US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Didn't buy US ticket because they might not be around

Last week I bought a ticket on AA from WAS to EYW for January. I was going to book the ticket on US (which would take me to MCO, and then UA to EYW), but the report that leaked (done for ALPA) made me skittish. I didn't want to risk US not being around in January, so I went AA. Too bad, I always liked US, but don't want risk having to scramble to get to EYW. tls

All this news is going to be a killer on US advance bookings during the holiday season.

Not good...

Last week I bought a ticket on AA from WAS to EYW for January. I was going to book the ticket on US (which would take me to MCO, and then UA to EYW), but the report that leaked (done for ALPA) made me skittish. I didn't want to risk US not being around in January, so I went AA. Too bad, I always liked US, but don't want risk having to scramble to get to EYW. tls

:(

I'm sure your not alone. I can't exactly blame you, but this is the kind of thing all these announcements are going to cause.

So is this how the death spiral begins? Bookings drop due to fear of US liquidation while liqidation approaches faster due to a lack of bookings. Throw in the redemption of miles on UA and Star carriers.

So is this how the death spiral begins? Bookings drop due to fear of US liquidation while liqidation approaches faster due to a lack of bookings. Throw in the redemption of miles on UA and Star carriers.

Unfortunately, all the media talk that makes it sound like U will liquidate any minute is very very bad for U. U can hardly withstand a big revenue hit. U needs to turn around all this bad publicity ASAP.

:(

I'm sure your not alone. I can't exactly blame you, but this is the kind of thing all these announcements are going to cause.


US Airways' uncertainty prompts travelers to study alternatives


http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5773939/

Douglas Millar, the president of Downtown-based Travelers Service Co. Inc., the region's ninth largest travel agency, said he believes presidential politics could keep US Airways planes in the air until well after the election season.

With Republican President George W. Bush behind his Democratic challenger John Kerry in the polls, Mr. Millar suspects the president may need to get involved to improve his standing with Pennsylvania voters.

"Pennsylvania is a huge swing state," he said. "In my opinion, in the short term, I just can't imagine the Bush administration letting this airline go down."


Doesn't do much good for Thanksgiving plans..

"Pennsylvania is a huge swing state," he said. "In my opinion, in the short term, I just can't imagine the Bush administration letting this airline go down."

I wonder which is worth more votes? Propping them up or waving to them on the way down?

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5773939/

To avoid such a risk, Mr. Underwood said he had changed the plans for a group of 60 heading to Denver in the upcoming months.

Instead of booking a US Airways flight that may not exist by the time of their trip, he booked the group on a flight by America West, through Phoenix.


Sorry, but... :D ^

If you are concerned about US' future situation, you can continue to support US by purchasing US tickets on UA metal. At least you'll know your ticket will still be good.

As others have said, you can still by tickets on US and they will be honored by other airlines, or if you are traveling for business buy the refundable tickets that other airlines will accept. Let's not bail on US Airways, they need our business!!!!!

If you are concerned about US' future situation, you can continue to support US by purchasing US tickets on UA metal. At least you'll know your ticket will still be good.

As others have said, you can still by tickets on US and they will be honored by other airlines, or if you are traveling for business buy the refundable tickets that other airlines will accept. Let's not bail on US Airways, they need our business!!!!!

Have been loyal to US, redirecting flights their way over the years, but now it looks like they are too close to a "surprise" announcement to risk bookings more than one month out. By surprise I mean no significant warning about liquidation (ala Eastern). I hope it doesn't happen, but having to scramble with future bookings is not worth it.

It may not help US much, but if possible I'm booking with UA #s on US metal. It seems a bit safer than hoping to have a ticket honored by another carrier and arguing DOT rules.

When the faithful (or relatively faithful, like me) start to do this, it is going to send them down quickly. The only shot they have is to get a quick deal with the pilots and start making some very public promises about their future over the next 6 months.

Have been loyal to US, redirecting flights their way over the years, but now it looks like they are too close to a "surprise" announcement to risk bookings more than one month out. By surprise I mean no significant warning about liquidation (ala Eastern). I hope it doesn't happen, but having to scramble with future bookings is not worth it.

It may not help US much, but if possible I'm booking with UA #s on US metal. It seems a bit safer than hoping to have a ticket honored by another carrier and arguing DOT rules.

When the faithful (or relatively faithful, like me) start to do this, it is going to send them down quickly. The only shot they have is to get a quick deal with the pilots and start making some very public promises about their future over the next 6 months.


I agree totally. I think the safest way of support US is to book on UA flight numbers with US metal. I am really a UA flier but like having US around as a good alternative on routes I couldnt fly UA on.

Well, I just booked a ticket on US Airways for November. Our beloved airline still has enough cash to keep flying for a while. I'm not worried about anything bad happening in the next few months.

If you are concerned about US' future situation, you can continue to support US by purchasing US tickets on UA metal. At least you'll know your ticket will still be good.


Or should you do it the other way: buying UA tickets on US metal?

I'm not sure how much propping up USAirways till after November will garner votes for Bush. I know very few in the Burgh really want the govt to bail out USAirways, and I don't see that sort of sentiment in Philly even if they know have the most to lose (since Pitts is already on the outs with US). I have USAirways tickets in October, and I'm giving it 50/50 chance that it'll still be there. If it's not I expect not to go since no way is anyone going to be able to fill all the seat requirements for local hub travellers in such short notice.

Past that, my tickets are on AA, UA, and (ugh) DL!

