Summer 2022 Travel nightmare thread

[Anonymous]

I experienced similar delays this weekend traveling to and from a wedding--spent the entire outbound day in two airports and missed the rehearsal dinner. Then spent the entire return day in three airports (not planned as a 3-legged trip) and missed a day of work. I think I'm lucky to have gotten to my destination at all. Travelers all around me were stranded as well, including one family with young children that had been trying to get to their destination for three days. It's ridiculous that travelers have no rights and no recourse when they don't get what they paid for. The airline industry is broken right now, and I plan to stay away (drive or train) as much as I can.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The airlines have been terrible=they are short staffed as hell. It sucks. Last two flights that have been delayed have been due to short staff with airport/ground people.

I book travel for our employees going to conferences and trade shows and it's been a nightmare this year. I don't think we've had one employee who didn't have any kind of flight travel issue.

We've outright missed shows that we paid $$$ to participate in because of flights being canceled over multiple days. We are now building in even bigger buffers for those traveling to account for flight cancelations and it's ridiculous. Employees are forced to be away from their families and homes for longer and the company is forced to pay extra for longer hotel stays and car rentals. I shouldn't have to book a flight on a Monday for a employee to attend a tradeshow that begins on Friday yet here we are... and that Monday flight was canceled, rescheduled to Tuesday morning, then delayed for 6 hours, then the pilot timed out, then canceled due to weather, and the employee finally landed early this morning for the show that starts tomorrow. Insanity.

How can other industries rebound if the industry they rely on to bring paying customers to them can't get their shit together?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wonder if it' going to get better or worse?


American cancelled all of their flights this morning from DCA to BOS. Arrived at 0500 for my flight--cancelled. All of them. Couldn't get on another airline, all booked. BWI-booked. IAD--booked. Next flight wasn't until 5 pm, so just came home.

THis just sucks.

My flight to Denver got canceled last night, as did the flight this morning. They rebooked me for Sunday. I decided to take that flight since I’m a teacher and have flexibility. If it wasn’t to see family I’d cancel altogether. Our big family vacation is a road trip and I’m happy with that choice.

[Anonymous]

I’m so sorry, OP.

We drove to our destination due to the terrible airlines. I know that was not an option for you. For anyone else reading, consider driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wonder if it' going to get better or worse?


American cancelled all of their flights this morning from DCA to BOS. Arrived at 0500 for my flight--cancelled. All of them. Couldn't get on another airline, all booked. BWI-booked. IAD--booked. Next flight wasn't until 5 pm, so just came home.

THis just sucks.

My flight to Denver got canceled last night, as did the flight this morning. They rebooked me for Sunday. I decided to take that flight since I’m a teacher and have flexibility. If it wasn’t to see family I’d cancel altogether. Our big family vacation is a road trip and I’m happy with that choice.

Is this on Southwest? They have a flight at 10 PM tonight out of BWI to DEN with one seat left for sale.

[Anonymous]

This thread has me regretting booking tickets for July 2.

[Anonymous]

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

Thank you for posting that link. This thread has me very nervous about my summer travel (work and vacation). There are some appalling experienes posted here. Maybe I need to get off DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These stories have me worried for my trip to Portugal next month! It is with United non-stop going and it's a tight schedule returning (there's a layover in Montreal). We get back to DC 3pm and I will drive 2 hours home that afternoon or SUPER EARLY the next day so that I can go to work. I'll have to mention it in advance that there is a chance my flight could be delayed and will try to not schedule meetings for that day.

I'm also worried about getting covid before/during our trip! We are taking extra steps to be cautious and careful these next few weeks.

My last layover in Monteal was horrendous. If you have a short layover there I would assume you won't make it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These stories have me worried for my trip to Portugal next month! It is with United non-stop going and it's a tight schedule returning (there's a layover in Montreal). We get back to DC 3pm and I will drive 2 hours home that afternoon or SUPER EARLY the next day so that I can go to work. I'll have to mention it in advance that there is a chance my flight could be delayed and will try to not schedule meetings for that day.

I'm also worried about getting covid before/during our trip! We are taking extra steps to be cautious and careful these next few weeks.

My last layover in Monteal was horrendous. If you have a short layover there I would assume you won't make it.

