Airport aggravation...

[mommyoftwinz]

OMG, I'm so fustrated. They are forecasting a major snowstorm to hit Saturday and our flight is 11:38am. I tried calling Airtram to see if we could get out on the same flight a day earlier, they have empty seats according to their website. They are saying that we will have to pay close to $1000. I don't get it. They know the weather is coming and they have the empty seats. Wouldn't it be easier to get people out earlier that have the flexibility than letting all the flights stack up and then there's too many to get out on that day. Now it looks like we'll probably get stuck at the airport and maybe not even get out at all on Saturday, we'll lose a day at the park, dining plan and maybe even hotel that is all paid for. It's so upsetting. I don't know if there's anything I can do. Anyone else ever been in a similiar situation? If so what happened to you?

 

[PlutoPony]

You're probably just a little early for airlines to issue travel advisories and allow this kind of change for Saturday. Because the storm track and timing is changes constantly, they usually wait until 24-48 hours out for this type thing. Keep watching the Airtran website and by later today or tomorrow a.m. they'll probably have an advisory out and you'll be able to adjust your flights.

 

[mommyoftwinz]

thanks PlutoPony, you're probably right. I'm just freaking out. It's our family's first trip and we've been planning it forever and it just sucks that this has to be the way it starts. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Thanks.

 

[almil]

thanks PlutoPony, you're probably right. I'm just freaking out. It's our family's first trip and we've been planning it forever and it just sucks that this has to be the way it starts. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Thanks.

When you purchased your trip did you also purchase Travel Insurance. This will cover you for any delays. Only if you purchsed through Disney. Its extra that we didn't want to pay, but I mean, look; see what may happen. We always get insurance.

 

[Missytara]

thanks PlutoPony, you're probably right. I'm just freaking out. It's our family's first trip and we've been planning it forever and it just sucks that this has to be the way it starts. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Thanks.

Howdy Neighbor!

I am with ya! Right now, all they will say is "significant snowfall" for us. At least, if you do get out, you will be far away from here and the lousy weather.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for ya!

 

[Missytara]

Someone on one of the other boards just posted they were supposed to leave from VA on Saturday morning - they are going to get hit worse then us, possibly.

They say they are going to beat the storm by driving Friday ahead of it and save their plane tickets for a later date.

Another alternative....

 

[seashoreCM]

Keep checking back, I mean keep calling to see when flight change procedures are relaxed and you can change your reservations.

Show up in person at the airport early, at the time you want to go, and try to stand by. Don't forget to give the impending storm as the reason. But do not accept any arrangement requiring more money.

That said, if you are denied early departure AND the plane leaves with empty seats AND your real flight is cancelled for any reason including weather then the airline did not use reasonable efforts to transport you.

 

[Missytara]

Show up in person at the airport early, at the time you want to go, and try to stand by. Don't forget to give the impending storm as the reason. But do not accept any arrangement requiring more money.

That said, if you are denied early departure AND the plane leaves with empty seats AND your real flight is cancelled for any reason including weather then the airline did not use reasonable efforts to transport you.

The problem is right now, this storm is totally unpredictable for our area, other than the fact it is supposed to start late Friday night. She is frustrated because they don't even know right now if they can get out Saturday morning from home to get to their flight - I live in DE, so I understand her frustration.

To make matters worse, the forecast is actually extended south of us, even down to NC. If they are flying, say US Airways, which I did for a few years to MCO, they would have a connecting flight in NC. That airport may also be closed by Saturday morning as well and again, they wouldn't allow them to leave BWI, because they couldn't land in NC either......

If they followed your theory, they would have to go to the airport Friday night, and hope that they have standby and the airline would allow passengers to leave that early, knowing by Saturday morning it is going to be too bad to let out any flights.

 

[crashbb]

Show up in person at the airport early, at the time you want to go, and try to stand by. Don't forget to give the impending storm as the reason. But do not accept any arrangement requiring more money.

That said, if you are denied early departure AND the plane leaves with empty seats AND your real flight is cancelled for any reason including weather then the airline did not use reasonable efforts to transport you.

OP - do NOT follow this advice. Unless, of course, you feel like spending the day at the airport, if they don't move you.

Seashore - can you provide ANY evidence at all for your second claim?

OP - you have actually been provided good advice from the other posters. Keep checking the AT website, to see if they offer a travel advisory and give them another call later today or tomorrow.

If it were me, and I was really worried about the weather and missing my trip, I'd consider paying the change fee and leaving early.

 

[dudspizza]

OP - do NOT follow this advice. Unless, of course, you feel like spending the day at the airport, if they don't move you.

OP - you have actually been provided good advice from the other posters. Keep checking the AT website, to see if they offer a travel advisory and give them another call later today or tomorrow.

I totally agree. Though bad weather predictions are not fun, they are part of life and airlines do a very good job of making things work. Last year I had a flight out of MSP in late Feb. Airtran worked very hard to get us out of MSP, we were a bit late, but they got us out of there.

Best bet is to relax and hope all works out. Call again and be very nice about things. Explain that you are very worried about getting out and see what they can do. If they still want a change fee, plus difference in ticket cost, then call back in a few hours. If the storm really looks like it is going to hit your area, they eventually will try to work with you.

Be polite and persistent and it should work out. Best of luck.

Duds

 

[Missytara]

If the storm really looks like it is going to hit your area, they eventually will try to work with you.

Be polite and persistent and it should work out. Best of luck.

Duds

Yep, it is going to hit us.....plus all the way down to NC. The current weather shows ice/snow mix for Friday night and snow for most of the day Saturday for DE and DC/Baltimore area which is where they are flying out of.

