TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin United Airlines - EWR to SXM cancelling flights

I just got a call from United saying they are cancelling my flight from Newark NJ to SXM in Oct. Seems they've chosen not to make that trip any longer during that time period.

What a hassle! Lousy alternatives for flights. Only direct flight was out of JFK which is never a great option for those of us in NJ. And since we go around the same time each year, we can expect lousy flight choices for good...

I miss Continental Airlines... This is not the first burn we've had by United.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Mad.gif" alt="" />

FYI-There was a post about UA discontinuing their EWR-SXM flights back around February 10th or 11th, and they didn't notify any one back then either. It pays to go online once a week to check to see if your flights have changed.

Hi..The same thing happened to me around 4 months ago...United decided to cancel my nonstop direct flight from EWR-SXM this coming October...The price was only $423 non stop... to make a long story short United got us a flight to Miami from JFK..2 hour layover..and then non stop flight Miami to SXM with American Airlines...we still arrive at SXM at 2pm and the $423 r/t cost stayed the same..we will be flying back non stop to EWR with United...Needless to say I was not a happy camper...but the $423 round trip price stayed the same..

UA was willing to give me the same deal and wanted your name as a reference to copy that new fare itinerary, but without that I was outta luck. They wanted that info right then and there! But I got a pair of tixs out of Boston with JB for $12.60 instead.

HAHAHAHAHA... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

We always flew out of EWR until they cancelled the non-stop weekday flights. This past June we decided on Jet Blue out of JFK via Long Island Railroad from Penn Station. Very easy.

I thought that after you purchased a flight THE AIRLINE had the responsibility to get you to your destination.

When any of my flights are cancelled I always have the replacement flight number I want in hand when I call. I have never been denied the switch I chose but it sounds like you were this time....

Interesting...

We had the same thing with our November flight with WestJet. They decided to cancel their Tuesday flights for November, so we are now flying on a Thursday.

you are exactly correct..United took care of all of the arrangements of my new booking with A/A at the same $423 r/t price...needless to say they weren't happy about it <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

Well, you should understand that they only did that in order to save at least part of the booking and keep your money. If they cancel your flight all together, their only LEGAL obligation is to give you your money back. Period.

It seems they are only flying on Saturdays now. I know for this past May they had 2 flights on Saturday leaving within an hour + of each other - same on return flights. We always flew on Friday but they seem to have stopped those flights.

We are going down on Friday, 4/29 and they have 2 flights that morning <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

At least you got a call, our flight was cancelled and they rebooked us on a flight a day earlier and 2 days later. I waited several months to see if the early November flights would return, they did not. I called a week ago to change the flight home and that was doable. We managed to keep our seat upgrade as well. Apparently United is doing 2 Saturday am flights out of EWR and all the rest are through either Miami or Charlotte. NOT happy with United...not the Friendly skies anymore. However, the folks in customer service were very helpful, as long as I stayed "thankful for anything they could do to help me out".
Fortunately our accommodations are flexible enough that we could add the days at the end. The day before will require juggling. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Ummm....not sure about that. I still think they have the responsibility to get you to your destination as planned...I don't think there is a definite "period" at the end of the statement

It has worked for me with every cancellation, or actually flight change. If the airlines initiate a flight change then you have the right to request another alternative at no additional cost.

Incorrect. If they cancel your flight before you leave home, say three months in advance, literally ALL they have to do is give you your money back. If they cancel your return flight after you have left home, yes, they have to get you back home. But if they cancel your flight, they will attempt to re-book you on something you can live with, but they have no obligation to get you there if they cancel the flight all together, some time in advance. They want to keep you as a customer, so they will try to do something for you, but they don't have to. Not at all.

Cancelling a flight does not mean they no longer fly there....I respectfully disagree and say they still have the responsibility to get you to the planned destination as paid for...It has worked that way for any flight that I have had cancelled. I have NEVER resorted to a fare refund.

I will await other opinions...and the key word is "opinion"

They DON'T have to get you there on the date you want, especially if that requires them putting you on another airline.

Carol is correct. It helps to read the Conditions of Carriage that governs the ticket contract between passenger and airline, although most passengers do not.

And pursuant to page 35 of United's contract of carriage

"Change in Schedule - When a Passenger’s Ticketed flight is affected because of a Change in Schedule, UA will, at its election, arrange one of the following:
1) Transport the Passenger on its own flights, subject to availability, to the Destination, next Stopover point, or transfer point shown on its portion of the Ticket, without Stopover in the same class of service, at no additional cost to the Passenger;
2) At UA’s discretion, reroute Passengers over the lines of one or more carriers in an equivalent class of service when a Change in Schedule results in the cancellation of all UA service between two cities;
3) Advise the Passenger that the value of his or her Ticket may be applied toward future travel on United within one year from the date of issue without a change or reissue fee; or
4) If the Passenger is not transported as provided in C) 1) or 2) above and does not choose to apply the value of his or her Ticket toward future travel as provided in C) 3) above, the Passenger will be eligible for a refund upon request."

https://www.united.com/web/format/pdf/Contract_of_Carriage.pdf

Hi..no need for an explanation on why United did it...im just happy they did the leg work for me and the most important thing was....... they honored the $423 round trip fare <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Thank you for that info....I was misinformed...by an AA long haul Captain

Surprised he didn't know better, but that's not really his job, to re-book passengers.

Always had changes after booking with AA and they always put us on another flight. However, we didn't always like the new flights so I'd call them and say it wasn't acceptable and told them what I wanted (after having checked what other connections were available.)

Once, when the lights were out at Julianna I called AA to tell them since our flight was arriving near dusk. They said they couldn't change without a fee so I asked to speak to a supervisor who I told that as we spoke fits were being diverted to PR and AA should know that. She said lights would be fixed by the time of my flight---guess she wasn't familiar with "island time."

After a time on hold I got the change I wanted with no charge. Next day on their web site was an advisory about the problem.

So it pays to always speak to someone if you're not happy.

By the way as I recall it took several days to fix that landing lights problem in SXM.