Damn opodo!!

[jennie3675]

So frustrated....we booked our flights through opodo, direct on the way from London, indirect on the way back. Apparently delta have changed our flight from MCO to Atlanta on the way home meaning we won't make our connecting flight :-( opodo are closed until tomorrow so I just have to stress until then :-( we really can't afford to pay any extra. Has anyone else had this happen?

 

[catherine]

We booked through Opodo last year flying with BA. BA ended up changing the flight so we were given the option to cancel the booking with no penalty, which we did and re-booked with Virgin

 

[wayneg]

Not used Opodo but had similar problem with Delta & eBookers.

I made sure I knew the flight I wanted changing to then rang them. Eventually after a few days of calls backwards and forwards they agreed to change to the flight I wanted.

How long is your connection now?

 

[chmurf]

if the airline changes your flight, you're entitled to be rebooked, free of charge, by your TA, or get a full refund

don't let them tell you otherwise

check on Delta for alternate flights, and have those flight numbers ready. You'll be able to request a flight change when you get someone on the phone.
It's always easier when you have the times and flight number in front of your eyes rather than trying to make sense of what some broken english operator will tell you over the phone.

good luck and stand your ground.

 

[jennie3675]

Our stopover was 1hr 40 mins before they changed it, it's now 5 mins so just not doable! I have had a look at other flights, best case scenario, we end up with a 3 hour stop over :-( they have some direct flights that eve bit don't fancy my chances! Going to call first thing in the Norbert and find out what my options are.

 

[irenep]

Delta are terrible for changing flight times/seats/equipment etc - so much so I would need to save a HUGE amount to fly with them again.

You will get changed to something more suitable but keep checking (and check your seats too) right up until you travel.

 

[wayneg]

System should not even allow 5 mins.

Flown many times with Delta, probably at least 1 change on every flight, one year they made about 6 changes. Thankfully always been happy with their response on the phone. Although it is far easier to make changes direct with Delta rather than thru an agent.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

 

[CarolynU]

Even though you booked through Opodo if you register for a Twitter account and go onto Delta Assist they are very helpful and I think have representatives available 24/7.
They changed my flight time and I looked up alternatives and just asked them if they would change my flight and airport from Boston to Atlanta and they did.
Maybe that option is worth trying. It worked for me. That is not a legal connection so Delta will help you for sure.

 

[wayneg]

Even though you booked through Opodo if you register for a Twitter account and go onto Delta Assist they are very helpful and I think have representatives available 24/7.
They changed my flight time and I looked up alternatives and just asked them if they would change my flight and airport from Boston to Atlanta and they did.
Maybe that option is worth trying. It worked for me. That is not a legal connection so Delta will help you for sure.

I tried that last year but they said I had to go via eBookers, they could not do anything for bookings thru an agent.

Worth a try though, nothing to lose.

 

[CarolynU]

I tried that last year but they said I had to go via eBookers, they could not do anything for bookings thru an agent.

Worth a try though, nothing to lose.

Oh dear that's a shame. I booked through that Delta glitch thing, through and agent I'd never even heard of, and was a bit wary of to be honest, but the Delta assist agent was very helpful. Perhaps they've tightened up, or maybe it's like everything, how helpful they are depends upon who you get. I know that I've also phoned Delta direct as well about a connection that had been changed and they transferred my flight too.
As you say it's worth a try.

 

[chmurf]

System should not even allow 5 mins.

well, it allowed me a broken itinerary ...

I was supposed to fly MCO -> CLT -> CDG
the CLT -> CDG was cancelled a few months out, and was replaced by a PHL -> CDG

so my itinerary looked like :

MCO -> CLT
90 minutes layover
PHL -> CDG

yup you got it right, 90 minutes to run from Charlotte, North Carolina to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 450 miles away as the crow flies, 10 hours on the road.

I called my TA (whose phone operators are the same as Opodo's) and I had a not so lovely lady who explained, in broken French, and in even more broken English, that she did not understand what the problem was ...

On later calls, I was informed that since my flight was in a couple of months, there was no rush, they had customers with flights in the upcoming weeks so I was not a priority ...
They were absolutely oblivious to the fact that a couple of weeks out, flights could be booked up solid ...

As stated in my previous reply, I had to threaten to sue them.

