Airtran, Need help they changed my non-stop to 3 hour layover!

[nsofrank]

Hello! This is my first post on Disboards. I've always really found the board helpful! This is my first time flying to WDW and we booked with Airtran because at the time they were cheaper than Southwest. (Non-stop from Columbus, Ohio in October.) Now I get an email that they've changed the flight and now the flight home has one stop with a three hour layover. It won't work for us. I'm suppose to call them, but before I do that I want to make sure I have my "ears" in a row.

Does anyone have experience with this? Any tips or suggestions? They have a non-stop flight, only one, that day and the cost is now something like $400, we paid around $100. I want the non-stop, but are they going to try to charge us the $400?? Ugh. I don't know what to do and would really appreciate all the veteran help around here!

Thank you!!!
Nicole

 

[MHSweb79]

Welcome to the DIS!

I'm sorry this happened to you. I don't have experience with AirTran but I think you should call them ASAP and ask for that non-stop flight for the same price. Seats fill up fast- I wouldn't wait too long.

 

[DebbieB]

Hello! This is my first post on Disboards. I've always really found the board helpful! This is my first time flying to WDW and we booked with Airtran because at the time they were cheaper than Southwest. (Non-stop from Columbus, Ohio in October.) Now I get an email that they've changed the flight and now the flight home has one stop with a three hour layover. It won't work for us. I'm suppose to call them, but before I do that I want to make sure I have my "ears" in a row.

Does anyone have experience with this? Any tips or suggestions? They have a non-stop flight, only one, that day and the cost is now something like $400, we paid around $100. I want the non-stop, but are they going to try to charge us the $400?? Ugh. I don't know what to do and would really appreciate all the veteran help around here!

Thank you!!!
Nicole

Because they made the change, they should switch you to the non-stop for free. Are you happy with the time of the other non-stop? You could also look at their schedule to see if another connection time works better.

 

[hildarumpole]

The same thing happened to us last year. I called and they switched us to the non-stop flight at no extra charge. It was 4 hrs. earlier than our previously scheduled flight and we had to leave Disney at 4:30 a.m, but it was better than taking 8 hrs. and 2 flights to get home. AirTran is infamous for fiddling with their schedules. Don't forget, if you prepaid for seats, make sure they reserve your seats on the new flight.

 

[nsofrank]

Thanks for all of the tips! I called and they switched us to the *8:30am* but non-stop is worth it!! Thank you all for the tips!

Nicole

 

[eangel12]

Our flight was changed too...and we moved to an earlier flight. Praying that they don't change that one too!! We now have to leave for the airport at 5:30am, but it is better than getting into Disney super late!

 

[dudspizza]

For anyone else who is reading, Airtran will also change you to a day before or after if that works out better (when they made the change). They have also been known to allow airport changes if another works better.

Yes, Airtran makes regular schedule changes, but they have been wonderful to work with to get things worked out.

My last trip we actually had the non-stop MSP-MCO. It didn't leave until late afternoon and then they moved it later. I chose to have them move me to a flight with 1 connection, but it left right away in the am. Hence, we got to WDW about 7 hours earlier than planned....... in that case, a connection was better.

duds

 

[Alexander]

For anyone else who is reading, Airtran will also change you to a day before or after if that works out better (when they made the change). They have also been known to allow airport changes if another works better.

Yes, Airtran makes regular schedule changes, but they have been wonderful to work with to get things worked out.

My last trip we actually had the non-stop MSP-MCO. It didn't leave until late afternoon and then they moved it later. I chose to have them move me to a flight with 1 connection, but it left right away in the am. Hence, we got to WDW about 7 hours earlier than planned....... in that case, a connection was better.

duds

We were flying out of JAX one time because the price was hundreds of dollars less than MCO. However, we had the last flight of the night and we were connecting in ATL also getting the last flight out. About 2 weeks before we left, they changed our layover time to 30 minutes If you know ATL, you know that is cutting it close. Anyways, I called Airtran and asked what would happen if we didn't make the connecting flight since it was the last one of the night. She offered to put us on the only other flight available that day at 8:00 AM. I told her we were driving up from Orlando and we would never be able to get to Jacksonville that early. She said, "Hold on a minute..." Then offered to put us on the non-stop flight our of Orlando mid-day. Perfect! Didn't have to drive to JAX and were moved to a much more expensive flight at no cost to us. If you are really nice to them, they will work with you. Now, this scenario played out exactly as I had hoped it would. I knew there was a great flight from MCO and made sure she knew we were already going to be in Orlando. Sneaky, but hey, it was perfect, and we fly them several times a year so it's not like we don't pay them enough!

 

[The Hendies]

I let Airtran changes work for me and it has never failed. I schedule our flights for the absolute cheapest flight of the day, regardless of the time. Then when I get one of those pesky little emails telling me my flight changed by 3 minutes, I call and get the flight I wanted to begin with. Just today I switched from a 6:00pm departure with 11:47pm arrival on a Friday to a pleasant non-stop 12:10pm departure arriving at MCO at 2:57. Just what I wanted. Someday I'm sure I won't get my way, but until then, I'm a happy camper!