Airtran-Well, you all warned me but I didn't listen

[ibcnu]

Travel insurance should have covered those costs (assuming, of course, you had some).

It really wasn't more than an inconvenience than anything else, we did get to stay in Myrtle Beach another day and got a 6pm checkout the next day all for $90 and an extra $25 for the day for the car rental (Cheaper than to take a taxi from airport to hotel and back). I think the insurance would have been more money.

That's why I do stress travel insurance for cruises, for many other reasons, including travel (such as having to be airlifted from the ship in a medical emergency).

 

[Pink Flamingo]

Sorry, but I totally see her point after my experience. They already changed it once and didn't even notify her. The money is minimal compared to the stress and hassle if they go messing with the reservation again at a later date. Just my opinion.

Unfortunately this can happen with any airline, so switching airlines doesn't reduce the risk. The same thing happened to us when flying Delta.

 

[NancyIL]

Unfortunately this can happen with any airline, so switching airlines doesn't reduce the risk. The same thing happened to us when flying Delta.

After using Delta FF miles for a ticket to Orlando at Thanksgiving 2006, Delta made quite a few changes - including pulling out of my airport 2.5 months prior to my trip! I swore I would never fly with Delta again, and then my Northwest miles became Delta miles - UGH!

 

[Inkmahm]

I definitely don't see it as $140 wasted. I paid for peace of mind. After reading the anti-AirTran posts and not being notified of changes to my flight, I don't want to spend the next four months checking on my flight and wondering when it will be leaving.

The agent said she could look for another flight but was not very helpful. She had no information about why my flight was moved, what happened to my original flight, or why I wasn't notified of the change (they had my e-mail with the reservation).

I will never book with AirTran again. I'm on the just say no to AirTran bandwagon.

You didn't do your homework before you called Airtran. You should have had the flight number that you wanted to switch to ready to give the person on the phone and they would have switched you for free to any other flight including a day earlier or later than your original flight.

It isn't uncommon for airlines to NOT notify you of a change if the flight is still months away. I've had changed on American where I was not notified as well as on Midwest and Northwest. There IS no airline where you don't have to keep checking your flights if you want to make sure they have not changed since you booked them. You have false "peace of mind" if you don't understand that.

 

[Missus Toad]

To date, I've had my PHL-MCO flight times dramatically changed twice by Airtran. I will not take the risk of more nonsense, so I cancelled a few moments ago at the latest development and found a cheaper US Air flight. I just can't deal with the uncertainty.

 

[Eveningsong]

And my opinion is that the poster likely wasted $140.

Southwest Airlines does not charge for luggage, two bags free, nor do they charge for your seat. I believe Airtran charges for luggage, and if you want to pick your seat that is another charge.

We used Southwest (nonstop flight) for the first time in May 2010, and were very happy. Our preferred airline is JetBlue, but Southwest is now second. We like the seatback TV's that JetBlue provides, Southwest does not have TV's.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Sorry, but I totally see her point after my experience. They already changed it once and didn't even notify her.

They didn't notify her because (A) they will likely make additional changes between now and Ocotober 20 - possibly even to the point of putting her back on her original nonstop (not direct) flight at her original time) and (B) that is five months away. Airlines notify passengers of flight changes in the order of flight departure. They're going to notify July passengers first, then August passengers, then September passengers, then early October passengers... then October 20 passengers. It's only reasonable.

After reading the anti-AirTran posts and not being notified of changes to my flight,

See above response to zimaaaaah.

The agent said she could look for another flight but was not very helpful.

You could have looked for alternatives before you contacted AirTran. In fact, if you had posted on this board and asked for help/advice, that's the primary suggestion you would have gotten - to not panic, and to research your alternatives before calling AirTran. You would have also been told how agreeable and helpful AirTran customer service reps are when the airline makes a schedule change - even one as minor as a few minutes, never mind ten hours and from nonstop to requiring a change of planes. Instead, you chose to panic and spend additional money based on ONE poster's weather-related cancellation.

]or why I wasn't notified of the change

You weren't notified yet because you're not flying anywhere for over four and a half months.

 

[kaytieeldr]

To date, I've had my PHL-MCO flight times dramatically changed twice by Airtran. I will not take the risk of more nonsense, so I cancelled a few moments ago at the latest development and found a cheaper US Air flight. I just can't deal with the uncertainty.

Keep us posted on the US Airways flight

 

[maxiesmom]

I definitely don't see it as $140 wasted. I paid for peace of mind. After reading the anti-AirTran posts and not being notified of changes to my flight, I don't want to spend the next four months checking on my flight and wondering when it will be leaving.

You need to do just that no matter what airline you are on, unless you are on Southwest. They all tweek their flight schedules. My Delta flights in April changed 4 times each! Don't assume that just because you are not on Air Tran means your flight times won't change. That is a bad assumption to make.

 

[DVCBELLE]

My family went on a cruise in November (17 of us) - we were on 3 different airlines - United, Airtran and Delta.

United knocked my sister off her non-stop flights and was not able to accomodate her on any flights that made her happy but she had no choice but to take what they were offering b/c it was less than three weeks before our trip. United did give her a $50 flight voucher for each member of her family for the trouble.

Delta changed my dad's flight home by more than 45 minutes later. He got home at midnight - which made a late night even later. Delta offered no compensation and no accodmodation - even though there was an earlier flight he could have made. The kicker - when he got to the airport his flight was oversold and they tried to bump him.

Airtran changed our flights there and home by 2 hours (later) but we were fine with it b.c we were at Disney after the cruise and it gave us more time. They allowed us to change our flights there to a different airport for more convenient times. At the last minute we decided to stay at Disney an extra night and when we called Airtran - they did not charge us a change fee b/c they had originally changed the flight.

