AirTran changes...assistance please

[LovinRafiki]

I know I shouldn't be surprised by this after reading the other posts about Air Tran, but I just receive a letter from Disney saying that our flight time home has changed for the second time. It is now an hour earlier then when I booked it. I think I have read that people have changed their flights with Air Tran or even gotten a refund and been able to book on another airline. Anyone had experience with this? I am pretty frustrated and COMPLETELY shocked that Disney would choose an airline that is SO disorganized as their premier carrier! I have flown a decent amount of times and not once have I had flight time changes like this. I want out of Air Tran! (Thanks for reading my vent session. I'll be calm now.)

 

[Traveliz]

I really like Airtran and don't seem to have the schedule changes others do -- on an occasional few minutes here and there and my daughter's non stop went to a stop and arrival an hour later once - but I can't imagine changing carriers because of an hour's air time change.

If you start doing that you will never fly as every single airline does it (some more than others and in some areas more than others).

Liz

 

[CarolA]

I know I shouldn't be surprised by this after reading the other posts about Air Tran, but I just receive a letter from Disney saying that our flight time home has changed for the second time. It is now an hour earlier then when I booked it. I think I have read that people have changed their flights with Air Tran or even gotten a refund and been able to book on another airline. Anyone had experience with this? I am pretty frustrated and COMPLETELY shocked that Disney would choose an airline that is SO disorganized as their premier carrier! I have flown a decent amount of times and not once have I had flight time changes like this. I want out of Air Tran! (Thanks for reading my vent session. I'll be calm now.)

I guess Disney went with what MOST posters seem to want. CHEAP! And to be honest, there are entire threads on here on other airlines changing thier flight times. It's not a sign of "disorganization", it's a sign of "what the airlines have to do, to make a profit"

Now, you have to contact Disney. They are your Travel Agent and changes to your package will have to be done via them. Will they refund you your airfare? I don't know. But before you call them make sure that you have options you can live with..... (Which would be apparently SW only since as far as I know they are the ONLY airline that doesn't seem to do flight changes)

 

[ParrotBill]

Each airline's policy is a little different. When I book direct with Airtran, I get an email for every schedule change and I am asked to accept the schedule change (click a button) or call them to discuss alternatives.

If you don't like the change, they are very accommodating to book you on other flights. If the schedule changes by more than an hour, or you can demonstrate that the change is unsuitable (such as you will be to late to make a cruise), they will refund and you can start over.

Airtran is not the only airline doing this. But to keep costs low, they have to keep balancing their schedule and maximize capacities. Also, they shift to get lower cost landing/takeoff slots at airports sometimes.

The farther ahead you book the more of this you must go through. My next flight to Florida has changed nearly 3 hours later, and I am not happy but I cannot get a flight for under $200 with anyone else.

 

[LovinRafiki]

I am just glad I decided not to do priceline for our rental car or I would be n big trouble! I am just frustrated because we were planning on hitting a park on our departure day, but that hour difference really cancels that option. No I have to call and get one day dropped off our package. I fly at least once a year and I haven't ever had my flight times change. Maybe I have just been lucky. But it's difficult especially when flying to disney and trying to make all the plans. Well, I won't be flying Air Tran again anytime soon. It's too much uncertainty for me.

 

[dacky041208]

It seems like most people that have this problem with Airtran are able to call them and state the new flight time doesn't work, and you might be able to change flights or get a refund. But the only way to find out is to call and ask.