Compensation for Lollapalooza Tickets (due to canceled flight-consequential damages?)
Aug 3, 2018, 9:01 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 57
Compensation for Lollapalooza Tickets (due to canceled flight-consequential damages?)
Had my 9AM LGA-ORD today (Fri) flight canceled at 6PM EDT yesterday (Thurs). The soonest UA could rebook me was 6AM Saturday. Reason for cancellation was "severe weather in our route network". I have tickets to Lollapalooza that I cannot use or sell, because the tickets are wristbands and not electronic. I would like to seek reimbursement for the Lollapalooza tickets due to the following reason:
- How can they cancel a flight 15 hours before departure due to "severe weather". They certainly could have dead-headed a plane to replace the flight.
- UA had 8 other flights that could have gotten me to Chicago in time for the concert. They automatically rebooked me on Saturday, when I called last night, they said they couldn't rebook for Friday.
- Weather is clear at flight time - both LGA and ORD. There was no severe weather in the area for several hours prior to my original flight time.
Aug 3, 2018, 9:07 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: ORD
Programs: 1K
Posts: 121
Did you try calling again - sometimes other agents are more helpful? I would just go to the airport and standby. LGA has hourly flights and I'm sure you'd get on a flight. Weather is nice here in Chicago, though I have no idea on weather in NYC area. You could also look into EWR.
Aug 3, 2018, 9:07 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,444
Did you try calling again - sometimes other agents are more helpful? I would just go to the airport and standby. LGA has hourly flights and I'm sure you'd get on a flight. Weather is nice here in Chicago, though I have no idea on weather in NYC area. You could also look into EWR.
Aug 3, 2018, 9:08 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,158
You can always ask but it's highly unlikely. UA (or any airline) has no obligation to compensate passengers for missed events.
Weather issues do not have to be happening on that specific route in order to adversely impact other parts of the network.
Weather issues do not have to be happening on that specific route in order to adversely impact other parts of the network.
Aug 3, 2018, 11:37 am
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
What credit card did you book the flights with? Many offer insurance for things like pre-paid bookings that can no longer be used as a result of flight disruptions.
And, like the others suggest, if you want to go to the show then go to LGA and try to fly standby. The delays are growing but odds are a seat will open on something.
And, like the others suggest, if you want to go to the show then go to LGA and try to fly standby. The delays are growing but odds are a seat will open on something.
Aug 3, 2018, 11:50 am
#9
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 158
I would say the prospects of getting out today via LGA look much worse than I would have expected. Already a couple cancellations, and there are currently a couple (soon to be a few) dozen aircraft waiting to takeoff, and traffic not moving due to fixes being closed to WX. At least with EWR you can be a bit creative to get to ORD.
Aug 3, 2018, 11:55 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: FL
Programs: AA ExPlat | UA Gld | DL Gld
Posts: 85
You can still get there today, A. Call until you get an agent that will help you some are nicer than others and just keep calling till one will help. (look at the load of flights and tell them the specific flight you want to be switched to)
or plan B like everyone says go to the airport and fly standby.
There is no way UA will reimburse you for missing a day of a show.
or plan B like everyone says go to the airport and fly standby.
There is no way UA will reimburse you for missing a day of a show.
Aug 3, 2018, 12:23 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,650
If an airline was responsible for every lost opportunity for most of us sales people because of delayed or canceled flights, all of us would be rich, but there wouldn't be anymore airlines to fly, they would all be out of business.
Aug 3, 2018, 12:31 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,686
Had my 9AM LGA-ORD today (Fri) flight canceled at 6PM EDT yesterday (Thurs). The soonest UA could rebook me was 6AM Saturday. Reason for cancellation was "severe weather in our route network". I have tickets to Lollapalooza that I cannot use or sell, because the tickets are wristbands and not electronic. I would like to seek reimbursement for the Lollapalooza tickets due to the following reason:
[*]How can they cancel a flight 15 hours before departure due to "severe weather". They certainly could have dead-headed a plane to replace the flight.
[*]How can they cancel a flight 15 hours before departure due to "severe weather". They certainly could have dead-headed a plane to replace the flight.
No.
Aug 3, 2018, 12:40 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: NTTB
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,649
My co-worker missed a Broadway show in NYC and United reimbursed for their tickets after a mechanical delay. The value of the reimbursement covered the cost of the original tickets. They had to pay up for seats the next night given they had to purchase from a broker, but that didn't phase them.
Knowing their character, they asked nicely but firmly. They also have Premier Platinum status which may have helped as well.
Knowing their character, they asked nicely but firmly. They also have Premier Platinum status which may have helped as well.
Aug 3, 2018, 6:27 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
I would say the prospects of getting out today via LGA look much worse than I would have expected. Already a couple cancellations, and there are currently a couple (soon to be a few) dozen aircraft waiting to takeoff, and traffic not moving due to fixes being closed to WX. At least with EWR you can be a bit creative to get to ORD.
Aug 4, 2018, 6:37 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: CHS
Programs: UA GS, Bonvoy Amabassador, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,589
My co-worker missed a Broadway show in NYC and United reimbursed for their tickets after a mechanical delay. The value of the reimbursement covered the cost of the original tickets. They had to pay up for seats the next night given they had to purchase from a broker, but that didn't phase them.
Knowing their character, they asked nicely but firmly. They also have Premier Platinum status which may have helped as well.
Knowing their character, they asked nicely but firmly. They also have Premier Platinum status which may have helped as well.
The delay the OP is talking about is 100% weather and if he lives in the NYC area, he knows the weather the entire east coast has been dealing with lately.
Weather or ATC delays are the same thing as far as the airlines are powerless to do anything.