10-14-2006 Cruisetoberfest IV

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

The bottom of page 2
just won't do!
Back to the top of page one
to get things done!

 

[salbythec]

Hello everyone
For the first time in days we are able to turn off the air and open the windows!! Its 85 and a beautiful day!
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Sally

 

[MN_Cruz'n]

moving to page one
two won't do...

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

67 days until we cruise!
I think that is just fabulous news!
Almost 2 years we had to wait
You can bet I'll be there, I won't be late!

 

[Gramto3]

I NEED HELP!!I NEED HELP !!!![/COLOR] I NEED HELP!!!

I went on line today to check our plane reservations. Boy, was I in for a shocker.

Delta changed our flight schedules to and from FL. going down to MCO ~ 55 min. later flight with unassigned seats. Doable.

Coming home is a whole different story. We went to leaving MCO 1 hr. 20 min. later. Doable also, but wait, the best news is yet to come.

Our flight home goes from Orlando 6:40 pm to Atlanta 9:30 pm to Cincinnati 2:30 pm to State College. How can these screwy times be?????

Upon calling Delta, I was told the above was a computer error....ok....that's fine. Fix it?? (NOT)
The only flight on Delta out of Orlando for 10/21 to my destination is 10:30 am. A NO GO!!! Delta (bless their hearts) can't put us on a different flight because the last leg is on Northwest and not a Delta affiliated airline.

Delta's options to me:

1. Stay another night (at my expense) in FL and fly home the next day at 10:30am.

2. They will give me a full refund on my refundable tickets.

Okay, what's the problem you say?

1. Why should I pay extra money to stay when they changed my flight and never notified me? By the way, they are not required to notify you until 30 days in advance.

2. Great, I'll take the refund and then I will need to pay even more $$$$$ for another flight on another airline. Plus, that messes up our DCL transportation, so I would also need a 10 passenger rental van.

SO ~ to all you experienced flyers ~~ what course of action should I take???

 

[Viking]

IMHO they should give you a voucher for a hotel stay at MCO. They have those vouchers!!!!! In Germany they'd have to provide alternative transportation or a hotel stay & meals at THEIR expense.

 

[Gramto3]

Thanks for the advice and I agree, unfortunately Delta doesn't see it that way.

I have spoken to three different supervisors/managers without success. They only need to provide us with alternate transportation (flying the next day) or a refund. No vouchers no nothing. So I opted for the refund.

I have been trying to turn negatives into positives ~ so 10 deep breaths, calm down and a positive thought. Here goes: for some unknown reason we were not meant to be on those flights on those days. I'll go with that and start researching flights again although I am sure we are going to pay more.

What a way to start the week!

 

[WDWCrazzyCunninghams]

Diana,
What a mess! Delta has rearranged our schedule too, and we aren't to happy with it...although ours is much more doable! Frankly, I think I would have stayed the extra night and stayed at one of the Disney hotels. Then you could still use thier transportation. You could have stayed at one of the value resorts, let the kids go swimming and just enjoy the Disney atmosphere for one more day. How frustrating for YOU though! Now you have to start from square one, when you thought it was all taken care of! Let us know how it all turns out!

 

[Gramto3]

Would anyone like to volunteer to be my trip coordinator?????? Pleaseeeeee


Michele ~ Thank you for the advice. I guess I let my anxiety and anger get the best of me and looking back I should have just taken the next days flight. Hardly slept at all last night. DH keeps hugging me and telling me it will work out and I know it will. Oh well!

Jeninpa and I are bouncing our options back and forth.....right now it looks as if we will be renting a van and driving to Pittsburgh for a cheaper flight. She would like to go to Sea World for the extra day.....so we are also looking at hotels and van rentals options.

Since I struggle with being flexible and she has never travelled before this should make an interesting adventure. I just need to stay calm.

Now we just need to find a way to come up with extra $$$$.

 

[jeanneg]

Diana,

Sorry for all the confusion....all the airlines are the same. I just spent last night at DFW airport because of a major screwup there. What should have been a 2 legged 8 hour journey turned into a 3 legged 26 hour marathon! And since it was all weather-related we got ZIPPO in vouchers! The airline in question was American, which is usually quite good but, boy, do I have stories after last night!

