AA flight change, shortening trip, help?

[afnaechiquita]

i got an email from American stating they changed my outgoing flight from orlando to my next destination... which would be all well and good if it weren't three hours earlier than what i'd originally booked. my flight was 6:15, now 3:25. we were planning on having a half day in MK, but now it doesn't quite seem worth it.

does anyone have any experience with something like this? i am planning on calling and asking if i can get the first flight out the next day, and just spend another night at WDW, but i'm not sure what american's reaction would be to that (i.e. if they'd charge me a change fee or not).

i wouldn't make a fuss about it except i'm overseas and planned out every leg of my trip home carefully, not expecting changes like this

 

[Gracie09]

Check the terms of carriage on the American website. In most cases if they change a flight by more than a certain number of hours (laid out in the toc) they will refund your or let you change your flight for not charge. If you want to change have a list of flight available to move to

 

[The Hendies]

When we flew Airtran I actually could plan for them to tweek the flight times. I would then go on line, find the flight I really wanted and then call and ask for the switch. They were willing to make the change every time.

 

[DebbieB]

i got an email from American stating they changed my outgoing flight from orlando to my next destination... which would be all well and good if it weren't three hours earlier than what i'd originally booked. my flight was 6:15, now 3:25. we were planning on having a half day in MK, but now it doesn't quite seem worth it.

does anyone have any experience with something like this? i am planning on calling and asking if i can get the first flight out the next day, and just spend another night at WDW, but i'm not sure what american's reaction would be to that (i.e. if they'd charge me a change fee or not).

i wouldn't make a fuss about it except i'm overseas and planned out every leg of my trip home carefully, not expecting changes like this

For a 3 hour change, they should move you to the flight of your choice at no charge. Check the schedules to see if there is a later flight that day, if not ask for the next morning.

 

[HookdonWDW]

We just had that happen with JetBlue, and changed to one day earlier at no charge. Good luck!

 

[mickeynut1]

i got an email from American stating they changed my outgoing flight from orlando to my next destination... which would be all well and good if it weren't three hours earlier than what i'd originally booked. my flight was 6:15, now 3:25. we were planning on having a half day in MK, but now it doesn't quite seem worth it.

does anyone have any experience with something like this? i am planning on calling and asking if i can get the first flight out the next day, and just spend another night at WDW, but i'm not sure what american's reaction would be to that (i.e. if they'd charge me a change fee or not).

i wouldn't make a fuss about it except i'm overseas and planned out every leg of my trip home carefully, not expecting changes like this

I agree with the pp that it shouldn't be a problem to get on another flight without being charged a change fee. It's been awhile since we've flown AA, but I was once told (by an AA rep) that if your flight was changed by 30 minutes or more, there would be no charge for getting moved to a different flight. This was quite a few years ago so things might have changed since then, but I would think 3 hours is more than enough to warrant a no fee change. Good luck.

 

[afnaechiquita]

thanks guys. unfortunately, in looking at the flight options, they all get to my next destination so late the next day that i would then want to push back the next leg of my trip, and i wonder if they'd allow that or if it'd be asking for too much. and then i have to wonder, is a few extra hours in a park really worth that?

 

[sam_gordon]

thanks guys. unfortunately, in looking at the flight options, they all get to my next destination so late the next day that i would then want to push back the next leg of my trip, and i wonder if they'd allow that or if it'd be asking for too much. and then i have to wonder, is a few extra hours in a park really worth that?

Assuming making the changes are acceptable to you, you've got nothing to lose by asking.

 

[ChristmasElf]

i got an email from American stating they changed my outgoing flight from orlando to my next destination... which would be all well and good if it weren't three hours earlier than what i'd originally booked. my flight was 6:15, now 3:25. we were planning on having a half day in MK, but now it doesn't quite seem worth it.

does anyone have any experience with something like this? i am planning on calling and asking if i can get the first flight out the next day, and just spend another night at WDW, but i'm not sure what american's reaction would be to that (i.e. if they'd charge me a change fee or not).

i wouldn't make a fuss about it except i'm overseas and planned out every leg of my trip home carefully, not expecting changes like this

Here is a suggestion: If you want to hit a park on your departure day, make it one of the other parks like Hollywood Studios or EPCOT which are much easier and faster to exit out of. Going to and getting out of the Magic Kingdom takes the longest since you have to first stop at the Transportation and Ticket Center whereas with the other parks you can skip all that.

If you were to say arrive at Hollywood Studios at opening, you could stay about 3 hours or so until about noon.

MCO is a very busy airport and you will want to arrive at least 3 hours prior to your flight.

