thank you ATC congestion at JFK..saved me $540
May 21, 2015, 9:36 pm
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,080
thank you ATC congestion at JFK..saved me $540
I had a non refundable ticket booked JFK-CLT-MSY. The initial leg was at 630pm, with a 2 hour layover in CLT to give plenty of padding so I could make the last flight to MSY.
2 days before the trip, my plans changed that didn't require me to take the trip, so I was resigned to lose most of the ticket value after change fees when I would eventually use the credit for a future trip. Heeding advice given here over the years, I sat on it and did nothing.
A few hours before departure, I got a text update that the 1st leg was delayed 30 minutes. Still plenty of time for connection. Then another text telling me an hour delay. Now down to a one hour connection. Still within legal minimum connection time.
Then another text that the new departure time would only give me a 22 minute connection in CLT. That was my cue...I called and explained to the agent that the trip is useless to me now because I would miss the 2nd leg. Without question or push back, she immediately offered to cancel and refund it all.
Out of curiosity, I followed up on the flight the next day. Turns out it eventually flew, but arrived CLT an hour after my connecting flight left.
Moral of the story...never cancel a non refundable ticket until you know for certain the flight operated.
2 days before the trip, my plans changed that didn't require me to take the trip, so I was resigned to lose most of the ticket value after change fees when I would eventually use the credit for a future trip. Heeding advice given here over the years, I sat on it and did nothing.
A few hours before departure, I got a text update that the 1st leg was delayed 30 minutes. Still plenty of time for connection. Then another text telling me an hour delay. Now down to a one hour connection. Still within legal minimum connection time.
Then another text that the new departure time would only give me a 22 minute connection in CLT. That was my cue...I called and explained to the agent that the trip is useless to me now because I would miss the 2nd leg. Without question or push back, she immediately offered to cancel and refund it all.
Out of curiosity, I followed up on the flight the next day. Turns out it eventually flew, but arrived CLT an hour after my connecting flight left.
Moral of the story...never cancel a non refundable ticket until you know for certain the flight operated.
May 21, 2015, 9:58 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
I had a non refundable ticket booked JFK-CLT-MSY. The initial leg was at 630pm, with a 2 hour layover in CLT to give plenty of padding so I could make the last flight to MSY.
2 days before the trip, my plans changed that didn't require me to take the trip, so I was resigned to lose most of the ticket value after change fees when I would eventually use the credit for a future trip. Heeding advice given here over the years, I sat on it and did nothing.
A few hours before departure, I got a text update that the 1st leg was delayed 30 minutes. Still plenty of time for connection. Then another text telling me an hour delay. Now down to a one hour connection. Still within legal minimum connection time.
Then another text that the new departure time would only give me a 22 minute connection in CLT. That was my cue...I called and explained to the agent that the trip is useless to me now because I would miss the 2nd leg. Without question or push back, she immediately offered to cancel and refund it all.
Out of curiosity, I followed up on the flight the next day. Turns out it eventually flew, but arrived CLT an hour after my connecting flight left.
Moral of the story...never cancel a non refundable ticket until you know for certain the flight operated.
2 days before the trip, my plans changed that didn't require me to take the trip, so I was resigned to lose most of the ticket value after change fees when I would eventually use the credit for a future trip. Heeding advice given here over the years, I sat on it and did nothing.
A few hours before departure, I got a text update that the 1st leg was delayed 30 minutes. Still plenty of time for connection. Then another text telling me an hour delay. Now down to a one hour connection. Still within legal minimum connection time.
Then another text that the new departure time would only give me a 22 minute connection in CLT. That was my cue...I called and explained to the agent that the trip is useless to me now because I would miss the 2nd leg. Without question or push back, she immediately offered to cancel and refund it all.
Out of curiosity, I followed up on the flight the next day. Turns out it eventually flew, but arrived CLT an hour after my connecting flight left.
Moral of the story...never cancel a non refundable ticket until you know for certain the flight operated.
[I've been on flts. out of JFK in the early evening with queues of 40 planes.
May 21, 2015, 10:03 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 4,107
May 22, 2015, 5:11 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,080
thank you ATC congestion at JFK..saved me $540
I canceled about 15-20 minutes before originally scheduled departure time once it was clear there would be a misconnect. I also never checked in for the flight, though maybe I should have if it would have made any difference later. If the longer delays were not known until after original departure time, it would at least appear I was stuck waiting and decided to abandon the trip due to pending misconnect.
May 23, 2015, 1:17 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: USA
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 525
thank you ATC congestion at JFK..saved me $540
on the US side you just need to cancel that day. so even after the flight left you can credit the ticket back.