can you go online and rebook yourselves?

Maybe Lufthansa can help? The only MAD-ORD options for tomorrow in economy at the united website involve LH for MAD to Frankfurt, overnight in Frankfurt, and then United to ORD on the 30th.

Tried that. This was not available. I assume they have to get me home but how and when? If they have me in EWR I suppose they must find a way to get there but no communication makes it rough. On top of that my iPhone hasn't worked so I got a cheapo here to call home but 3 hrs. later it's still not activated! Yeesh.

I looked at one ways but the cost was very $$$.

i am going to call United for you

Wait time will be greater than 30 minutes which I don't have. Going to the airport seems your best option.

A few years ago, I had an award ticket issued by United and flying on Thai. Lufthansa operated a Star Alliance desk at the Bangkok airport and they were very willing and able to make a change to the ticket.

Thanks so much for trying. Now they want us to go on Nov. 4 which is 5 days late. Just can't do that. Guess I'll have to go to the airport.

I realize it's no consolation, but with 5,000+ flights now cancelled, you're certainly not alone in this predicament. When a weather event like this happens, it often takes several days for airlines to re-establish normal flight schedules. Grounded planes need to be moved into position and as many as 50,000-100,000 passengers need to be accommodated, many on flights which are already booked near capacity.

I've been caught in situations like this several times over the years, including being stranded in France when all flights into US airspace were grounded for days following the 9/11 attacks in 2001. The best I can tell you is to take a deep breath and try to accept that sometimes things are just out of your control. I hope you will find someone who can help you get on an earlier flight when you get to the airport. Best wishes for your travels back to Chicago.

Thank you. I realize that. The frustration is that you just can't get thru to speak to someone at UA. Endless wait times. Then we buy a cheapo phone to call home as my iPhone doesn't work here, and that's a mystery and the SIM still isn't activated nearly 16 hrs. later soi I still can't call home. Well we bit the bullet and bought new tickets on Lufthansa for tomorrow. We just can't wait till the 4th.

Best wishes and prayers to those on the east coast.

UA does have a Madrid number. Of course, how helpful they can be, or whether you can get though is another matter.

Madrid, Spain

900-961-266

901-010-096 (MileagePlus Service Centre)
Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Meant to add that they will open 9am Monday. Which is just a few hours from now. May be better than going to the airport with many many passengers crowding a few agents.

BTW, you SHOULD at least have the Nov 4 flight confirmed first, then try to change to earlier dates or options. That way, at least you know you can come back on Nov 4.

Thanks for the advice. We decided to bite the bullet and rebook. We got Lufthansa and leave tomorrow. We connect MUC-LHR-ORD and arrive the same day. When you figure the extra cost vs. the cost of staying till the 4th we are out about $700.00 but hopefully will be home 5 days sooner. We both have to be at work on the 5th and besides just really want to get home. Again thanks for the numbers. I appreciate the effort. The # I have been calling with perpetual hold was 900 813 996.

BTW we decided to book on our own after seeing the news yesterday and noting so many cancellations. Glad I did as now the prices are a lot more.

$700 well spent. Also reminds why some travel insurance can be helpful. In cases like this.

I have it and called them. Will start a claim process when I get home. Hopefully I can get some $ back.

Do you mean the extra cost minus the cost of staying equals about $700? Or is the $700 a fare difference or change fee or both?

The first one. The tickets were about $2300.00 so figure conservatively an extra $1600.00 for extra hotel and food, entertainment and so on.

BTW thanks agin for the help. It's been hard here and it's tough making decisions based on ones best guess but that is what w found ourselves having to do.

I have seen pic of the storm and my God my prayers are with those folks. They are in harms way. Best of luck to all of them.

I'm glad you have tickets home. I expect it will take a week or more to clear the backlog - and that is if the airports on the East Coast can open in the next couple of days. Sandy is worse than Irene.

Since you are in the EU their rules prevail and UA must provide you with accommodation and meal allowance during the delay; it is termed "duty to care" I believe. They will no doubt try to say they are not responsible because it is weather related, but that is not true. I learned this when stranded by he Icelandic volcano ash cloud.

It will be a while but when I know more I'll post it here. Thanks again for the help. It was pretty hard being there with no communication from UA but of course the real issues are with those so affected directly by this terrible storm.

Well I have sme news. UA will refund about half our fare or basically the return we did not use. That is in the works and the extra money for upgrading to Econ plus has already been returned.

Seamus, do you have a link to the information about "duty to care"? I had two nights' hotel and meals due to my flights being canceled (leaving from Rome). Thanks.

Whoops, never mind. Googled it and found lots of helpful info. Thanks!

jacketwatch, it sounds like you came out ok.

Sure did. Thanks Kathie.

You did get a good price on that return ticket. The net cost of your return will be about the same as what you originally paid. Will you get any benefit from your travel insurance?

for other expenses, I mean, like an extra night in a hotel.

We'll see. I spoke with them and have claim forms coming. Thanks again for your help and I'll keep you posted.

Well UA has returned the full original fare, not a partial one as they first said they would. I don't know why but sure am not complaining.