help....freaking out over United Airlines
Hi all,
Last week I booked a trip through priceline for a flight on United Airlines to London for Aug.3-13th. Got a nice price at just over 600 bucks. Anyhow, this morning on the radio I heard United Airlines was denied bankruptcy protection from the govt. for the third and final time. I remember a few years ago when PanAm went bankrupt they just stopped doing flights. Are the chances good that the planes will still be flying in the next month?
I'm nearly freaking out.....the tickets are non-refundable. Priceline had the option to purchase travel insurance when I was booking the tickets, but my computer wouldn't go to that page, so I got them without.
My questions are this (to those of you who have knowledge of economics and just knowledge in gereral...I'm falling short at the moment). Should I be worried about my trip? And does anyone reccommed a place to purchase travel insurance that could reimburse me for the cost of the tickets should United stop flying?
I'd love any advice.....been looking foreward to this trip, am flying out of London to Edinburgh on easyJet as well, but they seem to be alive and healthy.
I need a :10: :chillpill: Thanks in advance for any help :)
Re:help....freaking out over United Airlines
I doubt they will stop flying, but you never know....your ebest bet is to emial priceline and tell them about what happened when you tried to buy insurance(dont mention why you want it now)....just say you'd like to add it.
If you complain enough they should add insurance.
Other than that...i dont know what to say..
Hope that helps
Re:help....freaking out over United Airlines
Hopefully this will be good. Even if they declare bankruptcy, this has to do just with the creditors not the customers....in the short run.
Have fun in Edinburgh. I stayed at the Geneagles few years ago and played golf on the Kings course. The castle and all of the history is incredible.
We did the train from Edinburgh to London.
Re:help....freaking out over United Airlines
Thanks AinNY....I'll go do that now.....I definately won't mention the bankruptcy thing as my motivation. I've tried calling their customer no-service but I cannot reach a live person (i love technology, but HATE automated services). They do have an email section for such questions. It does help...especially the part where you told me you'll doubt they'll stop flying. I've just been so excited these past few days.....anyhow, thanks again.
Re:help....freaking out over United Airlines
Travel insurance usually involves liability coverage in the event of a plane crash or other bodily injury or damage to your baggage. It does NOT cover "force majeure" events such as getting your money back in the event the company declares bankruptcy and stops flying. If that were to happen, you would wind up with your name on a long list of creditors the airline owes money to, and you'll eventually get some portion of that money back once the bankruptcy is settled.
It's unlikely but not impossible that you may wind up being stiffed - after all PanAm's bankruptcy stiffed a lot of people holding advance booked tickets.
Re:help....freaking out over United Airlines
Quote:
Originally Posted by sitri link=board=1;threadid=10527;start=msg129521#msg129 521 date=1088436088
Hopefully this will be good. Even if they declare bankruptcy, this has to do just with the creditors not the customers....in the short run.
Have fun in Edinburgh. I stayed at the Geneagles few years ago and played golf on the Kings course. The castle and all of the history is incredible.
We did the train from Edinburgh to London.
Cool Sitri....knowing it involves the creditors makes me feel better....for some reason I don't think of them as actual people...go figure. Glad you had fun on the golf course :). I cannot wait to see Edinburgh castle...medieval studies is my thing, and I'll probably be visiting this city again and again.....
Re:help....freaking out over United Airlines
I also enjoyed Holyrood Palace and in London Hampton Court. But, you probably know a lot more than I.
Warning... do not order the scrambled eggs of bacon. I don't know how you can ruin eggs, but they can. haha.
The Hagis is not bad if preceeded with lot's of single malt scotch.
Re:help....freaking out over United Airlines
Quote:
Originally Posted by sitri link=board=1;threadid=10527;start=msg129535#msg129 535 date=1088437761
Warning... do not order the scrambled eggs of bacon. I don't know how you can ruin eggs, but they can. haha.
The Hagis is not bad if preceeded with lot's of single malt scotch.
Hehe...do not worry....I'm going to be verrryy careful about what I eat. Gonna have one piece of luggage full of protein bars and MRE meals. j/k. Will definately skip the hagis though. Delicacy my foot.
Re:help....freaking out over United Airlines
Well, did you book the ticket on your credit card? If you did, I would imagine that you could reverse charges if they stopped flying...
