flying during the storm: chance of cancellation?

[eLiu]

Hi all,
I was originally booked to fly to SF from Boston on Virgin America this Tuesday... so right in the middle of hurricane Sandy. I didn't think this would be that big of a deal BUT that flight was just cancelled, fuck! I really need to be there by Wednesday evening although it would be vastly more convenient to spend all of Wednesday there too.

Can anyone w/past experiences comment on how unwise it is to try and book a Tues flight with a different airline? So far more mainstream carriers like Delta, United, etc still have options available. I don't know if this is b/c the big carriers will wait longer before cancelling or if in fact it is still reliable to book. My concern here is that I don't want to book w/another carrier just to have them cancel even closer to the travel date & really leave me with no options.

I could also leave earlier (Monday) but I feel like that would be even worse.

Thanks!

 

[T_Yamamoto]

They usually don't cancel last second unless its urgent. And they usually cancel 12 hours before hand or so

 

[jaha2000]

Chances you get into Boston on Tuesday i would put at a solid .1%

You best option, get a monday flight as close as you can and drive if you really need to be there..

 

[EagleKeeper]

Chances you get into Boston on Tuesday i would put at a solid .1%

You best option, get a monday flight as close as you can and drive if you really need to be there..

Phl is closed. The NYC airports are closing. The New England airports will be closed Mon and Tues.

If you want a 8 hr drive, use Washington area airports. Otherwise book for Wed ASAP.
Or take Amtrak to DC and then subway/shuttle to the desired airport fora Tues flight

 

[rcpratt]

Sucks to be you. At least I only have to fly to Washington, and not until Wednesday.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Chances you get into Boston on Tuesday i would put at a solid .1%

You best option, get a monday flight as close as you can and drive if you really need to be there..

Wind is whipping pretty good in NH already. Very unlikely that Logan will stay open or that flights will be coming in. And having experienced a landing in 70+ MPH crosswind, I can honestly say you probably don't want to fly into a town that is right in the middle of a hurricane.

If you really need to be in Boston, consider flying to a city within a couple hundred miles and driving the rest of the way.

 

[rudder]

It will take at least a week for schedules to be back on track after this storm. Even in the remote chance there were no cancellations... there will still be delays. If a plane is late leaving Washington, D.C.... it can affect flight times all across the country.

Just be patient.

 

[skimple]

Whatever you needed to do in Boston on Wednesday may be cancelled or delayed. The whole East Coast is shutting down for two days. Call ahead and reschedule your plans. Don't try to force your way East or you will wind up sleeping in an airport somewhere.

 

[nace186]

He's not flying into Boston guys.

Anyway, you could try to see if any other airports within couple hours of drive to see if they are still flying to SF. Then rent a car and drive there.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Unless you plan on driving a few hours to get to an alternative airport you are going to be out of luck.
A lot of the airlines won't have any planes in the affected area. Only what fits in maintenance hangers. The rest will be elsewhere so they don't get damaged.

 

[EagleKeeper]

He's not flying into Boston guys.

Anyway, you could try to see if any other airports within couple hours of drive to see if they are still flying to SF. Then rent a car and drive there.

He has an 8 hr drive to get to an open airport on Tues.

 

[Zeze]

Why don't you go to the airport/airline website and sign up for auto alert?

 

[eLiu]

Yeah I'm not going TO boston, I'm trying to get OUT OF boston.

US Airways is still listing a bunch of flights leaving BOS on Tuesday (mostly connecting in PHL). Almost all of them are now sold out. Does US Airways wait till the very last second to cancel? Or do I have a chance of not getting fucked here?

AA also still has like 8 flights leaving BOS tomorrow.

Driving is not an option; I'm epileptic so that'll be a good way to die.

And yeah I have a work-related event Thurs/Fri. It's not life or death if I can't make it but I should be there.

EDIT: nevermind, US Airways cancelled everything in New England for Tuesday. Fuck.
Now trying my luck with American. C'mon gaiz don't cancel it!

