Is Frontier Airways a Pandemic Profiteer?

Final fall my little brother, who has been battling most cancers was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. His caregiver referred to as the household to inform us he had only some days to dwell. My 83-year-old Aunt had been serving to assist him throughout his sickness was not capable of journey to see him. My different brother additionally had well being points and couldn’t make the journey. I’m 63 and was laid off a pair years in the past. Discovering a excessive paying job when you find yourself over 60 is tough. I drive Uber to make ends meet so my finances could be very restricted. He’s my brother so I made an emergency journey to Ohio to see him one final time and characterize the household. He lingered for some time and handed away on November 10, 2020.

My sister-in-law referred to as in January. She needed to have a birthday celebration for my Aunt who could be turning 84 on Might 1. Regardless that I hadn’t paid off my journey to see my brother, I agreed to fly again to Ohio for her celebration. At 83, we don’t know the way for much longer she’ll be with us. Life could be very unsure throughout a pandemic and he or she’s in a really high-risk group. The gathering would give us an opportunity to have fun her life and grieve my brother.

I buy a ticket on Frontier Airways on January 11, 2020.

I had hoped to solely keep 1 day for the celebration however needed to e book for 3 days to get the inexpensive ticket. I wouldn’t be capable to drive for Uber on these days. I might take an enormous hit on my earnings that week. My earnings loss coupled with the price of the journey could be over $1000, however household is necessary. It will be good to see them once more.

Experiences began coming in from China concerning the Corona virus. They’d locked down 500 million folks, greater than the whole inhabitants of the US. On January 31, President Trump blocked journey from China. The information received progressively worse and I began worrying about touring in an airplane with a extremely communicable illness ravaging the nation.

On February 27, Frontier alerted me that they had been cancelling my unique reserving presumably as a result of they didn’t have sufficient passengers to make the flight. They needed to reschedule my flights. I referred to as to inform them I didn’t need to make the change. I needed to attend and see if I may schedule a shorter journey so I wouldn’t lose 3 days of labor. Frontier stated they’d problem a voucher good for 90 days so I may reschedule later.

The primary US citizen died of Corona Virus on February 29. The an infection was spreading quickly. I assumed it might be prudent to attend to reschedule. On March 17, the California Governor introduced a stay-at-home order. Different states throughout the nation shortly introduced their very own keep at house orders. Frontier ultimately stopped flying fully in the course of the month of April. I couldn’t reschedule my flight even when I needed to.

On April 3, the Division of Transportation dominated that airways should refund clients if their flights had been cancelled. Many airways weren’t complying so the DOT issued one other warning on Might 12, 2020. This was unprecedented.

I’ve not labored since March 17. The federal government has stated gig staff like me would be capable to get $600/week however that has not occurred. I’ve had no earnings besides the $1200 stimulus verify for 3 months. I contacted Frontier and requested them to refund my $336. They haven’t offered any companies nor may they as a result of they weren’t flying when my flight was scheduled.

Frontier has refused. Not solely received’t they offer me my a reimbursement, I solely have till June 2 to schedule a flight with them or I lose my cash. They may get to maintain $336 for doing nothing in any respect.

Is Frontier taking advantage of the pandemic? I might have positively taken the journey if there wasn’t a extremely infectious pandemic. They had been shut down in April, it was unimaginable for me to even use their companies if I needed to. I really feel I must be entitled to a refund. Their consultant, Lulu Zaldivar tells me they won’t refund my cash. They declare that regardless that they cancelled my unique flight and tried to reschedule, it was me who cancelled the flight and am not eligible for a refund beneath the Division of Transportations order.

Do you assume that is truthful?

Frontier Airways at (801) 401-9000

In regards to the creator: David Berger is a 63 12 months previous Uber driver. He lives in San Diego California and hasn’t had an earnings for the reason that California stay-at-home order on March 17