Fed up with flights being changed

[M2DD's]

Guess What? I have BAD luck with getting a decent flight. So this is the story.
Last year we flew Airtran. On our flight out to MCO they changed our flight 6 times before we ended up leaving on 9-20-06. What a pain but we got their so that all that mattered. On our return flight they had engine trouble we ended up waiting 6 hours in MCO airport with 2 small kids.(I could have spent that time with the mouse ) When we finally landed my new luggage was riped and dented in.(got 100$$ for all my trouble) So needless to say for our vaction this year we chosen not to travel Airtran. So we went with Delta.(can you see were this story is headed)
Today I decided to check on our flight and guess what? Yes you were right the flight was cancelled They didn't even call or send an e-mail, I just happend to be checking their site. So I called and Delta comfirmed that they had cancelled the flight but I could book another flight. We were on the evening flight so there were no later flights (My DH has to work a full day)
So now what do we do? I can try to get our $$ back but I don't know how long that will take(they are non refundable tickets) The agent said since it was their fault I could try to get my $$ back.He wanted me to pick another time.
So the only other airline that we can make work with our scheldule is AIRTRAN. Do I really want to go that route again? I'm going to wait till my DH get home so we could figure out what to do.
I hope I can convince him to take that day off and get on the morning flight Delta can offer us. Thanks for listienng to me vent.
Laura
Is this Carma or what?

 

[Splasher54]

I recently had US Air change a flight from a direct flight (PVD to MCO) to connecting flights through Philly. I called them and asked for a voucher for the full amount since it was their change. They said fine and that they would send it out. I haven't received it yet, but anticipate getting it soon.

 

[zurgswife]

This is why I fly SW....

 

[Minniemouse07]

We actually had this work in our favor once.

I booked a connecting flight and it got changed to another connecting flight. Only this connection had us flying from Philly to DC and then from Charlotte to MCO (with nothing in between DC and Charlotte).

When I called to question it the customer service rep was really helpful and helped us book another flight. I was looking online at the same time w/ her and we were having problems finding something that would work for us. She suggested a direct flight, which was listed as more $$$. BUT, she said that since it was their fault she had the authority to put us on the flight.

So we paid for a connection flight and got a direct for no extra money!

BTW this was all on USAirways

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

This is why I fly SW....

ME TOO!!!!!!
Never any BS unless it's weather-related.

 

[BillSears]

This is why I fly SW....

Same here!!! We may have to deal with the A pass, B pass etc... and we have to wait longer for flights to be released. But one it's booked I know they won't be changing flight times on me.

 

[Olallamom]

Since it's Delta's fault they should put you on a equal flight even if they have to move you to one of their partners. I know that they are partners with American.
I just had a similar thing happen to me today with Alaska Air for my flights to Orlando in September. I called them and they moved me to better flights than what I had, the flights I am on now would have cost $$$ more.

 

[cccm]

I was checking on my Delta flight out of BOS and it was also changed. I had booked it because it was the latest flight leaving (also cheapest). So it is now about an hour earlier. This means I will have to take the day off of work and also take DD out of her last day at camp.

Going to continue keeping an eye on it.

 

[clkelley]

I think it is an airline trend for the later evening flights to be going away. We used to have a great direct flight that left here at 6:40 pm. Since we are 5 minutes from the airport and have only 10 gates worth of flights, we could always leave work at 5 and get to the airport in plenty of time.

Same for the return, direct flight home about 6:00pm, got most of a day at Disney, and got home at a decent hour.

Now they have moved that afternoon flight to 4 something and the return flight home to 2 something.

We could wait till the next morning to fly down, but if we did that we could get to Disney at the same time by starting driving after work and finish the drive the next day.

We now drive to Nashville about 100 miles away to take SW. They still have a late night flight to Orlando, and a late night flight back to Nashville (and we can still leave work at 5pm and make that late flight).

If that goes away, we'll probably just stick with driving cause middle of the day flight times don't gain us any time at Disney vs. driving.

 

[bavaria]

Since it's Delta's fault they should put you on a equal flight even if they have to move you to one of their partners. I know that they are partners with American.
I just had a similar thing happen to me today with Alaska Air for my flights to Orlando in September. I called them and they moved me to better flights than what I had, the flights I am on now would have cost $$$ more.

to correct the misinformation in this post

- AA is not part of an alliance with Delta
http://www.aa.com/apps/AAdvantage/ViewMileageProgramsDetail.jhtml?anchorEvent=false&partnerType=Air

- airlines will sometimes offer to interline a ticket with other airlines but that is for times when flights are changed/cancelled on the day of departure. They will not sign over a ticket to another airline months in advance, except in unusual circumstances. A change in flight time does not normally qualify as 'unusual circumstances'

It sounds as if the OP is travelling in the future, not today

The OP and any other reader should be aware that purchasing a ticket on an airline does not confirm a flight time, but rather transport from point A to point B.

The best way to protect against schedule changes is to book short term, ie 0-15 days before a flight (which is not the norm here on this website)

 

[tiki23]

The best way to protect against schedule changes is to book short term, ie 0-15 days before a flight (which is not the norm here on this website)

Bavaria, I know that you fly for business quite often but most of us on this website are leisure travelers, trying to stretch our vacation dollars - and we're compulsive planners to boot - so we try to get our budget and plans set as soon as possible.

Thanks for your informative posts!

 

[miss missy]

Love Delta, but they do change flight times A LOT!

 

[ohdisco]

I agree! My mom has a disability, and so being on the aisle is a requirement, not a request. Delta changed our flight from leaving at 7AM to 6:40AM, but the seating arrangements say "seating not assigned". They just best be ready to give us a full refund if they cannot seat us accordingly. They didn't even contact us stating that the flight was changed!

