Hi everybody,

I just got a TripAlert telling me that my 8:45am SJC-IAH for tomorrow is canceled. I called the elite desk to find out what happened and what my options are. I was told that the flight was canceled due to crew scheduling issues, not weather (there's no significant weather at SJC or IAH, and the inbound plane is from IAH, too).

I was told that the next available seat out of SJC is on 12/26, and the next out of SFO is 12/25. Obviously taking a trip home for xmas that arrives late on 12/25 or 12/26 isn't a good plan, so I found out that there is a flight out of SMF (Sacramento) tomorrow at noon.

Ok, I can make that, but it's a 2 hour drive each way, and I'll have to leave my car parked there for 8 days (12/22 morning -12/29 evening). That's easily over $100 in parking and extra gas to drive 250 miles round trip. I live right next to SJC, and usually take a cheap ($20) cab or get a friend to drop me off. So, worst case, the transportation costs me $40 round trip.

I'm in a relatively good mood today, so I politely asked my CSR if there was any compensation for this available, and he said "no, since these are extraordinary circumstances beyond CO's control." I let it drop, for now.

My question to the group is: is there a standard compensation I could expect? I don't see how crew scheduling is "beyond CO's control." It seems like they screwed up (hey, fine, it happens), and now I'm going to have to drive 250 miles and pay for 8 days' parking because of it. Ideally, I'd be compensated for my time and extra expenses, which are worth at least $200 together.

Alternatively, does anyone else see a different option? I was scheduled to leave on 12/22, but 12/23 would be ok with me too. I'd prefer to fly in/out of SJC/SFO (OAK would be ok, too, if a non-CO partner could be arranged). I know it's the busiest/worst travel time of the year, so I don't think there's a good option except SMF. I just think I should be somehow compensated for CO's scheduling mistake.

Am I being reasonable? Is there something I should expect? Should I just shut up and feel lucky I found the SMF flight (and I'm #1 on the EUA list)?