Yesterday, we flew home from our vacation in Las Vegas. We had a stop over in Chicago. Just as we landed, both my husband and I received a voicemail from American Airlines telling us that our connecting flight had been canceled and they were putting on the next flight to LaGuardia. LaGuardia? Did I mention that we were supposed to be flying into Newark, New Jersey not New York.
We don’t live in New York, we live in New Jersey. We purposely try to avoid flying out of the New York Airports because Newark Liberty is much closer to our home (about 20 minutes). Plus, we had already arranged to have someone pick us up at the airport. I can tell you right now, a friend or family member is willing to drive only so far! LaGuardia airport is about 1 1/2 hours away.
The first time we talked to the ticket agent, we were informed that they either couldn’t find the plane (my daughter wanted to know how THAT happens) or that they didn’t have enough crew. We then complained that it would cost us over $200 to get a car service to New Jersey and couldn’t they provide either a) reimbursement for the costs or b) shuttle service to Newark. Now, the new story was that the plane was canceled due to weather and thus they couldn’t do anything to help us out. Of course, they did have a flight to Newark leaving later, but unfortunately they only had three seats available (we are a family of five).
So, of course we took the flight, rented a car and drove ourselves back to New Jersey, with $250 less in our pockets.
Thanks, American.
I HATE flying! It is never anything but a huge hassle…glad you at least made it home safely but stinks you are out that kind of money!
That really stinks! I would send them the link to your blog post and let them know it is not acceptable to you that they changed your arrival city and state. It woudl have been one thing if you were going to be staying in the city for vacation or lived in NY and this wasn’t a big deal but having gone to college in NYC and then living in Queens after I graduated I do know that the change makes a huge difference. As long as I was just going back to my dorm a change like that didn’t really matter as the bus service from either airport dropped me off in the same location but most of the time I left a day later or came back a day earlier to spend time with my grandmother first and a car service from Newark to her apt wasn’t too bad while the car to La Guardia was at least $150 and not do-able.
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Wow! That is terrible! I agree with your daughter, how do you lose a plane?!
So sorry this happened to you. 🙁
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Oh goodness!!How horrible. Can you see if they can reimburse?
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How does that happen? I mean, how do they just send you somewhere else with no way to get home? That’s crazy.
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How exactly was the weather different in New Jersey? Tweeting this for you…
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I know – right? They just didn’t have the plane if you ask me.
That’s awful. I hate what airlines can get away with. If they’re going to completely change your destination, or not get you to your intended destination, they should reimburse you regardless. I’m also confused as to how the weather could be so much different in Newark that a flight would be cancelled there and not LaGuardia.
I have had a similar experience with AA. They have horrible customer servce!