Broken down car - might miss flight suggestions
Oct 31, 2018, 11:18 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 532
Broken down car - might miss flight suggestions
Not me but someone I know has just asked for advice: their car has spectacularly broken down in the fast lane of the motorway. It's now about 3.5 hours before departure, the airport is 30 mins away and the tow truck is "about an hour".
They're a oneworld emerald, booked in R and there is a later flight showing J5. Y9 on expertflyer.
Of course they may yet make the airport but the advice I've given is to call QR, explain and ask very nicely for a change to the later flight J and waiver of the costs, if that's not possible then beg for Y and protection for the later Biz segments (it's the first leg of a 4 sector trip).
Anything else I can suggest?
They're a oneworld emerald, booked in R and there is a later flight showing J5. Y9 on expertflyer.
Of course they may yet make the airport but the advice I've given is to call QR, explain and ask very nicely for a change to the later flight J and waiver of the costs, if that's not possible then beg for Y and protection for the later Biz segments (it's the first leg of a 4 sector trip).
Anything else I can suggest?
Oct 31, 2018, 12:31 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 532
Oct 31, 2018, 1:58 pm
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
It should not simply cross your friend's mind, it is what he ought to do. This is not an uncommon fact pattern and there are taxis, car services, Uber and the like who routinely make these pickups.
If it looks as though he will be late, call the carrier immediately. The sooner one makes a call, the potentially better off one is and one might even get lucky and learn of a last minute delay which is something one hopes for in this situation.
If it looks as though he will be late, call the carrier immediately. The sooner one makes a call, the potentially better off one is and one might even get lucky and learn of a last minute delay which is something one hopes for in this situation.
Oct 31, 2018, 2:17 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 532
Yes, though in the UK it is illegal to collect someone from the motorway (unless it's an emergency) and I'm not sure where they were compared to an exit or a climbable embankment to get to a non-motorway regulations road.
Oct 31, 2018, 2:55 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
Or drive the car to the airport. If the problem isn't too serious and the airport isn't far away, then driving the car in limp-home mode to the airport might be an option as well. Driving a car in limp-home mode on a motorway or on A roads is not recommended. The available power is very limited and you'll be lucky if the car maintains 20 to 30 mph.
Nov 7, 2018, 8:38 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: SHA，CPH
Programs: SAS EuroBonus Gold, Qatar Privilege Club Gold
Posts: 235
Call the carrier and tell them what happened, pay the fee of changing, and move on.
Nov 7, 2018, 9:33 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 532
I've been travelling since then but just for a datapoint my friend toughed it out. It took 90 mins for recovery to arrive, 15 mins to get off the motorway to the depot and another 45 for a taxi to collect from there and deliver to the airport. He made it with just enough time for a glass of wine in the lounge so all ended well enough.