US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-2005 America West merger) - USA Policy on Flights out of New Orleans?

Hi all. We have evacuated from New Orleans to Birmingham and awaiting word on when we can go home. My mom is with me and she has two tickets out of New Orleans on Thursday. She called USA to see about getting a refund or voucher and the out of the country CSR that she spoke to said that that was not an option. She has up to one year to use her tickets, but she needs to reschedule the flights before 9/5. She tried to explain that the airport isn't even open and no reschedule date and she's not even sure her home exists anymore...how can she decide on a travel date?

It just doesn't make any sense. Am I missing something?

J

Looks like US airways management are being royal A_SS H_OLES for forcing you to re-book within such a narrow time window.

I hope they're reading these threads. It's nothing but robbery. They're basically stealing money. Those cupons will be worth S_HIT and they know it. They'll charge so much to use them.

What have they got to lose by refunding? Are they that criminal and deprived that they need to steal this money?

A friggen destination has been eliminated from their air routes. Why don't they acknowledge it and give back the money? Not just them - all carriers?

Is there any recorse from the credit card companies on this?

Looks like US airways management are being royal A_SS H_OLES for forcing you to re-book within such a narrow time window.

I hope they're reading these threads. It's nothing but robbery. They're basically stealing money. Those cupons will be worth S_HIT and they know it. They'll charge so much to use them.

What have they got to lose by refunding? Are they that criminal and deprived that they need to steal this money?

A friggen destination has been eliminated from their air routes. Why don't they acknowledge it and give back the money? Not just them - all carriers?


US is probably so close to the edge (HP or no HP) to the edge in terms of cashflow that refunding all tickets to/from MSY for a few months would probably put them over the edge.

Or that would be my guess, because their current stance is a PR disaster in the making.

My mom was not given the option of even a voucher much less a refund. She'd have been ok I think with a voucher for a later trip. She was not offered that. She was told she has 7 days from the date of the supposed flight to rebook. If she doesn't rebook she looses the tickets.

J

Well, while we're all speculating, let me toss this in. The policy was put in place before today's developments. Yesterday (Mon.) was bad enough for MSY - today is worse. Give US a chance to revise their policy. I imagine they will, since many will be in the same situation as the OP. Out of fairness, let's look at what other carriers are doing (only American is offering a refund, and that's only as a voucher):

Here's UA's policy (no refunds):

CHICAGO, Aug. 29, 2005 – United Airlines today has revised its ticketing policies for its customers with travel plans to and from New Orleans, La., likely to be affected by Hurricane Katrina. Effective immediately, these policies apply to all customers ticketed on or before Aug. 25, 2005, for travel on Aug. 25 through Sept 10, 2005, to or from New Orleans on any United®, United Express®, TedSM or United codeshare flight.

United previously announced revised ticketing policies for its customers with travel plans to and from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, and Fort Myers, Fla., likely to be affected by Hurricane Katrina. Effective immediately, these policies apply to all customers ticketed on or before Aug. 25, 2005, for travel on Aug. 25 - 29, 2005, to or from these cities on any United®, United Express®, TedSM or United codeshare flight.

Passengers may make these changes through a travel agency or by calling United's reservations line at 1-800-UNITED-1 by midnight on their original travel date.

For customers currently en route who would like to return to their point of origin, all rules and restrictions regarding standard change fees, day or time applications, and/or minimum stay or Saturday night-stay requirements have been waived.

Customers with unused tickets for travel within this time period may also reschedule their travel between the same origin and destination without a change fee. Rescheduled travel for the same itinerary must meet the same rule and booking code restrictions in order to guarantee the original fare. Rescheduled travel on flights and/or dates that do not meet the original restrictions may be subject to higher fares.

Here's Delta's (no refunds):

Weather Alert: Hurricane Katrina
Last Updated: August 29, 2005, 11:00pm EDT

Hurricane Katrina may impact travel in select areas of Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. If you are traveling to, from, or through these areas, check flight status frequently for up-to-the-minute information about your flight arrangements. To get updates sent directly to your wireless communication device, be sure to sign up for Flight Notifications.

Rescheduling Flights
You may make a one-time change to your ticket without penalties if you are scheduled to travel to, from, or through the following cities on Delta, Song®, Delta Connection®, or Delta-coded flights during the specified time periods listed below. Additional collection in fares may apply. See Conditions & Restrictions below.

