Do I get a full refund in this situation?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: AA EXP, Amex Plat
Posts: 572
Do I get a full refund in this situation?
I'm flying MHT-PHL-GLA on non-refundable tickets. The flight I'm on from MHT is notorious for being delayed for hours (it's messed up some of my other trips). Let's say that I make it to PHL, but miss my connection to GLA. I don't want to take the GLA flight the next day. The chairmans agent said they would fly me back to MHT and give me a FULL refund. Does anyone have any insight?
#2
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Former long-time US GP; now AA dirt
Posts: 4,904
Your situation is often referred to as a "trip in vain"; as long you return to your home airport on the next available flight, a full refund should be given.
#3
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BOS, MHT
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Posts: 182
Yes that is the case... how tight is the connection?
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
I've gotten a Trip in Vain refund when the outbound flight was so delayed that I was going to miss the event that was the whole purpose of the trip.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: AA EXP, Amex Plat
Posts: 572
how tight is the connection?
This flight has an average delay of 43 minutes with a standard deviation of 55.46 minutes. Statistically, when taking into consideration sample size, standard deviation, and mean, this flight has delay performance characteristics better than 4% of other flights.
#6
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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#7
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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Why go through the entire mess? This is a terrible connection. I would simply take the earlier MHT-PHL and be done with it.
#8
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Otherwise, given that on-time percentage, I certainly wouldn't put myself through all that stress. Not to mention checking luggage and/or traveling with others.
#9
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: BOS, MHT
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Posts: 182
especially when you have to get over from F. Sounds risky to me...
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: AA EXP, Amex Plat
Posts: 572
I agree with everyone that this is a terrible connection and the earlier flight would be much better. Usually, I would take the earlier flight (and the 4 hour connection), but unfortunately my schedule won't allow this on that day. It's either take this risky flight, or don't go on the trip.
It seems like Option No. 1 is that before I even leave MHT, the flight is so delayed that I know I won't make the connection, and they will give me a full refund. Based on what people are saying here, Option No. 2 seems to be that I get to PHL and miss the connection. US will then return me to MHT and give me a full "trip in vain" refund. Does this sound about right?
I think I'm willing to risk it so long as the "trip in vain" refund is possible. I don't want to get into situation where they say that I flew MHT-PHL-MHT, thus I don't get a full refund.
It seems like Option No. 1 is that before I even leave MHT, the flight is so delayed that I know I won't make the connection, and they will give me a full refund. Based on what people are saying here, Option No. 2 seems to be that I get to PHL and miss the connection. US will then return me to MHT and give me a full "trip in vain" refund. Does this sound about right?
I think I'm willing to risk it so long as the "trip in vain" refund is possible. I don't want to get into situation where they say that I flew MHT-PHL-MHT, thus I don't get a full refund.
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
I thought that a "trip in vain" refund would be given if you miss the event that's the whole purpose of the trip--not for only an extensive delay. Is the first criterion going to be met?
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: AA EXP, Amex Plat
Posts: 572
This is a short trip Thurs-Mon for leisure (what wrong with a weekend trip to Europe?). If I end up having to take the Friday night flight, the trip becomes too short (IMO) to justfiy taking it. So, no, there no "event" that I'm missing, but the whole purpose of the trip is to have 3 days in GLA and not 2.
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
This is a short trip Thurs-Mon for leisure (what wrong with a weekend trip to Europe?). If I end up having to take the Friday night flight, the trip becomes too short (IMO) to justfiy taking it. So, no, there no "event" that I'm missing, but the whole purpose of the trip is to have 3 days in GLA and not 2.
I have done Friday-Sunday trips to Europe before.
#15
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Former long-time US GP; now AA dirt
Posts: 4,904
Where does one draw the line, anyway? If you miss one night of a 21-night trip, can you dare claim a "trip in vain" because you had planned 21 nights, not 20? No way.
Will missing one night of a three-day trip qualify for "trip in vain"? Beats me. The fact that the OP is a CP is certainly a plus.
Last edited by tommyleo; Sep 24, 2013 at 9:01 pm