 

[mommyoftwinz]

Thanks guys for the advice. You gave me alot to think about. We are scheduled to fly out of Philly but we are in between Baltimore and Philly. However I don't think going to Baltimore would help us since the storm will be worse south. We are definitely getting something big but they haven't given any exact info yet on how much and where. I will keep calling today and tomorrow. I hope they can get us out ahead of the storm. My travel agent even called and the guy at airtran hung up on her. They are not helping at all. I don't understand why if they have the opening they don't just let us switch. I'd be willing to pay the additional $75 per ticket to switch but they also want us to pay the adjustment in fare and for a family of four that would put us close to $1000. That's a bit steep. I'll just keep calling and hoping they post a weather advisory. We can't drive down, it's too far and we'd have to drive through this storm so that's crazy. I guess that's what you get when you try to plan a trip in Febuary!

 

[Missytara]

Thanks guys for the advice. You gave me alot to think about. We are scheduled to fly out of Philly but we are in between Baltimore and Philly. However I don't think going to Baltimore would help us since the storm will be worse south. We are definitely getting something big but they haven't given any exact info yet on how much and where. I will keep calling today and tomorrow. I hope they can get us out ahead of the storm. My travel agent even called and the guy at airtran hung up on her. They are not helping at all. I don't understand why if they have the opening they don't just let us switch. I'd be willing to pay the additional $75 per ticket to switch but they also want us to pay the adjustment in fare and for a family of four that would put us close to $1000. That's a bit steep. I'll just keep calling and hoping they post a weather advisory. We can't drive down, it's too far and we'd have to drive through this storm so that's crazy. I guess that's what you get when you try to plan a trip in Febuary!

My bad - I assumed you were flying out of BWI. Philly is included in the storm warnings.

We have been put on notice (I work for facilities management and we clear the snow for our buildings) and we have been told it is going to be significant, but so unpredictable, they won't be giving us more definite totals until closer to the storm. Definately keep checking.

I also didn't think about traveling south - like I said, the other poster was from the southern portion of VA, and they are now planning on leaving Friday morning to get ahead of it by car. They are probably five hours south of us.

Good luck - I will be thinking about ya this weekend. The manager that works at my local watering hole actually leaves tomorrow for 11 days, so they are thrilled they are getting out ahead of it as well.

 

[DVCBELLE]

1. Did Airtran happen to change your flight times since you booked? If so, call and tell them since your flight time changed you would like to switch flights to the day before. Don't mention the weather.

2. If you can't switch - book a hotel room NOW at the airport. DH and I were supposed to fly out on a Sat. a few years ago. We realized early Friday morning we would not be able to get to the airport Sat. morning. I called and the airport hotel was booked so we stayed at home. Our flight left ON TIME despite their being a BLIZZARD and it was illegal to drive to the airport. Airtran was very accomodating and helped us get out the next day. All the airport flights were leaving on time and if you could make it to the airport they would let you go. So if you can stay at the airport -I would do that!

 

[Missytara]

Okay, now I am really jealous. This is a good thing about planning a trip in February.

NOAA is now saying we are getting another snow "event" on Tuesday.......bet you will be glad to get out of here!

 

[PlutoPony]

The airlines probably won't put a travel advisory out until the NWS issues some kind of weather advisory like a Winter Storm Watch or Warning. As I recall, by definition the watches/warning don't go out until something like 36 hours before the "event". Current models show the storm showing up in the DC area Friday afternoon and Philly later in the day, so it may well be at least tomorrow morning before the airlines start to allow the flight changes you're looking for.

IF the storm happens to speed up, you might see an advisory (from NWS + airlines) later today.... but if that happens, it probably means you need to get out of town late Thursday or maybe early Friday morning to be ahead of the storm. I would have most of my packing and other things done by the end of today so you could escape even earlier than you were hoping, just in case.

Good luck!

 

[mommyoftwinz]

Thank you everyone, your advice has paid off, I could kiss you all!!! I called again for the 4th time today this time customer service and not reservations and they said that they can put us on the earlier flight and that they will be issuing an advisory at some point today so no charge. Amen! So we are scheduled to fly out Friday morning hopefully ahead of the storm and will get the full day at disney on Saturday instead of a half. Now I just have to find a hotel or see if we can add it to our package. I'm just so happy that we might get out ahead of the storm I don't care if I have to sleep on Mickey's front lawn!!!


whoa, I better go pack!!!!

 

[PlutoPony]

That's good customer service on the part of AT, allowing you to change ahead of an "official" change policy. Glad it worked out for you!

It's good you're going out Friday a.m. as that should put you well ahead of the storm.

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> just have to find a hotel

If you are using Magical Express in the morning (Sat) you can leave that unchanged with the old flight number. Then you can book a hotel near the airport for Friday night, and come back to the airport for Magical Express even if you get to the welcoming area a few hours early.

 

[uva185]

Thank you everyone, your advice has paid off, I could kiss you all!!! I called again for the 4th time today this time customer service and not reservations and they said that they can put us on the earlier flight and that they will be issuing an advisory at some point today so no charge. Amen! So we are scheduled to fly out Friday morning hopefully ahead of the storm and will get the full day at disney on Saturday instead of a half. Now I just have to find a hotel or see if we can add it to our package. I'm just so happy that we might get out ahead of the storm I don't care if I have to sleep on Mickey's front lawn!!!


whoa, I better go pack!!!!

I hope you make it!! Keep an eye on the storm, you might even want to fly out Thursday night to ensure you'll miss the storm!!

I am booked to fly to LAX for the day on Saturday. US Airways has a travel advisory issued so I switched my connection from PHL to CLT to try to avoid some of the storm and I am hoping I can make it but I am losing optimism by the minute.