Weather Delay Tricks?
 

I got stuck in Albany (nothing wrong with Albany, it just wasn't where I wanted to be) in the Winter storm. What tricks have you learned through the years to minimize your delays due to weather?

I ended up missing my Bday cake at home and a Sams with Catman

No tricks I know of-- I am stuck here in Providence. Well, I live here, but I certainly did not want to be here this weekend!

One thing I did all day was call UA Reservations (faster than waiting in line at the airport, even the Premier/First Class line) and have them protect me on different flights. First my flight was delayed, and it would have meant missing my connection, so they protected me on the next flight out from the hub. Then in case my flight was cancelled (i was pretty sure it would be, with the amount of snow), they protected me on the next available flights-- unfortunately they were for SUNDAY!

But upon returning home I checked ITN.net and found that there is a new flight operating out of PVD tomorrow-- a 737. I have no idea where that equipment is coming from, since UA has not been flying them in lately and none was scheduled for today. Perhaps a flight that diverted?

Beat the storm if at all possible!! After several reschedules, and rebookings, I'm getting out tomorrow AM for New Orleans. My work schedule for yesterday changed at the last minute, and I had office hours in the evening; whereas I should of had the afternoon off, if that had been the case, I would have been watching the wx closer, and gotten out of dodge early.

I got out of Philly on Thursday afternoon instead of Friday. This was on my outbound segment, but I was only charged a $75 change fee. Also, know the schedules of other carriers going to your destination.

I had a flight out of Manchester, NH that was delayed, so I called my travel agent. I saw a United flight getting out on time, so I had her make a reservation on that flight while I was still in line. Then when I got to the counter, I told them of my reservation and they gave me the endorsement.

Download the OAG to your laptop! Or bring the OAG printed guide with you. This is invaluable if you are circling and need to find alternative flights or you are stuck in the ground and the airline says that there are no alternative flights (right!) on other carriers when you demand a rule 240.

Thanks for all your input. Based upon what I heard here and other places, it seems it comes down to the following:

- As early as possible, try to reschedule your flight. If they decide to charge $75 for the change, it is cheaper than the hotel room.
- Wait list on as many flights as possible. One good thing about status is you get preference above all those other travelers
- Rebook your flight. This might mean you have to pay the current fare, but it may be better than staying around. You can always consider booking a RT and throwing away the backside trip
- Book a full-fare one-way ticket at the slightest hint of a problem on an alternative flight. A friend of mine books a one-way full fare ticket on a preferred flight. Then if he needs to use that flight, he tries to change to his original fare. If they say it is full, then he tells them about the full fare ticket and has them cancel it and take his discounted fare. Obviously this only works if you are the top elite, but even at that, this strategy seems risky if you are using the same airline (obviously, this would be fine on a different airline). He swears it works.

DW: What do you mean they protected you?

Keep an eye on the Weather Channel and consider calling airlines ahead. However, your judgement is the most important thing. I often beat the storm out and aviod the hassle. Also as others have said, always know alternate flights and act decisively when a question arises1

protected = they double-booked me on later flights (during the next two days) so I would have options if my original flight was delayed or cancelled. I thought it would be a good thing to get myself on those flights, even if a day later, before the mass of 300 stranded UA passengers realized their flights were going to be cancelled and headed over to the ticket counter.

dw, is this something UA does regularly for you? I fly NW mostly and really seem to have to work them hard to get them to double book me and most of the time they still don't. Anyone have any tricks to talking them into this?

[This message has been edited by The Mile Dog (edited 02-24-2000).]

This is the first time I have had UA do this; it probably had a LOT to do with the circumstances. My original flight had been cancelled, then reinstated-- it was set to depart at 5 pm, but the 1 pm departure was STILL at the gate at 4 pm, so I told the UA res agent that I didn't think either flight would go.

[This message has been edited by dw (edited 02-24-2000).]

DW I wonder how much that did have to do with the fact that your original flight had already been delayed/canceled? I could not get them to budge on changing my flight until mine had been canceled, and then of course, it was too late to get a reasonable connection.

I always try to have the telephone numbers of the airport hotels with me in my organizer, if things are starting to look bad I'll ask if they can hold a room for an hour or two until I see if I will need it. If I can get out on a flight, then I always call back and say thanks, but won't be needing it. I've never been charged if it was just held for an hour or two.

The other bit of advice, when at the counter if you have an e-ticket get a receipt or have it changed into a paper ticket with the full ticket number on it. Should they put you on another airline it makes it much easier to get the miles from your first one if you have the ticket number.

One of the best privileges of 1K status on United is the 1K service center. Many times, they have bent the rules (I refuse to divulge details to protect the guilty) for me during delay/cancellation conditions. That's my little weather delay secret... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif