LETTERBOY

I thought AA only flew to SPI from DFW?

bseller

That's right. They also fly 3 daily DFW-PIA.

Dave

ROCAT

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JDiver

Poor service by UA, frustrating FAA Flow Control - but super support and advice from knowledgeable FlyerTalkers, and Amicus gets home comfortably for the night. ^

This is truly what FlyerTalk is about! My :-:kudos:-: to all of you.

Bonehead

Someone upthread initially intimated that there were ORD--SPI nonstops available on AA, so I did a search. They quickly corrected themselves.

Often1

1. In these situations, it's critical to separate issues such as refunds and compensation from actually getting home. If the flight is cancelled, OP is due a refund. Doesn't matter if he is traveling on a full Y or a federal government fare or the cheapest non-refundable fare on the books. The refund may not be that much, but there will be a refund.

2. Unlikely that in ATC situation UA will pay anything by way of compensation. This includes hotel, car rental, Amtrak ticket. But, the refund may well cover some or all.

3. Yes, it's true that ATC doesn't cancel specific flights, but ATC circumstances either cause cancellations (delays lead to crew time out) and carriers to make traffic decisions and it's the micro-hauls such as the hop to SPI which go by the board.

4. On this short a hop, I would never wait around. While the later flight did go, it's never worth the bet against a 4-hour drive or shortish train ride.

Amicus

Here is an update to my cancelled flight situation.

I completed the online United customer service form detailing my frustration at being effectively abandoned at ORD, having to find my own way home that day. I related to UA that I was on a full fare Y ticket and was disappointed that I was offered little practical help by their agents in rebooking.

Here is most of UA's email reply to me, received today:

"Because the cancellation is weather related and out of
our control, meals as well as a hotel accommodation were not offered.

While the cancellation of flight 5472 from Chicago to Springfield was
beyond our control, to encourage future travel I have authorized travel
certificate in the amount of $50 that can be used to discount a future
United ticket purchase for you. I believe you will find the certificate
easy and convenient to use. Details will arrive via separate email
within 72 hours. Meanwhile, thank you for your patience."

Well, the $50 voucher is underwhelming, but my primary gripe is the fact that UA doesn't seem to bother reading customer letters, and so it appears they randomly select either the ATC or Weather related response form letter.
Moreover, I never mentioned meals/hotel accommodation to UA, so I guess that is their standard form letter.

Thank goodness for all the FT help I received that day!

channa

I take it you also got your refund, right?

Amicus

Correct. I applied for that separately, and was refunded the unused portion of my ticket from ORD-SPI.

PV_Premier

nothing like encouraging people to spend their way to status by effectively telling a full Y pax to pound sand.

Amicus

Exactly my feelings when I read UA email today.