Can the airline just do that?

[LauraDaveCharlie]

Just logged onto my email to find an update from Netflights. Booked KLM flights on Delta MAN-ATL-MCO return in April for our trip in October - and obviously the reverse on return. Just been informed by email that our return will now be Orlando to Atlanta to Paris to Manchester. This means that we now have two connections which we would never have chosen with a six year old, are flying on Air France which we would never have chosen, going to Charles De Gaulle which is a horrible airport and getting back to Manchester almost 6 hours later than we should have done on our initial booking when I have to be at work the next day. We could have booked a flight with more connections for cheaper when I booked the one connection flight in April if that was what we wanted.

Can they just do this? Will it be KLM or Netflights who have made the change? I have emailed a very strongly worded email and am ringing them tomorrow but I am furious. What rights do I have?

 

[wayneg]

Unfortunately Delta are always changing their itineries. This last trip we had about 10 changes in the 11 months we had the seats booked. Sometimes just changed bu 1 minute other times they cancelled the whole route (New York to Manchester)

Good news is Delta are very good at helping you find a better route, bad new for you is you have booked via an agent who has to make the changes for you, you can't deal direct with Delta.

When we had our route cancelled I rang Delta who were superb, cancelled the crazy route they had allocated us and got us on a better route via ATL within minutes.
Relatives on the same flight had booked thru eBookers, they took almost a week to rebook them on the same flight as us. I had to ring them and insist they got them on our plane, they were not very helpful to start. They kept saying it wasn't available yet I knew it was.

I would advise you to find a better route yourself then ring Netflights to get you on it. I hate using the phone myself but for re-arranging flights email is not good enough in my experience.

Good luck.

 

[dixonsontour]

If it's more than a 2 hour change Delta's terms and conds say you can have a refund.

 

[dixonsontour]

We had booked delta flights from Manchester through major travel for October.

Delta have altered their schedule from Manchester. We got an email this week trying to move us to a flight a day later (no can do with work)

Have got a refund and rebooked to fly with US airways who we went with last year via Philly. Bonus is the US flights were cheaper so we are being refunded £160.

Major travel have been great.

Delta had already tweeked the times a few times - tbh wouldn't chance booking with them again. The reason i went with delta was they were at least £50 a person cheaper than US airways when we booked.

 

[LauraDaveCharlie]

Thanks for the sympathy and advice. Have looked for other flights - as it is half term there is no price that comes close to what we have already booked and paid for so that's a no go. Have looked at KLM and Delta itineraries and the only ones available are worse than the one we are now on so I can't ring and insist they swap us to a better schedule. The refund option is pretty much a no go too as my six year old would never forgive us for cancelling - don't think I could fob him off with anywhere else. Looks like we are going to have to lump it but I am going to make a pain in the backside of myself tomorrow on the phone to KLM.

Hate feeling like you have no control!

 

[wayneg]

Even if the price is a lot more Delta might move you to those flights, you really need to speak to Netflights being your booking agent, I doubt KLM will help but let us know.

 

[floridaforever]

Hi, I booked american airlines flights for this august LHR-MIA-MCO via netflights. AA changed my connection time to 50mins - too short for my liking but within legal time limits. I checked myself and found flights with better timings, phoned netflights - they changed the flights while i was on the phone and sent me an new email itinery, at no point was cost mentioned - if there was enough seats they were happy to change the flights for me. my original cost was a cheapy back in oct 2011 £410 each - no way could that price have been matched in any case. My new paper work said flight amendment £875 - this was never mentioned nor charged to me. if there is a dearer flight more suitable ask for it, in my experience you will get it! Hope this helps - melissa

 

[LauraDaveCharlie]

Spoke to Netflights today. No point in going off at them as it's not their fault but had to speak to someone. The woman was very sympathetic and gave me a few options - none of which are ideal. She explained that KLM/Delta are running the flight every other day rather than every day so that's why the flight we were on has been cancelled.

She said we could cancel without charge - I don't think so.

She offered to rebook us on another flight after cancelling the original flight but we can't get anything like we had - most likely are going to have to connect twice anyway at much higher cost. No good.