If it's any consolation, Delta changed my October flights also....and like you, I was never notified. I think we're leaving about 1 1/2 hours earlier which is "doable" but really screws up my husband's work day. Unfortunately, until the airlines start to turn a profit again, I think we're going to be seeing more and more of this and there's absolutely nothing we can do. Sometimes it can be so frustrating......

 

[Gramto3]

Thanks Jeanne. Sorry your trip home was a bummer. Did your daughter find an apartment?

Glad your home safe and sound.

 

[padisneyfan]

Diana--- Check southwest you can fly out of Pittsburgh for $79/each way on 10/13 and 10/22. There are also non stop flights on that date. Southwest also flys out of Philly and Baltimore.

Nancy

 

[jeanneg]

Diana,
Thanks for asking....yes, we did find an apt but it was WAY more than we ever envisioned having to spend for little more than a closet. There were some that were just slightly less expensive, but seemed a little scuzzi. The good thing is that it is situated only about 20 miles north of Hollywood, so my son plans to give up the "room" that he has there and crash on her sofa when he's in town. That way he'll help with the rent. Plus it's only 5 minutes from Cal Arts and lots of other students live there. My daughter went to a state university so still has a nice chunk of her college fund available. Nevertheless, she will have major loans to pay off after these next 2 years, but she has decided that the investment will be worth it. Just wait until the grandkids get to be college age....you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

 

[cdnmickeylover]

I was going to suggest checking Southwest too. We are flying them out of Buffalo -- great price for us and only 2 hours away.

Fiona

 

[Gramto3]

Thanks ladies. I went to Southwest and liked the nonstop flights for $177 a person. Now I need to find a way for us to get to Pittsburgh. I've checked our towns one rental agency, agencies in Williamsport and State College and no one has a mini van or 10 passenger van rentals from their locations.

Right now it looks like both Jenny and I will be driving a compact to Pittsburgh unless some fairy throws us pixie dust in the form of a van!

I am also looking into changing our hotel to one at the port (cheaper), cancelling our DCL bus reservation and renting a mini van the day before and the day we return. Now I just need to find a cheap room for the six of us for the 22d.

This trip is becoming a major headache.

 

[JC Butterfly]

Would anyone like to volunteer to be my trip coordinator?????? Pleaseeeeee


Michele ~ Thank you for the advice. I guess I let my anxiety and anger get the best of me and looking back I should have just taken the next days flight. Hardly slept at all last night. DH keeps hugging me and telling me it will work out and I know it will. Oh well!

Jeninpa and I are bouncing our options back and forth.....right now it looks as if we will be renting a van and driving to Pittsburgh for a cheaper flight. She would like to go to Sea World for the extra day.....so we are also looking at hotels and van rentals options.

Since I struggle with being flexible and she has never travelled before this should make an interesting adventure. I just need to stay calm.

Now we just need to find a way to come up with extra $$$$.

Diana-

So sorry you have to deal with this frustration so late in the game. Sending some pixie dust your way to hope a great solution presents itself!

Brenda

 

[Gramto3]

Thanks Brenda. Well, I'm going at things backwards this time around. I booked a hotel near the Port instead of the airport and saved $10 and by cancelling my DCL transportation and renting a van the day before and the day of return I am saving $54.25.

I'm going to wait until Sun. (60 day mark) to see if the flight rates go lower (ha, ha) and book a nonstop flight from Pittsburgh and save $720 total from our original tickets. Now I just need to find a way out of this one horse town and a hotel for Sat. night after the cruise at an affordable rate and I will be able to take the kids to Sea World for the day and still break even for the $ amount I paid for my original flights and transportation.

Just alot more inconvenient.

 

[salbythec]

Diana, sending lots of pixie dust to you! I was having trouble renting a van to take all of our dd's stuff to college next week. I called all the u haul places in town and finally found one that had a 16 passage van ( not a uhaul) for 89.00 and 100 miles free. They are going to leave just 3 seats in for us so there is room for her stuff. So try U haul places too!

Sally

 

[Gramto3]

Thanks Sally. I never would have thought of UHaul. I'll look into it.

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Diana - if you go with Southwest sign up for their Ding and their rapid rewards. Ding is an icon that sits on your computer and they send out sale prices for certain flights -- usually everyday. Sometimes you can get your flight for much cheaper and then they will give you a credit.

Fiona