Airtran: Can I do this??

[SkcMom]

I booked flights for January back in early October. I booked a flight that I didn't really want because it was cheaper. I would rather have the early morning flight but I booked a 12:30 ish flight. They have now changed my flight around. It is a 2 hour difference in departing time. It is earlier, which is nice.

I REALLY want the super early flight. Can I call and ask them to switch me to the flight that I want since they moved us around? I know I can change/cancel my reservations for $75 p/p but that is not what I am referring to. I just wondered if I could get them to move me to the flight that I want since they moved us around. TIA!

 

[SB in KY]

Well it is worth a try....all they can say is no you have to pay for a change with the earlier flight....but if it was me I would call and ask! Just tell them that since they canceled the flight you chose you would prefer X flight at X time instead of the one they rebooked you on....don't know about airtran, but Delta has done that for me several times when they canceled flights after we had booked.

 

[antkim]

Yes they MUST give you what you ask for since your flight time changed by 2 hours. Just tell them that the new time does not work for you..they will change it without a problem.

 

[crashbb]

Yes they MUST give you what you ask for since your flight time changed by 2 hours. Just tell them that the new time does not work for you..they will change it without a problem.

Actually, no. There is no MUST about it.

In general, they will change it given that the change in flight time is 2 hours, but they are not under any obligation to do so. At least, I don't see it anywhere in the CoC.

 

[antkim]

I believe the "rule" is if an airline changes your flights by more than 90 minutes or changes you from a non stop to a connecting you are entitled to either a new flight or a complete refund. Since I don't have time to read Airtrans "policies" at this moment I will only say that I have dealt with this same scenario many many times on many different airlines and there has never been a time that the airline refuses to give customer what they want.

So to the OP you should be fine...please let us know how it turns out!

 

[danielle.st]

Airtran has always been more than willing to change our flights for no charge in situations like that. I always thank them effusively for it too

 

[dioxide45]

We have had our departing flight change by several hours and our returning flight by several minutes. We were able to change our departing flight to another and our return flight to the day prior to our original return. The OP will have no problem with AirTran changing their flight to the earlier one unless it is sold out or close enough that there are not enough seats for them. AirTran is easy to work with when they change flights.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I believe the "rule" is if an airline changes your flights by more than 90 minutes or changes you from a non stop to a connecting you are entitled to either a new flight or a complete refund.

Well, no. It's up to each airline. An airline ticket guarantees only passage from point A to point B on the designated day*. Everything else - seating, class, plane configuration, number of stops, departure and arrival times - is a request.

*And not even that, if a delay is caused by conditions beyond the airline's control.

 

[DebbieB]

Yes they MUST give you what you ask for since your flight time changed by 2 hours. Just tell them that the new time does not work for you..they will change it without a problem.

I don't think it's "must". The earlier flight might be full. The OP had a 12:30 flight, they moved it 2 hours earlier but she wants a flight even earlier. She purchased 12:30pm, they moved it to 10:30am, what's the reasoning that she needs a flight even earlier? 12:30 was acceptable, 10:30 is not but earlier than that would be? They may accomodate it but I don't see an obligation to do so.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Interesting point, DebbieB As usual, you picked up on an aspect of the situation I entirely missed.

While it's true AirTran is pretty liberal in allowing passengers to change flights, and likely will allow the OP to do so, if they required a reasonable explanation for the desired change, the OP might be hardpressed.

 

[Traveliz]

I booked flights for January back in early October. I booked a flight that I didn't really want because it was cheaper. I would rather have the early morning flight but I booked a 12:30 ish flight. They have now changed my flight around. It is a 2 hour difference in departing time. It is earlier, which is nice.

I REALLY want the super early flight. Can I call and ask them to switch me to the flight that I want since they moved us around? I know I can change/cancel my reservations for $75 p/p but that is not what I am referring to. I just wondered if I could get them to move me to the flight that I want since they moved us around. TIA!

I would keep an eye on the super early flight and consider flying standby for that flight.

Liz

 

[kristenrice]

I did the same thing last June. I booked the evening flight because it was $59, when I wanted the morning flight which was $129.

When they changed my flight time, I merely called and asked if I could switch flights since my times had changed. They said, "Absolutely, no problem. Would you like the morning non-stop?" I was switched without charge. The customer service rep never even questioned why I wanted to switch flights even though the evening flight had only been changed by 11 minutes.

 

[mdinme]

nicely done kristin

 

[Green Tea]

Airtran has always been more than willing to change our flights for no charge in situations like that. I always thank them effusively for it too

same

 

[antkim]

I don't think it's "must". The earlier flight might be full. The OP had a 12:30 flight, they moved it 2 hours earlier but she wants a flight even earlier. She purchased 12:30pm, they moved it to 10:30am, what's the reasoning that she needs a flight even earlier? 12:30 was acceptable, 10:30 is not but earlier than that would be? They may accomodate it but I don't see an obligation to do so.

