BMI/United Flight Changes - can you believe this?

[juliebro]

We are due to fly to Orlando via Washington with British Midland/United codeshare in March, having booked over six months ago with Airline Network. By sheer chance, I happened to check their website yesterday and found that I could see our booking. Great I thought. Till I spotted that the flight from Washington to Orlando takes off 8 hours before we even land in Washington!!! I wonder how we were supposed to manage that?! Our booking confirmation from Airline Network (which I quickly checked again) showed that we should arrive at 15:00 in Washington and fly out at 19:20. On ringing Airline Network, although they seem rather surprised when I point out the problem to them, they assure me that they were aware of the problem and someone was going to ring me. Oh yeah? When? I wonder. I then rang BMI Customer Services who told me that they had not changed the flight time and that Airline Network had booked it incorrectly in the first place! Despite assurances from Airline Network that someone would definitely ring me back urgently today, I still had not head from them at lunchtime. On ringing them, they tell me that the person dealing with it is off sick today. The agent then changed our flight (without telling me) so that we now have to wait at Washington airport for 7 hours and won't arrive till midnight. Not acceptable as far as I am concerned. I now want to cancel the flights and rebook with another airline - but Airline Network "can't get through to BMI" to see if we can have a refund. Not happy at all!

Julie

 

[TracyK]

That's awful Julie. We are travelling with BMI/United next month. I moved over to them because I was so worried about the state of USAirways. I do hope you get your flights sorted. Arriving at midnight is ridiculous and 7 hours at an airport will not be fun. We have just under 4 hours at Washington and I thought that was bad enough.
Good luck
Tracy

 

[Miffy2003]

I hope you get it sorted Julie, what would have happened if you hadn't checked?!!

 

[juliebro]

Tracy, Not wanting to worry you - but have you checked your flight times again recently? We were originally supposed to have 3.5 hours in Washington. Our flight BD701 from Manchester to Washington is due to land at 15:35. The flight from Washington to Orlando (UA1517) was due to leave at 19:05, but has been rescheduled to 07:00!

Julie

 

[juliebro]

Yes Miffy. That's what I was thinking too! I was really looking forward to this holiday, but now I'm just worried about getting all this sorted out.

Julie

 

[steve_rob]

In case you're interested, there is one other flight available according to the United Airlines website. It would require a bit of rushing across terminals to get there in time (plus no hold-ups at customs!) but it may be worth asking either BMI or Airline Network to see if they can get you on it.

The details are: Flight no UA1565, departs IAD 17:15, arrives MCO 19:37.

 

[Miffy2003]

I'm sure they'll sort it for you Julie, they have to don't they? It's their mistake. But yes I agree it is stressful when the best laid plans go wrong through no fault of your own!

 

[juliebro]

Thanks Steve. Sounds a bit of a dash but better than arriving at Orlando at midnight!
Miffy - I think they think they've sorted it by getting us on a flight, regardless of the wait. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

Thanks for the good wishes.

Julie

 

[TracyK]

Hi Julie
I am flying out via Chicago and back via Washington. The flights appear unchanged on United website.
Hope you get yours sorted.
Tracy

 

[juliebro]

Glad your's is OK Tracy.

Julie

 

[SimonV]

For anyone having to use Washington Airport for transfers, I had to go through there last year and needed a full hour to get from the international terminal where I landed, through customs and to the internal flight departure gate. It was a really tight squeeze and, with the new immigration routine (finger-printing, etc), I would imagine 90 minutes could easily be required now, so please give yourselves plenty of time to make that switch. Many transatlantic flights have also been delayed recently, and obviously that would be a serious problem, too. The other snag is that Washington is not a great airport for a long layover - very poorly equipped compared to MCO.

Sorry to sound so negative on this one, but I think it's better to be forewarned in this instance.

 

[GO2209]

UA1565 only operates on Tuesdays I think.

Just for reference, United have a very good timetable programme you can download from here http://www.united.com/page/middlepage/0,6823,1891,00.html

I wish other airlines had a similar service.

It is an absolute nightmare when airlines change their schedules. I have had a flight connection changed which resulted in 17 hours in an airport departure lounge...

edit: UA1565 operates everyday - but that will be a stressful connection!

 

[AndRu]

Sorry if this is a daft question, but does is it work out cheaper to fly into the US and then down to Orlando instead of going direct?

