India-based Airlines - AI YYZ-DEL Cancellation Dilemma

Hello...

Long time lurker, first time poster, with a dilemma that I'm sure you guys can handle!

So, I booked a flight on July 16 from YYZ-DEL on AI. Right after I booked, the pilot strike issues began, and I hoped that some resolution would be reached but unfortunately it turns out my flight into Delhi has been cancelled

I was curious as to what options I currently had... and it seems like there are two:
1. My travel agent suggests taking a refund and booking an alternate flight on Jet Airways (albeit at an increased cost to me of almost CAD500).
2. Upon calling AI, they outline the option of going to the airport on the day of the flight, and that a default option will be arranged to get me into DEL on the same day. Due to prior commitments, I NEED to be in DEL on the night of the 17th, but with this option there's the risk of there not being alternate seats in the high season we are in which can be quite problematic

Anyone with any similar experiences? Any chance anyone has knowledge of how reliably the airline will get you into the destination on the pre-outlined date? Are there any options that I'm missing?! What would you guys recommend I do?

Thanks in advance; I really appreciate the help :)

Welcome to FT!
1) Can you go through the US?
2) Can you arrive in India earlier?
3) Have you looked at splitting the ticket via an intermediate point (i.e. HKG, SHA, NRT, CAN)?
4) Have you tried adding a throwaway segment to the US on the return to lower the cost?
5) Are you looking for miles on a particular carrier?
6) Can you redeem miles?

If you have to get there, you should not book AI in the first place. Yes they might make an effort but no, they cannot be relied upon to find altenate routings.

AI is expecting normal operations by mid-July regardless of the strike because they are hiring new pilots.

If you want, you can buy a refundable ticket on another airline, and use that if you have problems with AI. If AI cannot fly you, then you get a refund from them. If AI does fly you, you can refund the additional ticket you booked.

If you decide to stick with AI, make sure that you arrive at the airport early. AI has been rerouting some YYZ passengers through ORD (with a UA segment), but it would require you to depart earlier than the YYZ flight would depart due to the extra time required of the connection.

Due to prior commitments, I NEED to be in DEL on the night of the 17th, but with this option there's the risk of there not being alternate seats in the high season we are in which can be quite problematic.

welcome to ft....

if you need to be in delhi on the 17th then i would suggest buying another ticket....its not worth the risk....ai could (& should) get you on another flight but its not something i would rely on....

AI is expecting normal operations by mid-July regardless of the strike because they are hiring new pilots.According to http://www.airindia.in/SBCMS/Webpages/reschedule-flights.aspx, they have formally rescheduled/canceled flights through July 31 (e.g. EWR-BOM, EWR-DEL, YYZ-DEL flights canceled; ORD-DEL is now ORD-FRA-DEL).

According to http://www.airindia.in/SBCMS/Webpages/reschedule-flights.aspx, they have formally rescheduled/canceled flights through July 31 (e.g. EWR-BOM, EWR-DEL, YYZ-DEL flights canceled; ORD-DEL is now ORD-FRA-DEL).

Yeah, the mid-July date was delayed until early August unfortunately.

Now that the flight is formally cancelled, OP can request immediate rebooking onto YYZ-ORD-FRA-DEL or another routing.

A better routing IMO is YYZ-YVR-PVG-DEL.
I would also personally stop over in PVG.

A better routing IMO is YYZ-YVR-PVG-DEL.
I would also personally stop over in PVG.

Yes, but AI would be rerouting OP onto their own metal for the longhaul legs. AI does not operate YVR-PVG-DEL.

FWIW, now DEL-FRA-ORD has been divided into seperate DEL-FRA and DEL-ORD terminator flights. So your rerouting would be YYZ-ORD-DEL.

rapsleafsfan, make sure you have a US visa if you are transiting through DEL or JFK.

rapsleafsfan, make sure you have a US visa if you are transiting through DEL ORD or JFK.
Fixed :)

Fixed :)

Thx. I wonder what got into me? :confused: :o

Yes, but AI would be rerouting OP onto their own metal for the longhaul legs. AI does not operate YVR-PVG-DEL.

FWIW, now DEL-FRA-ORD has been divided into seperate DEL-FRA and DEL-ORD terminator flights. So your rerouting would be YYZ-ORD-DEL.
I've been rerouted on other carriers before.
MU, CX, KE TPAC come to mind from AC.

