Be Careful with TED

[dcmbshafe]

I opted to use TED for our flights from IAD to MCO. When I searched the flyted.com website, I toggled for a "morning" flight and got 3 flights returned. I assumed they were listed in order by time, the first being 7:20, the second being 9:45 and the third being 2:20. Well, unfortunately I didn't notice that the 9:45 flight departed in the PM rather than the AM. I booked this way back in November and didn't even notice this until today!

I spoke to United (who operates TED) today and luckily the 7:20am flight was still available. The "life tax" (some might refer to it as "stupid tax") that I had to pay was $100 per ticket to make the change. I just spent the last 2 hours on the phone and there is absolutely no way United will waive this fee. They did offer to send me $50 vouchers for each ticket that I can use on a future flight, which softened the blow a little bit.

So, beware ye all who book their reservations via the internet to save the call-center fee and/or get extra bonus miles - check, re-check, and double re-check your flight information and then check it a couple more times.

[safetymom]

I can understand why they didn't waive the fee. It wasn't their mistake but yours. Almost all the airlines are like this.

[ptrbryant]

You could call them up the morning of your scheduled flight, say you just don't feel like traveling that day after all and they give you a full credit that can be used anytime/anywhere in the next 12 months. That flexibility, along with other bonuses, are why we just about always fly SW and no other airline, if at all possible! (And, no, no one in my family works for SW! )princess:

Karla B.

[dcmbshafe]

We usually use southwest also, but when we originally began checking on our outgoing flight the prices were quite high, as they were on all other airlines I checked.

And yes, it was my mistake (thanks so much for pointing that out to me) - my point is that when you use the internet, you don't have someone on the other end of the line reviewing the itinerary with you - if I was on the phone and I asked for "morning" flights, do you think the person on the other end of the line would show me a 9:45pm flight? Of course they wouldn't.

[seashoreCM]

I toggled for a "morning" flight and got 3 flights returned. I assumed they were listed in order by time, the first being 7:20, the second being 9:45 and the third being 2:20. Well, unfortunately I didn't notice that the 9:45 flight departed in the PM rather than the AM. ... check, re-check, and double re-check your flight information and then check it a couple more times.
Were the flights listed in order of price? Song (part of Delta) does it that way. However Song shows all flights for the day (unless sold out) and does not let you look at only morning flight or only afternoon flights.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Last trip: Jan. '05, Pop Century

[n2mm]

I opted to use TED for our flights from IAD to MCO. When I searched the flyted.com website, I toggled for a "morning" flight and got 3 flights returned. I assumed they were listed in order by time, the first being 7:20, the second being 9:45 and the third being 2:20. Well, unfortunately I didn't notice that the 9:45 flight departed in the PM rather than the AM. I booked this way back in November and didn't even notice this until today!

I spoke to United (who operates TED) today and luckily the 7:20am flight was still available. The "life tax" (some might refer to it as "stupid tax") that I had to pay was $100 per ticket to make the change. I just spent the last 2 hours on the phone and there is absolutely no way United will waive this fee. They did offer to send me $50 vouchers for each ticket that I can use on a future flight, which softened the blow a little bit.

So, beware ye all who book their reservations via the internet to save the call-center fee and/or get extra bonus miles - check, re-check, and double re-check your flight information and then check it a couple more times.

I fly this route often. Actually 3 times this year. Are you SURE that 7:20 flight is AM??? I thought the first flight out was 8:35AM. Please check, I think the 7:20 flight is another PM flight. Hope I'm wrong..

Sorry, I just reread your post and realized you were talking about the return flight to Wash. not the flight to Orlando. We love flying out on the first flight home and returning on the last flight to leave Orlando.

[dcmbshafe]

n2mm, your post just made my heart skip a beat!!!!

I was not talking about the return flight. There is indeed a 7:20am departure from Dulles that lands in Orlando at 9:38am. However, it looks as if the TED schedules are changing at some point over the next couple months. I got back online and did a search for January flights and sure enough the first available flight was 8:29am as you had said. We are traveling in March. I re-checked our itinerary and it still says 7:20am.

We also like leaving early from Washington and flying back late.

[PrincessofQuiteAlot]

This is why I always call the 800 number and only book the flight with a real person - It sometimes costs a little more, but I am so afraid of putting in the wrong information - It is a part of my obsessive compulsive behavior and have to "hear" someone tell me the information!

[DebbieB]

Watch your dates also. It's very easy on the dropdown to hit the wrong date.

[dcmbshafe]

Yep, I guess that was the real point of my post (other than to "vent" about my mistake) - the airlines are making it more attractive all the time to book online, either by charging a "call-center fee" to book over the phone or by rewarding extra miles for booking online, etc. But when you book online, the computer on the other end doesn't double check you to make sure you really are booking the flight you intend. I would have never thought that I'd make this kind of mistake...