 

[clkelley]

I agree! My mom has a disability, and so being on the aisle is a requirement, not a request. Delta changed our flight from leaving at 7AM to 6:40AM, but the seating arrangements say "seating not assigned". They just best be ready to give us a full refund if they cannot seat us accordingly. They didn't even contact us stating that the flight was changed!

Give Delta a call, they should be able to reassign those seats over the phone.

 

[bavaria]

Bavaria, I know that you fly for business quite often but most of us on this website are leisure travelers, trying to stretch our vacation dollars - and we're compulsive planners to boot - so we try to get our budget and plans set as soon as possible.

Thanks for your informative posts!

I realize that - and that is why I said it doesn't happen on this site.

However readers here who book flights 51 weeks before departure should be aware that flight times will change many times before the actual flight. Every week we see people here venting, moaning, or otherwise complaining about changes to flight times.

On a side note, I fly more than 100,000 miles/year, and in the past 4 years my flight schedules have changed ZERO times (this does not refer to same day delays, but schedule changes). My average booking window is 0-14 days before departure, even for vacation.

And that was my initial point- the only way to avoid schedule changes is not to book so far in advance. Those that feel the need to do so should realize that they will be subject to changes, and not stress too much as they are a reality.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

OK - another Delta complaint coming - We were to fly out of MCO the Monday after Easter at 3:00 pm. Got to the airport, dropped off rental (around 1:00), checked luggage, did some shopping at the port stores and headed down to the gate around 2:00 pm. No sooner did we get to the holding area, our flight was changed to 6:00 pm - ok, that got us a little annoyed, but we made the best of it. The kicker is.......They left a message at 2:00 on our answering maching AT HOME!!! The only reason we knew why was b/c we had my cousin staying at our home to take care of the dog and cat and she was there to answer the phone. She told them we are already in MCO, calling NY was not acceptable and that I gave them my cell # incase of any changes in itinerary. They said they had the cell number, but always try the home # first - how terrible is that? Call NY when we are already in FL?? She also thought it was funny b/c they tell you to be at the airport 2 hours b/f your flight and they called 1 hour b/f re: the change. She called me on the phone asap, to tell us the flight was changed, but we already knew from being there.

 

[pilgrimage]

Sometimes this works to your advantage. Delta changed
a flight I'd booked on frequent flyer miles in October for this
August. I had a double connection each way. They changed
the flight, giving me an illegal connection (JFK from Charles
DeGaulle with 55 minutes to clear customs and immigration).
I phoned the helpdesk and they put me on the flight
with one stop each way which was definitely NOT available
with miles. Just find the flight number you really want
and request it. Sometimes it works.

If all else fails, you can request a full refund credited to your
card within 48 hours, or at least that is my experience.

 

[seashoreCM]

OK - another Delta complaint coming - We were to fly out of MCO the Monday after Easter at 3:00 pm. Got to the airport, dropped off rental (around 1:00), checked luggage, did some shopping at the port stores and headed down to the gate around 2:00 pm. No sooner did we get to the holding area, our flight was changed to 6:00 pm - ok, that got us a little annoyed, but we made the best of it. The kicker is.......They left a message at 2:00 on our answering maching AT HOME!!! being there.

1. Since Delta made the call at 2, you had already left Disney so you could not enjoy the extra time at the parks anyway.

2. Your may already be close to the time (a 24 hour boundary) your rental car company would charge you extra for keeping the car longer.

3. If everyone else had checked in earlier and you had not, your chances of being bumped are increased.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[DebbieB]

I agree! My mom has a disability, and so being on the aisle is a requirement, not a request. Delta changed our flight from leaving at 7AM to 6:40AM, but the seating arrangements say "seating not assigned". They just best be ready to give us a full refund if they cannot seat us accordingly. They didn't even contact us stating that the flight was changed!

I was in Minneapolis airport last Thursday (Northwest), a woman was arguing with a gate agent because her families seat assignments had been changed. The gate agent told her that seat assignments are only requests, not guarantees. So even up to the point of departure, your seats could be changed. I felt bad for this woman because she had a child in a stroller and I guess her mom. Hopefully they did not move her away from the child.

 

[sallyjane]

I was in Minneapolis airport last Thursday (Northwest), a woman was arguing with a gate agent because her families seat assignments had been changed. The gate agent told her that seat assignments are only requests, not guarantees. So even up to the point of departure, your seats could be changed. I felt bad for this woman because she had a child in a stroller and I guess her mom. Hopefully they did not move her away from the child.

I had this exact problem with Northwest last October in Minneapolis. I checked out seating the night before via the computer and the seats were all together. When we got to the airport it all changed. Our connecting fight seating was all messed up my husband, myself and both my children ages 4 and 6 were in different seats throughtout the plane. I noticed this at Orlando and tried to get it changed with the Orlando gate agent they said to talk with the Minneapolis gate agent. Well she had no simpathy was very rude and told me to talk to the flight attendent. Well I talked to the flight attendent and she said switch with the guy in a certain seat. Well he just happened to be blind- she didn't even ask the guy just told us to have him switch- so rude. The blind guy said I heard and was getting ready to switch but I could tell he was upset about it. I told him we would figure something out. I was able to talk two people into switching with my children so they could sit next to me. I think they felt bad because I was very upset and in tears by this time. This was not a good experience and we will be avoiding Northwest like the plague. I know that things like this can happen at any airline but I wish the airline workers would have tried to help us.