<p>Why did she HAVE to go through Atlanta? Not that it matters at this point, but…was a double connection the only good fare? If more than one airline is involved (Delta/Usair)…especially if they don’t “play well together”…things CAN get a bit stickier. </p>
<p>Delta’s 9:25am MEM to Philly is cancelled. Their MEM-ATL-PHL morning option doesn’t SHOW cancelled yet, but…I’m not buying that. In very general terms, things that are NOT canceled are mostly “zeroed out”. I expect the airports have taken control of all the inventory so they can manage it. I’ve had it happen where I booked a last minute alternative only to have the client show up and they laugh “Hah, no…we’re not even honoring that, these flights are now under airport control” (though they hadn’t actually physically locked/shut them out yet). </p>
<p>I think WE (loved ones) worry more than THEY (those with their feet in the fie) do. </p>
<p>OH…yeah! Important…probably want to tell her to just take a small carry on with her interview outfit! She may never see her bags again, especially if she sits around 2 airports all day long!</p>
How about the ATL-PHL leg? Scheduled to arrive at 1:00. </p>
<p>Strategy Q , would it be smart to try to change her schedule for later in the day for that leg and the New Haven leg? Or just keep it the same and light incense and chant?</p>
<p>The Philly-New Haven leg should be OK. That appears to be a puddle jumper that just flied back and forth all day long. Even if it’s late, it should go sometime tomorrow. Your big concern will be ripple problems for the Atlanta-Philly flight (no plane, no crew), but I think that’s why everyone has already cancelled their morning peak flights. The good news there is that Atlanta is going to be one of the places where half the planes and crews in the United States are sitting and waiting for operations to resume at Dulles, National, BWI, Philly, Neward, LaGuardia, and Kennedy.</p>
<p>I saw this happen with the December storm. Lots of flights cancelled the first morning after the snowstorm ended (obviously due to the computers already crunching equipment availability). The flights that were still scheduled to go flew pretty much on time.</p>
<p>I would say that the odds are good she gets to New Haven sometime tomorrow. What are your options?</p>
<p>That’s probably an equipment issue. That plane can’t get to Memphis tonight. All the first wave flights in the morning will be cancelled, hopefully so they have a better shot of picking up with second wave on schedule.</p>
<p>Will they not reschedule her interview? That would seem rather harsh, considering the snow is not her fault. But I know nothing about med school admissions.</p>
<p>I’d forget or at leat not worry about the connecting flight out of Philadelphia; she can take a train to New Haven from Philadelphia–or New York if there are more flights from where she is to either LGA or EWR. (She can fly into EWR and take a train directly from the airport to Penn Station.) Some trains that stop in New Haven leave from Penn Station (some from Grand Central too I think). I have no idea whether Philadelphia Airport will be functioning tomorrow but I doubt morning flights will be on time anywhere in this part of the country. Can you suggest to your daughter that she just try to get to NY or Philadelphia airport tomorrow and then figure something out from there even if it does mean losing the price of the plane ticket? New Haven is served pretty frequently by rail service out of NY and I am sure that by tomorrow afternoon rail lines to Connecticut will be functioning even if there is some interruption later today due to winds. Remember, the distances are not very long and there is no need to fly to New Haven from Philadelphia. See or have her see what times the last trains for New Haven leave.</p>
<p>I would agree with that. I would also advise to get her fanny on the plane and firmly planted in her seat at the earliest possible opportunity on every leg. Don’t give them any opportunity to bump her.</p>
<p>If she has to resort to train, Philly is a good place because there is rail service directly from the airport terminal to downtown Philly where the Amtrak to NYC connects. The problem is that there won’t be any seats on the trains.</p>
<p>With all these alternative options being given, keep in mind you’re gonna need deep pockets. Rescheduling to another city, surface transportation, etc. If the airline doesn’t provide it - it’s gonna cost you. </p>
<p>Quick look at nonstops MEM to New York area start at $700-$800 round trip for tomorrow morning.</p>
<p>You asked about ATL-PHL
Usair 1051a-100p = cancelled. Sorry</p>
<p>Don’t know about USAir today and tomorrow specificially, but usually both it and Continental have penalty-free trip-rescheduling when weather (or other things such as political unrest are significant issues). And if she gets to Atlanta she should have a decent range of flights to choose from going to someplace near enough New Haven to get there by tomorrow night and prepare for Friday interview.</p>
<p>Curmudgeon, have her call a leave a message with the Yale folks now, about her situation. They may well reschedule, or come up with an alternative for her.
