AirTran cancelled my flight!!!

[deanna2426]

I am so upset...we booked with AirTran b/c they had a 6:35pm flight on our return flight. We were so happy b/c we would get to spend almost a full day before heading to the airport.

Well, I just checked on-line and they cancelled the return flight. I called and was told they had too many direct flights from MCO to PHL, so they cancelled one. They automatically placed us on the 4:25pm flight. I know it is only a two hour difference, but that two hours was the reason I booked with them and not SouthWest. In addition, the 4:25 flight is less expensive than the 6:35 flight was. So, I asked if I would get a credit for the difference (they had no problem charging me the difference in the past when I've made changes). Of course the answer was no, but we aren't charging you the $50.00 change fee!!! How could they when they were the ones who changed it!!!

I am sure there isn't anything I can do, I just needed to vent!

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest!

 

[Pinnie]

And people wonder why I love SWA so much. Once they put up a schedule they DO NOT change it unless it is for weather or mechanical problems!

pinnie

 

[Jimdamedic]

I would not give up on getting the difference refunded. Speak to a manager if you have to. Tell them the only reason you booked the late flight was the times. You should get the difference refunded

 

[paulmc80]

I don't know for sure, but generally I always thought that if the airlines cancelled your scheduled flight on their own that they were obligated to let you get a full refund or re-schedule with another flight at no added cost. And, of course if the flight they switched you to was less they should refund the difference.

Afterall, they moved you for their convenience. No other reason. Its not like it was due to weather or some other such uncontrolled event on their part.

 

[DebbieB]

I almost booked with Air Tran for a flight last May, PIT/MCO. Right before I booked it they changed the return flight from 2:30pm to 9:15am. Luckily USAir came through with a large fare reduction that gave me the times I wanted. I usually do not book air too far ahead because most airlines frequently change schedules.

 

[DebbieB]

After reading this, I thought I better check my May flights. Our flight PIT/MCO has changed from 11:03 to 12:53! Almost 2 hours later!

 

[deanna2426]

I called AirTran back. I was left on-hold for 25 minutes and then disconnected. I called again and finally was told they would allow me to cancel our return flight with no penalties (how nice of them), so I could re-book on-line at the lower price. Little do they know, I did re-book at the lower price....$49 pp on Southwest. So, by not crediting me $80, they lost $480!!! Needless to say, I won't be booking AirTran anytime soon!

Thanks for listening to me rant!!!

 

[kimg826]

Hi everyone,
This got me a little freaked out because I can't even find our flight on there. I am going to have to try to get a hold of my travel agent, who by the way their office burned down this week. Please keep your fingers crossed for me.

thanks, kimg

 

[tedhowe]

Everyone with AirTran reservations coming up should check their flights/flight times.

We had a reservation on AirTran for 4/9 to fly from PHL to TPA. Got a call earlier this week saying that the flight time had changed "significantly".

Boy I'll say - it moved back by nearly 5 hours. The agents I spoke to were very helpful and when we determined that there were no other options on AirTran that would work for us, they had no problems cancelling and giving us a full refund.

We were able to book an alternate flight from PHL to MCO on USAirways that was less expensive (saved nearly $350 for the 7 of us) and gets us to WDW about 2 hours sooner than our original flight would have.

If you have an AirTran agent tell you they won't refund when they change the flight (or cancel it), definitely ask to speak to a supervisor.

Ted

 

[CarolA]

Hi everyone,
This got me a little freaked out because I can't even find our flight on there. I am going to have to try to get a hold of my travel agent, who by the way their office burned down this week. Please keep your fingers crossed for me.

thanks, kimg

Considering the TA issue you might just call AirTran and see what they did with you. They should be able to tell you although they might make the TA deal with the changes.

 

[kimg826]

thanks for the information.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Wow Debbie, I just looked and saw that, too! I have to say, when we took the 11:50 (flt 991), I thought it was too late for me. Also, with the 9:00 return (flt 990), that was way too early.

Now I see flight 990 is 10:05-12:23, which is much better than the 8:15 that they did have it at. Still, I'd like to see 994 change to a little earlier than 17:41-19:59.

 

[Yardbird]

We have a flight booked with AT for June. After reading your post, I thought I'd check to see if our flights were as booked. Well guess what?? Ours too had been changed, and I never received any kind of notification. I phoned AT a tad ticked, and was told that AT could change flights/times without notice. I said, let me get this straight, you can change flights/times and it's okay, but if I do it I'm charged a $50.00 change fee on each ticket. The answer I received was "Yes ma'am" I feel that should have at least notified me that they had changed my flight.