We could come back on 2/11 or 4/11 rather than the 3/11. Neither of these are ideal. We are only there for a week so we really don't want to take a day off. Coming back a day later is really not good for me with work. I would have to fly overnight and then go straight to work. Not keen on that.

We can lump it and then write a letter of complaint when we get back where we MIGHT get some compensation.

Need to do some serious thinking and make a decision.

 

[wayneg]

Difficult choices. In my experience complaints rarely get money back. Mostly they offer airmiles. Last time I complained to Delta we got 75k airmiles (25k each) I was happy with that for our problem but I wouldn't be if I had to do 2 stops instead of 1.

 

[robinb]

Hmmm ... It is my experience with Delta that if they change flight times by more than a certain amount of time (I want to say 2
hours) they will change you to any available flight at no extra charge. I think that your travel agency is being a pain in this case and they are not giving you all your possible options.

 

[wayneg]

Hmmm ... It is my experience with Delta that if they change flight times by more than a certain amount of time (I want to say 2
hours) they will change you to any available flight at no extra charge. I think that your travel agency is being a pain in this case and they are not giving you all your possible options.

The travel agent is correct as far as I can see, I have searched the dates of OP and there is no availabilty with 1 stop for the return leg.
There is no problem going out but returning on the 3rd there are only 2 stop trips, best looks via Atlanta & Amsterdam.
There must be very limited seats even on the 2 stop as the cost to book now is £1,373pp ($2,200pp) in economy
These are being offered so I am not sure what else the agent can do. They can only offer 2 stops or change the dates(or airports, there is still availabilty from London 1 stop each way)

 

[Cyrano]

Yes they can unfortunately.
We got a call at 9pm the evening before we were due to fly out on the first leg at 6am. Changed from 1 stop to 2 stops.

 

[dixonsontour]

Would it be feasible to go into work the day you land?

You are going to be shattered with a 2 stop flight the day before anyway.

My DH has opted to go into work the day we land after our flights were changed. He has done it before and doesn't do a job where anyones life is at risk! (office based job)

Is there any prospect you could get an upgrade for the inconvenience then you may get some sleep?

 

[dixonsontour]

Just a thought have you checked the charater flight prices aswell eg monarch and thomson.

 

[ben1993]

I had no idea they could do that! Makes me kin of nervous booking indirect now, especially as that's the rout we'd do with Delta too.

 

[LauraDaveCharlie]

Thanks for all your advice and support. We made a decision and have changed the flights to a day later so we go back to our one connection in Atlanta. My husband has the day booked off work anyway and I will just go to work (teacher!) after we land and get through the day. I thought about it and decided that all I do the day we get home is unpack, wash, do the supermarket shopping and try to stay awake. Being at work will keep me on the go and meanwhile my husband has promised to unpack, wash and shop!

My boss has been really good as I will be an hour or so late arriving but I am actually a deputy head and don't teach a class on that day so no cover is needed. I just need to not schedule any long meetings that day or I will be snoozing in the corner!

On the upside, we are staying at the Fairfield Inn at LBV as this is a cheapy holiday (supposed to be having a year off!) for 7 nights. Obviously we need a hotel for the 8th night so have booked into our beloved Port Orleans French Quarter!!

Just hope there are no more flight issues - feel nervous knowing they will even ring you the day before! That must have been infuriating.

 

[wayneg]

Which Fairfield Inn? there are 2 at LBV now.
We stayed at this one in July http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mcofv-fairfield-inn-and-suites-orlando-lake-buena-vista/

If its this one at Marriott village we will overlap your dates. We check in 31st Oct for 10 nights http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/tr...ndo-lake-buena-vista-in-the-marriott-village/

 

[dixonsontour]

Glad you are sorted sounds like the best option.

 

[tinkerbells mum]

Glad it's all sorted and what a bonus staying at POFQ for the extra night xx

 

[LauraDaveCharlie]

Wayne, we are at the other one near Bahama Breeze. Hope you have a great time - returning so quickly after your summer trip must be great!