And Continental's (no refunds):

Weather Reaccommodation


Due to Hurricane Katrina, Continental is providing the option to reschedule or reroute your travel once, without a penalty, if you are ticketed to/from/through one of the cities listed below for travel between Wednesday, August 24, 2005 and Saturday, September 3, 2005. Travel must be re-scheduled or re-issued by September 10, 2005:

Baton Rouge, LA (BTR)
Daytona Beach, FL (DAB)
Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
Fort Myers, FL (RSW)
Fort Walton Beach, FL (VPS)
Freeport, Bahamas (FPO)
Georgetown, Bahamas (GGT)
Governors Harbour, Bahamas (GHB)
Gulfport/ Biloxi, MS (GPT)
Jackson, MS (JAN)
Jacksonville, FL (JAX)
Key West, FL (EYW)
Lafayette, LA (LFT)
Marsh Harbour, Bahamas (MHH)
Miami, FL (MIA)
Mobile, AL (MOB)
Nassau, Bahamas (NAS)
New Orleans, LA (MSY)
North Eleuthera, Bahamas (ELH)
Orlando, FL (MCO)
Pensacola, FL (PNS)
Sarasota/ Bradenton, FL (SRQ)
Tallahassee, FL (TLH)
Tampa/ St. Petersburg, FL (TPA)
Treasure Cay, Bahamas (TCB)
West Palm Beach, FL (PBI)


Travel must be completed by the original validity dates specified on ticket and changes must be confirmed in the same booking class as the original ticket.

And for good measure, here's American's (refund as a voucher):
Hurricane Katrina Travel Policy

Updated 5:00 p.m. CDT August 30
As a result of the impact of Hurricane Katrina, please note the following changes in our airport operations:

Baton Rouge, LA (BTR) - The airport is currently open.
Fort Walton Beach, FL (VPS) - The airport is currently open.
Jackson, MS (JAN) - The airport will be closed through August 31.
Mobile, AL (MOB) - The airport will be closed through August 31.
New Orleans, LA (MSY) - American Airlines will not operate flights to or from New Orleans until at least September 5. Based on continuing evaluations of storm damage, this may change.
Pensacola, FL (PNS) - The airport is currently open.
Please check www.aa.com/gates for current information regarding your specific flight before traveling to the airport for your flight.

If you were ticketed to the above-mentioned areas by August 24, 2005, American offers you the convenience of the following options due to the impact of Katrina:

You may change your origination travel date up to October 31, 2005. No fee or penalty will apply if the original booking class used for your fare is available.
If your travel was booked using an AAdvantage award, you may elect to have the AAdvantage mileage used for this trip refunded. No reinstatement fee will apply.
Non-refundable tickets may be refunded in the form of a voucher only.
Refundable tickets may be handled as normal guidelines allow.
You may apply the value of your unused ticket toward a ticket for travel to another location.
One ticketed change is allowed, and no fee or penalty will apply. For assistance with changing your travel plans, contact our Reservations personnel at 1-800-433-7300 within the United States or Canada.

So let's be fair. None of these carriers are allowing refunds to your card - and only American is offering a refund as a voucher. I imagine that when one offers full refunds, and not as vouchers - the rest will fall into line.

My itinerary to MSY is scheduled for Sept 13.

If MSY is still closed that day, and
If I show up at my departure airport on time, and
If I DO NOT make any prior decision to re-schedule or otherwise obtain a flight voucher,

Then what will happen? Will US tell me that sorry, we're not flying to MSY today, and you get no compensation, no refund. We took your money and we're giving you no service in return. ?

What if, when I show up at the check-in for my outbound flight, they tell me that unless I make a decision right-then-and-there to select a new departure date, they tell me that I'm essenentially forfeiting any value my current tickets have. Can I force them to provide the service that I paid for or give me a full cash refund?

Doesn't the DOT have anything to say about this?

Among the myriad of laws, rules and regulations that govern the airline industry, can't there be one regulation that stipulates a cash refund in the event an airport is dammaged/destroyed or otherwise non-functional for an indeterminate period lasting more than, say, 7 days?

Generally these things tend to be pretty fluid. I think the problem right now is that everyone's hoping to resume ops by the end of the weekend, but no one's sure if that's realistic yet. The airlines will probably all fall in line with each other and in the end both the dates of resuming ops and in how they're flexible (rebook vs. voucher, etc). Depending upon terminal and gate damage, there may be some airline-specific differences.

