Did I make the right call re flight delays

[schomers87]

I always tend to reflect on most decisions that I make to see if I made the right call. Would be interested to hear what other AFF members would have done in similar circumstances for feedback.

May make it easier to summarise the circumstances/what I did:

• Booked on MEL-SYD-DFW-BOS.
• Day prior to flying out of SYD I became aware that the north-east USA was going to get hit by a significant snow storm (once in 20 years) and there were going to be significant delays at many airports.
• On day of DFW flight, aa.com indicated that a number of BOS flights of the morning that I arrived in DFW had already been cancelled. However, my connecting late afternoon flight was still 'on schedule'.
• Knowing that there was a high chance I could have my flight to BOS cancelled, I went to the QF service desk at SYD INT. Advised woman of the weather issues and likelihood of cancellation. She then rang 'operations' who advised that they believed BOS would remain open (seemed like I knew more about the weather)
• Inquired at the service desk as to my options. She indicated that even if I decided to be put on a later aa flight, and then that flight was cancelled, I would be further at the back of the line for when flights are rescheduled. Only other option was to cancel entire trip without cancellation fees and full refund (this was never an option!)
• I heeded the advice, and decided not to change my booking and revisit once in DFW.
• Upon arriving in DFW prior to customs, a number of passengers had their names called over the PA to attend to the OW desk. I received notification that flights to BOS was cancelled for entire day, was booked into the DFW Westin hotel, and given a boarding pass for flight to BOS via ORD for the next day getting in at 2200.
• Unfortunately, a number of other passengers had rescheduled flights 2-3 days later, a number of these were SGs!
• (An interesting point here was that I noticed that I only received a BP for ORD-BOS flight, and had to enquire at AA service desk who advised they made a mistake and then booked/printed off new BP for DFW-ORD.) Always pays to check!

I must say that AA were quite helpful throughout the experience and undoubtedly being a WP helped. Also, being at DFW was of great assistance given the number of direct BOS flights as well as ability to go through other major airports. I would imagine being at LAX would have been a lot worse.

Would love to hear any feedback here

 

[elbarto]

Since all the AA flights to BOS were cancelled, taking the QF advice of wait and see seems to have worked fine. Changing your flights in SYD wouldn't have made any difference it turns out.

I probably would have done the same wait and see approach as you never know what's going to happen in those 15 hours between SYD and DFW

 

[docjames]

I would have asked as you did, then followed the (sound) advice given. Which has worked in this instance.

Short of cancelling or demanding a re-book to another city (which wouldn't have helped you get to BOS anyway), i'm not sure you had other options? And to stay in DFW (ie. the AA hub) was a sound plan. If you were ending up in a tiny city awaiting an AAEagle flight connecting to BOS, I probably would have asked to stay in DFW as when there are delays / capacity issues, the larger centres seem to be sorted first (ie. fix the greatest number of pax). There's also a better possibility of an up-gauge from DFW (allowing more pax/flight) or aircraft being used for extra flights (vs smaller airports).