What should I expect if I'm scheduled to fly into the heart of the Frankenstorm?
October 26, 2012 10:54 PM Subscribe
I'm scheduled to fly (home) from San Francisco to Washington, DC (Dulles) on Monday night. How screwed am I, what should I expect, and what plans should I be making right now?
I'm flying on Virgin America, who have already issued an advisory. However, postponing my trip home is a lot easier said than done -- I don't particularly want to pay to stay any longer in SFO, and I need to be back in DC for my job.*
*My employers are aware of the situation, and are sympathetic. However, they really would like me back in DC as soon as possible.
I know that there are no easy answers here, so I'm just curious about what I should be expecting -- I've never had an air travel itinerary derailed by a major weather event.
I'm flying on Virgin America, who have already issued an advisory. However, postponing my trip home is a lot easier said than done -- I don't particularly want to pay to stay any longer in SFO, and I need to be back in DC for my job.*
*My employers are aware of the situation, and are sympathetic. However, they really would like me back in DC as soon as possible.
I know that there are no easy answers here, so I'm just curious about what I should be expecting -- I've never had an air travel itinerary derailed by a major weather event.
Response by poster: ...an if I get cancelled before I get to the airport, what should I do?
posted by schmod at 11:14 PM on October 26, 2012
posted by schmod at 11:14 PM on October 26, 2012
If I was in your shoes, I'd figure out in advance how to fly into a more southernly airport (Raleigh-Durham maybe?) and get north (1-way rental car, bus, whatever), and figure out what that costs.
If I couldn't find something near where I wanted to be (near DC) I'd consider stranding myself in Chicago or Atlanta instead, so that I'd have a million flights running to everywhere once the weather passed.
If staying in SFO, I'd talk to the hotel about occupancy, to see if you're DEFINITELY screwed if you need another night, or if you might have options that don't require a second hotel.
If you get diverted to some random airport without hotel options and it gets long, look into getting a pass to the club lounges. You can usually pay by the day, and some of them have showers.
posted by grudgebgon at 11:24 PM on October 26, 2012 [3 favorites]
If I couldn't find something near where I wanted to be (near DC) I'd consider stranding myself in Chicago or Atlanta instead, so that I'd have a million flights running to everywhere once the weather passed.
If staying in SFO, I'd talk to the hotel about occupancy, to see if you're DEFINITELY screwed if you need another night, or if you might have options that don't require a second hotel.
If you get diverted to some random airport without hotel options and it gets long, look into getting a pass to the club lounges. You can usually pay by the day, and some of them have showers.
posted by grudgebgon at 11:24 PM on October 26, 2012 [3 favorites]
My guess (having been in similar situations) is that they won't cancel your flight out of here. They don't know enough about the storm yet. They'll monitor things while you're in the air and there's a possibility you may be diverted near the end of your flight if certain things hit the fan on the East coast.
I'd be looking at some inland options nearer DC.
On preview, what grudgebgon said.
posted by trip and a half at 11:28 PM on October 26, 2012
I'd be looking at some inland options nearer DC.
On preview, what grudgebgon said.
posted by trip and a half at 11:28 PM on October 26, 2012
Consider rescheduling for a flight into Boston where the storm will be of negligible impact this Monday. Then take an Amtrak high speed Accella to Washington.
posted by Podkayne of Pasadena at 11:31 PM on October 26, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by Podkayne of Pasadena at 11:31 PM on October 26, 2012 [6 favorites]
Can you fly home Saturday or even Sunday instead? If there's space available, Virgin America should be willing to rebook you on an earlier flight. If they don't have any seats, look for a flight yourself on another airline (try both Oakland and SFO and don't forget to check Southwest). It's fairly darn unlikely VA would be willing to reticket you on another airline at their expense for a weather event like this, but they should be willing to cancel your return ticket and give you a credit for the unused portion that you can use anytime in the next year. While there may be an added cost for the last minute reservation, that should be offset by fewer hotel nights in SF. You could even consider asking your employer to pick up any cost difference if you're primarily doing this for work-related reasons.
posted by zachlipton at 11:43 PM on October 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 11:43 PM on October 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Then take an Amtrak high speed Accella to Washington.
I wouldn't count on Amtrak running on the Eastern seaboard if the storm meets expectations.
