Airtran changed our Flights

[BELLE16127]

We booked our flights back in February for our trip arriving June 10 staying through June 17. We allways look for the earliest flight arriving and a later flight comming home to stay as long as possible. I booked leaving Pittsburgh at 8:20 arriving at 10:34. Return flight leave Orlando 6:20 arrive Pittsburgh at 8:33.

We get a call yesterday May 11 that they have changed our flights to this Leave Pittsburgh at 10:15 arrive Orlando at 12:30 Ok so I am not THRILLED with this but can live with it. The book our return to Pittsburgh 1:10 leave Orlando and return to Pittsburgh at 3:25.....this one I hate I like to spend those last few hours at the parks! I called last night to see what we can do NOTHING the only direct flight they havew isa the one they put us on other than that they have layovers of like 3 hours in Atlanta. I called customer relations and ask what they are going to do do I get 50.00 for each ticket because they changed my flights like I would be charged to change them??? Nope nothin, we changed the flights to fly out on the 18 at 8:50 am with a direct but now I am waiting to call DVC and see if I can get the room at Old Key West for another night and I have a feeling that that will be next to impossible. We looked at flights getting into Orlando after midnight on June 9th but are unsure if the Magical Express runs that late.

I even tried tellin the people at Airtran that this will cost us extra $$ to do with the room for an extra day, or possible taxi if we do the late night flight, or just the fact that we had made our plans for our ENTIRE stay that we had planned with the flights I made sure to BOOK EARLY and they can do nothing for someone who took the time to plan a trip??

Still waiting to call and see what I can do with the room so I am on hold with the plans that I had all worked out for months, and they change so late that you can't possibly find a cheep flight this late in.

Just wondering how other people hadle this if it has happened to anyone here. And I haven't even mentioned trying to get an extra day at work if we can get the room and take the flight on the 18th. Because of course we didn't get a call until about 8pm last night and we were both home from work that is another can of worms to work on......My trip is falling apart piece by piece.

Sorry for the rant just a bit angry right now and WILL NEVER BOOK AIRTRAN again!!!!!

 

[Goobergal99]

I never had this happened. But I did fly airtran before and I wouldn't recommend them anyway. I am so sorry this happened to you, I would keep calling to see if you can get someone willing to accomodate you.

 

[safetymom]

This can happen with any airline. It's not a reason to swear off flying AirTran.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

This can happen with any airline. It's not a reason to swear off flying AirTran.

safetymom is right. ALL airlines change flight times. If you fly a lot, you just get used to it and learn to roll with the punches. Not flying AirTran again just guarantees that eventually this will happen to you on another airline.

While I understand why you are upset, the airline doesn't owe you compensation because your flight time changed and you were inconvenienced.

I would keep calling to see if you can get someone willing to accomodate you.

Just what do you expect AirTran to do? Schedule a special flight just for the OP?

 

[BELLE16127]

No I do not expect them to have a flight just for me.....but I do think when they change a flight they should take what they would charge ME to change a flight and give the amount to me either off this flight or off an upcomming flight. I work as a Customer Service Manager in Retail and you would not believe the things that we have to do for people in our company.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Again, I realize that this is annoying, but all airlines change flight times every single day, due to equipment problems, weather delays, crew problems, airport delays, etc.

They cannot possibly compensate passengers for these delays without going bankrupt in a week.

 

[dudspizza]

No I do not expect them to have a flight just for me.....but I do think when they change a flight they should take what they would charge ME to change a flight and give the amount to me either off this flight or off an upcomming flight.

Not going to happen. Flights change daily on every airline. They will gladly make a change for you that is more to your liking, but they are not going to give you back $50 per ticket just because they changed the flight.

My flights on Delta in two weeks have changed 3-4 times.... if they gave me compensation every time they changed something, they would be paying me to fly.

Airline tickets are very cheap forms of transportation. The actual price of an airline ticket has not gone up in decades. We all demand low prices, but then want schedules that work for our ideals.

