Difficult Question - Please Help If You Can

[scanne]

I just checked the status of the flight we're taking out tomorrow night. It's delayed - significantly. However, the flight on the same airline that leaves an hour and 20 minutes later was on time. If the flight we're on is delayed, can we asked to be changed to the next flight, assuming it's not delayed?

We're travelling with 2 little kids (1 and 3) and a delay of 3+ hours would be AWFUL. I know that's a chance you take when you travel, I just want to know what possible options there are, if you know what I mean. It just seems odd that the later flight wasn't delayed at all but the earlier one is landing AFTER the later one.

Any thoughts? Did I make any sense? Thanks for any insight!

 

[JimFitz]

That seems weird that the airline delayed your flight by 3 hours but the others are on time. What's the reason for the delay?

I think it will be hard to switch, but check with the airlines.

 

[CarolA]

Your big problem is no only are you going to want to re booked you are going to want seats togethere.... chances are not good there. You can ask to be moved. However, I will say that there are several considerations here. One is status with the airline (in other words DL is more likely to move me since I fly all the time) Another is price paid (so if I have a full fare ticket I can just move at my own free will)

I would not assume that tonight equals tomorrow night. Tonight could have been due to any number of things that probably won't happen again. I know a cold front came thru parts of the SE and if your plane got stuck there then that situation is over. If it was a mechanical delay chances are slim it would happen again...

 

[scanne]

Carol,

Thanks for the insight. I think it was just a fluke too and is not likely to repeat itself. We're flying Southwest and they don't assign seats, so if we were able to be bumped to another flight, I don't think that would be an issue.

 

[stage manager]

Who knows why the flight was delayed tonight. It could leave early tomorrow night, don't get too worried.

However, if you are connecting somewhere, they may move you to preserve the connection and help you out, especially if you have kids. It never hurts to ask. They have to get you to your destination and many gate agents are sympathetic about people travelling with kids. Some, on the other hand, don't care.

One day to the next has little bearing this time of year, so everything will probably be fine.

 

[CarolA]

Carol,

Thanks for the insight. I think it was just a fluke too and is not likely to repeat itself. We're flying Southwest and they don't assign seats, so if we were able to be bumped to another flight, I don't think that would be an issue.

OK... chances are good you will be on time tomorrow.

They have overall one of the best on time records in the industry and will burn jet fuel to get back on schedule.


That said, moving to another flight on SW is next to impossible, but you could still get lucky.

 

[Nebsky]

If its an early morning flight and its not a crew base for the crew that is working, chances are they got in too late today and they need to have a certain amount of time off before they can fly again. I wouldnt give up my seats on that flight to go on the later one. If the same type of aircraft is departing later there is a good chance they might swap crews.

Course, it might also be a connector flight and the aircraft that is operating it isnt due in until late. In that case there might not be another a/c avail.

If it were me, id stick with the original flight, especially with the kiddos

 

[DebbieB]

There were major storms that went through the northeast this morning. That can throw off a plane's schedule for the entire day, like a domino effect.