Can your flight get cancelled because the airline didn't sell enough tickets for it?

Question

I've been tracking a flight for a couple of days and it has been cancelled fairly frequently. I have checked the weather and everything seems fine. The flight is AA's 460 from Chicago to Toronto. What could cause the airline to cancel the flight? What are the odds that it might get cancelled if I'm flying a couple of days after new year's eve? and if it's cancelled what will happen to my travel plans?

Answer 1

yes,

they can cancel for any reason. However, many airlines sell their seats at a loss, so cost is not an issue for them to cancel.

That being said, airlines are rated by ontime performance and completion factor by the goverment. If an airline keeps cancelling flights for no reason, they will be fined. I'm a pilot for a major US airline, and we will fly the plane with 4 people in it even if we are 12 hrs late, rather than cancel. The plane has to get to its destiation even if it's empty to continue its schedule.

Flights get cancelled for all sorts of reasons ie maintance, weather, late crews, airport of air traffic control delays, but i rarely if ever see a flight cancelled due to poor load factor.

Weather may look fine on the local tv, but it doesn't show fog, or amy other things that could close an airport and cause a flight to cancel. If the flight cancels, the airline is required by US law to rebook you on the NEXT available flight, even if it not on another carrier. They may offer you another flight or a voucher, but they will not volunteer to put you on another flight. Ask for a supervisor, and ask for a copy of the passengers bill of rights. They will get you on the next flight out...pronto

Answer 2

Unless you are flying a really small airline, it's pretty rare for a flight to be cancelled because it is undersold. That plane is going to get turned around after you land at your destination and sent back out on another flight full of passengers, so cancelling that for low bookings would mean all the other flights that plane would need to make would also be cancelled.

There's a lot of other reasons flights will be cancelled; most cancellations are due to weather so if this is a concern, take an early morning flight. That way, if your flight is cancelled, you can catch a later one. The weather that causes the cancellation might not even be in the same region as your flight--- if the plane starts out in Philadelphia, travels to Boston, and then to Chicago, bad weather in any one of these places will cancel your flight.

An airline has to put you on another flight if your flight is cancelled but there's no rules as to when that flight has to be. Complaining does not always help--- you're just as likely to alienate the gate crew as you are to get something for free, so if your flight is cancelled, don't automatically go into complaint mode.

For what it's worth, I fly about 40 times a year and I've only had once cancellation in the last 14 months. That time it was due to a huge thunderstorm on the East Coast; by the time the storm cleared out, it was past the time that the airlines could fly out of the airport. We did not get anything free and had to find our own hotel for the night but when you are dealing with weather problems, you really can't expect anything free. I do recommend taking a change of clothes and a toothbrush in your carry-on bag, just in case. Also in my experience, the customer service on American Airlines is the worst there is--- I won't fly with them any more--- if you can take another airline, you might be better off in case there is a problem!

Answer 3

Yes, unfortunatly they can. At least they gave you a well in advance notice! I remember I was flying from White Plains going to Cleveland. I was supposed to have a layover somewhere and told my friend I would be there at a certain time. So I get to the airport, my ride leaves and I check in. 10 minuites later there is a page over the intercom calling my name. Well, get this.... They cancelled my flight AFTER I GOT TO THE AIRPORT. Fortunatly for them they found another flight to Cleveland, leaving in about 5 min. They switched everything, and I was able to board, but if I had arrived 10 min later then I did what would happen?? So I got to Cleveland about 3 hours early and could not het ahold of my friend. Turns out I got to know that airport really well!! Then on a trip last year, my friend had a flight booked with US air and a couple weeks before the trip, the airline decided to change the flight and she was to fly into newark and stay there overnight and then take a really early flight the next day with 2 layovers. Really turned out bad. So yes they can do that with no problems and no legal issues. If you have booked already, they need to fix what ever they have changed or cancelled.

Answer 4

Yes they can cancel for that reason...I was in Ft. Lauderdale last year and they cancelled my home flight. After I complained enough, they had to pay to put me up in a hotel overnight until they could get me on another flight so I really don't think they are saving money doing this.

Answer 5

Yes on smaller airlines this can happen. If you want some better odds travel with a bigger airline. New Years eve is a big time of year so maybe you will be safe then but nothing is for sure.

Answer 6

I can tell you what U.S. Airways and Tam Airlines did while we were in route back from Brazil. They cancelled two flights w/o notice and we were stuck at the airports for long periods of time. We complained so much they comped our tickets and upgraded most of us to 1st class... If you complain long and hard enough you will get something!

Answer 7

I have flown the red-eye to Dallas at least 4 times (on a 737) where there have been fewer than 10 passengers on board. So I guess it's just the luck of the draw. You never know !

Answer 8

No. Regardless of how many people are on a flight, the plane still flies. People still need to get to locations and the company who is flying you is still working. You can have 3 people on the flight and they will still fly. It's in the rules of the company and FAA.

Answer 9

yes if the cost of the journey ismore expensive than the money they could get from the tickets, they can decide to cancel the flight and give you asnother ticket to another flight with more travellers, I should think so. Thanks God it never happened to me

Answer 10

hmmm i dont know about your other questions, but i do know that a flight can be cancelled b/c there weren't enough tickets sold. they've got to be able to make enough money per flight to pay for fuel, snacks, etc.