Changing Disney Air Flights

[Ivory]

Has anyone ever booked the airfare with Disney and then wanted to change it to another more convienent flight?

I found another flight with Delta (the same carrier they are using for our flight) and was wondering if anyone has had any luck with getting them to change it.

Other wise they have us leaving at 2:30 with 2 hr stop in Atlanta arriving in Toronto at 8:15 p.m.

The other Delta flight leaves at 11:30 stop in Atlanta for 1 hr and arriving in Toronto at 4:15 p.m.

Suffice to say I will never use Disney air again, a direct flight out of Orlando to Toronto is only 2 1/2 hrs and I have to spend all day not getting home until 8:15. I have heard of Disney flying people out as early as 11:30 and was wondering if it would be worth my while to try and get them to change it or will I just be getting myself set up for disappointment?

Also I checked and there is availability on the flights I want in coach. Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[kcashner]

I never tried to change the flights after they were booked. What I learned in the past is that DCL books the flights that Delta will give them at the lowest cost, usually based on them being the least popular flights. If I requested direct flights or flights leaving after 7 am (which would automatically give me the direct), it would be a "flight deviation" with an additional charge.

Thoughts... is there a fee for changing the flights? Can you do the change thru Delta rather than thru DCL?

IF Delta tries to change your flights, you do have some rights regarding what they try to move you to, but as they haven't pulled this on you yet, it doesn't apply.

As you noted....the poor flight selections as well as cost are reasons to book your air yourself!

 

[HallsofVA]

I know you can pay a "deviation" fee to DCL per person to enable you to select the specific flights that you want (or fly in early, etc.) (I think this fee is waived if you book a hotel room through disney for before or after your cruise.) I don't know where you are in the timing of your trip as to whether you can still pay that fee, but I think that's your only option for getting them to change your flights.

I don't know if you'd have any luck or ability to get to the airport early and try to go standby on the earlier flight, but not sure how that works if you've checked bags and if you are making a connection.

 

[NancyIL]

If you are at the airport early enough, see if you can standby for the 11:30 flight to Atlanta.

 

[Ivory]

Thanks so much for all of your replies, I think I will try to call Delta and see what happens, if not I will try the stand by at 11:30 hopefully that will work, if not then worst case I am home late.

I know now that the flight times are bad, but being from Canada the flight prices are actually cheaper for us, thats why I went with the DCL pricing but now I know better and will pay the extra expense and fly when I want.

 

[Gigi22]

I sympathize. We used to let our cruise line (not DCL) book our air ressies on whatever flight was cheapest, but we wound up on 3 flights both to and from home. It is worth the cost of the "air deviation" fee to be able to get non-stop flights, or just booking them independently, IMHO.

 

[sayhello]

Just thought I'd mention here that, unless you are a Platinum or Gold Medallion member, Delta will charge you $50 per ticket to fly standby on an earlier flight. They call it "Same Day Confirmed Travel". You can check out Delta's policy here:

http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/ticket_changes_refunds/sameday_travel_changes/index.jsp

It might be worth your while to check with DCL and see how much they'd charge you to *know* you can be on the earlier flight.

Sayhello

 

[TChrist05]

Does anyone know who Disney generally books for flights to Barcelona for the Westbound Transatlantic? We are going on it in SEPTEMBER.
Thanks.

 

[HallsofVA]

Does anyone know who Disney generally books for flights to Barcelona for the Westbound Transatlantic? We are going on it in SEPTEMBER.
Thanks.

I don't know. We had DCL air booked but got our flights for the WBTA on US Air for $400 each when they had them on sale 2 weeks ago so we canceled the DCL air. The deviation fee for the international flights is higher than the domestic flights, and we knew we wanted to fly in at least a day or 2 before. Be sure to check in on our meet thread!

 

[kcashner]

I was able to get flights for the Trans Atlantics for slightly over 1/2 of what DCL was charging! Canceled DCL air and booked it on my own.

 

[everafter1]

I let DCL book my air for my May 5th Med cruise, because I thought it would be easier (I agree with everyone, though, it's overpriced). I got my flight assignments this weekend and I'm not happy. They have us cutting it a little close with both our arrival and departure times. They actually booked us outside the guidelines they have on their website.