Nthing trying to get out a day or so earlier if you possibly can.
posted by charmcityblues at 11:46 PM on October 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
I wouldn't count on Amtrak running on the Eastern seaboard if the storm meets expectations.
Nthing trying to get out a day or so earlier if you possibly can.
posted by charmcityblues at 11:46 PM on October 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
I wouldn't count on Amtrak running on the Eastern seaboard if the storm meets expectations.
Definitely this. Last time there was a storm of any size I wasn't able to take Acela from NY to DC the next day b/c there were branches on the tracks -- they kicked us off in Philadelphia. Seconding travelling earlier if you can.
posted by Cocodrillo at 3:09 AM on October 27, 2012
Definitely this. Last time there was a storm of any size I wasn't able to take Acela from NY to DC the next day b/c there were branches on the tracks -- they kicked us off in Philadelphia. Seconding travelling earlier if you can.
posted by Cocodrillo at 3:09 AM on October 27, 2012
WHEN is your flight scheduled to land at Dulles? In the morning, for instance, you'll have much better chances than if it's an evening arrival, because the worst is currently expected to hit Monday evening and all day Tuesday.
The problem with landing in Boston then taking the train south, or Raleigh-Durham and driving north, is that this mess is expected to be HUGE, and it will probably extend all the way from North Carolina to Maine, and from the coast inland to Ohio. The Romney campaign has already canceled events in Virginia Beach for Sunday evening, and the Obama campaign canceled most of their Monday Virginia events. Amtrak says that in case of winds over 60mph, they'll shut down. Places all up the Atlantic seaboard starting battening down the hatches yesterday; I'm watching the news as I type this (pre-dawn Saturday morning), and they're already showing increased and higher-than-normal wave action from the Outer Banks clear up to New England. Evacuation plans have already been announced for a lot of shore areas. Pepco --- our dearly beloved, entirely incompetent power company Pepco --- is swearing up, down and sideways that THIS time, they're ready, although they're also saying that there WILL be outages.
Every weather report is warning that even though Sandy has slightly decreased to its current 'tropical storm' status, don't be fooled: its currently expected to land directly in southern New Jersey, which is where it'll meet up with that Canadian low pressure system PLUS the storm coming east from the Midwest...... at which point, all three will join up to boost each other into Frankenstorm. Fun.
All in all, if there is any way you can, fly home Sunday at the latest.
posted by easily confused at 3:30 AM on October 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
The problem with landing in Boston then taking the train south, or Raleigh-Durham and driving north, is that this mess is expected to be HUGE, and it will probably extend all the way from North Carolina to Maine, and from the coast inland to Ohio. The Romney campaign has already canceled events in Virginia Beach for Sunday evening, and the Obama campaign canceled most of their Monday Virginia events. Amtrak says that in case of winds over 60mph, they'll shut down. Places all up the Atlantic seaboard starting battening down the hatches yesterday; I'm watching the news as I type this (pre-dawn Saturday morning), and they're already showing increased and higher-than-normal wave action from the Outer Banks clear up to New England. Evacuation plans have already been announced for a lot of shore areas. Pepco --- our dearly beloved, entirely incompetent power company Pepco --- is swearing up, down and sideways that THIS time, they're ready, although they're also saying that there WILL be outages.
Every weather report is warning that even though Sandy has slightly decreased to its current 'tropical storm' status, don't be fooled: its currently expected to land directly in southern New Jersey, which is where it'll meet up with that Canadian low pressure system PLUS the storm coming east from the Midwest...... at which point, all three will join up to boost each other into Frankenstorm. Fun.
All in all, if there is any way you can, fly home Sunday at the latest.
posted by easily confused at 3:30 AM on October 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Your best bet is to leave as soon as possible if you can find a seat on a flight.
posted by twblalock at 3:45 AM on October 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by twblalock at 3:45 AM on October 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yeah, leave early if you can. I've been stuck for several days due to weather, and I doubt things have gotten any easier in the 10 or so years since it happened last.
The airline will be as accommodating as possible, generally, but they will be dealing with hundreds of passengers who will want/need the same thing you want--a booked ticket east.
If you do get delayed, don't be surprised if they send your luggage without you or vice-versa. Make sure you have all the things you need when you get home in your carry-on--medications, valuables, etc.
posted by xyzzy at 4:22 AM on October 27, 2012
The airline will be as accommodating as possible, generally, but they will be dealing with hundreds of passengers who will want/need the same thing you want--a booked ticket east.