The airline has a contract to get you from point A to point B on the date you booked to travel, nothing more. As frustrating as it is, you are stuck with the changes. Now, if you want to push it, ask Airtran to refund your money and go elsewhere.

Duds

 

[safetymom]

I agree with lost. Everyone wants cheaper flights and that comes with less customer service. If you want to pay higher prices then you have a right to demand a change fee from the airlines.

 

[disneydaveb]

safetymom is right. ALL airlines change flight times. If you fly a lot, you just get used to it and learn to roll with the punches. Not flying AirTran again just guarantees that eventually this will happen to you on another airline.

While I understand why you are upset, the airline doesn't owe you compensation because your flight time changed and you were inconvenienced.



Just what do you expect AirTran to do? Schedule a special flight just for the OP?

I disagree. I would be p***** off if this happened. We plan our first and last days based on the flight times we choose. 20 minutes either way would not be a big deal, but a few hours can significantly impact your vacation.
This can easily turn a 7 day vacation ito a 5 day vacation.

With all of the airline restrictions, there is a lot of careful planning that is put into selecting flight times.
If the airlines weren't so inflexible, it would be different.
I agree with the OP. Why is it that I am held to an iron clad agreement ladened with penalties for any changes, but the airlines can screw me if they choose to without having to provide compensation?
I am flying Airtran for the first time in Sept. I have heard that they do this more often than most airlines. If I loose any vacation time, I WILL demand some sort of compensation if they cannot honor anything close to my original times.

 

[BELLE16127]

Thanks for understanding disneydaveb that is EXACTLY what I was saying IF I had changed it would inconvenience them HOW????? What they wanted to do to me was a 51/2 hour change in my return flight that is a day (depending on how you plan) I ws able to get the extra day at Old Key West but had to use more of my DVC points to do so what is the going rate for points now??

I also see you are in Pennsylvania I don't know how other places are but we are also limited in who we can fly I think we have Air Tran, USAir which you never know if they are goinna be flying tomorrow with all the bankrupcy stuff with them and Southwest there are a couple others I think (unsure about it) but a direct from most are hard to find.

Thanks again for understanding and I hope you have better luck on your trip with them than we have had.

 

[safetymom]

I understand your concerns but in this day and age you aren't going to be compensated for it.

USAirways is out of bankruptcy and actually is doing well.

The best advice is just realize that stuff happens when you are trying to fly and go with it. Life is too short to get hot and bothered over things you can't control.

 

[dudspizza]

I disagree. I would be p***** off if this happened. We plan our first and last days based on the flight times we choose. 20 minutes either way would not be a big deal, but a few hours can significantly impact your vacation.
This can easily turn a 7 day vacation ito a 5 day vacation.

With all of the airline restrictions, there is a lot of careful planning that is put into selecting flight times.
If the airlines weren't so inflexible, it would be different.
I agree with the OP. Why is it that I am held to an iron clad agreement ladened with penalties for any changes, but the airlines can screw me if they choose to without having to provide compensation?
I am flying Airtran for the first time in Sept. I have heard that they do this more often than most airlines. If I loose any vacation time, I WILL demand some sort of compensation if they cannot honor anything close to my original times.

There is a way to get what you want... don't buy a discounted ticket. Pay the price for a totally unrestricted ticket and you can do pretty much anything you want with it, without fees. The idea that people want to fly for $49 each way AND be given the world are unrealistic.

Would I be unhappy? You bet. But, I also understand it could happen. It happened to me on our last trip on Sun Country. We got them to move us to the next day at no cost. It is frustrating, but it is a part of air travel.

Duds

 

[newchic99]

This happened to us alsur flight coming home from orlando to Pittsburgh was changed from 6:20 pm to 9:00am. The flight from PIT to MCO was changed also, but only by about 1 hour.
Since I booked through Disney travel, they took care of everything for us. We decided to stay an extra night . AirTran waved the fee to change our flight . I think we must have gotten a price break from disney too. It only cost us around $120( I think) for the extra night and dining plan for another night.
I can't say I was happy about the changes. I just couldn't see giving up my extra Disney day.

