Airtran Travelers beware

[kevw67]

This may be sour grapes on my part, but I have had it with Airscam. I bought 4 tix out of Buffalo for Feb 17. We had a direct flight into MCO arriving at 1:30. Great I thought, because we would still have time to get into a park, eat, catch the fireworks, whatever. Not so fast. I get an email saying my flight has been changed. I now arrive in MCO at 5:30. This would basically ruin my plans for the entire day so I call Airscam to complain and of course I get the runaround about the disclaimer on price change, time change, etc, etc. So now, at my inconvienance, I get a flight the night before leaving at 7:55pm and arriving at midnight. I couldnt leave earlier because I am a teacher and I cant take a day off travel so now im stuck getting in a day early where I have to fork out hotel fare for an extra night, or lose reservations and a day on park tickets that I have already bought. I know I can add no expiration but that will not be an option. This is the only airline I have ever had this problem with and it has happened 3 other times. I tired of this. You plan a vacation for over a year in many case and rely on these people to get you there on time and now this. I hope other people who have been in this prediciment will write to Airscam and complain as I did. Maybe they will stop this practice of booking aniticpated flights and book flights that actually leave when advertised. Flame me if you want, but when you can only travel at certain times of the year, you want to get as much out of it as you can. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[dudspizza]

This may be sour grapes on my part, but I have had it with Airscam. I bought 4 tix out of Buffalo for Feb 17. We had a direct flight into MCO arriving at 1:30. Great I thought, because we would still have time to get into a park, eat, catch the fireworks, whatever. Not so fast. I get an email saying my flight has been changed. I now arrive in MCO at 5:30. This would basically ruin my plans for the entire day so I call Airscam to complain and of course I get the runaround about the disclaimer on price change, time change, etc, etc. So now, at my inconvienance, I get a flight the night before leaving at 7:55pm and arriving at midnight. I couldnt leave earlier because I am a teacher and I cant take a day off travel so now im stuck getting in a day early where I have to fork out hotel fare for an extra night, or lose reservations and a day on park tickets that I have already bought. I know I can add no expiration but that will not be an option. This is the only airline I have ever had this problem with and it has happened 3 other times. I tired of this. You plan a vacation for over a year in many case and rely on these people to get you there on time and now this. I hope other people who have been in this prediciment will write to Airscam and complain as I did. Maybe they will stop this practice of booking aniticpated flights and book flights that actually leave when advertised. Flame me if you want, but when you can only travel at certain times of the year, you want to get as much out of it as you can. Has anyone else had this problem?

Being a fellow teacher, I know what you are saying. However, flight time changes can happen on nearly every airline. It is one of the side effects of everyone wanting cheap flights.....

Good luck with whatever you choose to do..

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Thats why I love SWA from BWI they have so many flight a day they hardly ever have to change times.

In all my many flights per year I had 1 change it was by 15min and they E-mailed and called me to apologize for doing it as they were diverting planes after Katrina and trying to reroute everything.

 

[dudspizza]

Thats why I love SWA from BWI they have so many flight a day they hardly ever have to change times.

In all my many flights per year I had 1 change it was by 15min and they E-mailed and called me to apologize for doing it as they were diverting planes after Katrina and trying to reroute everything.

SW is one of the only airlines that I have read about that pretty much sticks to their schedule once they publish it. The bad part about it is that they only publish their schedule a few months at a time.. an example would be people waiting for May flights right now... they are chomping at the bit for SW to open up those dates....

People who want to be planned well in advance run the risk of purchasing tickets that most likely will have a schedule change some time before their trip... it is the nature of the business, unfortunately.

Duds

 

[TAKitty]

I agree that this is a pain, but I have had our flight times changed on 3 other airlines. For us it has only been a 3 hour difference so it didn't matter that much. You are going to WDW! Have fun and let it go.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

FWIW, many times schedule changes can be dictated by the airports & not the individual carriers.

If, for instance, USAir leases 50 gates from your airport & Airtran leases 5 who do you think is going to win out?

Not that it's any consolation to you, just wanted to comment.