I called today to see if we could get them changed because the flight times make me nervous and they told us there was nothing they could do. They told me they're able to book outside the guidelines since they're "monitoring" the flights. I spoke to 3 people, one of whom was a manager, and they all said the same thing.

I've always received amazing service from DCL, so I was very surprised at this. I guess we'll just hope for the best with these flights. Lesson learned: I should have just booked them myself.

 

[kcashner]

One of my favorites is that they tell US not to book a departure before 12:30, but they book people on 11:30 flights. Sorry, but don't know how they can "monitor" Customs clearing the ship. That said, I don't hesitate to book an 11:30 flight.

Your one consolation--on the way to the ship if your flight runs just a little late, they will hold the ship for you BRIEFLY.

 

[jilljill]

FOr the OP I just found this info on Delta's site about changing flights:

Change Fees
Based on the fare rules, you may have to pay a service fee and/or a difference in fare. For travel within the 50 United States, the fee is $150 for Delta flights.

For travel outside the United States, the change fee is typically $250, but can vary based on location and type of fare. Changes are usually permitted only to the return portion of an international itinerary.


Being you are on an international flight you would be looking at a change fee of at least $250/ticket. Not sure it's worth it to change your tickets ahead of time.


For doing the same day change not sure if they would charge you to change each flight segment or not, you can call Delta directly to find that out. Usually if you have not checked your bags it's easier to get your flights changed the same day - they want you flying with your bags.

My guess for putting you on the 2:30 flight as opposed to the 11:30 flight (other than price for them) is that the recommended time for airport check-in is 3 hours before flight time for an international flight.

 

[everafter1]

DCL has me booked on a 10am flight leaving Barcelona... I was really surprised at that! When I asked them about it they again said that it was ok because they "monitor" those flights (I agree, I don't think they can monitor everything). Somehow I think it will still be a mad dash off the ship.

At least the ship doesn't leave port on embarkation day until 9pm. The manager I spoke to did reassure me multiple times that they would take care of us completely should anything happen... but I'm still nervous.

I asked multiple times if there was anything I could do and that I was even willing to pay a fee, but they said there was nothing at this point. I have a friend at the regular Disney reservation center and even he tried to fix it, but was unable. Usually DCL is so accomodating, but I guess flights must be different.

 

[TnRobin]

We had Disney book a particular flight for us a few years back. We wanted to fly in the day before the cruise instead of the day of the cruise. We did this prior to Disney booking the flight to begin with.

I want to say that it cost us $50 per ticket to have them book a particular flight. I seem to remember I check Delta and the ticket prices were similar for the two flights.

 

[jilljill]

DCL has me booked on a 10am flight leaving Barcelona... I was really surprised at that! When I asked them about it they again said that it was ok because they "monitor" those flights (I agree, I don't think they can monitor everything). Somehow I think it will still be a mad dash off the ship.

At least the ship doesn't leave port on embarkation day until 9pm. The manager I spoke to did reassure me multiple times that they would take care of us completely should anything happen... but I'm still nervous.

I asked multiple times if there was anything I could do and that I was even willing to pay a fee, but they said there was nothing at this point. I have a friend at the regular Disney reservation center and even he tried to fix it, but was unable. Usually DCL is so accomodating, but I guess flights must be different.

Once a ticket is booked there's nothing that can be done unless you want to pay the change fees. You would need to call the airline yourself to do this and it may include paying a fare difference as well as the change fee. It's definately one of the downfalls to letting someone else book your flights and you have no control unless you specifically tell them at reservation time what time you want your flight and pay the deviation fees associated with that request.

 

[everafter1]

Once a ticket is booked there's nothing that can be done unless you want to pay the change fees. You would need to call the airline yourself to do this and it may include paying a fare difference as well as the change fee. It's definately one of the downfalls to letting someone else book your flights and you have no control unless you specifically tell them at reservation time what time you want your flight and pay the deviation fees associated with that request.

That makes sense. I figured that was the case. I agree, definitely the downside to letting them handle things. I guess we'll just have to hope for the best.