Hi all

Thanks for the many replies - I appreciate the insight

Thought I'd update post an update on the goings on. I tried calling the AI Toronto ticketing office for about 3 hours this morning in 15 minute intervals with no luck. So, I decided to go into the office in person.

The office was VERY crowded; I felt like I was in India already. There were about 10 groups of disgruntled passengers waiting before me. About 8/10 groups seemed to be heading to Amritsar. The passengers were being handled by two agents. They took a look at each case, and to their credit, gave everyone the time and patience to explain the situation and offer some compromise if possible.

I was slightly surprised that there were only two people handling the passengers. I counted at least four of who I'd assume were more senior employees sitting in offices in the back; they came to assist the two agents when something went wrong.

Here were three highlights of my wait: for one group, one of the agents couldn't get a connection for a YYZ-AUH rebooking on EY. By mistake, he put the passengers onto an AUH-DEL flight that left before the flight from YYZ arrived... For another group, the agent hacked away at his computer for more than half an hour as he couldn't re-book just the child from a family of 4... For a third family, the wife and child who had come to the office were presented with options, one of which involved a 'small possibility' that the other carrier (EY) would not have room on a non-guaranteed segment, leaving them stranded in AUH. Note that they were given another (slightly less convenient) option with all guaranteed legs. The wife calls her husband, and the husband decided to yell at the agent via the phone for "acting like this wasn't his problem" and "forcing his wife to take a flight that was more profitable for Air India but inconvenient to them". Oh boy.

About an hour and a half later, my turn had come. The agent swiftly opened up my reservation, and tried "every possibility." A re-routing on AI through JFK or ORD were both full and closed with no availability. They apparently hadn't sought re-booking options on different carriers as this flight was in July (I was frustrated by this); it seemed they were probably more concerned with getting the passengers on the June flights out first. The agent (a really nice guy) told me that the only option at this time for me would be to either take the refund, or hold onto the ticket and show up on the day of the flight to the airport early in the morning. Subject to availability on other carriers, they would try to send me to Delhi. Had this been a trip for vacation purposes only, I would have enjoyed the spontaneity that this option afforded. Some work related reasons (for which I need to have reached by July 17) don't make this much of a viable possibility. I think I'll have to cough up the cash and re-book on Jet or another carrier.

Sorry for the long winded post - but thought I'd share the Toronto AI experience - which is probably not much different from the AI experience in India. While I've learned to never say never, I will very seriously consider all other possibilities before booking Air India in the future :-)

Thanks again,
rapsleafsfan

TL;DR
rapsleafsfan wasted a whole day calling AI and then going to the Toronto AI office. There was no option to re-book on AI via JFK or ORD or other carriers. Likely getting a refund and booking elsewhere due to date limitations.

I would just show up at the airport and see what would happen.
I would try and get CX/SQ tickets instead.

Especially given the AI situation, if OP really needs to be in India on the 17th, he/she should rearrange the schedule to arrive before the 17th.

If OP waited until July and then went to the ticketing office, they would have been able to rebook him immediately. I forgot about the fact that ticketing offices are only rebooking people with June tickets right now...

FWIW, now DEL-FRA-ORD has been divided into seperate DEL-FRA and DEL-ORD terminator flights. So your rerouting would be YYZ-ORD-DEL.I am not sure what you mean by this. There is no nonstop DEL-ORD through July 31. There is only DEL-FRA-ORD. And DEL-FRA is served by the same flight, there is no additional DEL-FRA..
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If OP waited until July and then went to the ticketing office, they would have been able to rebook him immediately. I forgot about the fact that ticketing offices are only rebooking people with June tickets right now...If they can't do it now, what is the guarantee that they can do it later? This is classic India: "Come back later".

Having dealt with canceled flights in India where I had to stand in crowds of people and be elbowed for hours while waiting for someone to do something, I would not advise the OP to have anything to do with that. He's already experienced it once at the AI office.

I am not sure what you mean by this. There is no nonstop DEL-ORD through July 31. There is only DEL-FRA-ORD. And DEL-FRA is served by the same flight, there is no additional DEL-FRA..
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Are you sure that your handle, SeeBuyFly is not a violation of a trademark copyright?