Also, if she can get to Atlanta, she could fly to LaGuardia, then take a train to New Haven, short taxi ride to Yale. If LGA is open there are almost hourly flights from Atlanta.</p>
<p>Good Luck on her interviews…my DD is joining you on the dark side, law school in the fall, probably Vandy.</p>
<p>You asked about trying to just go ahead and rebook for later in the day. Unfortunately…there just aren’t any options I can see with any seats. This happens as everyone starts backing and backing up. The people from TODAY have already rebooked those flights for tomorrow. </p>
<p>Let’s see…I show 1022 air miles. If she leaves in a car right now. Oh, nevermind.</p>
<p>Rescheduling is DEFINITELY the most hassle free option.<br>
See if/when the school can do that.
Then contact the airline. Yes, they’ll rebooking your SAME ROUTING with no penalty. When you start changing cities, or booking another airline to avoid the same hub city problem…or booking ground transportion…that is where you’re on your own.</p>
<p>But I also understand the “do it or die” mentality. That’s me. I want to IMPRESS this school with the fact that I am the one who MADE IT. But the airport reservationists will not be on your side, so you have to pack a TON of patience (and a book and some pretzel money!). You should contact the airline first…they MIGTH have already automatically rebooked you - it happens. But, with 2 airlines and 3 flights…these auto-robot-process rebookings can become quite humorous. So check that first. </p>
<p>Otherwise, if she wants to try it - she’d just have to patiently rely on the $6 hour reservationist who cannot see outside the box very well. Trying to nudge northward all day. My concern is that you eventually get to Philly, but much too late for the original flight…by which time the confirmed flight has been missed. So…whenever she gets rebooked on something else, she might ask if they can rebook her on the/a later PHL-HVN flight. </p>
<p>Re-scheduling is not an option. Last interview date is next week-end and she will be at another school. Thanks for all the help , guys and gals. I do appreciate it. </p>
<p>She may well be doomed but I’ll keep throwing Hail-Mary passes till the clock shows 0:00.</p>
<p>Not wishing to hijack the thread…and I AM hoping Cur’s girl gets where she needs to be…but anyone want to make a guess on whether <em>I</em> will make it to Baltimore…from hartford…Saturday morning at 9:20 departure time…SW airlines.</p>
<p>If it were my kid, I would call the school just to inquire. Your D cannot be the only applicant with travel issues and it seems like it would be in the school’s interest to add another date or something. But again, medical school admissions people could just be that inflexible.</p>
<p>When she gets to the airport tomorrow, she should go to the counter and if plane is cancelled etc. rebook for anything close (newark, laguardia, kennedy) if philadelphia is unavailable. At the last minute due to weather delay, there should be no extra charge to rebook. If connection is iffy, the trains are the best bet. Phila to Penn St. NYC, and Grand Central to New Haven. (from Penn Station NYC the subway connects to Grand Central). From Newark, Laguardia, Kennedy, take a cab or train to Grand Central. Does anything fly directly to NYC from her starting point? That plus a train ride would be less stressful than all those connections. You know the old saying about the airport in Atlanta. Also it is important to get a supervisor who is sympathetic to help on the rebooking. I am assuming that this will be better where she is than LAX and Kennedy where I have had to beg for mercy in the past.</p>
<p>Really, if she can not get there due to weather, I would think that they would reschedule the interview.</p>
<p>Skype if all else fails? Isn’t this the way things are supposed to be headed?</p>