Who's responsible when there is a missed connection ?

[turtlemichael]

A friend is currently at LAX at 00:30 on a EWR-LAX-AKL-MEL journey on an NZ issued ticket. The UA flight to LAX was delayed 4+ hours in NYC and the connection on NZ to AKL was missed. There are no NZ reps around and one solitary UA person trying to deal with a lot of people lined up. He has no status and is in Y. UA is responsible for looking after him overnight? The next NZ flight is in 21 hours.

 

[Lynda2475]

As a Air NZ ticket, Air NZ are responsible to get him home hopefully confirmed for the next day's flight, although as they partner with UA, there is possibly a UA flight that might get him back earlier?

Not sure about the hotel, but travel insurance will definitely cover this provided his original ticket allowed for the proper connection times. Id call AirNZ customer service, ensure that I have ticket home, then find an airport hotel with a vacancy, check in and claim on travel insurance.

 

[turtlemichael]

Not sure what flight he is on home but UA have paid for his overnight accommodation.

 

[oz_mark]

UA caused the misconnect, so it's on them

 

[Himeno]

Which ever airline caused the misconnect to happen is at fault and are (usually) the party responsible to fix it. Provided both flights are on the same ticket. If it's a "misconnect" across tickets, it's on you.

 

[turtlemichael]

Which ever airline caused the misconnect to happen is at fault and are (usually) the party responsible to fix it. Provided both flights are on the same ticket. If it's a "misconnect" across tickets, it's on you.

The only explanation for the delay from UA was "technical issues" The outcome was that he was treated well by UA in terms of accommodation and meals overnight in LA. NZ put him on the VA flight direct to Australia the next day rather than an NZ flight via AKL.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The only explanation for the delay from UA was "technical issues" The outcome was that he was treated well by UA in terms of accommodation and meals overnight in LA. NZ put him on the VA flight direct to Australia the next day rather than an NZ flight via AKL.

Often UA will put the misconnect pax on their own metal with irrops as it's cheaper. Is it NZ "putting him on the VA flight" or UA putting him on the VA flight. Wouldn't expect NZ to wear the cost of the new flight particularly as they'd probably be charged full whack by VA. It would be a stretch for NZ putting him on their own flight next day given that he would've been a noshow.

 

[madrooster]

The faulting carrier (in this case UA), not the ticketing carrier, is solely responsible for rebooking a disrupted pax.

 

[ozfflyer]

Often UA will put the misconnect pax on their own metal with irrops as it's cheaper. Is it NZ "putting him on the VA flight" or UA putting him on the VA flight. Wouldn't expect NZ to wear the cost of the new flight particularly as they'd probably be charged full whack by VA. It would be a stretch for NZ putting him on their own flight next day given that he would've been a noshow.

not a no show. NZ would have know he was delayed into LAX as on one ticket. Sometimes they'll delay departure if a lot of people & not that long a wait but 4 hours ... no can't do it.