So I had a flight out to California from Newark for 6am this morning with United. I had set up an alarm for 3:30am so I could get ready and leave with plenty of time to spare at the airport. That didn't happen. I guess I turned off my phone alarm and fell back asleep when it went off. Woke up at 7am from my bf's work alarm going off. The second I opened my eyes, I knew I was late because of all the light streaming in through the windows. Jumped out of bed and continued to freak out while calling an agent to see what I could do. Earliest flight he gave me was tomorrow (Christmas day) at 5 in the evening. Commence more freaking out. Dammit! I was supposed to get there today! I only had a few days to spend with the family for the holidays. So I went to the airport and talked to a lady at the check-in counter. She told me the same thing that the agent on the phone did. I was about to give up. Then she went and talked to her manager and they got me a flight for tomorrow morning with Continental. No charge. Is that normal? I thought they would charge me for my missed flight. I was really hoping that there was maybe, just maybe a small chance of me getting a seat for today. But that would be near impossible, especially with it being Christmas eve and everybody traveling. Maybe I could have tried to do standby for flights today, but I already rebooked another flight. Oh well. Gosh, I feel like such an idiot. Lesson learned: Set three alarms.
Where are you flying out of? You can always wait around at the gate and put yourself on the standby list today. There will be plenty of people missing flights. Problem is that the nonstops from LAX and SFO to JFK/LGA/EWR will likely all be overbooked. So that means you might be able to get confirmed to someplace like O'Hare or Denver but be stuck there because there's no seats for a connecting flight NY. On a day like today, it's almost impossible to get a confirmed seat all the way through. So, use your discretion if you decide to brave it out at the airport today.
You're asking if it's abnormal that they didn't take more money from you for missing a flight? I've never flown on an air plane, but I would say yes. Airline companies find many ways to take advantage of vulnerable people. I've ended up spending money on my relatives for the random fees that pop up in the process of getting them on the plane.
I'm flying from Newark to Sacramento, with a connection in San Francisco. I didn't really think about waiting around for standby until I got back home from the airport, but I guess it's alright. I'll leave tomorrow morning and then I changed my itinerary to stay there another day. Plus, it being Christmas eve, I don't want to be stranded somewhere, so tomorrow is fine. But if I had made my original flight, I could be there already.
if you miss your flight, airlines do their best to get you on the next outgoing flight if the loads are available... the goal is to fill up each plane to capacity. assume your original flight was overbooked and it probably turned out best for you...
Never EVER take a 6am flight unless you have to for work. Taking that early of a flight leaves you zero margin for error in getting tro the airport, etc.
p.s. most eastbound flights were jammed this week because of so many flights that got bumped because of the Blizzard
Because of the giant storm hitting the Midwest a few airlines are waving change fees for travel up until the 27th. Check with your airline to see if you can get your change fee waved since you have to get on another flight.
What's all the "blizzard in the Midwest" talk about? It's only raining here in Chicago...close to 40 degrees.
Lesson learned should be "being more responsible". Dad always says there is no excuse for waking up late when you know what time to wake up.
I wanted to leave early so that I could spend more time with my family, hence the 6am flight. And I'm not getting charged for the missed flight. They just gave me another flight no problem. I was going to just sleep on the plane, but I was super tired last night and actually fell asleep on the couch.
Okay, so people know what time they need to wake up, but does that mean they will? Don't tell me you've never woken up late for something. I call BS!