 

[Alexander]

This may be sour grapes on my part, but I have had it with Airscam. I bought 4 tix out of Buffalo for Feb 17. We had a direct flight into MCO arriving at 1:30. Great I thought, because we would still have time to get into a park, eat, catch the fireworks, whatever. Not so fast. I get an email saying my flight has been changed. I now arrive in MCO at 5:30. This would basically ruin my plans for the entire day so I call Airscam to complain and of course I get the runaround about the disclaimer on price change, time change, etc, etc. So now, at my inconvienance, I get a flight the night before leaving at 7:55pm and arriving at midnight. I couldnt leave earlier because I am a teacher and I cant take a day off travel so now im stuck getting in a day early where I have to fork out hotel fare for an extra night, or lose reservations and a day on park tickets that I have already bought. I know I can add no expiration but that will not be an option. This is the only airline I have ever had this problem with and it has happened 3 other times. I tired of this. You plan a vacation for over a year in many case and rely on these people to get you there on time and now this. I hope other people who have been in this prediciment will write to Airscam and complain as I did. Maybe they will stop this practice of booking aniticpated flights and book flights that actually leave when advertised. Flame me if you want, but when you can only travel at certain times of the year, you want to get as much out of it as you can. Has anyone else had this problem?

I too teach in Upstate NY and fly out of ROC or SYR. We book our flights very early (10 months out) and always experience changes in flights. It's because of anticipated flights that we are able to get good deals. The reason SW doesn't have as many flight changes is because they only book a few months out. Today is January 28th and they are only booking through May 10th right now. That to me is an incovenience. I like to book when I know we will be traveling (usually over a year in advance, but I can't book flights until 300 days in advance). Having your flights changed is the price you will pay if you continue to book flights way in advance for good rates. We had 9 changes on our Delta flights for February.

I totally understand only being able to travel during certain times of the year. We go to WDW President's Week, Easter Week, and a week in August each year. August is the only time we travel that is not peak season and can wait a bit on choosing our flights. I'm sorry that you've had a bad experience with Airtran. Please know you are not alone, and this will continue to happen with every airline that allows booking way in advance (check out some of the threads that slam Delta for the same reason). I hope you have a great trip to WDW and don't let this ruin your vacation!

 

[Skroops]

I've flown air tran before and have had this happen. Actually, most every airline I've bought advanced seats for has changed flight times by the time the date comes along. Usually it's only a few minutes, but the one time I booked air tran, they put me on an evening flight after I had booked the morning flight.

I checked thier new flight times on-line, and I picked the one that worked for my schedule and I called them and firmly (and nicely) told them which one would work for me. They put me on the one I requested.

If you see a flight that works better for you, you should call them and tell them you want your reservation moved.

Good luck!

 

[dopeyfanatic]

I don't understand how booking so far out saves money. We've had our trip planned for 2008 for over a year now. As soon as you were able to book for June this year, I started comparing prices. The flights have remained within $20 of the original price since day 1 of being able to book. So booking 300 days out for this June from our area wouldn't have made a difference in booking 120 days out....

 

[Lowillian]

Gotta love SWA and BWI!

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Gotta love SWA and BWI!

I agree but man I need my June flights to open.

I'm not really that concerned as they normally open at the same price +/-$10 and there are many choices. I have about $400 in credits right now so I should be OK and not put much out of pocket.

 

[sanfran22]

this too has happened to me....it sucks and airtran is the only one that has ever done that to me....we did get free one way tickets for the inconvience, but i'm leary of using them as well.........

 

[dudspizza]

I don't understand how booking so far out saves money. We've had our trip planned for 2008 for over a year now. As soon as you were able to book for June this year, I started comparing prices. The flights have remained within $20 of the original price since day 1 of being able to book. So booking 300 days out for this June from our area wouldn't have made a difference in booking 120 days out....

I typically never book that far in advance, but folks who travel at high travel times such as spring break or holidays find booking as early as possible will save them money. An example is my high school's baseball team got flights at spring break to MCO from MSP for $230 including taxes. Within a week the prices were up to $300 and now they are up to $700.

Now, if you are going at a normal time, waiting for the right prices is the thing to do. I actually have a price in mind and am ready to grab it whenever it pops up.....

Duds

 

[iluvflorida8]

Thats why I only fly SOUTHWEST for the last 2 years. They NEVER change flight times or cancel flights!!

 

[kevw67]

Thanks for the replies....I just needed to vent. Booking way out does save money...4 Tix cost me $1200 back when they opened up. To wait would have cost me over $600 each as it did last year when Independence air went uder in January and I had to scramble for last minute flights. Im sure travelling in June does not carry the volume that Presidents week, Easter, Xmas etc carry. That is my problem. Teaching does not afford you the luxory of travelling at off peak times so I try to book as far out as possible to get good rates, and this is how they treat you. Airports, airlines, I dont care who screws you over, its an inconvienece and it is aggrevating. It has now cost me either reservations OR an extra night at a hotel as well as finding an extra day to board my dog. Of course I took the extra night and Ive emailed them and will continue to harass Airtran until I get something besides an apology. This will in no way ruin our vacation, but it is the point of the matter.