So changes happen on all of the airlines - and it is my experience that Airtran is the most accomodating.

 

[PADISFAM]

To date, I've had my PHL-MCO flight times dramatically changed twice by Airtran. I will not take the risk of more nonsense, so I cancelled a few moments ago at the latest development and found a cheaper US Air flight. I just can't deal with the uncertainty.

My flights have changed 3 times since December with US Air.

Airlines only promise a seat from point A to point B, nothing more nothing less.

 

[PADISFAM]

Keep us posted on the US Airways flight

-- see my above post................

 

[Missus Toad]

My flights have changed 3 times since December with US Air.

Airlines only promise a seat from point A to point B, nothing more nothing less.

Being a frequent and satisfied flyer with US Air over many years, and never having the nonsense I've had in my short experience with Airtran, I'll take my chances with US Air, thanks.

 

[keishashadow]

You could have looked for alternatives before you contacted AirTran. In fact, if you had posted on this board and asked for help/advice, that's the primary suggestion you would have gotten - to not panic, and to research your alternatives before calling AirTran. You would have also been told how agreeable and helpful AirTran customer service reps are when the airline makes a schedule change - even one as minor as a few minutes, never mind ten hours and from nonstop to requiring a change of planes. Instead, you chose to panic and spend additional money based on ONE poster's weather-related cancellation.

You weren't notified yet because you're not flying anywhere for over four and a half months.

it's hit or miss with AT notifiying of flight changes.Some AT flights, my family has received email 'click & accept message' 6+ months prior...other times no notice ever received despite numerous flight changes over course of original booking.

Unfortunately, many WDW travelers aren't 'seasoned' or frequent flyers & likely accustomed to airlines actually adhering to their posted schedules (back in the dark ages, a trade off for current low fares i suppose) & don't know they need to keep tabs on AT & many other carriers for frequent flight changes.

I do wonder what the outcry would be from the 'regulars' if (and im not sure what the current federal regulations are on this, don't beat me down) the airlines (specifically AT) decided to close what many consider to be a loophole & refuse to allow rescheduling or cash refunds & only offer a voucher when flight times alter slightly

 

[DVCBELLE]

it's hit or miss with AT notifiying of flight changes.Some AT flights, my family has received email 'click & accept message' 6+ months prior...other times no notice ever received despite numerous flight changes over course of original booking.

Unfortunately, many WDW travelers aren't 'seasoned' or frequent flyers & likely accustomed to airlines actually adhering to their posted schedules (back in the dark ages, a trade off for current low fares i suppose) & don't know they need to keep tabs on AT & many other carriers for frequent flight changes.

I do wonder what the outcry would be from the 'regulars' if (and im not sure what the current federal regulations are on this, don't beat me down) the airlines (specifically AT) decided to close what many consider to be a loophole & refuse to allow rescheduling or cash refunds & only offer a voucher when flight times alter slightly

But that's just it - Airtran may make changes often but they fix it when they do. Other airlines don't. So I am happy to stick with Airtran - it has worked to my advantage 99% of the time.

 

[loveysbydesign]

I was happy when AirTran changed our flight time.. I was able to bump to a more expensive flight the day before and not pay more(which is when I originally wanted to fly any way) and not pay any fees!

 

[seashoreCM]

... the airlines (specifically AT) decided to close what many consider to be a loophole & refuse to allow rescheduling or cash refunds & only offer a voucher when flight times alter slightly ...

I don't call that a loophole. If you buy something and it doesn't work, being able to return or exchange it is normal good customer service. Now I can understand that miniscule changes should not require that the airline take the time and trouble to rework things.

That said, substituting a connecting flight sequence for a nonstop is not what I consider miniscule. The time spent traveling increases nontrivially, and I consider that if the departure is 30 minutes earlier and also the arrival is 30 minutes later, that is a one hour change, not a 30 minute change.

Perhaps I should ask, what are some good reasons for not letting the customer choose something else or get a refund.

 

[Dani's First Time]

Thanks, seashoreCM. You hit the nail on the head for me. I wasn't expecting to get laid into here - I just wanted to post a thank you.

Bottom lines was - substituted layover for my non-stop & moved my departure more than 2 hours earlier to 5:50 am. I will be traveling with a 4 and 2 y.o. and live more than an hour from the airport.

Lastly, I'm not a seasoned flyer nor are my kids. Yikes - I'll be more careful posting next time.

 

[ssawka]

I don't call that a loophole. If you buy something and it doesn't work, being able to return or exchange it is normal good customer service. Now I can understand that miniscule changes should not require that the airline take the time and trouble to rework things.

That said, substituting a connecting flight sequence for a nonstop is not what I consider miniscule. The time spent traveling increases nontrivially, and I consider that if the departure is 30 minutes earlier and also the arrival is 30 minutes later, that is a one hour change, not a 30 minute change.

Perhaps I should ask, what are some good reasons for not letting the customer choose something else or get a refund.

ITA, we had this happen last year with AT. Our direct flight got changed 3 times and ended up with a layover. It would not have been so bad if it was a cross-country flight, but a direct flight from DCA to MCO is 2 hours. The layover nearly doubled our travel time.

 

[ssawka]

Thanks, seashoreCM. You hit the nail on the head for me. I wasn't expecting to get laid into here - I just wanted to post a thank you.

Welcome to the Transportation board. I frequent many boards on the DIS and the Transportation board is the least friendly one to be on. That's not to say that there aren't friendly people on here, but you have some posters with a "holier than thou" attitude here.

Edit: I just realized that this was my 1,000 post! It's a shame I wasted with this post.