is an airline allowed to change your flight?

[disneydreamin247]

I just looked at my flight info on Delta because I have been thinking about adding a day to our trip, and I see that they changed my flight, without any type of notification. Our other flight is still available so I don't know why they would change us. They put us on an earlier flight. Are they allowed to do this?

 

[goofy4tink]

When you book a flight, with any airline, they are only required to get you from point A to point B on a particular day. Read the fine print..it's incredible. Yes, Delta can, and frequently does, change flights. And when you book more than a month or so before flying, you stand a huge chance of many changes. I booked my flight to MCO in Sept about a month or so ago. I have already had changes to the flight and last week they completely canceled my flight and put me on an earlier one. Delta has made announcements that they are cutting back routes to Orlando for about a week now, so I wasn't surprised to see my non-stop flight canceled.
They will not notify you until just before your flight (if at all!!). The traveler should take it upon themself to check on their flights on a regular basis to see what changes have happened. When I see a change to my flights, there is usually a seat change as well. I then call Delta and have my seats reassigned to where I want to sit. I have had to call a total of 13 times for one flight about two years ago!! It's a hobby for me now!

 

[M2DD's]

Yes they can and will do this,sometimes most of the time. The farther you book out the more chance they will make the change.However I was told last yr with delta if the flight change was over 90 min difference then you can change your flight time/day without any penalty,meaning paying a fee to change times/date.
I would call and see what they can do for you.

 

[disneydreamin247]

But what if they change my flight right before I leave and my ME tags aren't for my new flight?

I love how they can change you at their will, but should you want to leave a few hours later you have to fork over 75 bucks a ticket!

 

[dvcnewgirl]

When they change me, I call and insist they put me on a flight that is similar to the one I booked if they have one or one that is better for me.

 

[clkelley]

But what if they change my flight right before I leave and my ME tags aren't for my new flight?

I love how they can change you at their will, but should you want to leave a few hours later you have to fork over 75 bucks a ticket!

Don't worry about the ME tags. The ME tags don't care what flight you are on. Your bags will be pulled from whatever flight they arrive on and will be transported to your Disney resort. If your flight number changes, then call DME and let them know your new flight number. That way if you are delayed past 11pm, they will be expecting you and will have personnel available. Otherwise, as long as DME has you arriving on a certain day, no worries.

 

[disneydreamin247]

Thanks everyone! You guys are agreat

BTW can you tell I NEVER fly?

 

[camtheriot]

OK, I NEVER fly either - AND I'm also booked with Delta. We depart exactly 30 days from now. How do I check to see if my flight has been changed? I go to Delta's website, and then what?

Thanks

 

[disneydreamin247]

Look up your itinerary. It's under Traveling And Check In.

 

[seashoreCM]

I see that they changed my flight, without any type of notification. Our other flight is still available so I don't know why they would change us. ?

They may not change you to another flight without your consent (and without compensating you using the bumping rules) if your original flight still exists.

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

 

[mom2aredhead]

Delta is pretty notorious for doing this. It's why I won't fly them. Well, that and they don't have direct service from my closest airport to MCO.

My brother in law has to fly them ALL THE TIME for work - we're talking at least 6-8 trips per month. The other day he was in DC and had to get to Atlanta. He was booked on a flight that they cancelled, but because he is about the highest "class" frequent flyer they have, they automatically re-book him on a new flight. But guess what they did...
Instead of putting him on a flight on 3/28, they re-booked his flight for 4/28. He gets to the airport for what he thought was his 3:00 flight, but he can't get on because he's not on the passenger list, etc. etc. So he has to sit there as a standby for the 5:00 flight which he did not get on, and finally got on the 8-something. This is only the most recent of several Delta horror stories he has.
If this is how they treat their full-fare frequent business travelers, I shudder to think about the rest of us...

 

[disneydreamin247]

I seriously regret booking with them. They still have no mention of the decreased baggage allowances on their site, nor have they notified me of it. You would think they would at least notify passengers that were already booked on a flight or shield them from the charge if they booked before the announcement. I would have rather spent an extra hundred bucks for Continental.