 

[dis-happy]

I know you are upset, but really, you are over-reacting. As someone who travels A LOT with kids (and being married to a road warrior who travels even more) you situation is very minor. If AT had kept your original flight and seats you still had no guarantee that everything would go smoothly---weather delays could get you into Orlando 8 hours late, last minute plane equipment problems could have you change planes and even get you bumped off the plane (cheapest fares get the least consideration).

What I'm trying to say is, don't let it ruin your trip. You seem to be a family of four, two kids and two adults, right? As long as each parent can sit with a child (and I'm sure that will happen when you board the flight) don't worry about it. Most seats are 3 across, so how were all four of you seated together anyway? There must have at least been an aisle between you.

As others have said, this would happen on almost any other airline (has happened to me on USAir and United). It's not just an Airtran thing.

 

[UP Disney]

It isn't just Airtran. I had the same problem with AA for a December trip. They changed the times on both ends of my trip. By the time they got done, they had taken more than 3 hours off the beginning of the trip and 3 hours off the end. I kept arriving later & later while leaving earlier & earlier.

 

[calgarygary]

Here is part of Airtran's contract of carriage:

RIGHT OF THE AIR CARRIER AND LIMITS ON LIABILITY FOR DELAY
OR FAILURE TO PERFORM SERVICE, INCLUDING SCHEDULE
CHANGES, SUBSTITUTION OF ALTERNATE AIRCRAFT AND REROUTING
A. AirTran will endeavor to transport the passenger and baggage with reasonable dispatch, but
times shown in timetables or elsewhere are not guaranteed and form no part of this contract.
B. The agreed stopping places are those places shown in AirTran’ timetables as scheduled
stopping places on the route. AirTran may, without notice, substitute alternative carriers or
aircraft and, if necessary, may alter or omit stopping places shown on the timetable.
C. Schedules are subject to change without notice. AirTran is not responsible or liable for failure
to make connections or for failure to operate any flight according to schedule, or for a change
to the schedule of any flight. Under no circumstances shall AirTran be liable for any special,
incidental or consequential damages arising from the foregoing (including the carriage of
baggage) whether or not AirTran had knowledge that such damages might be incurred.
D. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, AirTran cannot guarantee that the
passenger's baggage will be carried on the flight if sufficient space is not available based on
the sole determination of AirTran.
E. AirTran will not provide or reimburse passengers for expenses incurred due to delays or
cancellations of flights.

Here is part of Soutwest's:

C. Carrier will attempt to transport passengers and their baggage promptly and as scheduled. Flight schedules, however, are subject to change without notice, and the times shown in or on Carrier’s published schedules, tickets, and advertising are not guaranteed. At times, without prior notice to passengers, Carrier may need to substitute other aircraft or airlines and may change, add, or omit intermediate or connecting stops. Carrier cannot guarantee that passengers will make connections to other flights of its own or those of other airlines. In the event of flight schedule changes, Carrier will attempt to so notify affected passengers as soon as possible at the airport or enroute.

Also, here is a section of Delta's:

Delta will use its best efforts to carry the passenger and baggage with reasonable dispatch.
Times shown in timetables or elsewhere are not guaranteed and form no part of this contract.
Delta may without notice substitute alternate carriers or aircraft, and may alter or omit stopping
places shown on the ticket in case of necessity. Schedules are subject to change without
notice. Delta is not responsible or liable for making connections, or for failing to operate any
flight according to schedule, or for changing the schedule or any flight.

Every airline has the same type of disclaimer in their contract of carriage. You are not entitled to any form of compensation and quite frankly, I do not understand why you feel it necessary to refer to AirTran as Airscam because they had to alter their schedule.

 

[iluvflorida8]

Every airline has the same type of disclaimer in their contract of carriage. You are not entitled to any form of compensation and quite frankly, I do not understand why you feel it necessary to refer to AirTran as Airscam because they had to alter their schedule.

calgarygary
Southwest has that policy in there by-laws. But they never do it. I have flown them 2x a month for the last 18 months and they have NEVER changed a flight time or cancel a flight because of not enough passengers. There schedules never change. Only weather conditions would alter a Southwest flight schedule.

In fact on several occasions I have been on a Southwest flight(Pittsburgh to MCO) and have had less than 20 passengers on a plane that holds 128. Most of the other legacy airlines would cancel a flight like that, and move the passengers on another flight.

 

[nosnobunny2006]

We had Delta flights booked a while back and I swear they changed our scheduled daily for two months. The way I see it, that's just the way it is these days and I'm not going to sweat the small stuff.

Beth