Help - flight cancelled
 

I just received an automated voicemail stating that my flight (CO flight on UA metal) leaving in a couple of hours is cancelled and I am rebooked for a flight tomorrow morning.

I am currently driving on the way to the airport and on hold with CO customer service (says 20 minute hold time). What is my right? Preferably I would like to fly home tonight even if not direct flight (I'm flying out off MCI to ORD).

How about compensation?

If I can't get out tonight, how about accommodation and extra day of car rental? How about meal?

I have no status with with either CO or UA.

I assume you're on UA 3625? Can you get to the airport in time for UA 6000 or 6140, both scheduled to leave around 5:50pm CT (the first one is delayed from its original time)? If you get through, try to get confirmed on one of them. If not, get on standby. Those are your best bets. If there's no line at the counter start there. If there is a long line and you have your BP already, go straight to the gate for one of the earlier flights.

I'm on standby now on the 5:50 flight. Not sure about my chances as they seems to be lots of PAX like me. If I do get on the flight, I assume no compensation will be provided? No big deal, but if something can be had, I would love it.

compensation generally is only for mechanical or other non weather related delays and it's substantial (5+ hrs or so). YMMV.

Okay, getting kind of crazy here at MCI as flight that I am on standby on at 5:50 PM is now tentative to depart at 9:00 Pm due to "air traffic control" ( not sure what that means. Anyone?).

I can't get near the counters due to the long line, so I'll ask here. In the event, i get on a flight the next day (tomorrow), will they provide accommodation, transportation and meal? Depending on what "air traffic control" means, is compensation now warranted?

It means "good news, there is still time to grab some more barbecue for dinner from downtown KC..." ^

No, compensation is not warranted in this case and you'll be responsible for hotel and meal charges. "Air Traffic Control" means exactly what it says - the FAA can (and does) restrict traffic flows into and out of airports, as well as across the country due to weather or a variety of other reasons. If they impose a delay the airlines just have to live with it.

Use this map as a very rough guideline: http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp

Assume whatever they say is subject to frequent change, as well. The airline wants to get out of there as soon as possible, so if anything better opens up they will take it immediately. In other words, avoid that advice above about heading into downtown K.C.! :)

There are three (3) seats on MCI-DEN-ORD tonight if you want to try to confirm that. There's a posted delay MCI-DEN but at this time the connection still looks good.

Wish I'd seen this thread a few hours ago -- there likely would have been more options if you can't get confirmed on a nonstop.

http://fly.faa.gov/ois/ lists nothing now, there was probably an AFP or GDP earlier throwing a wrench in the schedules.

You must fly through SFO very often if you're not familiar with the "air traffic control" delay reason...lol...good luck getting home...you can easily priceline a decent hotel near the MCI airport for cheap $$ if you get stuck there.

You won't get any kind of compensation, but if you do get stuck at MCI, there should be a coupon with a hotline # you can call for super-discounted rooms around the airport. ALso, talk to WN. They have MCI-MDW service. MDW may or may not be more convenient than ORD for you, but at least it's Chicago. WN won't have an interline agreement w. CO/UA, but if you buy the WN tkt, UA/CO should refund your MCI-ORD tkt.

Airline rule 240. Mention that rule and you should be good to go. I've used it a couple of times and it's worked out fine. I had to argue with the airline but once I explained to them that it's in their contract of carriage they complied. I'm shocked that in this day and age that rule has managed to stick around.

Considering the rule goes back to the days of the Civil Aeronautics Board prior to 1978 deregulation, it's surprising it's still there. I remember using it in the paper ticket days, and the ticket agent would write "Rule 240" on the front of the ticket, along with the airline's stamp. You were then holding a golden ticket that you could then use on any other airline with an available seat (and it would be treated as full-Y fare).

Remember it never applies to weather delays (although you could try), and I understand it only applies to those airlines with interline agreements with your carrier (in otherwords, no Southwest or some other low cost carriers). Also I've never heard of a foreign carrier accepting it for an international trip.

(Edit) Also, I don't think it applies to award tickets.

Rule 240 does not exist anymore. I think this rule went away about 8-10 years ago....

Sure it does, page 32:

http://content.united.com/ual/asset/UA_COC09Mar11.pdf

But it doesn't apply as it pertains to delays/cancellations under the airlines control.