Summer 2022 Travel nightmare thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re currently stuck in Italy. We arrived without any issue. A few days before our return from Florence, I received an email that our flight home had been moved from 10:30 a.m. to 6:05 a.m. The Florence airport doesn’t open until 5:00, so I set the alarm for 4:00 a.m., only to wake up to a text stating that our flight had been canceled but they would be reaching out shortly with alternative arrangements. I immediately called United. After being on hold 20 minutes, spoke to someone who asked several questions before telling me he didn’t work on international flights (annoying bc the first thing I did was explain that we were in Florence, Italy). Transferred me and I was on hold another 15 minutes before the United rep told me they had transferred our ticket to Lufthansa and no longer could help. I then called Lufthansa and was told I needed a confirmation number but the only confirmation number I had was from United. Called United again and they gave me the Lufthansa confirmation number. I went online with this new confirmation number only to find out that our newly scheduled flight on KLM was departing in 10 minutes. I had never received a text, email or any notice that we had been put on a new flight. Apparently, this was due to the fact that the airlines’ systems don’t communicate with each other.

We were rebooked for a flight 4 hours later. While waiting to board after now being at the airport for 6 hours, they announced that due to wind/weight issues, they had to remove 25 of us from the flight. Unfortunately, we were selected. We waited in line to be rescheduled for 3 more hours only to be told there are no available flights with room for 4 people until two days later. We’re in Economy Plus, but there were passengers in first class that were taken off the flight with us and has the same issues rebooking. I think they only way to avoid this is by traveling private.

We better not have issues getting off tomorrow or I’ll lose my mind!

You must have been on the same flight as some friends. Total nightmare. I hope you get home soon.

[Anonymous]

We just came back from 9 day trip in the UK, three cities. Feel truly lucked out with only minimal flight and train delays. Everything was expensive but the trip was wonderful - the weather, nature, architecture, museums, and even food (we hadn’t had proper English high tea for some years!). Wish everyone else a nice travel this summer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good luck to those going to Scandinavia on SAS.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/sas-ceo-says-pilots-strike-talks-break-down-2022-07-04/

UGH, we are supposed to fly SAS to Oslo (from London) in two weeks.

So are we (a week later). So far SAS Connect has no issues but that might change. Haven't figured out an alternative yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our enterprise rental car broke down on us on I-75 in Georgia causing us to miss our flight and have to rebook to another airport and take a $150 Uber to Dulles to get our bags and not only did enterprise not waive the rental fee they tried to say we were responsible for the damage to the car and they claimed we put diesel fuel in it. Every single company is absolutely out of their minds right now so good luck to all of us trying to navigate travel this summer

That’s a pretty easy thing to prove. Hopefully you were about to successfully dispute the rental charges!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an interesting thread.

Traveling by air is certainly difficult right now. It's largely due to the fact that the airlines (primarily because of staffing shortages) have almost no redundancy in place to absorb typical shocks to the system like severe weather.

I don't think the current chaos is entirely the airlines' fault. While I do think they deserve some blame for overscheduling flights and/or announcing new routes without having adequate infrastructure (i.e. planes and people) in place, nobody could have predicted how quickly demand for travel would explode this Spring and how many millions of people decided the pandemic was over and it was time to travel again. I'm sure things will slowly improve over the coming months.

And to all of the entitled complainers out there who are stomping their feet over missing their meetings, vacations, and weddings, etc: Grow up. Read the fine print. Know what you're entitled to and what you're not entitled to when you book a flight. The FAA makes that quite easy to review.

https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/fly-rights#Delayed-and-Cancelled-Flights

Do you work for an airline? Given current prices of airfare, it's difficult to imagine calling someone "entitled" who pays $$$ and then misses a wedding due to airline mismanagement.

Prices are actually more reflective of actual value now. Airline prices have been exceedingly low for ages. Yes entitled is totally applicable. Spoiled would apply as well.

Ah, so yes, you do work for an airline.

Nope. I agreed with them and don't work for an airline and never have. The idea that 100 or 200-and-something dollar round trip domestic flights in a giant metal tube hurtling through the sky was normal or sustainable is idiotic. The costs now are more what they should be.

Oh god you’re just an unaffiliated bootlicker. I am so embarrassed for you!