 

[juliebro]

Not a daft question at all! Yes - I find it does tend to work out cheaper if you fly indirect. When you're comparing scheduled flight costs, that is. I think charters tend to be cheaper - but we like the bigger legroom and other advantages of scheduled flights.

Update - no call received at all from Airline Network today. I chased them up and wasn't allowed to speak with the 'Team Leader' who is dealing with our problem. I was told that she is trying to get through to British Midland but can't get through! I tried calling back again earlier this evening - after waiting on hold for 20 minutes (being assured that someone would deal with my call very soon) it then got to 6:00 pm and the message changed to say that no-one was available! Customer service - I don't think so. DH says it's only when something goes wrong that you find out how good a company is (or not!). Sorry - had to get that off my chest! Problem is they won't be able to get hold of me for most of tomorrow as I am in meetings all day.

Feeling pretty fed up.

Julie

 

[steve_rob]

Sorry if this is a daft question, but does is it work out cheaper to fly into the US and then down to Orlando instead of going direct?

Big time savings are available!!! We're flying out November 2nd this year and we bought tickets to fly with Delta via Atlanta for just £315 each. According to Expedia right now, to fly direct with BA would cost us £430 each, while Virgin is £475.

The flight times aren't bad either - we get into Orlando at 17:10, and leave on our final day at 19:15 - not too far away from Virgin's second flight times to be honest.

It is strange that a longer flight over two legs works out cheaper than a single direct flight, but I guess it's because the airlines know they've got you over a barrel if you're going to Florida and can charge you as much as they want...

 

[andyace]

hi i , just some info we are on UA1517 on 10/2 and after reading your post I thought I would check the united timetable and UA1517-19.10. The United time table says that this flight is discontinued from 14/02, and changed to UA1517-07.20 effective 15/02. As a decent scheduled airline even they would see that this flight combination is not viable and put you on an alternative connection. (remember we are not talking easy jet here).
Phone the airline direct tell them you have a reservation and find out from them, you may be surprised.
I turned up 3 days late for an American flight from MSY-LGW cos I got the dates wrong and they put me on the flight no question. (its not just on the telly that people get the dates wrong)
hope this helps

 

[Cochise]

That's awful Julie. We are travelling with BMI/United next month. I moved over to them because I was so worried about the state of USAirways. I do hope you get your flights sorted. Arriving at midnight is ridiculous and 7 hours at an airport will not be fun. We have just under 4 hours at Washington and I thought that was bad enough.
Good luck
Tracy

You were correct to worry about US Airways, there is a very real possibility that the federal prop up of the company will be pulled this weekend, they wont last 5 mins without it.

We got our flight itinery from Tradewinds the other week and we are apparently travelling from Gatwick on the 13/10 (Not correct) Manchester on the 14th (Correct) and again from Gatwick on the 15th (Not Correct). it is the same on the way back, travellingfrom Orlando to the uk on three seperate days. I have requested that they allow us to fly on the 13th and come back the 29th ;-). They blame it on the computers !

 

[chunkster20uk]

Something like this happened to Mandy and I on our honeymoon. I kicked up a stink, so we were able to change our flight to one leaving LHR at 16.00 the day before, changing at Washington and arriving at MCO at 23.55.

I know this sounds mad, but it was superb we got a cheap rate at the Hyatt at the airport so just fell into bed.

The next morning we swam in the roof top pool, watched the aircraft, had breakfast and then set off on an extra full day in Orlando!

 

[TracyK]

Hope you've managed to sort something Julie.

Tracy

 

[wilki32]

We flew to Orlando via Washington on the 27th Nov, left Heathrow 8am and arrived at Washington at 11.20 am local. Our connecting flight left at 12.35, it was seat of your pants time, through all the checks with about 15mins to spare. Before we went I did ask United what would happen if there were delays, they gave a very positive 'there won't be, but if there is you'll be on the next flight'. Whilst we were waiting at immigration security was calling out names of people that were on connecting flights and they were moved to the front of the queue.
I must say as well that we found United excellent from the start, friendly helpful and the connection wasn't the hassel I thought it would be. Also because we went onto Australia after, we have collected enough airmiles to have a free flight to anywhere in Europe! Think we'll hold on to those til its free to Orlando!
Hope this has been a help and good luck.
Anthony