Aloha717200 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 4397 posts, RR: 17 Posted (9 years 2 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 3867 times:
Hi all,
This is not intended to be flamebait so I hope it doesn't go that direction.
Here's the issue.
My friend from Sweden who is coming to the USA this summer has entrusted me with booking his flights. But because he took his time getting his passport, fares have gone up and the original flight I was going to book for him, on UA/SAS, is now too expensive to book and I've had to look into alternate routings.
I found another flight with a very attractive rate for him on UA, but it's a codeshare for all of his flights. SAS/US/LH.
SAS would be his new flight from ARN-EWR.
US would then fly him EWR-CLT-MCO
and LH would be his return flight from LAX-FRA-ARN at the end of the trip. (With a DL and WN flight in between, connecting him MCO-SLC-BUR for his california part of his stay).
He has a grand total of two flights on US that will get him from EWR to MCO via CLT on July 29th, 2004. It's a very good fare, the lowest I've seen in fact, but I am worried about booking him on any US flights considering the trouble that US Airways is going through at the moment.
The last thing I want to have happen is him getting stranded at EWR because of a US shutdown.
Total cost for the above itinerary: $1,279
The alternative is to book him on Skyteam the entire way....ARN-CDG-CVG-MCO on July 29, MCO-ATL-SLC on August 10, and SLC-SNA on august 11, with return from LAX on August 29, LAX-CDG-ARN.
Total cost for Skyteam: $1,481.51
That's roughly a 200 dollar difference between flying US versus flying DL.
Now, I ask you guys if it's truly safe to book him on US Airways for segments of his flight. It'll save him 200 dollars if I do....but that 200 wont mean anything if he gets stranded. I'm hearing very mixed opinions as to whether Us is going to survive or not, and even if they do stick around, I worry about them cutting back flights and possibly eliminating these routes. Is it truly safe to book him on US Airways? Or should I play it safe and book him on Skyteam?
Secondly, are EWR and CLT easier to connect through than CDG and CVG?
Thanks for any help you can provide, I dont want to put him in a bad way, and your advice will help us decide which alliance to take.
Northwestair From Poland, joined Jul 2001, 636 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (9 years 2 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 3842 times:
I would book on US , even if they went belly up an they won't I bet you that UA would honor the tickets. Most likely UA would have to since they booked you on a codeshared flight. Anyway I believe it's a law that all Airlines have to accept another airlines ticket even if that airline went Bankrupt
Starrion From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 1081 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (9 years 2 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 3807 times:
Isn't it book standby though?
You might be safer booking skyteam. Even if I weren't a longtime Delta flier, US is looking really shaky. God only knows where they'll be in two months.
Besides, I hate having to switch luggage between carriers. It all depends if the difference is worth the $200 to your friend.
Aloha717200 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 4397 posts, RR: 17 Reply 3, posted (9 years 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 3785 times:
If he goes Skyteam, he changes carriers in CDG, going from Air France to Delta. So either way he's got to change airlines somewhere.
QIguy24 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (9 years 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 3784 times:
I would go for US as well. THey need the money and they need reservations. I don't want to sound like an A**. But threads like this really make's people change airline. If you book your ticket on US they will get taht extra money. and those extra money contributes to keep them alive. You don't help a company to stay alive if you don't want to fly them if you are afraid of them going bancrupt. People must stop talking like this..
Aloha717200 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 4397 posts, RR: 17 Reply 5, posted (9 years 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 3774 times:
But you must understand my situation here in that I'm seriously considering booking a carrier that has an uncertain future, and I don't want to book this if it's unsafe to do so. Believe me I understand the sentiment that we shouldn't bury an airline before it's dead....but this is a lot of money my friend is spending here, and I have to consider this a bit more than if it were just me flying.
That said I'd prefer to book him on US, I am just wary of doing so, that's why I'm asking you guys if it's safe to book them.
QIguy24 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (9 years 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 3739 times:
Aloha,
I see your point. Im just pointing this out because there have been so many of these theads lately. And that is very frustrating to see. Especially if you work that airline that people mention.
But I absolutly see your point. But like Norhtwest air wrote, I think UA will take over those bookings. But I'm not sure though.
