airlines - anyone else concerned about upcoming flights?

[imgoingtodisney]

DH just made a comment that he wanted us to fly down on Fri next week instead of going down on Sat because of the airline industry. (not because of terrorists) Anyone else concerned about their upcoming flights?
DS & I went through this last year. We flew Oct 5th.
Guess I need the same attitude - If Im gonna go Im going with a smile on my face!

We are flying down early Fri morn but I was hoping the terrorism wasnt something I needed to be overly concerned with again this year.

 

[Señor Ferrari]

We always fly in the night before the cruise, just because it takes most of the day to get across the country. But, by a quirk in both my work and personal schedules, I have flown an awful lot in the past month or two, to Europe, the midwest, the east coast. In each case, my flights have been on time and uninterrupted. This included flights on United (possibly declaring bankruptcy) and US Airways (just recently declared), as well as Northwest and KLM. If you can change your flights without it costing you an arm and a leg, it's probably worth doing for your peace of mind. However, I don't think there's a greater chance of flights being cancelled next week as compared to last week due to financial problems with the airlines.

 

[dmfuru]

Re: your flying question.

Nope

 

[garyss7]

We just came back from Nov 2nd eastern cruise (14 of us) and I booked
USAir flight for friday because I didn't want to have problems flying in day
of cruise and guess what?! USAir overbooked by 22 people so 7 of our
party stayed the night in Phila and had to come down saturday morning!
So much for planing... And I got to Orlando with 7 people and 18 pieces
of luggage to find because luggage was already loaded on the plane!
Happy flying, the airlines could care less! Gary

 

[atigeg]

Ever since 9/11, we have been flying in the night before and getting a cheap MCO-area hotel via Priceline or Hotwire. Then we take Happy Limo to the port the next morning, after a restful night's sleep. Since we fly from Chicago in the winter, that's probably a good idea anyway, even without worries about terrorism...there is always the chance for weather delays. We have been EXTREMELY fortunate and have never had a really bad delay out of 26 cruises, except once on the way home when a major snowstorm had us sitting at MCO for a while wondering whether Midway would be closed or not.
I am always a nervous flyer, and 9/11 made me even more so. But I decided that I would not let terrorists dictate what I will and will not do. We did not cancel any of our cruises and flew on Thanksgiving of 2001, even though the airport was virtually deserted on what is normally the busiest travel day of the year. I look at it this way...the odds are still with me, and even if (God forbid!) something happens, I will go down thinking "I sure wish I had the time to do more, but I'm glad I did a lot" instead of thinking "I sure wish I hadn't put everything off, and now I'll never have the time to do anything."
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Barb - I love the way you worded that - thanks

 

[mcnuss]

USAir overbooked by 22 people so 7....

Were they involuntarily bumped???? I hope they got excellent compensation. If not, and they were at the airport within the 30 minute window, you should immediately file a complaint.

imgoingtodisney - I seem to remember you are on Delta - you can reassure him that it is not having the same horror show financially as US and United.

I am not going to worry about my flights...it's not in my control so whatever happens, happens.

 

[garyss7]

The seven that were stranded got free roundtrips but it sure was
a mess! Question for Barb, 26 cruises? I luv the mouse as much
as anybody but 26 cruises? Not sure who needs more help- you
or imgoingtodisney???... Regards, Gary

 

[lcmtam86]

ROFLMAO :boun
ce:



That was too funny!

 

[4nana]

We are flying on Friday 13th !!

2 reasons we are flying in day before

16 people that will need unwinding
As it will be Dec., need to consider weather

 

[garyss7]

Barb, don't mean to pry but why have you taken soooo many
cruises??? Gary

 

[atigeg]

Gary, think of it in terms of people who have a weekend cottage on a lake...the Wonder is sort of our "weekend home." We used to go to WDW a lot but are not happy with the cost-cutting measures. We switched our loyalty to DCL, where the Disney magic is very evident. We have gotten to know many of the crew members, and the ship is like a weekend home to us.
We pretty much work to cruise!! (We actually do other trips, too...we love to go to dude ranches out west.)
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[psimon]

Originally posted by garyss7
We just came back from Nov 2nd eastern cruise (14 of us) and I booked
USAir flight for friday because I didn't want to have problems flying in day
of cruise and guess what?! USAir overbooked by 22 people so 7 of our
party stayed the night in Phila and had to come down saturday morning!
So much for planing... And I got to Orlando with 7 people and 18 pieces
of luggage to find because luggage was already loaded on the plane!
Happy flying, the airlines could care less! Gary

Gary, were you on the Friday 4PM flight? They kept asking for people to offer up their seats.