And as you said Wayne, when you book through a TA like opodo, edreams and the likes, you are tied to your TA. Most of the time, airlines will answer that they can't do anything regarding your booking. (when you insist a lot, you might find an agent who will bypass the TA and do something, but it's a longshot. Still worth trying, and if you manage to have those changed direct with the airline, check that Opodo does not try to force feed your original itinerary back into Amadeus. They tried to do it for me once, I ended up having seats on 2 flights at the same time. they did that 2 times over the course of one week and it took me forever to sort it out)

 

[jennie3675]

Well I spoke to opodo this morning and they were quite helpful! They offered me a flight from MCO to JFK. One that left at 3:15pm with a four hour stop over (bit reluctant to take this one as it really eats into our last day at Disney). Or a later flight with a 51min stop over at JFK. I prefer the later flight but I am a bit concerned 51mins isn't long enough??

I also enquired about a direct flight back as delta have one back that evening. It is operated by virgin and the call operator seemed to think the cost difference would be quite significant. They are going to call me back tomorrow morning but not really sure what my best option is!! The previous flights were perfect for us :-(

I will def give twitter a go and see what they suggest. Sorry so many people have had problems, think I will book direct next time, trouble is I couldn't get the flights as cheap doing it direct. Looks like I took the gamble and lost!

 

[2Tiggies]

Well I spoke to opodo this morning and they were quite helpful! They offered me a flight from MCO to JFK. One that left at 3:15pm with a four hour stop over (bit reluctant to take this one as it really eats into our last day at Disney). Or a later flight with a 51min stop over at JFK. I prefer the later flight but I am a bit concerned 51mins isn't long enough??

If your flights are all booked through under one ticket reference, you won't have to collect bags or do a bag drop on the return so 50 minutes should more than suffice. The inbound flights are more tricky because you need to clear immigration and customs, meaning you have to collect and drop your bags if you connect at a US airport.

Your only potential threat is a delay leaving MCO on your return, particularly if you are traveling during hurricane season.

 

[CarolynU]

Well I spoke to opodo this morning and they were quite helpful! They offered me a flight from MCO to JFK. One that left at 3:15pm with a four hour stop over (bit reluctant to take this one as it really eats into our last day at Disney). Or a later flight with a 51min stop over at JFK. I prefer the later flight but I am a bit concerned 51mins isn't long enough??

I also enquired about a direct flight back as delta have one back that evening. It is operated by virgin and the call operator seemed to think the cost difference would be quite significant. They are going to call me back tomorrow morning but not really sure what my best option is!! The previous flights were perfect for us :-(

I will def give twitter a go and see what they suggest. Sorry so many people have had problems, think I will book direct next time, trouble is I couldn't get the flights as cheap doing it direct. Looks like I took the gamble and lost!

Well do try Delta assist on twitter, because I've just checked back and my conversation is still there. It was FEb 2013 and they originally said that there was nothing that they could do, but I said how I understood that they had made changes online for others, and I can assure you they then switched to private message and changed me. Then in June they changed flights again and this time I rang Delta and they did it without a problem.
As I said I had not booked direct with them and it wasn't even booked through an agent I recognised.

 

[CarolynU]

This was the number of Delta they gave me to make changes ( for the second time)

800.221.1212

Try looking up Delta's routes yourself and work out which connections you fancy and then just ask them for those. They probably won't go for the direct with Virgin option though as it's not a like for like cost.

Delta assist via twitter didn't initially want to do it but they did. It can be done. Delta on the phone changed me without question. They didn't refer me back to the agent at all. Mind you I see that Opodo have given you two alternatives, so that's not bad. I often fly indirect and most airlines that I have flown with have made changes not just Delta. It usually works out ok though.
Good luck.

 

[jennie3675]

Delta on Twitter were great!! He says there is no issue with my flights and they are back to what they were originally?! Just checked online and they are there!! So really not sure what the issue was? Opodo def told me that flight was cancelled but I have seen it with my own eyes! I guess I had better ring opodo in the morning and make sure they don't change anything!!

All that stress and nothing has changed!

 

[wayneg]

Yes ring them and confirm. Sounds good

 

[CarolynU]

Delta on Twitter were great!! He says there is no issue with my flights and they are back to what they were originally?! Just checked online and they are there!! So really not sure what the issue was? Opodo def told me that flight was cancelled but I have seen it with my own eyes! I guess I had better ring opodo in the morning and make sure they don't change anything!!

All that stress and nothing has changed!

Glad to hear that Delta Assist on twitter came through for you as they did me.