenry (edited 12-17-2002).]

Let's just hope my parents don't have to test this with my USAirways-issued Swiss International Airlines award tickets to BOM for Jan. 9th. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Or I don't have to test it with Qantas award tickets in on Jan 29 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

From what I hear, a lot of us have awards coming up like this so we're all on pins and needles. The pleasures of flying an airline with no future http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Agree, but in these two cases your ticketed airline will still be flying; the real issue will be whether Qantas and Swiss will honor your US-issued award tix. This issue isn't addressed in the law or the DOT memo. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by pdhenry:
Agree, but in these two cases your ticketed airline will still be flying; the real issue will be whether Qantas and Swiss will honor your US-issued award tix. This issue isn't addressed in the law or the DOT memo. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif </font>

Considering it was the United States Department of Transportation that issued that memo/ruling, I seriously doubt they'd have jurisdiction over flag carriers of other countries to "enforce" it.

It's apples vs. oranges. The law would not apply if your original ticket was not for a flight on the defunct airline.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by pitflyer:
Or I don't have to test it with Qantas award tickets in on Jan 29 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

From what I hear, a lot of us have awards coming up like this so we're all on pins and needles. The pleasures of flying an airline with no future http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif</font>

I know, I too have a QF Biz ticket to SYD for March 1st.