US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Compensation for canceled flight

Need some help from the USAirways gurus, as I'm a NW Elite who has little experience with US.

Sister-in-law flew on an eSaver PHL-DTW this weekend, leaving Saturday morning, with the return scheduled for 7am tomorrow morning. Purpose of trip was to see our newborn son.

We just received a call from US advising that tomorrow's flight was canceled due to a lack of airline crew. The only alternatives are a 7:30 flight back tonight, and a 10:35 flight tomorrow which wouldn't get her to work until around 2pm (FYI- the NW non-stop tomorrow morning is full).

Reluctantly, she elected for the flight back tonight, which basically cut short her stay by a full evening, and means that our plans for today are basically a wash.

I talked to the phone center and a supervisor regarding compensation, and was told that there were only 2 places to discuss compensation: the ticket counter at the airport and the customer service center (which is closed today).

My question is, not being familiar with the contract of carriage, is that what, if any, compensation we should ask for. Note that she is not a US frequent flyer (doesn't even have a Dividend Miles card... the horrors!)

Ideally, they'd refund the ticket price ($150) or provide a voucher for a future trip. However, I'm realistic that this may be excessive.

Any suggestions?

Unfortunately I think your out of luck..What you could do is call back and have them put you on another carrier in the morning. I think AA flies this route non stop. My understanding is they need to do that.

Unfortunately I think your out of luck..What you could do is call back and have them put you on another carrier in the morning. I think AA flies this route non stop. My understanding is they need to do that.

We went through all airline options for tomorrow morning. Only US and NW fly the Detroit-Philly route non-stop, and the early NW flight is already full. I know that their main responsibility is moving her from point A to point B, but shouldn't some sort of compensation be in order for a situation where you A) either lose a night away from home, or B) take a flight which puts you in 3 1/2 hours later than expected.

Not really..check out their own published rules:

http://www.usairways.com/customers/customer_commitment/appendix1.htm

You could try to fly tomorrow with a stop, but they don't need to compensate you..at least they told you early, i've had this happen when i got to the airport.