? about direct flights from BOS to MCO

[cpl100]

Originally posted by minster22
Great letter cpl100! Mine was much shorter and not as specific. Please let us know how they respond.

I sure will!

 

[seashoreCM]

(copied from another post)

Apparently Song had that part of its schedule organized as a trip leaving Orlando for Boston in the evening and coming back the next morning but starting in early July it goes to San Juan instead.

Checked Travelocity and found no airlines going non-stop From Orlando to Boston in the evening, at least for November.

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

 

[Maxwell]

I have received responses from Song and, needless to say, they are very vague. I asked them why the cancelled the 7:20AM and not the 11:35AM and all they said was we will send your concerns to the appropriate party. There is something going on with Song that they are refusing to say if you ask me. For a start up, their business practices are far from envious.

 

[cpl100]

You all will not believe this. I got a call from a Delta Song representative just now. He didn't really want to speak to me as the ticket holder is my husband (and I used his name in the email). However, he did tell me that they would be glad to offer him a full refund for the inconvenience, that they had no plans right now to re-institute the early morning flight out of Boston or the early evening flight back home from Orlando and that they would still like to talk to him due to 'other statements' in the email (see above) which were probably blown out of proprortion. (He doesn't even know I emailed on his behalf so we'll see what happens when he hears this!)

SO, what do you all think about that?

 

[minster22]

You must have really struck a nerve somewhere with Song for a representative to make a phone call. For me I guess I am most curious about the "reason" for cancelling such a popular flight that Delta Express has offered for several years now. Let us know how it all turns out. The best outcome for me, would be for them to reinstate the 7:20 flight so we have a full day at WDW!!! As I said before if that does not happen I will probably still fly with them since I do not want to wait until this winter to buy plane tickets for April 2004 and SW out of PVD is the only other direct option. Will you have your husband direct the representative to this thread? I would think this would give them some insight to the consumer side of things.

 

[cpl100]

Truthfully, it will surprise me if hubby even calls him back. He's more 'sit back and let it happen' than I am.

 

[cinmell]

I received an email response from Song and they wrote that there is a 7:20am flight from Boston to Orlando, yet when I go online to search for dates from September to October the earliest flights that came up were 11:35am. Maybe there is a 7:20 but it was sold out for all of the departure dates I entered?????

 

[safetymom]

I don't want to get flamed for this but the airlines don't owe you any explanations beyond the flight is cancelled. If they offer you a refund because the times are not convenient that is great. To insist on knowing their reasons for cancelling flights is asking a little much. I don't see it as bait and switch. Airline flights and prices can change hourly. That's just the way it is.

All the airlines these days are having problems. They are all cutting back flights. They have offered to reimburse you so I feel that they are trying to help you.

Directing them to this board won't do much more than make them aware that people are discussing the issue. On many boards the airlines already have lurkers to see what the public is discussing.

 

[Maxwell]

They did have a 7:20AM flight about a month ago but decided to discontinue it before the BOS service even started.

 

[cpl100]

Originally posted by cinmell
I received an email response from Song and they wrote that there is a 7:20am flight from Boston to Orlando, yet when I go online to search for dates from September to October the earliest flights that came up were 11:35am. Maybe there is a 7:20 but it was sold out for all of the departure dates I entered?????

That is the flight we booked which was promptly cancelled the next day, less than 24 hours later in fact.

 

[Maxwell]

My family of 4 had booked the 7:20AM flight from Boston for Nov 15th when Song first started accepting bookings. My parents decided to join us a couple months after we made our ressie. I checked the flight times and the cost was significantly higher than what we paid so I decided to hold off. I checked the flights/costs every day and it never went down. I came into work very early in the morning (the day they cancelled the 7:20) and low and behold our exact flights were available, including the 7:20 for $210RT. I immediately booked it on-line (approx 7:15AM). By 8:00AM the flights were gone and we were all switched to the 11:35. I was furious and cancelled all 6 of our tickets. We are holding out now for Southwest.

Sounds very fishy to me!

 

[cpl100]

I have just received a follow up email from the person who called today (who also thinks I am my hubby in the email).

Thanks for getting in touch with Song.

While we want to avoid problems such as you described, overall
requirements make it necessary to adjust operating times or cancel
flights on occasion. I am sorry this recent schedule change has
interfered with your plans and has caused you such dissatisfaction.

When there are schedule changes on a flight, we try to notify all
confirmed passengers or their travel agents of the new flight
information as quickly as possible. It was unfortunate that the
schedule change occurred within hours of you making your reservation.
I agree the timing was bad however it was not intentional.

I can't say at this time whether the flight will be reinstated or that
the current time will be changed again. We are constantly evaluating
all of our markets. If the flight is reinstated we will do all
possible to get you back on the flight.