BTW why don't you send him on CO from CO / KMCO), USA - Florida">MCO-EWR-CO / KMCO), USA - Florida">MCO? I did that last year. It wasn't so expensive.
Aloha717200 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 4397 posts, RR: 17 Reply 7, posted (9 years 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 3713 times:
Why CO was eliminated:
Too expensive, and the arrival time to KMCO was too late in the evening. He needs to get into KMCO no later than 8pm.
Usair330 From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 790 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (9 years 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 3676 times:
Hey, I would say if the flight is in the summer, go with US Airways. US Airways isn't going anywhere anytime soon like some people may predict. And even if US did liquidate... then United and Star Alliance airlines will pick up those tickets quickly.
Logos From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 768 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (9 years 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 3606 times:
I would say it's fine. Your friend won't get left holding the bag, especially if it's a United codeshare. They'll make good if anything happens to US, which it likely won't through the summer. There are no guarantees in life, but I wouldn't worry about this.
Haveric From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1247 posts, RR: 5 Reply 11, posted (9 years 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 3466 times:
any changes to US existence would not come at least until fall, and probably not until longer than that. they've got a lot of cash, and will probably eek out a small profit this summer
Goingboeing From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 4875 posts, RR: 19 Reply 12, posted (9 years 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3416 times:
I would call United and ask for a supervisor, then explain the situation and find out from United what their policy is in the event of the shutdown of a "partner" airline - will they get guaranteed rebooking on a UAL flight, will they get priority standby on a UAL flight, will they get regular standby on some other airlines flight.
That's the downside to codeshare agreements - who's responsible for problems encountered on a specific itinterary. I have read columns in Conde Nast traveller about a person flying Delta and connecting with Air France, and had their baggage lost, and each airline kept referring the passenger back to the other airline.
Bigfoot From Italy, joined Dec 2003, 65 posts, RR: 3 Reply 13, posted (9 years 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3369 times:
Also, consider the fact that US has entered STAR just a few days ago. That should be another guarantee that UAL will take the passengers should the worst happen.
BigOrange From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 2358 posts, RR: 3 Reply 14, posted (9 years 2 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 3308 times:
If you are booking US on a codeshare flight, US don't see any revenue, plus it is the responsibility of the airline who issued the ticket to get you an alternative flight.
Plus if you pay by credit card then the credit card company has to refund the money.
Aloha717200 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 4397 posts, RR: 17 Reply 15, posted (9 years 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 3196 times:
It's not about refunding money, it's about my friend getting stranded somewhere. That's the issue here. If US shut down I'm sure he'd get his money back, but, he'd have difficulty finishing his trip that day.
Jetboy80 From Norway, joined Apr 2004, 17 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (9 years 2 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 3118 times:
When he is flying SAS from Sweden and continuing his trip with a another Star Alliance member I would think there wouldn't be any problems at all.
Last time I went to the States, SAS got late in to Newark and I missed my connecting flight with AA, the SAS agent booked me on a Continental flight so I would not need to wait so long. If something happened with US Airways, SAS will take care and rebook the flight.
747firstclass From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (9 years 2 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 3041 times:
I thought there was a law in effect that says any US airline must accept the tickets issued by an airline that has folded. The only catch is that there would be a $25 service charge and on a space available basis.
Tekelberry From United States of America, joined May 2003, 1459 posts, RR: 5 Reply 18, posted (9 years 2 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 2990 times:
If it's a UA codeshare, I wouldn't worry. UA is ultimately in charge of the ticket. If US is no longer operating, you won't have much of a problem because UA will re-route you since it's their ticket.
Ouboy79 From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 3999 posts, RR: 23 Reply 19, posted (9 years 2 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 2929 times:
If you are booking US on a codeshare flight, US don't see any revenue, plus it is the responsibility of the airline who issued the ticket to get you an alternative flight.
Ummm. Wrong. The US Airways and United code shares are just the opposite. The airline that gets the money is the airline in which you are actually flying. So...if you are flying on a UA code-share flight number, but the actual flight is operated by US Airways...US gets the cash. The same goes in the reverse. That is how they set it up...so yes...'US do see the revenue.'
Any opinion/comment posted is that of my own and not that of Southwest Airlines Co.
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