It isn't strange that they are in bancruptcy, yet they can afford to overbook, still get you to your destination and in addition, pay to put people up and feed them! Shouldn't they have better control over how many seats they book?

 

[FOJMO]

At this time of year, I would think the WEATHER would be more of a concern for late/cancelled flights than bankruptcy. If the plane that is coming in for you to take you to your destination is stranded because of inclement weather, you're stranded if they can't get another plane there for you! I would fly in the night before to play it safe!

 

[garyss7]

Psimon-we were booked on the 7:20pm flight. Seems they will only assign
80% of the seats in advance and the rest are assigned at the gate. My
SIL got there 2 hours in advance and they were already fully booked.
Airlines routinely overbook because they figure on no shows. Guess its
best to make sure you get seat assignment as soon as you can. Just
buying a seat doesn't assure they will hold one for you.! Live and learn.
Gary

 

[My~Rumbly~Tumbly]

We are flying in on Friday and initially I was concerned about what we would do at the Hyatt/airport ALL DAY on Saturday with a 1 and 3 year old, but with winter weather already here in VT, I am glad to be flying in two days ahead of schedule. That way, if there are any cancelled or delayed flights, we will still have a good chance of making it in time.

We flew in March of this year from BDL to MCO and the pilot greeted us all prior to take off. He thanked us for continuing to fly in light of our tragedy and talked a little bit about what it means to be an American. It really was very moving and I think it made us all feel like we were in the right place at the right time.

 

[luv2tvl]

4nana we are flying in on Friday the 13th, too!

Living in the midwest it's always better for us to come a day early because of weather here in lovely Nebraska.

Since 9/11 I've also had really good luck with flights all being on time (I fly quite a bit), but you really never know with the airlines and I'd sure hate to miss the boat!

 

[psimon]

Originally posted by My~Rumbly~Tumbly
We are flying in on Friday and initially I was concerned about what we would do at the Hyatt/airport ALL DAY on Saturday with a 1 and 3 year old, but with winter weather already here in VT, I am glad to be flying in two days ahead of schedule. That way, if there are any cancelled or delayed flights, we will still have a good chance of making it in time.

As long as you have ALL DAY on Saturday, why not rent a car and drive to DTD for the day. A car for one day may not be too much, you won't have any luggage, and you can eat on Disney property. It would be a great way to get revved up for a cruise!

Just my $0.02!

Paul

 

[psimon]

Originally posted by My~Rumbly~Tumbly
We are flying in on Friday and initially I was concerned about what we would do at the Hyatt/airport ALL DAY on Saturday with a 1 and 3 year old, but with winter weather already here in VT, I am glad to be flying in two days ahead of schedule. That way, if there are any cancelled or delayed flights, we will still have a good chance of making it in time.

As long as you have ALL DAY on Saturday, why not rent a car and drive to DTD for the day. A car for one day may not be too much, you won't have any luggage, and you can eat on Disney property. It would be a great way to get revved up for a cruise!

Just my $0.02!

Paul

 

[dianedisney]

I live in Washington State so I have to fly down the day before. I would probably do it anyway just to be rested and relaxed as I board the ship. I have done the tired and stressed thing with a red-eye flight and the photo as I boarded the ship definatly showed it....I am surprised I didn't crack the lens on the camera I looked so bad. But all kidding aside.....you don't want to start a wonderful Disney cruise off by being stressed, tired and in a bad mood. As for the airlines and their schedules.....my flight schedule has been changed 4 times since I ticketed it in September and I don't cruise until Jan 11, 2003. Most likely it will changed about 4 more times, I am flying on American so I think all the airlines are re-thinking their schedules and cutting back some. That may mean over-booking, so be sure to arrived at the airport 2hrs prior to get a boarding pass and guaranteed seat. And once they annouce boarding by row numbers get in line and board, cuz once your in your seat it is yours. When you going on a cruise you don't want to take a chance with getting bumped off a flight.

Have a Disney Day !!!