AIR INDIA CANCELLED MY FLIGHT!

I booked back in August through cheapfareguru.com to fly on Air India on Oct 16 (getting to LHR Oct 17) and coming home on Dec 22 because my mum wanted me home for Christmas.  My flight was US$602, which was perfect  for my budget.

They called me today to tell me my flight was canceled and it will take two weeks to get my refund! 

The exact conversation went like this:

cgf: Your flight's been canceled
Me: can you put me on another flight?
cfg: Air India canceled all their flights for the next three months
Me: Can you put me on another airline?
cfg: We can't apply money paid for one flight to another. We can rebook you using the same card
Me: I don't have enough money to do that. Did the refund get credited back today?
cfg: It can take two weeks
Me: that's not acceptable, I need to leave for London on October 16
cfg: We can try to expedite it
Me: Are there any other flights you could put me on after I get my refund and I rebook? Anything in the same price range?
cfg: I will look into it and call you back, but I can only hold a price for three days


...and then I went to their website and the best they have is $760..which I can't afford right now, and it would even be tight to try to re-book after I get my refund, assuming flights are still that low.

My mum has agreed however, to letting me stay over through Christmas, so if I can find a cheaper flight that's longer, that'll work, but Tim and I have tickets to a show on Oct 21, so I need to be there at least by then.  Not to mention I need to be there in general.  And Tim took leave Oct 17-31 so we could travel, so if I go later, we wouldn't have that leave available.

But I can't book anything until I get my refund. because I don't have any extra money hanging around to book with.

I just....need to vent, rant, talk to people and possibly get advice  and/or options for cheaper flights...or if anyone has any air miles they want to toss my way? 

For the record, I live in Lancaster, PA. Available airports are BWI, PHL, EWR, and JFK (though we like to avoid BWI). Tim lives in Lincoln, so I was flying into London, though Manchester would be a bit closer.

That is outrageous that they are taking that long with the refund.  Did you book by credit crad?  If so, perhaps the credit crad company can get the refund through quicker.

Vicky

That is outrageous that they are taking that long with the refund.  Did you book by credit crad?  If so, perhaps the credit crad company can get the refund through quicker.

Vicky

I booked using my debit card since I don't have any credit cards.  I think if I tried to dispute it would take longer...but yeah, I think two weeks is nuts when they're cancelling only 4 weeks before the flight....I don't think  I can get anything only 2 weeks before!

(but he did say he'd try to expidite it...we'll see what happens)

Good luck.

I read the statute and they can do this without compensating you.

I worry about what is happening with Air India though.  Wasn't geeta flying with them soon too? 

Vicky

Good luck.

I read the statute and they can do this without compensating you.

I worry about what is happening with Air India though.  Wasn't geeta flying with them soon too? 

Vicky

Someone suggested I contact the FAA and complain because they're supposed to put me on another airline...are they going bankrupt? Tim found an article on the BBC that mentioned they were canceling flights, but he didn't seem to think it gave a reason.

I know a lot of people book through them because they are cheaper than most other airlines.

Does anyone know anything about kuwait airlines? Someone told me I can book through them for $660, but I've never heard of them...

There are cheap flights from Newark to Bristol right now on Continental. You might also want to check Aer Lingus because I know they're running deals too.

Aer Lingus currently has a one-way flight from JFK to Manchester (via Dublin) on October 16th for $458, or if you could travel on the 13th, 14th or 15th, the flight is only $385.

Not sure if you are booking one-way or round trip, but the Aer Lingus site requires you to select them separately anyway. The flight costs vary depending on the day you travel and so you can check several different dates for the cheapest rate.

Not sure if you are booking one-way or round trip, but the Aer Lingus site requires you to select them separately anyway. The flight costs vary depending on the day you travel and so you can check several different dates for the cheapest rate.

I'd be booking a RT ticket for home either Dec 22 (to be home for christmas) or Dec 31-Jan 06ish.

There are cheap flights from Newark to Bristol right now on Continental. You might also want to check Aer Lingus because I know they're running deals too.

booking straight through continental?  It looks like Bristol is about as far away from Tim as London is, so I'm sure he  wouldn't mind going there instead. 

I always book straight through Continental.

I always book straight through Continental.

 I see $1,100 from EWR to Bristol on Oct 15th, returning on Dec 31. Same price if I use my original dates.

As far as I can see, they are only obliged to compensate or find you a new flight if they cancel within 14 days.

But I could be wrong.

Vicky

It is a normal procedure for Air India to cancel flights if there are not enough passengers. In 2006 this happened about 16 times on the LAX - Frankfurt route.

I'd be booking a RT ticket for home either Dec 22 (to be home for christmas) or Dec 31-Jan 06ish. 

Okay, I've found $891 with Aer Lingus to JFK to Manchester leaving Oct 15th and returning Dec 31st, or $772 returning Jan 1st, $822 returning Jan 4th and $791 returning Jan 5th or Jan 6th.

I see $1,100 from EWR to Bristol on Oct 15th, returning on Dec 31. Same price if I use my original dates.

Hmmm....sorry about that!

As far as I can see, they are only obliged to compensate or find you a new flight if they cancel within 14 days.

But I could be wrong.

Vicky

Thanks. This is becoming a nightmare, really.  Air India gave me a half a dozen new york phone numbers and none of them work (two were lawyer offices!) and then when I called back their 800 number, I got a supervisor who tried to tell me that my "travel agent canceled" it, and THEN told me that it was going to take 2 months to get my refund...so I've called my contact at cheapfareguru, I explained everything to him and he said he'd call and see what he could do for me...at this point, I really don't WANT to fly air india, but I can't wait for the refund to book elsewhere, since everything has gotten well out of my price range since and I'm supposed to leave in 28 days!

Okay, I've found $891 with Aer Lingus to JFK to Manchester leaving Oct 15th and returning Dec 31st, or $772 returning Jan 1st, $822 returning Jan 4th and $791 returning Jan 5th or Jan 6th.

Yeah, that would be out o my price range.  Maybe the $772 could be swung if I can borrow money from someone, but I still need my original $600 back, otherwise I only have $400 to use right now.

I have such a headache now, too.  *sigh*