Can you get a refund on airfare if they change times?

[roelongo]

My flights started out at 8:25am and now I don't leave until 10am. At what point can I get a refund for the trouble. I really wanted to get there early .

 

[tinaluis]

I'm not positive, but I think it has to be more than a 4 hour difference.

 

[vellamint]

I dont think you need it to be 4 hours....a friend of mine recently (3 weeks ago) called her airline about a 1 hour and 40 minute change in flight and explained that this would cause her to miss the function she was due to attend....they had no problem allowing her to cancel her flight....just be sure that there is another airline with the times you want at a rate that is affordable.

 

[seashoreCM]

Before cancelling, try this:

Seeing that you don't want the later flight, ask for an earlier flight. If your flight is cancelled, it is your choice as to whether the replacement flight is before of after, although it is their choice as to how much earlier or how much later.

If you could make a duplicate reservation (don't actually do it) on a satisfactory alternate flight, they should give it to you. In other words capacity controls should not apply in this situation. Also there should be no change fees.

If you can[t find an alternatie flight, they owe you a refund.

Video hints:
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[Tess]

Our flight for this year (and last) had changes in time which we found unacceptable. Delta bent over backward to rearrange our flights. In fact, last year we flew a day earlier than we anticipated (hence arriving the afternoon before we planned to) and this year we will be leaving a day later. The flights we were switched to priced out higher than we had paid for our original flights BUT we weren't charged any more for them!

Last year we took an afternoon flight on a Friday and spent one evening at POR before checking into Polynesian. It enabled us to arrive at Polynesian for check-in at 8:00 a.m.--just in time to hit the concierge breakfast and be off to the parks at opening.

This year we will be leaving on Sunday rather than the planned late evening flight on Saturday. This will allow us to spend the entire day Saturday (into the evening hours) and still be rested for our return flight on Sunday a.m. We will be spending the night at the Hyatt Regency the night before we fly. The best part is arriving home in the afternoon on Sunday (while not cutting our park time short on Saturday) rather than arriving home at midnight or after!

It sure doesn't hurt to put on your best schmooze and see what the airline will do for you!

 

[FINFAN]

Most airlines offer a one day foreward or one day back change or a change on the same day if another flight is suitable. If not suitable you ask to be refunded for the full fare. Once you have been notified of the flight change by the airline however you may only have 24 hours to make your decision. The airline will record that you were notified and when once they have spoken directly with you. I blew this option this year and I really needed to cancel with ATA. i WAS NOTIFIED OF THE TIME CHANGE( 10 MINUTES) and was told I would need to decide as soon as possible if I was going to change. When I called back 2 days later they told me that my time had elapsed I went ballistic as I was never told 24 hours...told them to pull up hte recording of our conversation etc., but I got nowhere even after 3 managers! And I thought the airlines were trying to gain customers I guess my point is act quickly! I am now stuck with a penalty charge of $80 per ticket and could've had it for free!!!!!!!!

 

[roelongo]

What airline did you use? I'm using American. I probably blew it because I called them yesterday and they now know i'm aware of the difference. She never said I had a time limit to get a refund or change flights. I don't know what to do. We're going over Thanksgiving so I don't want to get a refund unless I had new tickets being that it is such a busy time of year. I need help

 

[josierac]

When Continental changed our flights last year to a later one (1 1/2 hours later). They called me and left a message. I called them back (2 days later) and ask if they could put me on an earlier flight instead of the later one they had already put me on since it was a change they were making and not one I wanted to make.

They had seats available so it wasn't a problem for them to do that.

That is my suggestion, call American ask that since THEY changed the flight is there an earlier that they can put you on instead of the later one. If you don't like the answer ask for a supervisor but be nice. Getting nasty won't get you anywhere.

 

[FINFAN]

roelongo...we were booked on ATA . The update on our saga as of yesterday a.m. is that they are going to REFUND our tix!!!!!! YES! After numerous calls and managers, finally yesterday the kindest woman reviewed my complaint about being mis-informed...and agreed!!! I had put a courtesy hold on an alternate flight the day before(just in case I recieved my rightful refund) into Orlando $540 rt for 4...and she agreed to cancel out our first trip and do a new booking for the Orlando one. So I went from $808 with a $ 320 penalty for the change of 4 tickets to a full refund and re-book at $540!!!!!! I kept being persistent because I knew I was being honest and that the airline didn't inform me of my correct options. I also told them that we fly ATA all the time (true) and want to stay on as a satified family of 4. As I said...yesterdays manager was extremely kind...I was calm and complimantary and still wanted them to get my business...all worked out. I would explain more but my washer flooded my kitchen yesterday and have Servicemaster on their way out Good luck and try calling them back....be kind and persistent.

 

[drusba]

Just remember when you are talking to your travel agent or other airline reservation agent the term "Rule 240" (and also be aware that travel agents are sometimes more reluctant to get you a refund than the airline is). Basically it was a rule that governed when airlines had to provide alternative flights on their own or other airlines near the time of your scheduled but changed flight or give refunds if your flight is changed or delayed because of the fault of the airline (and not because of weather). That federal rule itself is no longer in force but instead each airline filed with the FAA its own Rule 240 which it is then bound to follow. The actual grounds for a when a refund will be made vary somewhat from one airline to the other but most are close (or even better-- such as American's) than the original Rule 240 which required either placing you on another flight (including of another airline) or a refund if there was a 2 hour or more change in time of arrival in your scheduled flight (or change in type of flight from non-stop to stopping at locations, and other changes). To see more discussion and links to many airline Rule 240's see http://www.mytravelrights.com/travellaw.cfm?ai=3.