Is this something that happens often?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maintenance is a thing. You know how your car sometimes breaks down? Airplanes can do that too.

Yes, I've had that happen, sat forever on tarmac, had to leave, come back...but never had a flight cancelled many hours prior due to maintance.

Maybe the pilot's mother died and they couldn't find a replacement. Maybe the flight crew caught the flu.

Maybe they have to source a replacement part from another country. (One plane we were kicked off after waiting on board for 5 hours ending up sitting in a foreign country for 3-4 days before it could be repaired. They put us on the plane that arrived the next day, and cancelled all the people expecting to fly home on that plane that day).

Maybe the plane scheduled to go to Bangkok broke down and they decided to use your mother's plane for that flight.

Maybe your mother's plane is still in another country awaiting repairs or a pilot or a crew.

Maybe your mother's plane was only 40% full and they decided to redistribute the passengers to other flights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maintenance is a thing. You know how your car sometimes breaks down? Airplanes can do that too.

Yes, I've had that happen, sat forever on tarmac, had to leave, come back...but never had a flight cancelled many hours prior due to maintance.

Maybe the pilot's mother died and they couldn't find a replacement. Maybe the flight crew caught the flu.

Maybe they have to source a replacement part from another country. (One plane we were kicked off after waiting on board for 5 hours ending up sitting in a foreign country for 3-4 days before it could be repaired. They put us on the plane that arrived the next day, and cancelled all the people expecting to fly home on that plane that day).

Maybe the plane scheduled to go to Bangkok broke down and they decided to use your mother's plane for that flight.

Maybe your mother's plane is still in another country awaiting repairs or a pilot or a crew.

Maybe your mother's plane was only 40% full and they decided to redistribute the passengers to other flights.

got it

[Anonymous]

I mean, this happens all the time. I can’t believe she’s never had an itinerary change before. You need to be prepared going forward. What would she do if her plane got diverted or the second leg of her trip was delayed 24+ hours?

[Anonymous]

If you have her flight details, I would contact her airline carrier and explain the situation. I agree with asking to have a wheel chair meet her and to have someone help her get her bags and through customs to her next gate. She will have to tip them (since they will be spending so much time with her, I would probably tip them really well) but this should solve her problem. I am sorry that this happened to her and glad that you are doing what you can to proactively help her. Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

Is the last leg of her trip on a US airline?

My 74 year old parents live in Paris, and have gone back and forth using Air France for years, from Charles de Gaulle to Dulles, without any plane cancellations or rerouting. I was under the impression that international flights, particularly ones from non-US airlines, usually are not rerouted.

But I guess it can happen. I'm sorry, I hope everything goes well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, this happens all the time. I can’t believe she’s never had an itinerary change before. You need to be prepared going forward. What would she do if her plane got diverted or the second leg of her trip was delayed 24+ hours?

If it is difficult for her to fly alone, in the future consider having a niece or cousin fly with her. Expensive I know.

Once my MIL got past a certain age, she would only fly if her younger son came with her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the last leg of her trip on a US airline?

My 74 year old parents live in Paris, and have gone back and forth using Air France for years, from Charles de Gaulle to Dulles, without any plane cancellations or rerouting. I was under the impression that international flights, particularly ones from non-US airlines, usually are not rerouted.

But I guess it can happen. I'm sorry, I hope everything goes well.

It is a US airline. Maybe that was a mistake. She usually does not fly US airlines. Never again!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the last leg of her trip on a US airline?

My 74 year old parents live in Paris, and have gone back and forth using Air France for years, from Charles de Gaulle to Dulles, without any plane cancellations or rerouting. I was under the impression that international flights, particularly ones from non-US airlines, usually are not rerouted.

But I guess it can happen. I'm sorry, I hope everything goes well.

It is a US airline. Maybe that was a mistake. She usually does not fly US airlines. Never again!

A friend faced a similar problem on Lufthansa. My daughter faced a similar problem on Qantas. It happens to every airline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the last leg of her trip on a US airline?

My 74 year old parents live in Paris, and have gone back and forth using Air France for years, from Charles de Gaulle to Dulles, without any plane cancellations or rerouting. I was under the impression that international flights, particularly ones from non-US airlines, usually are not rerouted.

But I guess it can happen. I'm sorry, I hope everything goes well.

CDG is particularly prone to labor strikes.

[Anonymous]

More strikes! https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/france-faces-new-travel-disruption-as-strike-grounds-air-france-flights-closes-pau-and-tarbes-airports-and-sets-stage-for-second-walkout-this-thursday/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the last leg of her trip on a US airline?

My 74 year old parents live in Paris, and have gone back and forth using Air France for years, from Charles de Gaulle to Dulles, without any plane cancellations or rerouting. I was under the impression that international flights, particularly ones from non-US airlines, usually are not rerouted.

But I guess it can happen. I'm sorry, I hope everything goes well.

It is a US airline. Maybe that was a mistake. She usually does not fly US airlines. Never again!

OMG! Why haven't I ever thought of this hack! All you have to do is fly foreign airlines and you'll never experience a cancelation or delay!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, this happens all the time. I can’t believe she’s never had an itinerary change before. You need to be prepared going forward. What would she do if her plane got diverted or the second leg of her trip was delayed 24+ hours?

If it is difficult for her to fly alone, in the future consider having a niece or cousin fly with her. Expensive I know.

Once my MIL got past a certain age, she would only fly if her younger son came with her.

Maybe the OP is at the point that she should switch to visiting her mother exclusively. At some point no wedding or graduation is worth the travel hassle for older people. The cost of travel health insurance also goes through the roof as they age. My mother started saying she needed to look after the garden as an excuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you had several hours’ advance notice why not just ask to move the start of the trip to the next day?

Also 70 is not that old for most people. No reason for the airline to assume she was unable to handle a flight change. If she’s that bad off you need to arrange wheelchair assistance, etc.

Because she was at the airport when she found out, which is already not near her home (so she stayed in hotel night before) That would have required going back to town airport is in, then back to a hotel, then back to airport. It's not any easier. She is very obviously physically limited so just one look would have told them. And she can manage her connection fine usually because she knows her limits and plans accordingly. This is really pushing it for her having this extra connection.

Unles you notified them ahead of time to make accommodations this is not the airline's problem.

[Anonymous]

You said your mom called your brother. I hope she is traveling with a cell phone? Legit question. My dad does not have one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You said your mom called your brother. I hope she is traveling with a cell phone? Legit question. My dad does not have one.

It depends if she has an international plan. If not, the charges from the transfer country and JFK could be high. Something else to consider for the next trip.