Want to know where your plane is right now?
Here’s a site that’s intuitive and simple: FLIGHTSTATS.COM
Flying to the Midwest in the next couple of days? Be patient. Be nice. Be prepared for delays.
Try to get full $ credit (you won’t get your credit card credited, but you might get $ credit for a future flight) for a cancelled flight so you can apply it to a flight in the future.
Write down the ticket number the agent gives you when you cancel. Then, when you re-book the new flight, book it but put it on “hold,” then call the airline within 24 hours so they can apply the $ credit. This will NOT show up on their website, but it WILL show up on your credit card.
Example:
1) You book a non-refundable flight for $300, and it’s cancelled because of a snowstorm.
2) Go to the airline agent, tell them (nicely!!!) the situation.
3) Say you’d like “dollar credit for a future airline ticket purchase” with THEIR airline.
4) Have them give you a reference number or ticket number and WRITE IT DOWN. This number is vitally important. They will not remind you of the number or $ credit AND it won’t be under your account anywhere online.
5) When you’re ready to purchase another ticket, say, for $450, book it, BUT put it on “hold.” You can do this online for some airlines OR you can do this via calling them on the phone.
6) After it’s on “Hold,” CALL the airline within 24 hours. Explain you have “X” dollars in credit and would like to apply it to the ticket you just put on hold. GIVE THEM THE REFERENCE NUMBER from the cancelled flight or it won’t work.
7) They should then apply the $300 towards the cost of your new ticket purchase. Again, this will NOT show up on their website. Watch your credit card bill. If the new ticket costs $450, your credit card should reflect a charge of only $150.
NOTE!!!! Some airlines may still charge you a “change fee” or other fee.
But give it a try. It won’t hurt.
Good luck, everyone.
[...] Flying in Bad Weather? Stay Ahead of the Game. [...]
By: Flying in Bad Weather? Stay Ahead of the Game | sojournwithstacey on March 11, 2013
at 7:18 am
Hi Sojournwithstacey! Thanks for the re-blog. Really appreciate it. Have a great week!
By: AirportsMadeSimple on March 11, 2013
at 11:52 am
I will keep this in mind for my next trip back home to Europa…bad weather here on snowy Earth is likely to ground all flights in UK as is usual at the first hint of a snowflake…but when they get going again! lol
By: europasicewolf on March 8, 2013
at 4:32 pm
Hi, Europasicewolf! Thanks for your comments – again and again! I say, if there was an award, there are so many of you who would make “strongest blog supporter of the year” that is for sure. As I was telling Lindy, it really depends on who you get on the phone. People don’t realize that. I’ve spoken with an 800 number of an airline and gotten a “yeah, whadda U want” attitude. Nicely said “thanks, let me think about it.” Hung up the phone. Called back the exact same number, exact same airline, and got a cheery “Hi there! Hello! It’s a wonderful day here in airplane land, how can I make your day better?” smile and smile! So, I just keep hanging up and calling back until I get that person. It’s saved me hundreds–maybe thousands–of dollars.
By: AirportsMadeSimple on March 11, 2013
at 11:48 am
Your best article so far. Brilliant information and advice! ~Thea
By: Time With Thea on March 7, 2013
at 8:51 pm
Hi Thea! How are things there in Canada? That was such a nice comment and it really made my day!! Thank you kindly. I’ve got lots of travel the next few months (the house sitter is getting rich!), so I apologize for the slower responses. Thanks again and hope you have a great week.
By: AirportsMadeSimple on March 11, 2013
at 11:45 am
Things are doing OK in Canada. Getting quite ready for Spring but there is still snow on the ground and more to come. Ho-hum. I noticed you have been quite busy lately. When thing slow down I’d love to have a chit chat like before just to catch up. I would love to hear what you have been up to! Thanks again for your help previously! Keep up the great work. Thea
By: Time With Thea on March 12, 2013
at 6:05 pm
Thea – I was going to send you a personal email, but then thought maybe you had to cancel it due to “you know what”? Do you have a new personal email address? Would love to catch up and see how things are going for you. Deborah
By: AirportsMadeSimple on March 19, 2013
at 5:17 pm
Love your emphasis on being nice! And it’s a good point– I’m pretty sure that poor ticket agent was not, in fact, responsible for the weather and/or your cancelled flight. ; )
By: colormusing on March 6, 2013
at 11:29 am
Ha! Hi Lindy – so true.
Actually, the airline help desks can be much like the IRS: “It just depends on who you get.” I have proven this time and again. I’ve had to call 2-3 times about something, but at some point you’ll get a pleasant person on the phone who is very sweet and very helpful, and who will do what is (already) their policy the way it should be done. For the others that aren’t nice or helpful? I just politely (and nicely!) say “Thank you for your time, let me think about that and I’ll call you back.” And I hang up the phone. You won’t get that person again. Normally…:)
By: AirportsMadeSimple on March 11, 2013
at 11:43 am
And don’t watch the first 30 minutes or so of the Debzel Washington movie Flight
By: fasab on March 5, 2013
at 5:44 pm
Hi Fasab! Great to hear from you. You know, I just saw that movie. It was quite…something. But I actually enjoyed it. Not the scary part of the pilot drinking, smoking, and doing drugs, of course, but I think it humanized the flight crew. I see why it didn’t do well at the box office, but thought the movie, overall, was quite a conversation starter.
By: AirportsMadeSimple on March 11, 2013
at 11:30 am