US Flight advice, probably off topic

[mrmartin]

Hi,

This is probably horrendously off topic but a bit stuck. Feel free to recommend other forums but you guys all seem very knowledgable.

I booked a trip on united from heathrow to atlanta connecting through newark some time ago. They emailed to say me that the schedule had changed (newark flight cancelled) and moved it to connect via houston, which wasn't ideal (to fly all the way there then fly back).

I contacted them on twitter and they have connected it through dulles airport in DC (where I'm writing this now). Flight was ~40 mins late leaving heathrow but made up some time and landed 15 mins late at IAD. However, my connection was only 1h20 (including going to the other concourse which is a fair old trek).

Everything went to crap though at immigration and it took about 2 hrs to get through due to the wait and then a huge wait at TSA. I tried to rebook my flight but it's not until tomorrow. They rebooked that but refused to give me any hotel accommodation which I was pretty incredulous at.

I've ended up booking myself on frontier airlines to ATL which departs in about 30 mins. It cost $180 which I'd rather pay than having to shell out for a hotel (I've already got a hotel sorted in atlanta).

Any advice on how to claim this back?

Cheers
Martin

 

[Royston Vasey]

Honestly I'm afraid you're probably not entitled to anything from United. They rebooked you to your destination and will claim that the immigration delay was not in their control (even though many US airports are awfully slow - I usually allow at least 3 hours) and the fact you were rebooked peobably won't enter into it.

Booking another ticket off your own bat to avoid a night in a hotel is probably something that may be claimable through your own travel insurance, but United won't pay for it. They're a low frills and low service airline in my experience. I think $180 is quite a good price last minute, for what it's worth!

There is a clause in FAA regs that if you're delayed more than I believe 2 hours and choose not to travel, you are refunded by the cost of that leg. My advice to you is to check OUT of your UA flight citing the fact it is due to a delay to your journey (I would have done this at IAD but it's probably too late, so I'd say try to do this on arrival at ATL with UA staff - but they may not be able to do so from another airport) and BEFORE the rebooked flight flies. You have nothing to lose, and the refund on an internal leg may be small. Long shot anyway, may only apply to internal flights also.

This isn't a very helpful thing to say now - but was it much more expensive to fly direct? I always do so if possible when flying into the US. So much can go wrong!

 

[starrymarkb]

I've heard a lot of horror stories about connecting at Dulles - Suspect Houston might have been better as it isn't such a big international destination.

And unless you are insisting on going Star Alliance for Frequent Flier reasons I'd have gone Delta or BA to Atlanta.

 

[lj9090]

Is this all on the same ticket and are you flying back on the same ticket?

You'd be well advised to contact United and try and sort out the ticketing to get home well before you get to the airport. You've done the airline equivalent of stopping short and quite often this results in a cheaper fare; to protect revenue if you miss a segment then the remainder is automatically cancelled.

flyertalk.com is the place to go for this sort of thing.

eta: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1345768-no-show-skipping-united-airlines-flight-segment-s.html fyi irrops = irregular operations; i.e. cancellations.

 

[Thewanderer]

Not really adding anything to the topic.

One thing that is great flying to the USA from Ireland is you clear US immigration at Dublin or Shannon airports. Aer Lingus offer a lot of connecting flights from around the UK to Dublin and onwards to the USA. Connections at the other end via Jet Blue or United.

 

[Greenback]

I don't think UA will pay out. The duty of care is different in the US to Europe. Travel insurance is your best bet now, but I would have asked for a longer connection as US Immigration is notoriously slow. I once spent 2 hours getting through it at LAX, so I'd be very worried about a 1h20 connection.

 

[ian959]

US airlines are pretty bad in general with customer service but in this case you might have a shot at United paying up SOME compensation as a 1h20m connection in the US from international to domestic is ridiculously short, especially at Dulles where terrorist paranoia is probably at its worst. Even before the 9/11 issues, I found 3 hours minimum connection times at Dulles to be reasonable, 2 hours very iffy. I plan on double those times now. But your chances are very low and your travel insurance is your best bet.

Too late now I know but if you are flying to the US, especially since 9/11, always get the direct flight wherever possible. Saves so much hassle and worry - well worth the sometimes additional cost in my view. If you must connect, always allow a minimum of 3 hours - no matter what the airline says.

 

[Greenback]

Or fly from Ireland, as advised by Thewanderer!