Is Frontier Airlines a Pandemic Profiteer?

Final slide my little brother, who has been battling most cancers was rushed to the clinic by ambulance. His caregiver termed the relatives to tell us he experienced only a number of times to dwell. My 83-12 months-outdated Aunt had been serving to assist him throughout his ailment was not able to travel to see him. My other brother also had wellbeing issues and could not make the journey. I am 63 and was laid off a few years back. Finding a large having to pay career when you are over 60 is tricky. I generate Uber to make ends meet up with so my spending budget is incredibly limited. He is my brother so I made an crisis excursion to Ohio to see him a single very last time and represent the loved ones. He lingered for a while and passed away on November 10, 2020.

My sister-in-law termed in January. She wanted to have a birthday party for my Aunt who would be turning 84 on May 1. Even although I hadn’t paid off my vacation to see my brother, I agreed to fly back again to Ohio for her occasion. At 83, we will not know how a great deal lengthier she’ll be with us. Life is pretty unsure through a pandemic and she’s in a pretty substantial-chance team. The accumulating would give us a possibility to rejoice her life and grieve my brother.

I purchase a ticket on Frontier Airlines on January 11, 2020.

I had hoped to only keep 1 day for the occasion but had to e-book for 3 days to get the much less pricey ticket. I would not be able to push for Uber on these days. I would just take a significant hit on my profits that week. My revenue loss coupled with the price tag of the vacation would be above $1000, but loved ones is important. It would be very good to see them all over again.

Experiences begun coming in from China pertaining to the Corona virus. They experienced locked down 500 million people, more than the entire populace of the United States. On January 31, President Trump blocked travel from China. The news got progressively worse and I started stressing about touring in an plane with a hugely communicable ailment ravaging the place.

On February 27, Frontier alerted me that they have been cancelling my first booking presumably due to the fact they didn’t have ample passengers to make the flight. They desired to reschedule my flights. I called to convey to them I didn’t want to make the improve. I wished to wait and see if I could agenda a shorter excursion so I would not shed 3 days of do the job. Frontier stated they would difficulty a voucher excellent for 90 days so I could reschedule later on.

The initially US citizen died of Corona Virus on February 29. The infection was spreading speedily. I thought it would be prudent to wait around to reschedule. On March 17, the California Governor declared a continue to be-at-property get. Other states throughout the nation quickly introduced their have continue to be at house orders. Frontier finally stopped flying absolutely throughout the month of April. I could not reschedule my flight even if I preferred to.

On April 3, the Office of Transportation ruled that airways must refund shoppers if their flights had been cancelled. A lot of airlines ended up not complying so the DOT issued another warning on Could 12, 2020. This was unparalleled.

I have not worked given that March 17. The govt has explained gig staff like me would be equipped to get $600/week but that has not occurred. I have experienced no profits besides the $1200 stimulus examine for 3 months. I contacted Frontier and requested them to refund my $336. They have not supplied any solutions nor could they since they weren’t traveling when my flight was scheduled.

Frontier has refused. Not only is not going to they give me my dollars again, I only have right until June 2 to schedule a flight with them or I drop my cash. They will get to maintain $336 for accomplishing nothing at all at all.

Is Frontier profiting from the pandemic? I would have definitely taken the trip if there was not a really infectious pandemic. They ended up shut down in April, it was unattainable for me to even use their companies if I preferred to. I sense I should be entitled to a refund. Their representative, Lulu Zaldivar tells me they will not refund my dollars. They assert that even while they cancelled my first flight and experimented with to reschedule, it was me who cancelled the flight and am not eligible for a refund below the Office of Transportations purchase.

Do you think this is honest?

Frontier Airways at (801) 401-9000

About the author: David Berger is a 63 12 months previous Uber driver. He lives in San Diego California and hasn’t had an income considering that the California continue to be-at-home order on March 17