If MSY is still closed around the time of your travel the extra flexibility in the reaccomodations will certainly be extended. I recall that when Hurricane Fabian hit Bermuda in 2003 and I needed to go there for work, they extended the flexible policy several times, finally settling on a 21 day period due to the local damage. I rebooked something like 5 separate times as the islands struggled to recover. MSY got hit far worse than BDA did.

The problem with New Orleans (not necessarily MSY) is that just because MSY becomes operable doesn't mean that the original reason you wanted to go to New Orleans is still valid.

Trouble is, neither I (nor the person/institution I'm going down for) know when they will be ready for my visit. It's just not acceptible (not reasonable) for an airline to force me, within the next week or two, to select a new departure date (and then put up with the song-and-dance of seat availability and possible differences in fare classes and prices compared to what I originally booked).

I'd rather take a refund to my credit card now and book later when the time is right (which could be months from now).

Lots of convention travel to New Orleans has been thrown into chaos. I'm sure there will be thousands of people in this situation. The air carriers better smarten up and realize that this isin't just a thunderstorm that's thrown a monkey wrench into the works here.

If they cancel the flight she was booked on they will refund the full amount. I was scheduled for Thursday and at first they said the same thing but after the flight showed as canceled they refunded my ticket.

The problem with New Orleans (not necessarily MSY) is that just because MSY becomes operable doesn't mean that the original reason you wanted to go to New Orleans is still valid.

Trouble is, neither I (nor the person/institution I'm going down for) know when they will be ready for my visit. It's just not acceptible (not reasonable) for an airline to force me, within the next week or two, to select a new departure date (and then put up with the song-and-dance of seat availability and possible differences in fare classes and prices compared to what I originally booked).

I'd rather take a refund to my credit card now and book later when the time is right (which could be months from now).

Lots of convention travel to New Orleans has been thrown into chaos. I'm sure there will be thousands of people in this situation. The air carriers better smarten up and realize that this isin't just a thunderstorm that's thrown a monkey wrench into the works here.

That's why it's important to have travel insurance or to purchase flexible/refundable tickets if there is something that might prevent you from going.

I was supposed to go Friday and they ended up refunding, i think those with tickets for 9/13 are just going to have to wait.

They did say they could use the value towards another ticket to another destination in the same fare class with advance purchase requirements waived.

I was supposed to go Friday and they ended up refunding, i think those with tickets for 9/13 are just going to have to wait.

They did say they could use the value towards another ticket to another destination in the same fare class with advance purchase requirements waived.

Just to clarify - are these cash refunds or travel vouchers?

It's going to be 2 months atleast untill MSY can reopen for commerical service cnn has reported...
9:46 A.M. - CNN: Commercial flights coming out of New Orleans International Airport could resume in two months.
This is from the blog on wwltv.com
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG.ac3fcea.html
-howie

The problem with New Orleans (not necessarily MSY) is that just because MSY becomes operable doesn't mean that the original reason you wanted to go to New Orleans is still valid.

Trouble is, neither I (nor the person/institution I'm going down for) know when they will be ready for my visit. It's just not acceptible (not reasonable) for an airline to force me, within the next week or two, to select a new departure date (and then put up with the song-and-dance of seat availability and possible differences in fare classes and prices compared to what I originally booked).

I'd rather take a refund to my credit card now and book later when the time is right (which could be months from now).

Lots of convention travel to New Orleans has been thrown into chaos. I'm sure there will be thousands of people in this situation. The air carriers better smarten up and realize that this isin't just a thunderstorm that's thrown a monkey wrench into the works here.

If your flight is canceled (you do not need to show up in person at the airport), you will receive a full refund on your card.

If the flight operates to MSY, you will not receive a refund. If your plans change (for any reason), you are subject to the rules of the ticket, which is a contract. If you have a nonrefundable ticket, it is exactly that.

Insurers do offer a product for this sort of situation.

I wouldn't automatically assume that people who were scheduled to go to MSY are just going to cancel all travel plans and stay home - many (including rerouting conventioneers) will choose to go, yes, even FLY, elsewhere - and the airlines benefited from the evacuation's last minute travelers by topping off their loads with high-fare pax, didn't they?

If your flight is canceled (you do not need to show up in person at the airport), you will receive a full refund on your card.

