Was booked on a Norwegian 737 Max 8 for April
Mar 25, 2019, 7:50 am
#61
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: NJ
Programs: AA, DL
Posts: 456
I don’t know how they can force you to take that. I’d assume you can ask for a refund once they offer you a different routing?!
Mar 25, 2019, 1:51 pm
#62
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: IAH
Posts: 488
You play a numbers game with them, hoping that the 95% of the time it works ok saves you more money than the 5% of the time it doesn't and it will cost you. You're just finding out what the 5% looks like now.
I personally don't like that gamble, so I don't fly low cost carriers.
Mar 25, 2019, 5:51 pm
#63
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: NJ
Programs: AA, DL
Posts: 456
Ryanair, Spirit etc. would put you in exactly the same situation if impacted by a similar event. You keep saying this isn't normal and you are right. But part of the deal of booking a low cost carrier is that when things aren't normal, it goes terribly. To expect a LCC to turn into a full service carrier in disruption situations is simply irrational. They won't talk to you, they will avoid you, they will try not to refund you. That's the business model.
You play a numbers game with them, hoping that the 95% of the time it works ok saves you more money than the 5% of the time it doesn't and it will cost you. You're just finding out what the 5% looks like now.
I personally don't like that gamble, so I don't fly low cost carriers.
You play a numbers game with them, hoping that the 95% of the time it works ok saves you more money than the 5% of the time it doesn't and it will cost you. You're just finding out what the 5% looks like now.
I personally don't like that gamble, so I don't fly low cost carriers.
Mar 26, 2019, 5:24 pm
#64
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 60
I'm booked on the same route, but in mid-May, and since the grounding I haven't made any pre-paid reservations on the far side and keeping my fingers crossed. I'm waiting to see how they start handling late-April flights and will then book accordingly. For $320 I can't complain too much,and I'm fine with a DUB re-route (in which case I'll just rent a car there instead of at SNN) and drive the extra couple of hours to Galway, which is where I was heading for a 5-day getaway. I'd be equally fine with a connection out of Kennedy or Newark. And honestly if they're keeping a Dreamliner on the SWF-DUB route, that would probably suck less than a closer arrival airport on a Max-8 anyways.
Mar 27, 2019, 10:13 am
#65
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,399
Shouldn't the people who are planning to fly on Norwegian several months from now also worry about whether the carrier will still be operating at all at that time as well as the MAX rescheduling?
Mar 27, 2019, 10:23 am
#66
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: MR, UR, AA, AS, HH Gold, SPG Gold, HGP, RR
Posts: 708
Mar 27, 2019, 10:52 am
#67
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,186
I guess they're using the Ryanair "logic" where Bratislava is marketed as "Vienna."
Mar 27, 2019, 10:59 am
#68
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 60
In my case it's an hour's drive at highway speeds, and minimal tolls, from my home in northern NJ to SWF, whereas JFK is typically 1.5 to 2 hours, and close to $35 in bridge tolls. Plus the uncertainty of bridge/tunnel traffic that could make it much longer if there's a wreck or some other problem.
Mar 27, 2019, 2:32 pm
#69
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: MR, UR, AA, AS, HH Gold, SPG Gold, HGP, RR
Posts: 708
I spoke to Norwegian customer service again today. For our flight (PVD-DUB on 4/25) the rep was still not able to issue a refund when I asked again. According to her, our flight is not canceled and they have not made any changes to the planned airports. They have reassigned a different plane to our route - a 737 that is not a max 8, and we will be flying PVD-DUB, not bussing to SWF. Same seats as we had requested on the original. I'm a bit doubtful of this info but will continue to check on this every few days until our flight. I was told they were starting this as of mid April. I requested an email confirmation but was told nothing had changed from the one I got when I booked. Other than the plane!
Mar 28, 2019, 1:17 am
#70
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Marriott LT Tit; Hyatt Explorist; Hilton CC Gold; IHG CC Plt; Hertz (MR) 5 star
Posts: 5,536
I guess you have more disposable income than me. I have a family of 4 and I rather save $2000 and spend it during my trip then on airfare. I’m not worried that I won’t get a refund it’s just when will I get it. People flying the week before me just got an email so I am sure I’ll get one next week.
Let me toss out another scenario you don't seem to have considered. What if Norwegian shuts down operations while you're on your vacation? What's it going to cost you to get home? Hint: prices will rise dramatically due to demand exceeding supply.
Last edited by NewbieRunner; Mar 29, 2019 at 3:18 am Reason: Remove personal comment
Mar 28, 2019, 6:58 am
#71
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,186
I wonder how many Norwegian customers can afford similar fare increases if Norwegian goes belly-up.
Penny wise, pound foolish.
Edit: Icelandair is now offering discounted fares for stranded WoW customers.
https://www.icelandair.com/support/c...-us/getmehome/
Last edited by GFrye; Mar 28, 2019 at 7:07 am
Mar 28, 2019, 7:03 am
#72
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DUB-BOS
Programs: various
Posts: 3,689
I spoke to Norwegian customer service again today. For our flight (PVD-DUB on 4/25) the rep was still not able to issue a refund when I asked again. According to her, our flight is not canceled and they have not made any changes to the planned airports. They have reassigned a different plane to our route - a 737 that is not a max 8, and we will be flying PVD-DUB, not bussing to SWF. Same seats as we had requested on the original. I'm a bit doubtful of this info but will continue to check on this every few days until our flight. I was told they were starting this as of mid April. I requested an email confirmation but was told nothing had changed from the one I got when I booked. Other than the plane!
Mar 28, 2019, 7:43 am
#73
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: NJ
Programs: AA, DL
Posts: 456
So, should this go poorly for you (chasing the refund for months, possibly getting no refund), will you post your experience? How many hours have you invested in this endeavor so far? What's your time worth?
Let me toss out another scenario you don't seem to have considered. What if Norwegian shuts down operations while you're on your vacation? What's it going to cost you to get home? Hint: prices will rise dramatically due to demand exceeding supply.
Let me toss out another scenario you don't seem to have considered. What if Norwegian shuts down operations while you're on your vacation? What's it going to cost you to get home? Hint: prices will rise dramatically due to demand exceeding supply.
Last edited by NewbieRunner; Mar 29, 2019 at 3:21 am Reason: Remove deleted text in quote.
Mar 28, 2019, 10:50 am
#74
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: Marriott LT Tit; Hyatt Explorist; Hilton CC Gold; IHG CC Plt; Hertz (MR) 5 star
Posts: 5,536
I will post my expierence! First all refund will be issued immediately on Amex I’m not worried. I spent a few hours but I spend that much on every vacation I plan. If it happens mid trip I take a boat to UK and fly from Manchester via Thomas cook, United , American etc many options. No need to be condescending. I have no financial issues , a great college fund set up for my kids and can afford an emergency flight however I try to spend my money wisely at all times and comparison shop so if you don’t more power to you. Don’t think for one moment that just because you pay more money you’re immune from a flight cancellation.
Based on your posts here, you have been under the false impression that Norwegian is equivalent to financially stable airlines. It isn't.
Mar 28, 2019, 11:02 am
#75
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: NJ
Programs: AA, DL
Posts: 456
There's a BIG difference between a flight cancellation and an airline going out of business. For the last year, I've been expecting a race between WoW and Norwegian as to which airline would go out of business first. WoW 'won'. Norwegian's next.
Based on your posts here, you have been under the false impression that Norwegian is equivalent to financially stable airlines. It isn't.
Based on your posts here, you have been under the false impression that Norwegian is equivalent to financially stable airlines. It isn't.
Last edited by remphish1; Mar 28, 2019 at 12:30 pm