This will be the last time that I book with AT.

 

[dudspizza]

I called AirTran back. I was left on-hold for 25 minutes and then disconnected. I called again and finally was told they would allow me to cancel our return flight with no penalties (how nice of them), so I could re-book on-line at the lower price. Little do they know, I did re-book at the lower price....$49 pp on Southwest. So, by not crediting me $80, they lost $480!!! Needless to say, I won't be booking AirTran anytime soon!

Thanks for listening to me rant!!!

I LOVE IT! I have never flown SW, but their policy when the price changes is great. So many airlines know they have you where they want you and they treat you like dirt when they already have your money.

I had a time change on our flight using Sun Country. I called and asked if we could move our return flight to the following day, since the return was now 2 hrs earlier. They only have 1 flight per day at that time of year and had no problem moving me and with no fee at all. Their customer service was excellent and they have kept me as a customer.

Duds

 

[Mandabella]

Argh! I just checked my Air Tran flights....now I will be getting into Orlando 90 mins later and coming home 45 mins sooner. Iguess it could be worse, but I don't like getting into Orlando after 8:00PM.

And so far....there are no cheaper flights on any airline for my dates. Southwest is more expensive than these tickets.

 

[cra-z-4-dizney]

Argh! I just checked my Air Tran flights....now I will be getting into Orlando 90 mins later and coming home 45 mins sooner. Iguess it could be worse, but I don't like getting into Orlando after 8:00PM.

And so far....there are no cheaper flights on any airline for my dates. Southwest is more expensive than these tickets.

Hi, not sure if they woyld do this, but might be worth a try...why don't yo call SW and see is they will price match your current Prices??? Just a thought.

 

[pjlla]

While I have used AirTran in the past and really liked them, we have been fortunately not to have had this particular problem with them (yet). But we did have it happen with US Airways last year. Fortunately they e-mailed us a few weeks before the flight to let us know about the change. When I called them and told that that the time that they changed us to was unacceptable (I didn't want to get into Orlando after 11pm with two small children) the only other options was a flight earlier in the day. But it meant my DH having to take a partial vacation day, which we were trying to avoid. But he was able to work at home that day and it all ended well.... but as you can see other airlines do it too! It is so aggravating!..................P

 

[deelam]

Airtran cancelled my flight also. I had a 2:55 flight on a Saturday. They changed it to 1:15 and never notified me! I found the change while searching their web site for cheaper fares.
I think while US Air was in big trouble, Air Tran was trying to expand the Philly service. Now that US Air looks like it will survive, Air Tran seems to have pulled back on direct Philly flights. The Saturday I'm leaving is now the only direct flight that day. When I originally booked that flight there were plenty of direct flights.
With Airtran changing our flight times, we will now struggle to make that flight. I will fly Air Tran this time. But will never book with them again. I don't like how they handle this problem. If I miss my flight, they told me I could fly stand by at no additional cost. They have been nice, but I would rather not have to deal with this. So Southwest and US air will have my bussiness.

 

[JandD Mom]

They did the same thing to us -- more than once. In the past, I had them refund my money when they changed the times to inconvenient ones. This time, we booked Airtran for a flight home to PHL from FLL on Memorial day because it was the best time -- 3:10 pm. We would get home in time so we would have time to have lunch with family etc and yet get home before it was too late.

Today I discovered the flight was cancelled and now we come home at 1 pm. I could have booked a 1:45 flight originally with SWA but went with Airtran because it was cheaper. I would definately cancel, but there are no alternative flights for that day that aren't significantly more expensive. So they hae us over a barrel.

I would like to fly them, but I can't put up with these constant changes. I emailed them and told them so. I would suggest the rest of us "consumers" do the same.

 

[Trissy]

I'm wanting to know when all of you find the lowest fare? How far in advance from when you're leaving? Also, is there a cheaper time or day to fly in or out? We are very flexible and plan to go in Aug or Sept and I don't know when I shoud buy. I found a price for the two of us out of Chicago on SW for $257.20 total, but it is for 2 1/2 weeks from now. Otherwise they are quoting me $350.80 for Aug. How can I pay that when I know I could get it for cheaper. Do they adjust your ticket price w/o fee if they go down in price? Please any help would be greatly appreciated.