If the flight operates to MSY, you will not receive a refund. If your plans change (for any reason), you are subject to the rules of the ticket, which is a contract. If you have a nonrefundable ticket, it is exactly that.

Insurers do offer a product for this sort of situation.

Travel insurance is a rip-off to begin with, and suggesting its purchase for every single ticket you buy to guard against a 100 year event is just silly. :rolleyes:

Mine was a refund to my credit card.

I had 4 tickets to go to New orleans on Sept 23 2 1st class and 2 coach.
When I called to redeposit they said it was a $75.00 per ticket to redeposit them. I fired off a email to the DM customer service letting them know how unfair it was to charge me for something I have no control over.
No reply as of yet..

Gary

August 27 - October 31, 2005

New Orleans*

*Passengers can rebook their travel for up to one year for New Orleans only. All customers must rebook and have their tickets reissued by October 31, 2005 and travel must commence within one year from original date of ticket issuance.

DM Customer service said they would allow me to rebook my September 8th flight to New Orleans to anywhere else in the country with no penalties. Since I have a lot of business travel, it shouldn't be a problem.

I just don't see how anyone could predict when they'll be rescheduling their New Orleans trips. One month, two months? Who knows?

I recieved a refund to my credit card too...I had two tix for Friday with return on Tuesday.

ChazDawg

August 27 - October 31, 2005

New Orleans*

*Passengers can rebook their travel for up to one year for New Orleans only. All customers must rebook and have their tickets reissued by October 31, 2005 and travel must commence within one year from original date of ticket issuance.

So where is US saying that if your flight is cancelled then they will give a refund?

The above piece-of-crap statement seems designed to instill a "fear factor" effect to make the reader think that his/her only recourse is to rebook, AND do so before the end of Oct. I take it that this is US's way to bluf their way into keeping the cash from these tickets.

For those that are getting refunds to your credit card - what did you do to make it happen? A call to the CC company? A call to US? Nothing?

From http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/29/AR2005082901829.html

--------
Travel expert Tom Parsons, publisher of Bestfares.com, reminds travelers that if their flights are delayed or canceled due to weather, they are entitled to receive a 100 percent refund of the unused portion of their ticket, if they opt not to fly. Airlines are not required to pay for hotel rooms when travelers are stuck because of weather.
-------

According to:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-31-2005/0004097813&EDATE=

United is giving refunds for tickets scheduled between Aug 25 to Sept 30.

This page:

http://www.planetout.com/news/election/article.html?2005/08/30/1

Says:

----------
He also cautioned that some airlines refuse to refund the cost of a flight until it's actually cancelled, while other major carriers, such as United, are willing to grant a penalty-free refund for a limited time only.
----------

So is it an urban myth, or do I have the bona-fide right to a refund (regardless of fare paid) if my flight is canceled due to weather?

Yes, you get a 100% refund if the flight is cancelled. However, as noted above, most airlines won't refund until they actually cancel the flight. The "free rebooking" works even if the flight isn't cancelled.

So yeah, they're making you gamble: will your flight really be cancelled?

From http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/29/AR2005082901829.html

--------
Travel expert Tom Parsons, publisher of Bestfares.com, reminds travelers that if their flights are delayed or canceled due to weather, they are entitled to receive a 100 percent refund of the unused portion of their ticket, if they opt not to fly. Airlines are not required to pay for hotel rooms when travelers are stuck because of weather.
-------

According to:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-31-2005/0004097813&EDATE=

United is giving refunds for tickets scheduled between Aug 25 to Sept 30.

This page:

http://www.planetout.com/news/election/article.html?2005/08/30/1

Says:

----------
He also cautioned that some airlines refuse to refund the cost of a flight until it's actually cancelled, while other major carriers, such as United, are willing to grant a penalty-free refund for a limited time only.
----------

So is it an urban myth, or do I have the bona-fide right to a refund (regardless of fare paid) if my flight is canceled due to weather?

If the flight cancels, you are entitled to a refund. Since your flight has not yet cancelled, you are not yet entitled to a refund. They'll probably give you one now if you ask nicely and they expect the flight to cancel anyway.

Hint: your post using underscores to get around the swearing filter does not qualify as "asking nicely". With that attitude, they're likely to tell you to wait until the flight officially cancels.

My mom's flights were cancelled and the rep said that she still would only rebook...a refund of any kind was not offered and in fact denied when asked for.