If you do get delayed, don't be surprised if they send your luggage without you or vice-versa. Make sure you have all the things you need when you get home in your carry-on--medications, valuables, etc.
posted by xyzzy at 4:22 AM on October 27, 2012
Not sure about your specific employer, but if the storm lives up to the hype, with power outages and road closures, etc. there is a chance your office is closed for a day or two.
posted by AugustWest at 5:07 AM on October 27, 2012
posted by AugustWest at 5:07 AM on October 27, 2012
The CWG seem to think Sunday won't be too bad, so switch your flight to Sunday if at all possible (I know Virgin doesn't have as many flights to IAD as, say United does, but you might be able to get a seat).
My work's DC office is operating on the assumption that the feds will be closed on Monday, which means the DC office will be closed - does your work follow that rule as well?
Don't try to fly into Boston and take the train, or into Raleigh and drive - both scenarios are likely to leave you even more screwed, as flooding is forecasted to be extensive from the Carolinas to Maine.
posted by rtha at 7:44 AM on October 27, 2012
My work's DC office is operating on the assumption that the feds will be closed on Monday, which means the DC office will be closed - does your work follow that rule as well?
Don't try to fly into Boston and take the train, or into Raleigh and drive - both scenarios are likely to leave you even more screwed, as flooding is forecasted to be extensive from the Carolinas to Maine.
posted by rtha at 7:44 AM on October 27, 2012
Leave early and avoid the clusterfuck of delayed and cancelled flights! This blog post, Airline Crisis Survival Guide, apparently written by someone who works for Accuweather, has good general advice & (in more recent posts) some seriously scary predictions about this storm. You should really take advantage of the travel waiver Virgin's issued. (I'm flying out of Boston on JetBlue and initially it was scheduled for Tuesday, but late last night they updated their travel waiver to include Boston and I snagged some of the last seats on a Sunday afternoon flight (tomorrow--yikes, so much to do and so little time!)).
posted by tapir-whorf at 7:57 AM on October 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by tapir-whorf at 7:57 AM on October 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
If you can't leave early, which I strongly recommend, see if you can make a hotel reservation in SF that you can cancel for no fee if you get stuck.
posted by kat518 at 10:03 AM on October 27, 2012
posted by kat518 at 10:03 AM on October 27, 2012
Response by poster: Well, there's definitely no way out for me on Sunday, and Virgin seem to have shut everything down for Monday already.
Fun times.
posted by schmod at 6:59 PM on October 27, 2012
Fun times.
posted by schmod at 6:59 PM on October 27, 2012
Virgin, like a lot of other airlines, probably decided to pre-emptively cancel so they can get their planes somewhere safe away from here; Amtrak has also announced cancelations for today and Monday. Heck, on Friday the Navy ordered every ship at Hampton Roads/Newport News to get out to sea, where it's safer to ride this out.
Fun times, indeed!
posted by easily confused at 3:25 AM on October 28, 2012
Fun times, indeed!
posted by easily confused at 3:25 AM on October 28, 2012
Well, since you're stuck here, might as well head to the Civic Center, where they're setting up a big screen for the game tonight. Even if you don't care about baseball itself, this will give you a fun local thing to do and talk about. And the weather's stunning, so hey!
posted by rtha at 1:35 PM on October 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by rtha at 1:35 PM on October 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
So what happened, are you still in San Francisco? All federal and local and many/most private businesses here are closed here today and probably even tomorrow, for what it's worth.
posted by onlyconnect at 7:54 AM on October 29, 2012
posted by onlyconnect at 7:54 AM on October 29, 2012
Best answer: Looks like schmod's flight did get canceled and schmod got stuck on the west coast for a bit, but ultimately got home. Glad everything worked out!
posted by onlyconnect at 5:21 AM on November 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by onlyconnect at 5:21 AM on November 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Secondly, go ahead and try to get SMS updates. That way you can avoid discovering your flight having been cancelled after your arrival at SFO. If that's not possible, keep very close tabs on flight status at all times, via the airline's website.
Thirdly, my best advice is try to emphasize to the customer service, gate or phone agent that you want a booked seat on the next flight you can get, and not a standby seat. Standbys spend days wandering from terminal to terminal hoping for a seat that may never materialize. Once you have a boarding pass with a seat on it, you're golden.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 11:11 PM on October 26, 2012