I have USAirways tickets in October, and I'm giving it 50/50 chance that it'll still be there.

I thought the sentiment is that we are pretty much "ok" until the end of the year. October? :confused:

There's lots of doom & gloom here but I still believe we won't know what is going to happen until it does. I think that if liquidation were imminent then expanding to FLL as a focus city, adding European routes, and adding more GoFares would be pointless. That said, I imagine it will be a rough few months but I think they will survive.

I have purchased a GoFare to SAN next month and a "B" fare to Europe for December...just doing my part and staying loyal!

Call me crazy & I know some will, but bailing now will just accelerate an already dismal situation and really axe any chance of recovery.

There's lots of doom & gloom here but I still believe we won't know what is going to happen until it does. I think that if liquidation were imminent then expanding to FLL as a focus city, adding European routes, and adding more GoFares would be pointless. That said, I imagine it will be a rough few months but I think they will survive.

I have purchased a GoFare to SAN next month and a "B" fare to Europe for December...just doing my part and staying loyal!

Call me crazy & I know some will, but bailing now will just accelerate an already dismal situation and really axe any chance of recovery.

The last sentence makes perfect sense, but in the end one should look out for themselves. If not, you tend to get overlookd and taken advantage of.

I just bought a ticket on US for a business trip and 2 weeks ago 3 rt for leisure for an October trip. I will continue buying US as often as I can and asked my corporate travel agent to book US whenever possible. This talk of avoidance of US is putting nails in the coffin while the patient is still struggling.

Just my $0.02

Outoftown

I agree. If you buy UA tickets on US metal, does that help UA or US? Obviously, it fills US' seats, but isnt UA getting the revenue. Im not sure how much US sells the seats to UA for, that's why Im unsure.

Anyway we can do it, we should support US while also being careful ourselves.

If you are concerned about US' future situation, you can continue to support US by purchasing US tickets on UA metal. At least you'll know your ticket will still be good.

As others have said, you can still by tickets on US and they will be honored by other airlines, or if you are traveling for business buy the refundable tickets that other airlines will accept. Let's not bail on US Airways, they need our business!!!!!

Do you have any quotable backing on other airlines honoring a liquated airline? If so, please post. Else, I won't suggest giving ppl potentially wrong advice.

From the way that I was treated today when buying a ticket for the last week in September, I feel nothing but good about patronizing this company. It would be a shame if the phone agents who helped me out today were put out of their jobs, because they certainly know how to do them.

I wasnt saying I knew that for sure, but others on this board have said so, I was simply restating.

I thought the sentiment is that we are pretty much "ok" until the end of the year. October? :confused:

Sept 30 is the deadline by which they may have to file for a second bankruptcy. Now depending on the type of feeling, USAirways may simply give up at that point or still coast along trying to recover after that. That's why I feel that anything after Sept 30 is at risk, but that's just my personal opinion. Life is full of risks, however, so I'm not losing sleep over it :)

Do you have any quotable backing on other airlines honoring a liquated airline? If so, please post. Else, I won't suggest giving ppl potentially wrong advice.


I do. After 9/11, the FAA passed a provision that guaranteed that, should an airline liquidate, all of the major airlines must honor the passengers tickets in the form of standby travel. Taking into account the liquidations of National Airlines, Midway Airlines, Vanguard Airlines, and others . . . this law really did help passengers who had booked on carriers that could no longer provide serivce.

But, here's the catch:

The provision was temporary, and expires this November. US's liquidation, if it were to happen, would occur possibly later than this, and as of now there are talks that the provision may not be renewed. Chances are, if US liquidates, there will be no one there to honor your tix.

I do. After 9/11, the FAA passed a provision that guaranteed that, should an airline liquidate, all of the major airlines must honor the passengers tickets in the form of standby travel. Taking into account the liquidations of National Airlines, Midway Airlines, Vanguard Airlines, and others . . . this law really did help passengers who had booked on carriers that could no longer provide serivce.

But, here's the catch:

The provision was temporary, and expires this November. US's liquidation, if it were to happen, would occur possibly later than this, and as of now there are talks that the provision may not be renewed. Chances are, if US liquidates, there will be no one there to honor your tix.

Section 145(c) of Public Law 107-71 has the provision requiring US carriers to honor tickets of defunct airlines. That was to expire 18 months from the bill becoming law which was November 2001.

Section 372 of Public Law 108-7 changed the text of Section 145(c) from 18 months to 27. That puts the provision expiration at February 2004.

Was this provision extended a second time? If so, please refer to it. Thanks.

The last sentence makes perfect sense, but in the end one should look out for themselves. If not, you tend to get overlookd and taken advantage of.

If you purchase a ticket with your credit card (which is what most people do) and US goes belly up, you would get back the money from your credit card company. I don't think that you would be taken advantage of.

We booked a RT on USAir using UA miles leaving 8/30. returning 9/24. Think we'll make it back w/o a flurry of calls? Should we be worried? Thanks.

seawolf,

Someone else in another thread mentioned that they had seen a November date at Frommers (http://www.frommers.com/activities/air/article.cfm?articleid=2128&destid=AIRFARE).

I've booked a int'l trip on US for Feburary......now is that positive thinking or what? :)

I've bought 4 tix for mid-April.

seawolf,

Someone else in another thread mentioned that they had seen a November date at Frommers (http://www.frommers.com/activities/air/article.cfm?articleid=2128&destid=AIRFARE).

Thanks. I found it. Section 428 of Public Law 108-176 extends it to 36 months from November 19, 2001.