Flight Change, AA left GS on other Plane

[aubriee]

American Airlines just sent me an email telling my our flight itinerary has changed for our Feb trip. Fine, I assumed our flight times had changed, by a few minutes. No big deal right? No, they put me and my husband on an earlier flight home. The only thing is, they left my 3 y/o GS on the old flight that leaves an hour later. I went to their site to see what was happening. For some reason, even though I booked him as a 3 y/o child, they are now showing us as traveling as three adults. I checked the new flight and there are no seats available. I know a 3 y/o can't fly by himself, so am not too concerned, but wonder will they move either my husband or I to the later flight, so they can then move my GS to sit with one of us, thus making us split up onto two flights (if so we will have one unhappy 3 y/o) or will they move someone else from that earlier flight to make room for my GS on the new flight? but then if they do that, will we still be sitting together. I chose seats when I booked the flight, so we'd all be sitting together.

 

[gmeh1]

American Airlines just sent me an email telling my our flight itinerary has changed for our Feb trip. Fine, I assumed our flight times had changed, by a few minutes. No big deal right? No, they put me and my husband on an earlier flight home. The only thing is, they left my 3 y/o GS on the old flight that leaves an hour later. I went to their site to see what was happening. For some reason, even though I booked him as a 3 y/o child, they are now showing us as traveling as three adults. I've been checking that flight at least once a week and until now it has shown 2 adults and 1 child. I checked the new flight and there are no seats available. I know a 3 y/o can't fly by himself, so am not too concerned, but wonder will they move either my husband or I to the later flight, so they can then move my GS to sit with one of us, thus making us split up onto two flights (if so we will have one unhappy 3 y/o) or will they move someone else from that earlier flight to make room for my GS on the new flight? but then if they do that, will we still be sitting together. I chose seats when I booked the flight, so we'd all be sitting together.

I would think your best answer would come from American Airlines. I doubt they will move someone to accomodate you. Give them a call.

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

Are you aware that if an airline changes your flight even by 5 mins you have the right to refuse that flight time? They must then rebook you on a flight that works to your schedule. Such if they change you to a flight that has 2 lay overs for 5 hours each adding 10 hours to your travel time-- not flight time but travel time. That would make anyone have jet lag having 10 hours added. They can not raise your rate either. They made a mistake-- glad you caught it -- I am sure they will put grandson on fight with you all or move all 3 of you to a flight that works. Make sure you read your rights when flying and making reservations. Flyers change plans all the time my guess is all of you will get a set on a flight near time you had prior schedule.

If you accept anything less then what works for you and the other 2 you are locked in so take time and think it out.

If you happen to get a new reservationist ask to speak to a supervisor-- You do not have to pay a change fee.

Be sweet --- the person you are talking to did not make the error. Think of how many passengers there are per airline and this type of error is very infrequent.

Happy flying Let us know how they work with you and if you are happy with how this was handled.

Patty

 

[aubriee]

I'll be calling AA in the morning. I'd think they'd have to accommodate us in some way. I don't think a 3 y/o can fly alone. We booked to fly together and chose our seats together. We didn't do anything wrong, did what we were supposed to to make sure we were flying together and sitting together when we booked the flight, and did not ask to be moved. It's not our fault they moved my husband and I to another flight and left a 3 y/o on the old flight by himself.

I would think your best answer would come from American Airlines. I doubt they will move someone to accomodate you. Give them a call.

 

[sam_gordon]

Another suggestion before you call them... look at the AA website and see if there is another flight that works better for you that has three available seats. THEN call AA, explain the problem and say "flight xx leaving at hh:mm works better for us as a group."

 

[Lewisc]

Are you aware that if an airline changes your flight even by 5 mins you have the right to refuse that flight time?

Rubbish. There is no such rule. Airtran, as a courtesy, will let you change or even cancel a flight over a minor schedule change. Most airlines only extend that courtesy if their is a "major" schedule change. The definition varies by airline. Four hours is a typical policy. You can ask for consideration if a 4 hour change doesn't work for you but you may not have the right to refuse.

Charter type airlines define a major change as a change in the day of the flight, sometimes a 2 day change.

 

[DebbieB]

Are you aware that if an airline changes your flight even by 5 mins you have the right to refuse that flight time? They must then rebook you on a flight that works to your schedule.

I agree with Lewis, I don't think that is legally true. It's really up to airline policy. One time Delta changed my flight, made it 1/2 hour earlier returning home. I called and they said they would not change me to another flight unless it was 90 minutes. Then they changed it again, another 1/2 hour earlier (so 1 hour total), I called and said I had a breakfast reservation for that morning and I would have to cancel it to make the flight, they did move me to a later flight. It really depends on who you get, so if you don't get satisfaction, call back and try with someone else.