 

[sam_gordon]

Here is a suggestion: If you want to hit a park on your departure day, make it one of the other parks like Hollywood Studios or EPCOT which are much easier and faster to exit out of. Going to and getting out of the Magic Kingdom takes the longest since you have to first stop at the Transportation and Ticket Center whereas with the other parks you can skip all that.

If you were to say arrive at Hollywood Studios at opening, you could stay about 3 hours or so until about noon.

MCO is a very busy airport and you will want to arrive at least 3 hours prior to your flight.

The only time I've shown up 3 hours before my flight is when I tried to get on an earlier one. DME picks you up between 2:45-3:15 before your flight, so they're getting you to the airport just over 2 hours before your flight. 3 hours is overkill IMO (unless you're going internationally).

 

[afnaechiquita]

Here is a suggestion: If you want to hit a park on your departure day, make it one of the other parks like Hollywood Studios or EPCOT which are much easier and faster to exit out of. Going to and getting out of the Magic Kingdom takes the longest since you have to first stop at the Transportation and Ticket Center whereas with the other parks you can skip all that.

If you were to say arrive at Hollywood Studios at opening, you could stay about 3 hours or so until about noon.

MCO is a very busy airport and you will want to arrive at least 3 hours prior to your flight.

i was planning on it being a MK day, but i also have friday and half of saturday as MK days, plus EMH on sunday, so it's not too bad. as long as i get BOG for lunch on friday i will be satisfied i might make it HS.

like PP said, i think three hours is too much. plus i have TSA pre-check so it's really too much. i would still want to get on DME at least 2.5 hours in advance because i know DME is likely where the time problems will be :|

 

[ChristmasElf]

The only time I've shown up 3 hours before my flight is when I tried to get on an earlier one. DME picks you up between 2:45-3:15 before your flight, so they're getting you to the airport just over 2 hours before your flight. 3 hours is overkill IMO (unless you're going internationally).

The OP said she is from overseas Sam

 

[ChristmasElf]

i was planning on it being a MK day, but i also have friday and half of saturday as MK days, plus EMH on sunday, so it's not too bad. as long as i get BOG for lunch on friday i will be satisfied i might make it HS.

like PP said, i think three hours is too much. plus i have TSA pre-check so it's really too much. i would still want to get on DME at least 2.5 hours in advance because i know DME is likely where the time problems will be :|

If you have Pre Check then you will be fine at 90 minutes. for International

I do 40 for my stateside trips at MCO. Pre Check and Clear both save so much time.

 

[afnaechiquita]

If you have Pre Check then you will be fine at 90 minutes. for International

I do 40 for my stateside trips at MCO. Pre Check and Clear both save so much time.

ooh really? my next destination is actually in the states.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

i was planning on it being a MK day, but i also have friday and half of saturday as MK days, plus EMH on sunday, so it's not too bad. as long as i get BOG for lunch on friday i will be satisfied i might make it HS.

like PP said, i think three hours is too much. plus i have TSA pre-check so it's really too much. i would still want to get on DME at least 2.5 hours in advance because i know DME is likely where the time problems will be :|

Precheck is random so I would not book a DME assuming I would get it.... That would be the one time they would throw you into the MCO lines from "you know where"

 

[bumbershoot]

Precheck is random so I would not book a DME assuming I would get it.... That would be the one time they would throw you into the MCO lines from "you know where"

I was at EWR when someone who normally has Pre but was slated for more of a check but didn't know it went on through...yay for closing an entire airport for someone not realizing that! Caused our departure to be delayed by over 2 hours because we needed a new crew. Turned out flight that got in late to Seatac become half of a red-eye where I discovered that I was right about red-eyes and my son...they do NOT go together...it was awesome. ha ha.

Having Pre doesn't mean you ALWAYS get Pre...

 

[afnaechiquita]

I was at EWR when someone who normally has Pre but was slated for more of a check but didn't know it went on through...yay for closing an entire airport for someone not realizing that! Caused our departure to be delayed by over 2 hours because we needed a new crew. Turned out flight that got in late to Seatac become half of a red-eye where I discovered that I was right about red-eyes and my son...they do NOT go together...it was awesome. ha ha.

Having Pre doesn't mean you ALWAYS get Pre...

how did none of the TSA screeners catch that? in my experience there's been at least two who check the ticket for pre-check before letting you go through.

 

[sam_gordon]

The OP said she is from overseas Sam

D'oh!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Precheck is random so I would not book a DME assuming I would get it.... That would be the one time they would throw you into the MCO lines from "you know where"

TSA Pre isn't random if you're in the program. You just can't use it in airports where it isn't available.

Someone also confused TSA Pre With Global Entry. IF you have TSA Pre , you don't automatically have Global Entry (although being approved for GE does give you TSA Pre ); you must apply for and be approved separately for this program.

 

[bumbershoot]

They can always throw extra security at you.