COMING AND GOING

Canceled Out

UPRIGHT AND LOCKED

Canceled Out

After waiting four hours at Dulles Airport one day last June, Arnold Miller and his family of three were told that their British Airways flight to London had been canceled and that they should go home.

Later that night, Miller, of Alexandria, was told to return the next day for a substitute flight. The family went, but that flight also was canceled , and they were told there might not be a flight the next day, either.

After a 1 1/2 -hour wait that night, his family was given tickets on Air France. Because he thought extra leg room was vital (his wife had a knee injury), Miller had paid for three World Traveler Plus tickets, which provide more legroom and wider seats. His substitute tickets, however, were for regular coach. Miller said he believed the difference in price between regular coach and World Traveler Plus was about $750 per ticket.

Repeated complaints to BA yielded reimbursement for the extra taxi fare to Dulles and th ree $250 vouchers . Miller repeatedly faxed customer service, saying the compensation was insufficient. When he got no response for more than two months, he contacted CoGo.

BA spokesman John Lampl said he was unable to find out why Miller wasn't notified in advance of either flight cancellation. As to compensation, he said the airline would reimburse Miller $1,503, the amount the carrier figures is the difference between regular coach and World Traveler Plus.

What were the original $250 vouchers for? "An ex gratia amount: an apology from the airline," Lampl said.

As CoGo often warns, it's important to double-check flight times before heading to the airport. Second, if you don't get what you paid for, be persistent in demanding your due.

CRUISE NEWS

Windjammer Woes

Don't head to the airport just yet for your Windjammer cruise. The popular barefoot cruises in the Caribbean did not sail last week as scheduled, the Web site has disappeared and humans don't answer the phones . (A machine says "Ahoy" and gives options of numbers to press, but every option leads to a weird beep.)

As CoGo warned in August, Windjammer is in severe financial straits, and owners at that time were negotiating with a buyer . It seems, however, that things have taken a turn for the worse.

Steve Galloway of Stafford, for example, was supposed to sail last Sunday from Grenada. A few days before his sailing date, he said, he got an e-mai l from the cruise line saying the ship wouldn't sail then but he'd be welcomed aboard the following week. The explanation: an "administrative operational problem."

He told the cruise line he couldn't delay his trip for a week, and it offered to change his tickets for a sailing out of Costa Rica the same day he was originally booked. Luckily, he called just before leaving home and discovered that ship wasn't sailing, either . Galloway had paid by credit card, so he can seek reimbursement for services not delivered.

Miami investor Jerry Ceder had been negotiating to buy the cruise line. But the Miami Herald reported last week that Ceder has sued Windjammer, accusing the company of negotiating with other buyers behind his back.

Dan Lanser, an Ohio travel agent who sells Windjammer cruises through A Plus Travel Adventures, says it might be too early to pronounce Windjammer dead."Companies have been known to go into bankruptcy so the new buyers don't have to buy their liabilities," he notes.

CoGo's advice: Stay tuned, and don't fly to meet a cruise unless you can confirm it is sailing.

TRAVEL TICKER

Earn a free night at any Hyatt after two eligible stays between now and Nov. 30 when you pay by MasterCard. Details: 800-304-9288 (ask for enrollment code MF72V), http://www.goldpassport.com/MF72V. . . Jet Blue no longer will accept cash for in-flight purchases as of Nov. 1. Credit and debit cards will be accepted . . . At least six major cruise lines will stop in Cozumel, Mexico, instead of Costa Maya, which was damaged in a recent hurricane.

BARGAIN OF THE WEEK

American has sale fares for fall flights to Vail, Colo. Round-trip fare from BWI, Reagan National or Washington Dulles to Eagle County Airport is about $300, including $42 taxes. Other airlines are matching, but fare is typically about $560 round trip. Seven-day advance purchase required. Purchase at www.aa.com by Oct. 8, and complete travel by Nov. 15.

Reporting: Cindy Loose

Help feed CoGo. Send travel news, road reports and juicy tattles to cogo@washpost.com. By mail: CoGo, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.