Again, it has always been the case (in my experience) that is they change the flight by more than so many minutes etc. they will change you to another flight (if available) or even refund the money. I have had the second scenario happen twice.

As far as the flight change...what happens if she had arranged for someone to pick her up at the airport and the later arrival worked but the mid morning one did not? That is a reason....lol.

Airlines are very accommodating in this situation...at least that has been my experience and I have booked many many many flights etc.

Best of luck to OP and sorry if the word "must" has ruffled feathers!

 

[lvdis]

I was even able to change what airport we were flying out of to one that was closer and easier for us to get to. I booked an airport that was farther away because it was a much cheaper flight, but then they changed the flight times 3 different times and it was just going to get us into Orlando too late. I called and asked if we could change to the closer airport (even for a day earlier) because it would just work out better. They did it with no problem and for no additional charge since they had changed our times. Ended up working out much better for us!

I just wanted to clarify, that we didn't book the cheaper flight with the intentions of asking them to change it. We fully planned to go with that airport/flight and it would have worked well until they altered the times so much. Then we decided to just ask if we could change to the closer airport and hopefully avoid more changes. This airport is smaller and seems to have more stable flight times. The lady I spoke to took a minute to check with her supervisor and approved the change. They were very accommodating!

 

[Lewisc]

There is a big difference between what an airline will do as a courtesy and what the airline must do

Previous posters have found Airtran will let customers change their flights, or even get refund, over minor schedule changes.

Passengers shouldn't assume they can book the cheapest flight of the day and be allowed to change to the flight they really want over a schedule change of a few minutes.

Some airlines define a major schedule change as change of more then 4 hours. Some charter (or quasi-charter) airlines won't offer a refund unless the change means the of your flight changes At least one airline isn't required to provide a refund unless the change is more then 48 hours.

There really isn't a reason to make stuff up. Just ask nicely. Tell them another flight works better for your schedule and ask if they accomodate you.

It's not a matter of "must" ruffling feathers. Rather a customer who tells the CSR you must do this for me might get quoted the CoC and be told NO. A customer who calls and asks nicely might be told yes. It makes no sense to make a demand unless you confirm the CoC gives you that right and/or a request was denied and you have nothing to lose.

Again, it has always been the case (in my experience) that is they change the flight by more than so many minutes etc. they will change you to another flight (if available) or even refund the money. I have had the second scenario happen twice.

As far as the flight change...what happens if she had arranged for someone to pick her up at the airport and the later arrival worked but the mid morning one did not? That is a reason....lol.

Airlines are very accommodating in this situation...at least that has been my experience and I have booked many many many flights etc.

Best of luck to OP and sorry if the word "must" has ruffled feathers!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Best of luck to OP and sorry if the word "must" has ruffled feathers!

I do not believe it ruffled any feathers, rather air travel is more fact based then opinion based (there are some exceptions to the rule). Because of this many of the regular posters (myself included) are very cautious about and correct broad statements that could be interpretted to casual observers as a rule.

Remember when people stop posting to this thread, it is still viewable and can be searched and someone may get the wrong impression that there is a requirement for an airline to place you on a different flight because of a time change, which is not true.

 

[Hoopfamily]

I have flown with Airtran a few times and here's what I know to be true.
#1: They will if possible change your flight for you.
#2: They will do this for a change as small as 3 minutes.
#3: There is Nothing forcing them to do this other than good customer service, so don't expect.
#4: Airtran in my experience is a very service oriented airline.


Be polite, ask don't demand and you might just get what you want.

 

[bumbershoot]

I do not believe it ruffled any feathers, rather air travel is more fact based then opinion based (there are some exceptions to the rule). Because of this many of the regular posters (myself included) are very cautious about and correct broad statements that could be interpretted to casual observers as a rule.

Remember when people stop posting to this thread, it is still viewable and can be searched and someone may get the wrong impression that there is a requirement for an airline to place you on a different flight because of a time change, which is not true.

I think that, perhaps, the above should be quoted in just about every thread, put in big (but not so big you think "ugh" and ignore it) letters on top instead of the sponsors, and maybe have a temporary tattoo made of it and send it to new dis'ers who come to the transportation forum.

What you said has been said before, but you said it in a really really good way.



OP, good luck! As for an explanation, sometimes one time works, another does, and a third does even though it doesn't seem logical. It's just human nature to not always make sense in terms of what works for us, LOL.