Re:help....freaking out over United Airlines
you are fine... enjoy your trip
Re:help....freaking out over United Airlines
Yeah, did book with my debit card, so the $$ is deducted from my account. I've been reading online and found that many airlines are in trouble, so this has eased my worry considerably. Plus all the reassurrance from SW folk has made things better. thanks :)
Re:help....freaking out over United Airlines
You shouldn't have a problem. Worst case another airline probably will honor the ticket. Enjoy your trip. London is nice this time of year.
Re:help....freaking out over United Airlines
Aww BDD... so your making a trip down to my end! KEWL!
I'm sure everything will be OK with your flight hun. Oh and if you need any info about places to visit and stuff.... just PM me.
Have fun and a safe flight!
Seraya.
Re:help....freaking out over United Airlines
Hey just found this through frommers (excellent budget travel email and site btw) Thought of your situation.
News & Highlights
The Airline Bankruptcy Shuffle, 2004 Edition
Activities: Air, Health and Travel Insurance, Tips and Resources
Author: Sascha Segan
July 2, 2004 -- There have been equal parts buzz and whining recently from major airline executives about how they need to change their businesses or go under. United Airlines got dissed by the federal government last month when airline executives went to Congress begging for money. Northwest's mechanics plan to picket the airline to protest "outsourcing" maintenance to foreign countries, US Airways is demanding big salary cuts from its employees, and Delta's chief executive admitted the big airlines have to change or die.
Well, duh. The major airlines have been subsisting on government handouts for three years now, watching their businesses get thoroughly whipped by nimbler carriers like Southwest, AirTran and Frontier. Size isn't the difference here -- Southwest is huge. And the profitable airlines don't short-change their employees -- they pay them perfectly well, they just run more efficiently and demand more of their staff.
So, who's going under? The good news is that for right now, no one. United has been "bankrupt" for two years, but Chapter 11 bankruptcy is really just a lever to squeeze concessions out of creditors and labor unions. It doesn't stop an airline from flying. Few people are talking about United going into Chapter 7 liquidation any time soon. (Chapter 7 is the truly serious part of the bankruptcy book, when all the planes stop flying.)
Vultures are circling US Airways, though; savvy commentators like Chris Elliott (www.elliott.org) and TheStreet.com (http://www.thestreet.com/_yahootscyb.../10161930.html) see the liquidation potential in US Airways' future. The airline, of course, denies that, and crystal balls are notoriously cloudy. Still, it's a good time now to look at your options in case an airline goes under.
The Mileage Massacre
The one thing you probably will lose when an airline liquidates is your frequent flier miles. Randy Petersen of Inside Flyer Magazine says he's "shaky" on US Airways' future. Nothing's going to happen to them in the short term, he says, but if you're looking ahead to the late fall or winter, you may want to book your trips with US Airways miles on United or other Star Alliance carriers.
While American Airlines picked up TWA's frequent flier program when AA bought the failing carrier in 2001, Petersen says no major airline is financially solid enough to pick up US Airways' 17 million members today, and that no low-cost airline would want to.
"If you wait until late fall, there will still be time to do some rational things" with your US Airways miles, he says.
It's In Congress' Hands
If you're holding tickets on an airline that stops flying, chances are you'll find some protection under the law. We're saying probably because the relevant parts of the laws which protect you, the Aviation and Transportation Security Act and the Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, expire on November 19, 2004. Hopefully, Congress will extend those laws.
If the laws are still in effect, you will be able to get a standby ticket for your cities and times on another US-based airline for no more than $25, as long as:
You find another airline flying the exact same route as your original ticket
You contact that airline within 60 days of your original airline's liquidation
Remember, this is a standby ticket. You don't get a guaranteed ticket to your destination. But it's better than nothing.
If the laws expire and nothing replaces them, you're totally unprotected. In the past, some airlines have offered discounted fares to travelers holding worthless tickets, but that's not guaranteed. To better the chances that travelers will continue to be protected, we here at Frommers.com encourage all our readers to contact their Congress members to ask them to renew both acts. You can do so quickly via www.congress.org.
Do you have a question or comment on this column? Share your opinions on our Air Travel Message Boards today
http://www.frommers.com/activities/a...destid=AIRFARE
Re:help....freaking out over United Airlines
Thank you ssooo much ALT :). This article definately put my mind at ease regarding United airlines. My trip is in three weeks, and now I'm VERY confident that everything will be cool.