We sat on the ground after arriving in Montreal for 45 minutes waiting for the ground crew to bring out the jet bridge. Everyone was really stressed about missing connecting flights. We ended up bring OK because our next flight was also significantly delayed.

[Anonymous]

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

Sure nobody could have predicted the explosion in demand but surely they could have somewhat predicted staffing shortages and retraining needs. The problem isn’t demand, it’s supply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wonder if it' going to get better or worse?


American cancelled all of their flights this morning from DCA to BOS. Arrived at 0500 for my flight--cancelled. All of them. Couldn't get on another airline, all booked. BWI-booked. IAD--booked. Next flight wasn't until 5 pm, so just came home.

THis just sucks.

My flight to Denver got canceled last night, as did the flight this morning. They rebooked me for Sunday. I decided to take that flight since I’m a teacher and have flexibility. If it wasn’t to see family I’d cancel altogether. Our big family vacation is a road trip and I’m happy with that choice.

Is this on Southwest? They have a flight at 10 PM tonight out of BWI to DEN with one seat left for sale.

Thanks, It's Frontier and I have a kid with me. It was a really frustrating process because they told us before we deplaned that we were all booked for the 7am flight, then when we got there, no flight existed. They could have texted! instead we were autobooked on a Sunday flight with no notice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wonder if it' going to get better or worse?


American cancelled all of their flights this morning from DCA to BOS. Arrived at 0500 for my flight--cancelled. All of them. Couldn't get on another airline, all booked. BWI-booked. IAD--booked. Next flight wasn't until 5 pm, so just came home.

THis just sucks.

My flight to Denver got canceled last night, as did the flight this morning. They rebooked me for Sunday. I decided to take that flight since I’m a teacher and have flexibility. If it wasn’t to see family I’d cancel altogether. Our big family vacation is a road trip and I’m happy with that choice.

Is this on Southwest? They have a flight at 10 PM tonight out of BWI to DEN with one seat left for sale.

Thanks, It's Frontier and I have a kid with me. It was a really frustrating process because they told us before we deplaned that we were all booked for the 7am flight, then when we got there, no flight existed. They could have texted! instead we were autobooked on a Sunday flight with no notice

They have a one-stop BWI-DEN Friday at 5 PM with at least two seats on it.

But will need to call or contact them via Twitter. Could take a while.

General point is that you don't necessarily have to take whatever the system automatically gives you during irregular operations- generally you can get on any flight that has seats. But you have to check and then actually get an agent to put you on the flight. Takes time and effort

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wonder if it' going to get better or worse?


American cancelled all of their flights this morning from DCA to BOS. Arrived at 0500 for my flight--cancelled. All of them. Couldn't get on another airline, all booked. BWI-booked. IAD--booked. Next flight wasn't until 5 pm, so just came home.

THis just sucks.

My flight to Denver got canceled last night, as did the flight this morning. They rebooked me for Sunday. I decided to take that flight since I’m a teacher and have flexibility. If it wasn’t to see family I’d cancel altogether. Our big family vacation is a road trip and I’m happy with that choice.

Is this on Southwest? They have a flight at 10 PM tonight out of BWI to DEN with one seat left for sale.

Thanks, It's Frontier and I have a kid with me. It was a really frustrating process because they told us before we deplaned that we were all booked for the 7am flight, then when we got there, no flight existed. They could have texted! instead we were autobooked on a Sunday flight with no notice

They have a one-stop BWI-DEN Friday at 5 PM with at least two seats on it.

But will need to call or contact them via Twitter. Could take a while.

General point is that you don't necessarily have to take whatever the system automatically gives you during irregular operations- generally you can get on any flight that has seats. But you have to check and then actually get an agent to put you on the flight. Takes time and effort

Also, nowadays "gardening your reservation" is more important than ever.

https://andystravelblog.com/2021/09/19/covid-travel-skills-gardening-your-reservations/

Check the airline flight status page before you leave from home for the airport. Check your reservations daily in the week before departure, and weekly before that. Stuff like that. Simply put, don't count on their communications, you need to be proactive.

[Anonymous]

All this definitely sounds like nightmares for sure! Makes me worried about a trip to NYC I have planned for September!

I drove from Florida to Virginia and back in April and it cost me about $450 just for gas. Even so, at least my departure and arrival times were more or less up to me! Thank God no car trouble or horrible traffic woes!