ATA nonstop IND-MCO time change

[erikthewise]

If you are ticketed for this flight (433), check your itinerary. Our Nov 28 flight was cancelled and replaced by an equivalent flight departing 3:35PM instead of 8:10AM (!)

They offered a full refund, and although I had a very good rate ($131), I took the refund, in part because I was tired of being jerked around. This was the second schedule change since I bought the tickets on June 30, and I figure there will probably be one or two more changes before departure. It has gotten to the point that it is just a cynical bait-and-switch ploy. Schedule at flight at one time, sell some tickets, then switch to another time hoping to sell more tickets and also keep the original customers on a flight they never wanted.

We are now flying Airtran out of Dayton, which is where we live anyway, at $176, and I'm happy about it (for the moment!). Their flight time hasn't changed since I began watching it, knock on wood.

 

[Santa]

I haven't seen mine change yet. This will be our first flight out of Dayton. We usually go to Indy.

 

[Gary M]

We're taking flight 433 (I hope) out of IND on Dec. 6. I checked a few days before Nov. 28 and every day up to Dec. 6 and flight 433 is listed for each day at 8:10 am except Nov. 28. ATA has flown out of IND to MCO at around this time for a few years.

Thanks for the information, I'll keep an eye on this situation.

 

[erikthewise]

Amazing! You are apparently right that Nov 28 is (so far) the ONLY date on which this flight has been cancelled! Paranoia strikes deep...

But I still suggest you check every day or two. If you ever see BOTH flights (433 and 437) on your itinerary, you will know 433 has been cancelled and you are being switched.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Our 10/4 flight 433 hasn't changed. I really hope it doesn't. I don't think we could get a decent fare this late. I would have rather flown from Dayton (20 min drive), but the savings were to much to pass up.

 

[Dodie]

The November 28th time change may be attributed to the Thanksgiving holiday and demand(?)

We personally love ATA (our Indy hometown airline) and have never had them do anything like this.

Sorry.

 

[erikthewise]

Mady,

I agreed with you until they cancelled our flight.
Unless they come up with a very good explanation (as I invited them to), I don't think we'll consider ATA in the future at any price. The 2hr plus drive to Indy plus overnight stay w/park & fly for a morning flight means we need to save about $200 on the four of us to make it worthwhile. At the time I purchase the ATA tickets Airtran was over $200, but I was able to get their nonstop for $176 yesterday.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Erik,

Thanks for posting!!! My DH thinks I'm crazy for checking flight intinerary almost everyday. Now I have some leverage at least.

Good price on the flight with Airtran BTW.

Have a great trip.

 

[sgtdisney]

The day after Thanksgiving is typically a very slow travel day. That probably explains the schedule changes and the cancellation. I would be surprised if ATA is the only one doing this. Let us know how it goes with AirTran..