Airline Changed Our Flight Times

[nin72]

Back in July we booked a flight down to Orlando for Saturday Feb 4th, leaving at 7:40am and arriving in Orlando at 8:20pm. We did not receive an email about a flight time change, we just happened to look on the website and noticed our flight times had changed dramatically.

We are now leaving Saturday Feb 4th at 3:30pm and do not arrive in Orlando until Sunday Feb 5th at 1:15pm. We now have an overnight layover in Calgary.

We called the airline to ask why we were not emailed about the change and asked for compensation for a hotel room for the night. They stated they do not compensate for flight changes (even though they were the ones making the changes). All they could do is rebook our flight for another day. Which we do not want to do as we cannot leave on the Friday and if we took their Sunday flight we will not arrive in Orlando until either midnight or even the next day Monday thus losing 2 days vacation time.

Has this ever happened to anybody else?? and were you able to get the airline to pay for a hotel room for the night??

 

[seashoreCM]

Happens a lot.

Does the same airline have any other flights that you like and are not sold out?

Otherwise all you can do is get a refund and book on a different airline.

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

 

[mbb]

and keep calling. I'm *assuming* you're flying AC out of Regina or Saskatoon..

You have to get someone that is able to make the changes - at no charge to you...ie, a "supervisor". The regular Customer Service Reps - the first people that answer the phones - can't do that for you without authorization.

Unless you bought "full fare" (or something close to it) tickets, you won't get a refund...you'll be told that if you'd like to pay the change fee, and any difference in fares to get the flights you want, on the day you want...otherwise, you're at the rebooking point (which they mentioned).

The hotel is the smaller of the points...you booked a flight - they changed it, drastically. (It's been a long time since I've heard of AC comping for a hotel room - but you never know...again, I'm assuming you're flying AC)

Would you mind sharing the name of the airline, and where you are flying out of??
Did they tell you that the flight that morning was sold out, rescheduled or outright cancelled?

Good luck, and let us know how it turns out

 

[tanmar]

I had the same thing just happen to me. We booked thru CAA and found out later that we're on a Charter! I never would have booked a charter flight - too many restrictions.

The TA didn't tell us and well it does make a diff. Instead of asking for us to be there 2 hrs b4, or in WestJet's case 90 mins b4, we have to be there 3 HOURS b4! and then I also luckily didn't take my TA's word for it re the luggage allowance and checked into it myself.

When I had asked our TA about what our baggage allowance was she told me 140 lbs each (with WestJet). I looked at our tickets and it said 20kg (44lbs!!!). I called WestJet and they confirmed - 44lbs per person. A huge diff!!!! On top of it, we have an infant on our laps, so we have to share our baggage allowance of 3 with 4 people - tough for a week of 'pack for all kinds of weather'.

Our flight was at 8am, meaning be there at 5am - I potentially could have arrived at 5am at the airport with pounds and pounds of luggage over the limit - potentially a $900 charge each way - can you imagine how we would have felt!!!

Next, the other day, just checking in to see what it would cost if I had booked the flight myself (via Nolitours) and the flight came up not as 8am departure, but 9:30am.

No one advised us, and since it's a WestJet Charter flight it's not easy to check on the web for flight changes, so I was lucky to come across this! Otherwise, I likely could have been at the airport 5 hours before departure with two little kids.

I have totally planned our entire vacation myself and yet CAA is supposed to be my TA?? Needless to say I am less than thrilled.

Now I have to try to change my ADR for arrival day since it'll now be too tight for me to make it.

 

[nin72]

We are flying out of Saskatoon on Westjet. I have always chosen westjet over aircanada. We bought the tickets at full price last July.
Have you heard of an airline refunding tickets in full without any fees if they were the ones changing the flights. I have looked at aircanada and they do have a flight leaving Saturday morning and arriving in Orlando Saturday afternoon. If I were able to get a full refund from westjet withour paying any fees, the aircanada tickets will only cost me an extra $100. (pretty much the cost of a hotel in Calgary)

Has anyone been able to get full refunds (without paying any fees) from Westjet?

 

[mbb]

We are flying out of Saskatoon on Westjet. I have always chosen westjet over aircanada. We bought the tickets at full price last July.
Have you heard of an airline refunding tickets in full without any fees if they were the ones changing the flights. I have looked at aircanada and they do have a flight leaving Saturday morning and arriving in Orlando Saturday afternoon. If I were able to get a full refund from westjet withour paying any fees, the aircanada tickets will only cost me an extra $100. (pretty much the cost of a hotel in Calgary)

Has anyone been able to get full refunds (without paying any fees) from Westjet?

