airtran flight schedule change

[mom2_3girls]

I just got an email from airtran this am that they have made a change to my flight schedule. We leave March 9th and it changed from leaving at 6am arrive MCO at 11:29 to leave 7am and arrive MCO at 2:59. I'm really bummed. I decided to go a day early and now half our day is lost. I checked there flight schedule and they have nothing earlier than that now. Is there anything I can do or am I out of luck?

 

[ironz]

The main thing is to check their schedule, and as reported by other people on these boards, call Airtran and ask to be put on the flight that works best for you. If the 7 am is the earliest that day, sounds like that might have to be it, though, if the goal is to maximize your time there that day. Or ask for a refund and book a different carrier?

I'm noticing that the overall flight time increased...looks like they added a connection to your itinerary. If you keep those flights, be sure and double check your seating, etc.

Good luck. I'm sure others will chime in who have more experience with Airtran.

 

[TaraPA]

Your choices with AT are to accept the flight as is & lose the time (it stinks, but this is very common on all airlines), get a full refund & re-book on another carrier, or have them move you to a flight you want (for free). If there are no earlier flights that day, you can move to a flight the day prior, if your schedule allows. They will move you for free, but then you have to add in the cost of an extra night's stay.

They will also move you to another airport, if you have one nearby, that has better flight options. All of this is, of course, based on availability.

AT has great customer service & will work with you to get you what you want.

 

[Inkmahm]

I just got an email from airtran this am that they have made a change to my flight schedule. We leave March 9th and it changed from leaving at 6am arrive MCO at 11:29 to leave 7am and arrive MCO at 2:59. I'm really bummed. I decided to go a day early and now half our day is lost. I checked there flight schedule and they have nothing earlier than that now. Is there anything I can do or am I out of luck?

Are you flying from MSP? My sister got the same email today. She tried calling but couldn't get through to Airtran tonight. I told her that Airtran is great for fixing things like this but we can't figure out why Airtran changed her flights in the first place. Her original flights are still available so there was no reason at all to change her to the later flights.

 

[seashoreCM]

Are you flying from MSP? My sister got the same email today. She tried calling but couldn't get through to Airtran tonight. I told her that Airtran is great for fixing things like this but we can't figure out why Airtran changed her flights in the first place. Her original flights are still available so there was no reason at all to change her to the later flights.

They do not have the right to change your reservations if your original flights still exist.

They can bump you or others using their normal rules at the airport at boarding time.

What I am not sure of is which course of action to take:
(1) Ignore the email and show up a little extra early (to reduce the chances of bumping) with your printed itinerary.
(2) Call them and tell them your original flights are still there and ask to be put back. Not too early in the conversation tell them they may not change your reservations. Ask for a manager if needed.

 

[mom2_3girls]

Are you flying from MSP? My sister got the same email today. She tried calling but couldn't get through to Airtran tonight. I told her that Airtran is great for fixing things like this but we can't figure out why Airtran changed her flights in the first place. Her original flights are still available so there was no reason at all to change her to the later flights.

Yep, I'm flying out of MSP! I'm really disappointed...we had a 30 minute layover in Milwaukee and now its changed to a 3 hr layover in Atlanta. I'm going to see if I can get a refund. I have the earliest flight time available...it almost looks like they got rid of the whole flight.

 

[MichelleB]

We are going in January for the marathon and have had the same thing happen. We were leaving at 6:15 p.m. so my daughter wouldn't have to be taken out of school and now they canceled the flight we were on and the latest flight is 2 hrs earlier. Guess who now has to be taken out of school early?!? And they switched us going through BWI with a 2 hour layover so the extra time is just going to be spent sitting. VERY FRUSTRATING!!!

 

[Inkmahm]

Yep, I'm flying out of MSP! I'm really disappointed...we had a 30 minute layover in Milwaukee and now its changed to a 3 hr layover in Atlanta. I'm going to see if I can get a refund. I have the earliest flight time available...it almost looks like they got rid of the whole flight.

It's very weird. If I look at the Airtran reservations, you can still make the reservation for the 6 am flight through Milwaukee arriving at MCO at 10:49 am. But that isn't really possible. Airtran told my sister that the flight arrives in Milw at 7:07 am and the next one leaves at 7:10 am so a connection through Milw isn't possible that early. I think they should really stop selling this combination if they know it is impossible to actually do.

Instead, we moved the whole family. My sister is leaving Msp at 10:40 am or so and meeting us in Milw. We all leave at 1:29 pm to arrive at 5:07 pm. I'm fine with the change because I was not happy having to leave home at about 4:15 am to get to the airport. Now I don't have to leave until about 11 am.