 

[disneydaveb]

There is a way to get what you want... don't buy a discounted ticket. Pay the price for a totally unrestricted ticket and you can do pretty much anything you want with it, without fees. The idea that people want to fly for $49 each way AND be given the world are unrealistic.

Would I be unhappy? You bet. But, I also understand it could happen. It happened to me on our last trip on Sun Country. We got them to move us to the next day at no cost. It is frustrating, but it is a part of air travel.

Duds

Yeah, but that's not really the point. Whether I pay for the most expensive ticket or the cheapest ticket, it doesn't change the fact that I planned on leaving or arriving within a certain timeframe.
If I paid for the totally unrestricted ticket, can I then call the airline and say "No, sorry, I am going to need you to change the flight time back to what it was when I booked because, after all, I did pay for an unrestricted ticket." ????
Or can I expect them to pay me fees if I bought that ticket????
The point of paying for that premium ticket is so that I can have flexibility if MY plans change.

Actually, I believe according to one of the rules in the contract of carriage, if an airline makes a schedule change that moves a flight more than 15 minutes (it might be 30), you have the right to cancel the entire itinerary with a full refund.
So, no matter what ticket you have, you are entitled to at least a refund if they make changes. They should certainly let you adjust your flights without fees in this case.

Of course it may be too late to catch flights with another airline, but at least you have the option.

I don't want the "world" ,as was suggested, I just want what I paid for. And no matter what price I pay, I expect the schedule I originally selected and paid for to be somewhat close to the schedule I receive. Is that unrealistic?

 

[helenk]

A year or so ago this happened to us with AirTran, but they were very helpful. Since our flight time change was more than 2 hours from the one we booked they waived the $50 fee. We opted to fly out the next day instead of leaving at 3:00 in the afternoon. We spent a full day in the parks, and then stayed in an airport hotel overnight (cheaper than staying onsite at Disney) and then left early the next morning.

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Personally I am very suprised Air TRan wont let you change your flights without a change fee. Very appaling in my mind. Delta always will let me change my flights without a change fee if they adjust the flights. Now I am elite flyer on Delta but I still think Airlines should waive the fee as good gesture. I know Delta messes up but they in the end take care of me. This is what brings me back.

Matt

 

[riu girl]

Does SWA generally change flight times? I don't mean weather/mechanical conditions, but due to combining flights etc.?
Thank you

 

[dudspizza]

Does SWA generally change flight times? I don't mean weather/mechanical conditions, but due to combining flights etc.?
Thank you

One of the things that people love about SW is that they post a schedule and stick to it. Along with that comes the frustration of waiting until the schedule acutally comes out... but many people will gladly deal with that to get the flights they know will be the flights they fly.


Duds

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

One of the things that people love about SW is that they post a schedule and stick to it

Wow. This simply is not true. No airline flies every scheduled flight at scheduled times, including SWA.

It appears that many of you don't have a lot of experience flying. Yes, cancelled flights, rescheduled flights, delayed flights, etc. are really inconvenient and sometimes ruin travel plans. I've had this happen to me many times. However, except in very limited circumstances, you aren't owed any compensation from an airline because your flight time was changed or your flight was cancelled or your plans had to be modified.

If your flight time is significantly changed, the airline should allow you to book a flight at a different time at no charge to you. I have been successful doing this a number of times.

 

[DebbieB]

With Southwest coming into Pittsburgh and adding additional flights at cheap prices, Air Tran cut down from 2 non-stops per day to MCO to 1. If she wants non-stop on Air Tran, there is no other time choice to switch to. USAirways has also cut down from 4 or 5 non-stops to 3. I don't think they want to compete with Southwest's prices on this route. Southwest is now flying 3 non-stops in each direction. You could check that out and you should be able to get a refund from Air Tran.

Edit - I just checked Southwest for your dates, the morning flight to MCO and the evening return for June 10 & 17 are both soldout. For USAirways, for the times you want, you would be looking at $594 per ticket. I think you are pretty much stuck with either taking Air Tran's non-stop times or taking a long connection. Considering you are there a week, I would leave early with the non-stop.