One out of two guesses ain't too bad

Not sure how familiar you are with airline pricing..
Different seats on the same flight are sold at varying codes...and they use a combination of letters to identify them, ie, a "full fare, coach seat" is generally referred to as a "Y" or "Full Y" code..meaning, it's not as restricitve a ticket. But you pay for that kind of flexibility.

We always fly on a cheap seat, ie a discounted fare...and it's code might a V code, for example. Those are the seats that are non-refundable, have change fees, etc, etc..Definitely the most restrictive...not flexible at all.

But also the cheapest

So, to your question..can I get a refund?
Maybe yes, maybe no...You might get a credit toward future travel with WestJet, if you cancel your flight (and book with AC), but you would have to call, and verfiy the type of ticket you have (full fare/non-resticitive vs. discounted/restictive), and find out what your options are from there.

The rebooking option may still be all they can - or are willing - to do.

Again, hope this helps...and let us know

 

[wee-haggis]

You can cancel with Westjet for a $30 fee with the remainder of your fare going into a credit file.You will not get a refund unless you did it within 24 hours of booking. You can cancel up to 2 hours before the flight.

 

[Valjean13]

I was on a WestJet flight in August from Vancouver to Toronto, and we were forced to land in Winnipeg because a jet had burst into flames at Pearson. We were stuck in Winnipeg for two nights until Westjet could fly us out again, and we had to pay for the hotel. I tried to get some sort of voucher, but apparently they don't do that....although it was not the airline's fault. But if they changed the flight, I would talk to a supervisor and see what they can do, and if you paid by credit card see what kind of trip insurance you might have. They might help you get a credit for the hotel.

 

[grover]

Just call Westjet and ask...ask to speak to a supervisor.
I once had a discounted airfare from Wpg to Saskatoon..they changed my flight..turning my two day weekend trip into a one day trip.
The customer service rep had no authority to help me but her supervisor was able to help me.

 

[Qball]

Like someone said, I think the airlines will charge a change fee...pretty minimal if it bothers you that much. We are going on a Disney cruise in March 2006 and booked with Westjet as well, with airmiles. I'm miffed because
1. DH is not flying out with me and DD (although we hook up in Toronto)
2. and they changed our flight coming home drastically...like yours...a 6 hour difference.

Regardless, airmiles or not, I personally think its very nice to change a flight by 6 hours. An hour here or there is ok. We wanted to go to Gatorland that morning (our fllight originally left at 1:35) now it leaves at 7am.

I don't even have an arguement to stand on since, so far, it IS the only flight coming back.

 

[seashoreCM]

Do not take the word of the first person you talk to on the phone, that person might be in a different country, notably India, and not have an excellent command of English or French or an excellent command of the airline's rules.

>>> unless you bought full fare...

If push comes to shove, you will usually succeed in getting a refund of any fare if the airline changed the schedule profoundly. The ultimate decision would be made in a courtroom (shove) although usually the airline will settle it sooner at a ticket counter or over the phone. Also the airline should rebook you free of charge on its alternate available flights of your choice upon your request, ask for a supervisor if the first person says otherwise.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Actually, I believe West Jet's phone people are located in Alberta not India. Every time I've called them they've been very cheery (to the point of where it was kinda freaky). My understanding is that if they've changed the times on you and they no longer match your schedule, then it's their fault and they should be giving you, at the very least, credit without charging a change fee. I think they should be giving you the actual money back since it was their chaning of the schedule that prevents you from using them.

As I said, West Jet people seem to be very accomodating and nice (I can imagine a smile plastered on the faces I talk to...oh so cheery....) so all you have to do is be persistent but polite about it and I'm sure they'll do right by you. Persistence is the key so don't take "no" for an answer.

 

[mbb]

Actually, I believe West Jet's phone people are located in Alberta not India. Every time I've called them they've been very cheery (to the point of where it was kinda freaky). My understanding is that if they've changed the times on you and they no longer match your schedule, then it's their fault and they should be giving you, at the very least, credit without charging a change fee. I think they should be giving you the actual money back since it was their chaning of the schedule that prevents you from using them.

As I said, West Jet people seem to be very accomodating and nice (I can imagine a smile plastered on the faces I talk to...oh so cheery....) so all you have to do is be persistent but polite about it and I'm sure they'll do right by you. Persistence is the key so don't take "no" for an answer.

My girlfriend worked out of the Calgary call centre.