Continental Changed My Flights

[BarbossasWench]

Continental Airlines changed the times of both of my flights. The worst is the departure. They changed the 6:45 PM flight from Orlando to Cleveland to Las Vegas to a 2:45 flight. The funny thing is there is a 6:00 flight that goes through Houston.

What are my options? Can I ask them for the 6 PM flight?

We bought the flight so that it goes into Tampa and we drive to WDW because it was cheaper (with a return from Orlando). Can we request a new flight that arrives and departs from Orlando?

Thanks for any help.

 

[LisaTC]

I would call them directly. I've known many to do this and have been given the flight they need without a fee. It can't hurt! I do get the oddity, though with flights. I checked flights to MCO from CLE and it was cheaper to go out of Columbus (CMH) with a stop in CLE...now, can ya believe that one!!!

 

[BarbossasWench]

Any other input - please?

 

[seashoreCM]

I would just hand pick an alternate flight that would work better timewise, including flights from a different airport, then quietly ask to be booked on it. But I would not agree to pay more.

This conversation should not stop with the first person you talk to on the phone.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Any other input - please?

Have you called? What did they tell you?

When calling an airline, be pleasant and polite. Tell the agent what's acceptable to you and what isn't. The agent can't change the airline's schedule, but, if there's been a major change to your flight time, the agent (or a supervisor) can do a lot to put you on a direct flight or connection that works for you.

Do your research ahead of time to see if you'd be better off with a different airline. When there's a been a big a change to your flight time, the agent (or a supervisor) can issue a full refund, even for a non-refundable ticket.

 

[Jestocost]

Continental Airlines changed the times of both of my flights. The worst is the departure. They changed the 6:45 PM flight from Orlando to Cleveland to Las Vegas to a 2:45 flight. The funny thing is there is a 6:00 flight that goes through Houston.

What are my options? Can I ask them for the 6 PM flight?

We bought the flight so that it goes into Tampa and we drive to WDW because it was cheaper (with a return from Orlando). Can we request a new flight that arrives and departs from Orlando?

Thanks for any help.

IF there are seats available on the 6:00 p.m. flight they should be willing to switch you to that flight vs. the 2:45 p.m. flight for your return. You don't mention how different the timing is for your inbound flight, but if it is an hour or more they should be willing to switch you to another flight if there is one that works better for you. There should be no fees or fare differentials charged for those changes.

It is doubtful, however, that they would allow you to switch from a Tampa arrival to an Orlando arrival without any price implications. There is no harm in asking, of course, but if you booked a flight into Tampa you are pretty much commited to a flight into Tampa. If the change on the inbound flight was an hour or more that you may be able to cancel the flight to Tampa with no penalty and then rebook a flight into Orlando. However, in that scenario you would have to pay whatever the going rate is for the Orlando flight.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Just that I agree with Lisa. Find the flights you want first, make sure there are enough seats for your party, then call Continental and explain that their changes don't work for you and you need to be switched to flights XXX and YYY instead. If they refuse and you know there are other airlines in your price range with convenient scheduling, you could ask for a refund based on the large time change. Note that they may or may not agree. Check Continental's Contract of Carriage on their website for more information.

 

[Catira]

I had my flights changed also with Continental for our Oct trip. My connecting flight had been changed through Houston. Instead of leaving at 9 am it had been changed to 11 something. I called and got it switched back to an earlier flight. Hope that helps.

 

[smdigh]

We just had the same thing happen to our return flight on Continental in October. Original departure time was about 6PM connecting in Cleveland with a 90 minute layover. Was now changed to 2:40PM with a 4 1/2 hour layover. I checked with them and it sounds like they will accomodate a flight change to avoid such a long layover. Bad part is they no longer have a late flight, so it means less time in Orlando

 

[2binak]

We just had our flight cancelled by our airline. They put us on an earlier flight which just doesn't work for our family. I went to their website to see what other flights were available then called and asked to be put on a later flight. They put us on the later flight with no fees & no hassle. It really doesn't hurt to call & ask to be put on a flight that better suits your travel needs/wants.

 

[BarbossasWench]

I'm blessed! Continental changed my outbound flight from Las Vegas to Tampa to Las Vegas to Orlando with a much better beginning time at 9:35am instead of 6:45am. She also changed my return flight from the 2:45pm to 6pm.

Both of the representatives I needed to speak with were very kind and accommodating (reservationist and special desk for oxygen use - my Dad uses a portable oxygen concentrator)!

Thank you all for your help!

 

[Jestocost]

I'm blessed! Continental changed my outbound flight from Las Vegas to Tampa to Las Vegas to Orlando with a much better beginning time at 9:35am instead of 6:45am. She also changed my return flight from the 2:45pm to 6pm.

Both of the representatives I needed to speak with were very kind and accommodating (reservationist and special desk for oxygen use - my Dad uses a portable oxygen concentrator)!

Thank you all for your help!

Excellent! I am very happy to have been wrong about the Tampa-Orlando switch.

 

[2binak]

I'm blessed! Continental changed my outbound flight from Las Vegas to Tampa to Las Vegas to Orlando with a much better beginning time at 9:35am instead of 6:45am. She also changed my return flight from the 2:45pm to 6pm.

YAY! So glad you were able to get what you wanted.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

BarbossasWench:

I had the same experience with a flight from Providence to Phoenix ... they changed my flight, but when I called them I was put on a much better flight than I originally had. Very good service!

Ted