You just typed “unaffiliated bootlicker” and thought you said something of substance. I am so embarrassed for you!

[Anonymous]

Am in France after totally straightforward journey to Paris and connecting flight to smaller city on Air France. Luggage arrived with us, rental car ready too.

It can happen!

Relieved but not smug, I promise you, since we eventually fly home from Heathrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our enterprise rental car broke down on us on I-75 in Georgia causing us to miss our flight and have to rebook to another airport and take a $150 Uber to Dulles to get our bags and not only did enterprise not waive the rental fee they tried to say we were responsible for the damage to the car and they claimed we put diesel fuel in it. Every single company is absolutely out of their minds right now so good luck to all of us trying to navigate travel this summer

That’s a pretty easy thing to prove. Hopefully you were about to successfully dispute the rental charges!

You’d think, right? We prepaid fuel and had the car for 36 hours total. If still had half a tank of gas when it broke down on us so mileage wise, from the mileage when we got it to when the engine melted down, they could easily have seen there was no way we’d gone through a whole tank, filled it with diesel and then drove through half a tank of that. But even so, they tried it and it spent 3 weeks in “investigations” before they said “we have agreed to cover the damage” like it was a favor. I swear these companies are just trying anything hoping someone is hassled enough to just pay it rather than fight. Took my husband hours on the phone to try and deal with the mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good luck to those going to Scandinavia on SAS.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/sas-ceo-says-pilots-strike-talks-break-down-2022-07-04/

UGH, we are supposed to fly SAS to Oslo (from London) in two weeks.

So are we (a week later). So far SAS Connect has no issues but that might change. Haven't figured out an alternative yet.

We're scheduled to fly SAS from IAD->CPH and then onto Milan at the end of the month. I'm getting nervous. I just booked us tickets using miles on American to fly from DCA to JFK and then direct to Milan just in case. They were 30K one way but worth it b/c they're cancellable and give us another option if our flight is cancelled (although haven't figured out how we'll get home).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A minor thing but we checked in to a hotel and they neglected to tell us the AC wasn’t working.

This wouldn't be minor to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good luck to those going to Scandinavia on SAS.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/sas-ceo-says-pilots-strike-talks-break-down-2022-07-04/

UGH, we are supposed to fly SAS to Oslo (from London) in two weeks.

So are we (a week later). So far SAS Connect has no issues but that might change. Haven't figured out an alternative yet.

I have been checking our flights everyday to see how they are doing. So far all the SAS flights are flying, but yesterday our flight we will take home cancelled due to mechanical problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our enterprise rental car broke down on us on I-75 in Georgia causing us to miss our flight and have to rebook to another airport and take a $150 Uber to Dulles to get our bags and not only did enterprise not waive the rental fee they tried to say we were responsible for the damage to the car and they claimed we put diesel fuel in it. Every single company is absolutely out of their minds right now so good luck to all of us trying to navigate travel this summer

That’s a pretty easy thing to prove. Hopefully you were about to successfully dispute the rental charges!

You’d think, right? We prepaid fuel and had the car for 36 hours total. If still had half a tank of gas when it broke down on us so mileage wise, from the mileage when we got it to when the engine melted down, they could easily have seen there was no way we’d gone through a whole tank, filled it with diesel and then drove through half a tank of that. But even so, they tried it and it spent 3 weeks in “investigations” before they said “we have agreed to cover the damage” like it was a favor. I swear these companies are just trying anything hoping someone is hassled enough to just pay it rather than fight. Took my husband hours on the phone to try and deal with the mess.

Are they still claiming diesel was in the car when they agreed to cover the damage? Or did they have a new excuse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re currently stuck in Italy. We arrived without any issue. A few days before our return from Florence, I received an email that our flight home had been moved from 10:30 a.m. to 6:05 a.m. The Florence airport doesn’t open until 5:00, so I set the alarm for 4:00 a.m., only to wake up to a text stating that our flight had been canceled but they would be reaching out shortly with alternative arrangements. I immediately called United. After being on hold 20 minutes, spoke to someone who asked several questions before telling me he didn’t work on international flights (annoying bc the first thing I did was explain that we were in Florence, Italy). Transferred me and I was on hold another 15 minutes before the United rep told me they had transferred our ticket to Lufthansa and no longer could help. I then called Lufthansa and was told I needed a confirmation number but the only confirmation number I had was from United. Called United again and they gave me the Lufthansa confirmation number. I went online with this new confirmation number only to find out that our newly scheduled flight on KLM was departing in 10 minutes. I had never received a text, email or any notice that we had been put on a new flight. Apparently, this was due to the fact that the airlines’ systems don’t communicate with each other.