 

[mom2aredhead]

I seriously regret booking with them. They still have no mention of the decreased baggage allowances on their site, nor have they notified me of it. You would think they would at least notify passengers that were already booked on a flight or shield them from the charge if they booked before the announcement. I would have rather spent an extra hundred bucks for Continental.

Is your flight direct? I thought they always stopped in Atlanta from Newark to Orlando (I assume Newark airport since you're on Staten Island...like me!)

And BTW if you are flying out of Newark - I HAD to fly Delta last month for a trip to Atlanta and their TSA screening area is a horror show - It's in a what is basically 1/2 of a hallway (not kidding) with very little room to line up or move. They actually had a security person directing traffic (picture a flag guy in a construction zone) so that people getting off flights could get out of their little half of the hallway because the line to get to the screening was horrendous.

We've used Continental for our last few trips - cheapest and no issues at all. Jet Blue used to be my favorite, but unfortunately their prices aren't competitive with Continental anymore.

 

[ameraumi]

Delta canceled all of their direct flights from Dayton, OH and put us on a connection flight in Cincy. I called because we did not get notice of that change and I only knew about by checking the website. They switched us to the direct out of Concy with no problems. This was done on New Years Day.

I just got a call from Delta a few hours ago to inform me of our flights schedule changes. They kept our same seats for us as well.

 

[seashoreCM]

He was booked on a flight that they cancelled, but because he is about the highest "class" frequent flyer they have, they automatically re-book him on a new flight. But guess what they did...
Instead of putting him on a flight on 3/28, they re-booked his flight for 4/28. He gets to the airport for what he thought was his 3:00 flight, but he can't get on because he's not on the passenger list, etc. etc. So he has to sit there as a standby for the 5:00 flight which he did not get on, and finally got on the 8-something. :

I would say that the airline owes the passenger compensation on this one, regardless of status.

 

[wdhinn89]

Why would they change your flight if yours still exists? I have heard of them changing flight times and cancelling flights or adding a stop, but never just moving people when their flight still exists.

 

[bicker]

It is quite unusual, but they actually can do it. Their only legal commitment is to transport the passenger from one city to another, on a specific day. All other elements of the reservation are subject to change, unilaterally, by the airline. You can typically get a full refund if the changes are very significant, but generally you won't get any kind of cash compensation, upgrade consideration, or anything like that.

 

[wdhinn89]

But WHY? What would the reasoning be? It doesn't make sense if the flight still exists.

 

[buzz2400]

Why would they change your flight if yours still exists? I have heard of them changing flight times and cancelling flights or adding a stop, but never just moving people when their flight still exists.

I read this as the flight was overbooked and no one would volunteer. I have read that they can't bump you because they are overbooked. I even bring the article with me when I fly so I know what my rights are.

I am flying in August on Delta and I do very much regret using them. I did send an email to delta about the luggage thing and they did reply to me that they will be charging you effective may if you have a second piece of luggage. I am going on a cruise and needed the extra suitcase for the dress clothes. I have lost sleep over this and came to the decision that we are not bringing dress shoes. We will wear our sneakers (even on formal night). We are not getting real dressed up.

 

[disneydreamin247]

Is your flight direct? I thought they always stopped in Atlanta from Newark to Orlando (I assume Newark airport since you're on Staten Island...like me!)

And BTW if you are flying out of Newark - I HAD to fly Delta last month for a trip to Atlanta and their TSA screening area is a horror show - It's in a what is basically 1/2 of a hallway (not kidding) with very little room to line up or move. They actually had a security person directing traffic (picture a flag guy in a construction zone) so that people getting off flights could get out of their little half of the hallway because the line to get to the screening was horrendous.

We've used Continental for our last few trips - cheapest and no issues at all. Jet Blue used to be my favorite, but unfortunately their prices aren't competitive with Continental anymore.

We are flying from JFK (I HATE that airport btw). It was a little cheaper, but honestly if I knew of all the issues I would be having with Delta, I would have sprung for the extra few bucks (cheaper than a 2nd suitcase for me and DS!) and booked Continental. Delta has been a headache from the minute I purchased our tickets. I prefer Newark over JFK any day!