New question: when flights are cancelled, do I need to call them to get a refund? Or is a refund automatic if I don't reschedule?

 

[Jeffg010]

Yeah I'm not going TO boston, I'm trying to get OUT OF boston.

US Airways is still listing a bunch of flights leaving BOS on Tuesday (mostly connecting in PHL). Almost all of them are now sold out. Does US Airways wait till the very last second to cancel? Or do I have a chance of not getting fucked here?

AA also still has like 8 flights leaving BOS tomorrow.

Driving is not an option; I'm epileptic so that'll be a good way to die.

And yeah I have a work-related event Thurs/Fri. It's not life or death if I can't make it but I should be there.

Sucks to be you even magabus has all trips from Boston canceled.
http://us.megabus.com/hurricanesandy.aspx

 

[sdifox]

You are not going anywhere.

 

[eLiu]

So far American airlines hasn't cancelled yet so I guess I can just pray that pulls through.

When flights are cancelled due to weather, do I need to call the airline (and wait 10yrs on hold) to get a refund? Or is it automatic if I don't do anything? I mean, they can't just keep my money can they?

 

[mmntech]

So far American airlines hasn't cancelled yet so I guess I can just pray that pulls through.

When flights are cancelled due to weather, do I need to call the airline (and wait 10yrs on hold) to get a refund? Or is it automatic if I don't do anything? I mean, they can't just keep my money can they?

Actually, they will unless you bitch enough. That's why you get travel insurance. Had a big fight a few years back.

 

[EagleKeeper]

So far American airlines hasn't cancelled yet so I guess I can just pray that pulls through.

When flights are cancelled due to weather, do I need to call the airline (and wait 10yrs on hold) to get a refund? Or is it automatic if I don't do anything? I mean, they can't just keep my money can they?

They will hold your $$ until you request it.

Then if possible; you can get hit with a rebooking fee if a replacement flight is not requested immediately.
No online service; whether you can get a new online price through the rebooking, YMMV

 

[eLiu]

They will hold your $$ until you request it.

Then if possible; you can get hit with a rebooking fee if a replacement flight is not requested immediately.
No online service; whether you can get a new online price through the rebooking, YMMV

I just want a refund. I rebooked thru AA b/c they still have flights for Tues. I do not want to rebook.

I did get travel insurance though; the prev poster sounds like that will help me out here.

edit: and that kind of refund policy is total BS! wtf, fuck airlines

 

[jhbball]

Are flights out of Manchester NH cancelled? You may be able to drive the 2-3 hours from Boston, and take a flight from there.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Are flights out of Manchester NH cancelled? You may be able to drive the 2-3 hours from Boston, and take a flight from there.

No joy: Status Link

Train to DC is his option; hoping that Dulles or BWI MIGHT be open.

 

[eLiu]

No joy: Status Link

Train to DC is his option; hoping that Dulles or BWI MIGHT be open.

Well American Airlines still has flights out of Logan scheduled for tomorrow. No cancellations yet... is at all possible that this will come through or are they just gonna wait till the last minute?

 

[sixone]

They've been talking about this hurricane since last Thursday. Didn't you think about moving up your flight before this morning?

 

[eLiu]

They've been talking about this hurricane since last Thursday. Didn't you think about moving up your flight before this morning?

Yeah can't say I was really paying attention. Hurricanes in the NE (in city areas anyway) are usually pretty boring--cat 1 or 2, whatever.

I mean the work event I need to be in CA for is mainly Thurs/Fri. To avoid the storm I would've had to have left by like Sat or Sun which I guess could've worked out but *shrug* pretty inconvenient.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Well American Airlines still has flights out of Logan scheduled for tomorrow. No cancellations yet... is at all possible that this will come through or are they just gonna wait till the last minute?

Possible that Tues evening may have flights. Storm is coming in below Philly, so Boston may open once winds speed dies down Tues evening. AA is playing cautious. Easier to cancel than restart.