I have spoken on the phone with your spouse leaving a message saying
that I would like to speak to you to apologize personally.

We again apologize for your inconvenience.

Sincerely and with Best Regards,

Kevin F. Kennedy
Song Guest Relations
www.flysong.com


All Song flights are operated by Delta Air Lines

 

[MK Familystone]

We were a Delta Family for 15 years and year after year an arrogant tone
developed each time we called for a res.
They should have called the new airline "SAME OLD SONG"!!!

The Magic Happens!!!

 

[mcnuss]

Anyone have any recommendations or experience with parking at Providence?

We flew from PVD a few years ago - ok, more than a few - before SW was flying into MHT. Because it was a 2 hour drive, and our flight was at the crack of dawn, we stayed at one of the airport hotels, and the cost of the room included a free week of parking. Well, the room, included breakfast too, and cost $98 so we did that, figuring we were coming out way ahead not only financially but in terms of time and aggravation. The hotel was a Radisson but I know there is also a Comfort Inn and a Hampton that offer the same stay/park/fly deal.

 

[buzz5985]

we try to notify all

I have to laugh at this. I am also booked on the 7:20 flight out of BOS on Oct 11. I booked online, with their website, and have yet been officially notified. I have been switched to the 11 something flight. But I have no seats. And the new flight looks crowded, with 5 months to go. I am waiting before I call, because I bet the flight will reopen, and everone on the later flight that changed their seats will have to pay the extra money to change their seats.

Someone said they didn't think the airlines were playing bait and switch??? That's exactly what they are doing. Look at prices, the plane is 50% full, the price goes up, plane is 75% empty price drops. And all the airlines wonder why Southwest is doing so well. They don't play the game.

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by buzz5985
...Someone said they didn't think the airlines were playing bait and switch??? That's exactly what they are doing. Look at prices, the plane is 50% full, the price goes up, plane is 75% empty price drops...

That's called Economics 101.

When something becomes rarer than before (seats on the 50% full flight) the price for the remaining seats goes up because they become more valuable. When something is in plentiful supply (seats on the 25% full flight) the price of the seats comes down.

Disney does exactly the same thing in discounting their resort rooms. That's not bait and switch.

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> But I have no seats. everone on the later flight that changed their seats will have to pay the extra money to change their seats.

You mean they are starting to charge you to make advance seat selections? I never heard of that. When does that take place?

 

[safetymom]

That is the principle of supply and demand. If you owned the airlines and could get more money for the seat I am sure you would do that.

 

[buzz5985]

If you owned the airlines and could get more money for the seat I am sure you would do that.

No Actually I think I would try to use Southwest's Business Model. As far as I know, they never cancel flights, always booked solid, on time, no hassels. And to boot - the only airlines that has made money since 9/11. Look at the CEO's and upper managements salaries. Not even close to the major airlines.

If you went to a restaurant and had reservations for 7 pm, and they told you sorry, we cancelled come back at 10 pm. You would tell them to go to you know where. That's what's happening to the airlines. 10% of people are very frightened to fly, the other 30% - like me - can't stand the aggravation.

It's not supply and demand. It is Bait And Switch. The early flights were full. I'm flying October 11. The only seats empty were the exit rows. So why would you cancel that flight??? They cancelled and moved everyone to a later flight. And I am sure when the next schedules open, surprise another early morning flight, and those who have called Song/Delta and gotten seating assignments will be told they will have to pay to change flights. The tactics the airlines are using is the reason they are failing. My Cousin works for AA. She has taken a 25% pay cut (she's middle management), cut meanwhile the CEO and board were taking care of their retirement and severance packages. That's disgusting.

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by buzz5985
...It's not supply and demand. It is Bait And Switch. The early flights were full. I'm flying October 11. The only seats empty were the exit rows. So why would you cancel that flight???...

There are several reasons possible. Redeployment of aircraft is the most likely one. You can't have an early morning flight leaving Boston if the plane doesn't arrive the night before. By cancelling the prior night's arrival from wherever the aircraft was coming from means that the next morning's departure also has to be cancelled. It doesn't matter how fully booked that flight is or isn't. If there's no aircraft available for it, it gets cancelled.

All major airlines do quarterly changes to their schedules. That's why flight departure and arrival times often get changed by 30 minutes or so. In doing these changes, some flights are cancelled when the pencil pushers determine that the cost per mile of flying the route becomes too high.

Flying a 757 full of people who paid $100 (one half of a $200 round trip) doesn't contribute very much to the airline's profitability and they are often the target of such cuts.

And it certainly isn't bait and switch marketing. If you have been affected by a schedule change that doesn't suit you, the airline will be more than happy to give you a complete refund of your money. No one is making you accept the change.