They apparently hadn't sought re-booking options on different carriers as this flight was in July (I was frustrated by this); it seemed they were probably more concerned with getting the passengers on the June flights out first.
This is SOP for almost every airline to try not to book on another carrier, as long as there is a possibility of seats opening up on other flights operated by the carrier. Since your travel is till more than a month away, any airline would have give you the same answer. I agree with PVDtoDEL's suggestion. However, if the uncertainty stresses out, seek a refund and rebook on another carrier.
Did you buy travel insurance?
One more suggestion. If you absolutely must be there on a certain date, try booking for an arrival a day earlier. Even if there were no strike, there could be other delays with any airline.
If OP waited until July and then went to the ticketing office, they would have been able to rebook him immediately. I forgot about the fact that ticketing offices are only rebooking people with June tickets right now...

I am not sure what you mean by this. There is no nonstop DEL-ORD through July 31. There is only DEL-FRA-ORD. And DEL-FRA is served by the same flight, there is no additional DEL-FRA..
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No, effective July 1st (I think?), It's 2 seperate flights - DEL-ORD and DEL-FRA.

If they can't do it now, what is the guarantee that they can do it later? This is classic India: "Come back later".

Having dealt with canceled flights in India where I had to stand in crowds of people and be elbowed for hours while waiting for someone to do something, I would not advise the OP to have anything to do with that. He's already experienced it once at the AI office.

Because the airline is overloaded with flight change requests, they have instituted a policy (which I forgot about) which says that rebookings can only be done for tickets departing within 15 days.

15 days before OP's flight, he could go to the ticketing office and get his flight changed. If the strike finishes, this 15 day policy would probably be scrapped.

AI is expecting normal operations by mid-July regardless of the strike because they are hiring new pilots.

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While they have officially said that, and the new revised schedules don't show that many changes after July 1, I just got notification that AI 101/102 will continue to route DEL-CDG-JFK and v/v at least through mid July. This is unfortunate as it results in a 4 hour (published) delay--and god only knows how long in actuality.

While they have officially said that, and the new revised schedules don't show that many changes after July 1, I just got notification that AI 101/102 will continue to route DEL-CDG-JFK and v/v at least through mid July. This is unfortunate as it results in a 4 hour (published) delay--and god only knows how long in actuality.

Yeah, AI has extended the contingency schedule since I said that. The publshed delay is likely to be the actual delay, as AI has been running their contingency schedule fairly reliably.

While they have officially said that, and the new revised schedules don't show that many changes after July 1, I just got notification that AI 101/102 will continue to route DEL-CDG-JFK and v/v at least through mid July. This is unfortunate as it results in a 4 hour (published) delay--and god only knows how long in actuality.

Going via CDG is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. French airport workers also are skilled at striking.

Because the airline is overloaded with flight change requests, they have instituted a policy (which I forgot about) which says that rebookings can only be done for tickets departing within 15 days.

15 days before OP's flight, he could go to the ticketing office and get his flight changed. If the strike finishes, this 15 day policy would probably be scrapped.

It also depends on if you have status, how much leeway the staff have and how proactive they are.

Last year I had to go to DEL for a memorial service. I had an award tivket in business class. AF strike began about a week before departure. Only my last leg (CDG-DEL) was on AF. CDG U.S. flights were struck by the strike, their other flights were operating normally. I called the DM line and expressed my concern about the strike spreading to CDG-DEL and that my travel was time sensitive.
They rebooked me on KLM instead--- no questions asked.

It also depends on if you have status, how much leeway the staff have and how proactive they are.

Last year I had to go to DEL for a memorial service. I had an award tivket in business class. AF strike began about a week before departure. Only my last leg (CDG-DEL) was on AF. CDG U.S. flights were struck by the strike, their other flights were operating normally. I called the DM line and expressed my concern about the strike spreading to CDG-DEL and that my travel was time sensitive.
They rebooked me on KLM instead--- no questions asked.

If you have status, it's a whole different ballgame. In this case, OP does not have AI status.

This is SOP for almost every airline to try not to book on another carrier, as long as there is a possibility of seats opening up on other flights operated by the carrier. Since your travel is till more than a month away, any airline would have give you the same answer. I agree with PVDtoDEL's suggestion. However, if the uncertainty stresses out, seek a refund and rebook on another carrier.
Did you buy travel insurance?
One more suggestion. If you absolutely must be there on a certain date, try booking for an arrival a day earlier. Even if there were no strike, there could be other delays with any airline.

On AC it was 7 days.