Flight cancelled ( Question )

Iancar29

Hi folks,

Im off to america next month for 2 weeks, im goin to dallas, then back to New Jersey.

I got an email this morning saying my Dallas to Newark flight was cancelled. ( It was a Direct flight)

So i rang them up, got through eventually, then they changed me over to The flight changes dep.

i persumed they had to give me a similar flight?... but they gave me a 1-stop flight.

Dallas - Chicago - Newark. But the thing is.... the change over time is only 50 mins!
I think thats mad risky.

I looked at other flights and there a similar one to my original flight, but its €730 for that one way! ( and i originally got all my flights for €780 )

Asking people for their opinions?... what should i do?

mikedragon32

EU passenger charters don't apply, so they can probably do what they like!

WRT the transit at Chicago, depending on the airline the flight may go in and out of the same terminal building. With United for example, it's almost like changing platform in a train station. Your flight comes into one gate, you disembark, come out into a central concourse and look for the gate for your next flight.

Iancar29

mikedragon32 wrote: »

EU passenger charters don't apply, so they can probably do what they like!

WRT the transit at Chicago, depending on the airline the flight may go in and out of the same terminal building. With United for example, it's almost like changing platform in a train station. Your flight comes into one gate, you disembark, come out into a central concourse and look for the gate for your next flight.

Thanks for that... they are both operated by Continental , so if that was the case then i should be ok. But then worrying about my luggage getting onto the flight aswell.


If it was u, would u just go for it?

mikedragon32

Personally, yeah. I like flying! I'd just be sure to pack some essentials into my carry-on bag in case my luggage misses the connection.

mikedragon32

One other thing... If it's looking like your flight won't make it on time to Chicago, be sure to tell the cabin crew. On United anyway, they will try to accommodate you. Last time into Chicago with them the cabin crew announced the gate numbers for all the connecting flights that passengers were booked onto and had even rearranged a flight for one passenger who hadn't a hope of making their connection (presumably via ground handlers) although, given the flight was only delayed 10 mins, I doubt they would have made the connection anyway!

Iancar29

mikedragon32 wrote: »

One other thing... If it's looking like your flight won't make it on time to Chicago, be sure to tell the cabin crew. On United anyway, they will try to accommodate you. Last time into Chicago with them the cabin crew announced the gate numbers for all the connecting flights that passengers were booked onto and had even rearranged a flight for one passenger who hadn't a hope of making their connection (presumably via ground handlers) although, given the flight was only delayed 10 mins, I doubt they would have made the connection anyway!

Cheers Pal, i'll look into it as much as i can.

Cause its either that or i fork out over €300 for a different flight....

zagmund

US carriers do this (re-booking) all the time when flights are delayed, so this is routine to them. From what I've seen their big hubs in the northern half of the country (like Chicago, JFK, Newark) get big delays in winter with snow and big delays in spring, summer and autumn with storms. They are used to this.

If your transfer in Chicago is messed up due to delays they will re-route you again. You may end up flying to Buffalo or Washington DC or somewhere, but they will ultimately get you there.

Flying back from Kansas City once, we were late into Chicago and missed the flight back to Dublin. They put me on a flight to Heathrow and organised the connection back with Aer Lingus.

The only catch may be if you are flying to Newark to catch your flight back to Ireland and they were booked seperately. If you are delayed into Newark and you aren't on a through ticket then you're on your own. If you are flying into Newark and spending some time in New York you should be fine.

The other thing you can do to help is book your seat at the front of the plane for both the flight into Chicago and Newark. That way, if you are delayed you will be faster off the plane. I've been on a few delayed flights where they have asked people who are not making connections to remain seated while those with connections get off as fast as they can. Never actually happens mind you as everyone stands up as soon as the plane stops. If you're at the front you have a better chance of making the connection if it's tight. With 50 minutes you don't need to rush though - only if you're delayed.

The agents for the flight out of Chicago will have their list of passengers and will see you are on flight X - if they see flight X is late in and it's marginal they will not just bring the shutters down like some of our more rule-bound European low costs do.

z

Iancar29

zagmund wrote: »

US carriers do this (re-booking) all the time when flights are delayed, so this is routine to them. From what I've seen their big hubs in the northern half of the country (like Chicago, JFK, Newark) get big delays in winter with snow and big delays in spring, summer and autumn with storms. They are used to this.

If your transfer in Chicago is messed up due to delays they will re-route you again. You may end up flying to Buffalo or Washington DC or somewhere, but they will ultimately get you there.

Flying back from Kansas City once, we were late into Chicago and missed the flight back to Dublin. They put me on a flight to Heathrow and organised the connection back with Aer Lingus.

The only catch may be if you are flying to Newark to catch your flight back to Ireland and they were booked seperately. If you are delayed into Newark and you aren't on a through ticket then you're on your own. If you are flying into Newark and spending some time in New York you should be fine.

The other thing you can do to help is book your seat at the front of the plane for both the flight into Chicago and Newark. That way, if you are delayed you will be faster off the plane. I've been on a few delayed flights where they have asked people who are not making connections to remain seated while those with connections get off as fast as they can. Never actually happens mind you as everyone stands up as soon as the plane stops. If you're at the front you have a better chance of making the connection if it's tight. With 50 minutes you don't need to rush though - only if you're delayed.

The agents for the flight out of Chicago will have their list of passengers and will see you are on flight X - if they see flight X is late in and it's marginal they will not just bring the shutters down like some of our more rule-bound European low costs do.

z

Thanks zagmund for that... i think i might go for it then.

As im staying with Relatives in NJ for 4 days before i fly home.And its the one set of flights that i got.

So ye, sounds that bit better now .

Cheers

Iancar29

Hey guys,

i got back onto expedia, after explaining to them about the situation i asked could i not be changed to a direct flight,

after waiting a while for them to call me back and being on hold for 15mins i finally got the Direct flight i originally wanted to change to , with no extra fees.

But my itierary doesnt show this change , will it take day or so to change, coz isn't my itinerary my actual ticket when checking -in for each flight?

Sorry for the stupid questions, shall be my first time flying alone.