We were rebooked for a flight 4 hours later. While waiting to board after now being at the airport for 6 hours, they announced that due to wind/weight issues, they had to remove 25 of us from the flight. Unfortunately, we were selected. We waited in line to be rescheduled for 3 more hours only to be told there are no available flights with room for 4 people until two days later. We’re in Economy Plus, but there were passengers in first class that were taken off the flight with us and has the same issues rebooking. I think they only way to avoid this is by traveling private.

We better not have issues getting off tomorrow or I’ll lose my mind!

I had the same issue with United last month when they automatically shifted my reservation to British Air.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re currently stuck in Italy. We arrived without any issue. A few days before our return from Florence, I received an email that our flight home had been moved from 10:30 a.m. to 6:05 a.m. The Florence airport doesn’t open until 5:00, so I set the alarm for 4:00 a.m., only to wake up to a text stating that our flight had been canceled but they would be reaching out shortly with alternative arrangements. I immediately called United. After being on hold 20 minutes, spoke to someone who asked several questions before telling me he didn’t work on international flights (annoying bc the first thing I did was explain that we were in Florence, Italy). Transferred me and I was on hold another 15 minutes before the United rep told me they had transferred our ticket to Lufthansa and no longer could help. I then called Lufthansa and was told I needed a confirmation number but the only confirmation number I had was from United. Called United again and they gave me the Lufthansa confirmation number. I went online with this new confirmation number only to find out that our newly scheduled flight on KLM was departing in 10 minutes. I had never received a text, email or any notice that we had been put on a new flight. Apparently, this was due to the fact that the airlines’ systems don’t communicate with each other.

We were rebooked for a flight 4 hours later. While waiting to board after now being at the airport for 6 hours, they announced that due to wind/weight issues, they had to remove 25 of us from the flight. Unfortunately, we were selected. We waited in line to be rescheduled for 3 more hours only to be told there are no available flights with room for 4 people until two days later. We’re in Economy Plus, but there were passengers in first class that were taken off the flight with us and has the same issues rebooking. I think they only way to avoid this is by traveling private.

We better not have issues getting off tomorrow or I’ll lose my mind!

I had the same issue with United last month when they automatically shifted my reservation to British Air.

PPs, do either of you have tips for this?

I guess one is, "If the airline tells you that you have been rebooked on another carrier, ask for the new confirmation number." But love to know if you have others.

United/Lufthansa PP, did you depart?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re currently stuck in Italy. We arrived without any issue. A few days before our return from Florence, I received an email that our flight home had been moved from 10:30 a.m. to 6:05 a.m. The Florence airport doesn’t open until 5:00, so I set the alarm for 4:00 a.m., only to wake up to a text stating that our flight had been canceled but they would be reaching out shortly with alternative arrangements. I immediately called United. After being on hold 20 minutes, spoke to someone who asked several questions before telling me he didn’t work on international flights (annoying bc the first thing I did was explain that we were in Florence, Italy). Transferred me and I was on hold another 15 minutes before the United rep told me they had transferred our ticket to Lufthansa and no longer could help. I then called Lufthansa and was told I needed a confirmation number but the only confirmation number I had was from United. Called United again and they gave me the Lufthansa confirmation number. I went online with this new confirmation number only to find out that our newly scheduled flight on KLM was departing in 10 minutes. I had never received a text, email or any notice that we had been put on a new flight. Apparently, this was due to the fact that the airlines’ systems don’t communicate with each other.

We were rebooked for a flight 4 hours later. While waiting to board after now being at the airport for 6 hours, they announced that due to wind/weight issues, they had to remove 25 of us from the flight. Unfortunately, we were selected. We waited in line to be rescheduled for 3 more hours only to be told there are no available flights with room for 4 people until two days later. We’re in Economy Plus, but there were passengers in first class that were taken off the flight with us and has the same issues rebooking. I think they only way to avoid this is by traveling private.

