US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - Denied Boarding what are the rules in this case?

Greetings all, Help!! :confused: :(

I just got a good call from a family friend in Dallas whose 13 year family member was on line yesterday for a considerable time to check in for their flight a confirmed revenue seat to Philadelphia on US AIR.By the time they got to the front of the line it was 30 minutes before departure and the US AIR agent refused to check the luggage and denied a boarding pass.All flights yesterday were full and he failed to get out standby.Tomorrow they said he might not get out either on standby without confirming a seat for 100 dollars more
Is US Airways acting responsibly? What are the rules my FT experts?
I said play ball and give them the money if the flight looks full.......

Thanks All for the feedback.

This is an unaccompanied minor? They gave his seat away? If that's the story, then I have to wonder who was with him at the airport......did they show up late, etc.

The devil is in the details!

This is an unaccompanied minor? They gave his seat away? If that's the story, then I have to wonder who was with him at the airport......did they show up late, etc.

The devil is in the details!
Thanks
I will call tomorrow and get some more details.Let's assume for the moment it wasn't a minor............anybody care to give their feedback ?

I believe the situation is that he missed the flight (check in cutoff) by ten minutes.

I believe he should be offered as a courtesy the choice of standing by with his existing ticket however long it takes (flat tire rule), or confirming a seat for the $100. more as quoted.

Did the airline already know he was an unaccompanied minor? UM status means that the airline will look after him but he still has to check in on time for the originating flight.

Travel tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm

I believe the situation is that he missed the flight (check in cutoff) by ten minutes.

I believe he should be offered as a courtesy the choice of standing by with his existing ticket however long it takes (flat tire rule), or confirming a seat for the $100. more as quoted.

Did the airline already know he was an unaccompanied minor? UM status means that the airline will look after him but he still has to check in on time for the originating flight.

Travel tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm
I will find that and any other details out and report back.
BTW How does the minor thing change the picture if at all?

Yes you indeed are going to have to get more details. I had a situation happen to me last year on a US Airways flight. I was running late to the airport and I got to the ticket counter 28 minutes before check-in time. I had luggage to check (I assume this person did as well.) It is not that the ticket agent did not want to check him in. The computer will NOT print out bag tags if it is below the 30 minute mark. The agent went to get a supervisor but the supervisor could not do anything as the computer will not allow it. Remember your watch might have said it was within 30 minutes. But if the computer system says differently then they can't really do anything for you especially if you have bags to check.

Lucky for me I was able to go stand-by on the next flight and got on.

If you know you are running late and have an E-ticket. Check your bags in curbside (if available).

Sorry about your troubles. I hope you can fill us in on here with more details.

Yes you indeed are going to have to get more details. I had a situation happen to me last year on a US Airways flight. I was running late to the airport and I got to the ticket counter 28 minutes before check-in time. I had luggage to check (I assume this person did as well.) It is not that the ticket agent did not want to check him in. The computer will NOT print out bag tags if it is below the 30 minute mark. The agent went to get a supervisor but the supervisor could not do anything as the computer will not allow it. Remember your watch might have said it was within 30 minutes. But if the computer system says differently then they can't really do anything for you especially if you have bags to check.

Lucky for me I was able to go stand-by on the next flight and got on.

If you know you are running late and have an E-ticket. Check your bags in curbside (if available).

Sorry about your troubles. I hope you can fill us in on here with more details.
Thank you very much.This was exactly the info I was hoping for.
Yes there was luggage to be checked.
And I was told 30 minutes before his departure.
Could have been 28 minutes I wasn't there
I of course was getting second hand information. I thought the rule was 20 minutes before departure.Especially when airlines take luggage from Pax that won't fit onboard right up to departure.
Having just spoke with the United 1 K desk.The rules is 45 minutes with luggage before departure.So in this case US AIR was operating fairly and within their rights from what I gather.........

US' rule is 30 minutes if you have luggage to check and I think 20 minutes if you do not have luggage to check (if you had not used on-line check in).

I think they set 30 minutes as a min due to the fact that all luggage has to be scanned via TSA before it is loaded on the aircraft.

And yes there are other airlines have different cut off times that are higher I believe.

Word from our friends is that US Air was able to get him a seat 24 hours later Also waive the fee and upgrade him to first class as a goodwill gesture
So while he missed a day of his spring break trip everything seems to have ended up on a happy note
Way to go US AIR ^
Looks like I learned something from someones elses problem.
I won't be late! :)