J

Flight status queries on US's web site show that they're listing all flights to MSY up to and including Sept 6 as cancelled.

Question:

If my itinerary is YYZ-CLT / CLT-MSY (out-bound), and if US cancels CLT-MSY, do I have to fly the YYZ-CLT portion to qualify for a refund? Do I even have to show up at YYZ?

----

The re-booking window is now Aug 27 - Oct 31.

"The entire itinerary can be moved forward or delayed, up to seven days from the scheduled origination date."

What does that mean? They want you to comit to an itinerary change a week or more before the originally ticketed date?

"Full value of wholly unused tickets can be applied toward the purchase of a ticket to an alternate destination, with travel to originate within seven days of the scheduled origination date. "

Why are they playing games like this?

Travel insurance is a rip-off to begin with, and suggesting its purchase for every single ticket you buy to guard against a 100 year event is just silly. :rolleyes:

On another thread, Mr. Airman indicated that he had purchased the ticket last Friday. By then, it was a substantial possibility that the New Orleans area was to be hit by a major hurricane.

I personally don't purchase travel insurance, but then again, I also wouldn't be vocal about complaining that the airline might only offer me the chance to reschedule my trip on a restricted ticket if the " original reason you wanted to go to New Orleans is [no longer] valid".

Just an update. I have actually gotten the credit to my credit card already.

US is now showing "cancelled" for flights to MSY up to and including Sept 13.

A statement saying "The Flight is cancelled because of conditions at the New Orleans airport. Customers will be re-accomodated." is being shows regarding these flights.

Is this their way of saying that the flight is not cancelled "due to weather" ???

They are also posting this special message regarding Katrina:

"For customers with existing reservations departing New Orleans through Oct. 31, 2005, we understand that there are far more serious priorities to address at this time. We have implemented a program to protect the value of these tickets, even if customers cannot call on or before their scheduled departure date. We will continue to assess conditions in New Orleans and update this policy as necessary."

Protect the value of those tickets ?!

What kind of bull s_hit are they spewing? The "value" of those tickets are no longer theirs to hoard. Why don't those criminals running US just come out and say:

"We have implimented a psycological campaign to retain the revenue from those tickets and will do our best to obfuscate the situation as we direct customers to re-book or convert them to new itineraries."

Isin't that a more appropriate message?

Are you listening US? Don't you think we can see though your twisted mindset?

The problem with New Orleans (not necessarily MSY) is that just because MSY becomes operable doesn't mean that the original reason you wanted to go to New Orleans is still valid.

Trouble is, neither I (nor the person/institution I'm going down for) know when they will be ready for my visit. It's just not acceptible (not reasonable) for an airline to force me, within the next week or two, to select a new departure date (and then put up with the song-and-dance of seat availability and possible differences in fare classes and prices compared to what I originally booked).

I'd rather take a refund to my credit card now and book later when the time is right (which could be months from now).

Lots of convention travel to New Orleans has been thrown into chaos. I'm sure there will be thousands of people in this situation. The air carriers better smarten up and realize that this isin't just a thunderstorm that's thrown a monkey wrench into the works here.


I've heard that the Starwood chain (which has three hotels in New Orleans)
backed up their computer systems and sent the data off site so that they can tell who was checked into the hotel on the day that huricane struck, so they have their vendor data (to pay bills etc), and data on who had booked what the next few months so that an attempt can be made to move meetings and conventions to alternate sites.

Also, Southwest had decided not to sell any tickets to MSY until Jan.

From what I've seen on TV, they're going to need the airport terminal for more important purposes for some time.

Bob H

From what I've seen on TV, they're going to need the airport terminal for more important purposes for some time.

Bob H

US joins others in Homeland Security directive in flying pax to Texas.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/02/national/nationalspecial/02cnd-air.html

Im not trying to be insensitive here but how can these airlines afford this. Honestly, if they are going to particpate in something like this then the least the Fed govt could do is forgive some of thier loans or maybe even interest on the loans they have given out.
Price is not the only problem but what about safety. This airport is under VFR rules only and communication there is probably spotty at best not to mention the fact that there is limited aviation fuel at the airport and at others around the country.
Where will the staff and planes come from to take part in this evacuation and how many people go through MSY on a normal day? Not to mention that only narrow body aircraft will be used. At 7 planes per hour for 12 hours with an average of 135 people per plane it would take more than 2.5 days to get everyone out of the city. There ar so many questions to think about. What do you all think?