We better not have issues getting off tomorrow or I’ll lose my mind!

I had the same issue with United last month when they automatically shifted my reservation to British Air.

PPs, do either of you have tips for this?

I guess one is, "If the airline tells you that you have been rebooked on another carrier, ask for the new confirmation number." But love to know if you have others.

United/Lufthansa PP, did you depart?

1. Always get confirmation number and ticket number for the airline you are actually flying.

2. Always call the airline while waiting in the rebooking line. Often you will get through on the phone quicker than waiting in line.

3. Consider using overseas phone number if the phone wait is long. Look up numbers for say United in Australia, etc. Use Google Voice to call, it's like 1 or 2 cents/minute to many countries.

4. If phone waits are long, send Twitter DMs to the airline.

5. Which day matters if it's a partner booking. In this case the ticket was booked through United, but as of the day of travel, Lufthansa "owns" the ticket and has responsibility. So if there was a cancellation more than 24 hours in advance, contact United as ticketing airline. Within 24 hours, contact the operating airline

6. Use Google Flights to find alternatives that are operating and have enough seats, so you can offer options immediately that work for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re currently stuck in Italy. We arrived without any issue. A few days before our return from Florence, I received an email that our flight home had been moved from 10:30 a.m. to 6:05 a.m. The Florence airport doesn’t open until 5:00, so I set the alarm for 4:00 a.m., only to wake up to a text stating that our flight had been canceled but they would be reaching out shortly with alternative arrangements. I immediately called United. After being on hold 20 minutes, spoke to someone who asked several questions before telling me he didn’t work on international flights (annoying bc the first thing I did was explain that we were in Florence, Italy). Transferred me and I was on hold another 15 minutes before the United rep told me they had transferred our ticket to Lufthansa and no longer could help. I then called Lufthansa and was told I needed a confirmation number but the only confirmation number I had was from United. Called United again and they gave me the Lufthansa confirmation number. I went online with this new confirmation number only to find out that our newly scheduled flight on KLM was departing in 10 minutes. I had never received a text, email or any notice that we had been put on a new flight. Apparently, this was due to the fact that the airlines’ systems don’t communicate with each other.

We were rebooked for a flight 4 hours later. While waiting to board after now being at the airport for 6 hours, they announced that due to wind/weight issues, they had to remove 25 of us from the flight. Unfortunately, we were selected. We waited in line to be rescheduled for 3 more hours only to be told there are no available flights with room for 4 people until two days later. We’re in Economy Plus, but there were passengers in first class that were taken off the flight with us and has the same issues rebooking. I think they only way to avoid this is by traveling private.

We better not have issues getting off tomorrow or I’ll lose my mind!

I had the same issue with United last month when they automatically shifted my reservation to British Air.

PPs, do either of you have tips for this?

I guess one is, "If the airline tells you that you have been rebooked on another carrier, ask for the new confirmation number." But love to know if you have others.

United/Lufthansa PP, did you depart?

1. Always get confirmation number and ticket number for the airline you are actually flying.

2. Always call the airline while waiting in the rebooking line. Often you will get through on the phone quicker than waiting in line.

3. Consider using overseas phone number if the phone wait is long. Look up numbers for say United in Australia, etc. Use Google Voice to call, it's like 1 or 2 cents/minute to many countries.

4. If phone waits are long, send Twitter DMs to the airline.

5. Which day matters if it's a partner booking. In this case the ticket was booked through United, but as of the day of travel, Lufthansa "owns" the ticket and has responsibility. So if there was a cancellation more than 24 hours in advance, contact United as ticketing airline. Within 24 hours, contact the operating airline

6. Use Google Flights to find alternatives that are operating and have enough seats, so you can offer options immediately that work for you.

Such a helpful list - thanks for your prompt response.

1 - How does one get the ticket number? Is that provided with the confirmation number or do I have to speak to an agent to get it? We were flying back from Far East to US and trying to upgrade. The airline kept insisting on the ticket number to do so. Had never had that experience before and not since.

2 - The operating alrline really threw me on a trip we just took to Europe. Everything said Delta, but when I tried to check in online within the 24 hours, Delta said this was an Alitalia flight. Definitely news to me. At the airport, however, I checked in at the Delta counter with no trouble though it was an Alitalia flight, listed on the board that way, etc.