AirTran...a little vent!

[Dopey Sharon]

I booked our November trip in May. Got great airfare, from Philly to Orlando, non-stop, leaving at 7:20pm down and leaving 1:40pm back, for $353 for both tickets. I've been periodically checking the site, don't know why...can't get a refund if the price went down anyway, but I noticed our departing flight out of Philly wasn't there anymore. I e-mailed AirTran, and just received a response...apologizing for not informing me that our flight down has been changed! It stills leaves around 7:20pm, but now it stops at Atlanta, then on to Orlando, arriving just before midnight! Needless to say, I was a tad upset I can change to the 4:00pm flight if I want, but the original flight may come back (she can't guarantee that), and if it does, I can't change again! I don't get done work until almost 2, with a half hour drive to the airport. I can probably sneak out early...1:30 or so, but I didn't want to have to rush like that. This is our first time using AirTran. After this, I don't think I will be using them again. Thank you for letting me vent!

 

[peg2001]

I can understand why you are unhappy. It is upsetting to take the time and care to choose the flight schedule that is most convenient and then have the airline change or drop flight times.

That being said, this is not unique to AirTran. Delta and all other airlines do this all the time as well. Some people who book flights months ahead of time have their flights changed 2 or even 3 times before they fly.

I would change my flight to the 4:00 and if your original flight comes back, push to have your flight changed again. If they say no, hang up and try again.

Good luck,
Peg

 

[horseshowmom]

We recently had tickets for Phoenix that we booked about 3 months in advance with Northwest Airlines. They changed our flights about 3 times (although only by a few minutes). I've also had that happen with Delta and Air Tran.

In addition to that, NW gave me an automated phone call at 9:30 p.m. the night before we were to leave on a 7 a.m. flight the next morning (less than 12 hours) to tell me our flight was cancelled due to a "work overage" and that I was being put on a 3:30 p.m. flight, being routed through Minneapolis, and would get into Phoenix around midnight (instead of the original 10 a.m.). We're still working through that problem.

Unfortunately, this seems to be a system wide problem.

 

[Sandi]

US Air did that to us in February. They changed our connecting flight such that it would leave before our original flight landed. How were we supposed to do that? US Air didn't let me know about it; I found out because I checked to confirm everything.

Were I you, I'd switch the flight now so you have something. If the other flight comes back, argue with them then.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

I changed to the 4pm flight this morning. My boss is away until Monday, but her secretary said that she saw no reason why she wouldn't let me leave a little early. I am going to keep checking AirTran's web site and if I see that 7:30 flight back, I'm going to call and try to change it back. Thanks for listening!

 

[Lewisc]

With significant flight time changes you can usually get a full refund. Don't know what else is available.