I think this is a case of lets get the job done, and worry about the fine print later. I know goodwill doesn't pay for fuel, but what's happening in NO is intolerable. I have a mlitary background, I know how long it takes to "gear up", but this relief effort is a good 24-36 hours behind. They won't need so many billions to assist the displaced if they're dead. We got help to other countries faster than we made a presence in NO. The airline efforts won't go un-noted, i've got to believe that.

Im not trying to be insensitive here but how can these airlines afford this. Honestly, if they are going to particpate in something like this then the least the Fed govt could do is forgive some of thier loans or maybe even interest on the loans they have given out.
Price is not the only problem but what about safety. This airport is under VFR rules only and communication there is probably spotty at best not to mention the fact that there is limited aviation fuel at the airport and at others around the country.
Where will the staff and planes come from to take part in this evacuation and how many people go through MSY on a normal day? Not to mention that only narrow body aircraft will be used. At 7 planes per hour for 12 hours with an average of 135 people per plane it would take more than 2.5 days to get everyone out of the city. There ar so many questions to think about. What do you all think?

As to narrow body planes, I wonder if runway length is a factor -- I've heard they've only got one open down there.

Also, some people may be taken out by National Guard planes.

Bob H

Im not trying to be insensitive here but how can these airlines afford this. Honestly, if they are going to particpate in something like this then the least the Fed govt could do is forgive some of thier loans or maybe even interest on the loans they have given out.
Price is not the only problem but what about safety. This airport is under VFR rules only and communication there is probably spotty at best not to mention the fact that there is limited aviation fuel at the airport and at others around the country.
Where will the staff and planes come from to take part in this evacuation and how many people go through MSY on a normal day? Not to mention that only narrow body aircraft will be used. At 7 planes per hour for 12 hours with an average of 135 people per plane it would take more than 2.5 days to get everyone out of the city. There ar so many questions to think about. What do you all think?

The feds, if they wanted/needed to play hardball, could very easily call up the CRAF aircraft, in which case the participating airlines would have no choice in the matter. As a matter of course, in order to get federal contracts to haul people/mail/stuff, the airlines with CRAF aircraft committed get preference. I'm sure US would rather donate a few narrowbodies to the cause than have a few widebodies called into service involuntarily.

US is now posting the following:

"Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, US Airways will allow passengers with tickets issued on/before August 24, 2005 to or from New Orleans with scheduled travel dates from August 27 to October 31, 2005 to change their flight dates. US Airways will waive the standard change fee, advance reservation and/or ticketing requirements. Customers whose flights have canceled may elect to receive a refund in lieu of rescheduling."

My tix were bought on Aug 25 (Thursday) around 2 pm (Katrina was crossing Florida and attaining Hurricane status on that day so booking tix to MSY wasn't necessarily a risky thing to do at the time especially if you don't have a TV running CNN all the time at work).

Anyone know why US chose Aug 24 as the cutoff for allowing unrestricted re-booking? What then are the options for tix bought after that?

My MSY flights (Sept 13) are showing cancelled on USair.com - but not when viewed at virtuallythere.com - ?

Do I need to call US to get a refund, or just keep watching my credit card statement?

US is now posting the following:

"Due to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, US Airways will allow passengers with tickets issued on/before August 24, 2005 to or from New Orleans with scheduled travel dates from August 27 to October 31, 2005 to change their flight dates. US Airways will waive the standard change fee, advance reservation and/or ticketing requirements. Customers whose flights have canceled may elect to receive a refund in lieu of rescheduling."

Talk's cheap.

As of today, I've spent HOURS trying to get satisfaction. Flight was scheduled for 9/17 for a conference. It was changed to Chicago. So, instead of cancelling (and using a reputable airline), we decided to just change the tickets (by the way, the Chicago flight was about $20 per ticket less).

US Air's response? Tough. Still have to pay the $100.00 change fee!

Earlier today (sunday) I called US and told them I wanted a refund for my flight (in 2 days) to MSY (booked Aug 25).

I think at first the agent was trying to suggest my only option was a re-booking, but I simply told him I wanted a refund back to the CC that paid for it. He put up no fuss and verified a few CC items and that was that.

I asked him if I would still have gotten a refund had I not called. He mentioned something pertaining to a Nov-8 deadline (for re-booking ?) and because of that they don't seem to be automatically doing refunds if they don't hear from you.