 

[aubriee]

OK, I just called AA. Not sure if she moved someone to the later flight or what, but she got my 3 y/o GS on the same earlier flight we had been moved to. She also got us all sitting together. There was a flight out a couple of hours after ours that I liked better, but she said there wasn't room on it for all three of us, so we had to keep the earlier flight they'd moved us to. Oh well, it's only an hour later than our original flight, so no big deal. We'll just lose an hour at WDW. I did ask her to note that our GS was a 3 y/o, not an adult, just in case they decide to make another change.

Second problem now: We have a lunch ADR at Crystal Palace that last day for 12N. Our flight out now leaves MCO at 5:10pm, which means ME will be picking us up at CSR around 2:00pm. Do you think we'll be able to keep our ADR now?

 

[seashoreCM]

You probably should cancel the Crystal Palace ADR.

If something little goes wrong such as the server takes too long to bring your credit card back or your child refuses to leave until his favorite character comes to shake hands, then you may run into trouble with Magical Express.

Shoot to be back at your resort an hour before your Magical Express bus time. In your specific case, if your aim was accurate then grab some preprepared items at the Pepper Market to take out for lunch.

When you told the reservationist your 3yo was on a different flight, she probably said "ooh la la" out loud and then pushed just the right buttons on her computer console (yes they exist) to reunite your 3yo with you.

 

[Diegosmom]

I thought that I read that you could change your resort for ME. So you could check your bags and your resort in the morning. Then take your carry on with you (put it in a locker at MK) and once you are done at CP get ME from closest resort (not sure which one is closest). I would also probably check in at CP 30 min early and be sure to tell your server that you have ME to catch. And let DGS know and such and such time you are leaving whether you met Pooh or not.

 

[mom2brooke76]

If my dd had her heart set on CP, then I'd personally just get a one way towncar service to pick us at at the Contemporary and drop us by CSR to pick up any things we have and then take us to the airport. That way you wouldn't have to leave as early. And maybe you could check with the Contemporary, explain you situation and see if they'd let you leave any bags with bell services so that you could just be picked up there. Just what I would do.

 

[vacationclub]

Are you aware that if an airline changes your flight even by 5 mins you have the right to refuse that flight time?

There is no such "right", no such law, just a courtesy by some airlines, Airtran being noted as one the more accommodating ones. As you said, you must read the rules of each airline when you accept the terms of the ticket.

Such if they change you to a flight that has 2 lay overs for 5 hours each adding 10 hours to your travel time-- not flight time but travel time. That would make anyone have jet lag having 10 hours added.

That would be a pretty extreme change, even Priceline would have a hard time finding a flight schedule like that . But to be technical, that's not jet lag...jet lag is when you change time zones and occurs after spending time in another time zone and thus having a different sleeping schedule (relative to the local clock) on the subsequent days. The event you described is simply a long day; if that that constitutes jet lag then I get jet lag sometimes without ever getting on a jet.

 

[Brian Noble]

I thought that I read that you could change your resort for ME.

I don't think this is true, unfortunately.

I agree that a noon CP ADR is probably not doable with a 5PM flight and ME. If you really want to make it happen, you'll want to use a town car or taxi from the Contemporary.

 

[gmeh1]

I'll be calling AA in the morning. I'd think they'd have to accommodate us in some way. I don't think a 3 y/o can fly alone. We booked to fly together and chose our seats together. We didn't do anything wrong, did what we were supposed to to make sure we were flying together and sitting together when we booked the flight, and did not ask to be moved. It's not our fault they moved my husband and I to another flight and left a 3 y/o on the old flight by himself.

Nope, not your fault at all. Errors happen. I happen to agree that a 3 year old cannot fly alone.

I read your other post and I am happy you got it all resolved.

 

[sam_gordon]

I thought that I read that you could change your resort for ME. So you could check your bags and your resort in the morning. Then take your carry on with you (put it in a locker at MK) and once you are done at CP get ME from closest resort (not sure which one is closest). I would also probably check in at CP 30 min early and be sure to tell your server that you have ME to catch. And let DGS know and such and such time you are leaving whether you met Pooh or not.

That is NOT true. You MUST catch your SCHEDULED ME Bus at YOUR resort.

I agree about changing your CP reservation. Plan on an hour for a character meal. That means you're leaving CP at 1. By the time you get to the bus and back to the resort, it's after 1:30. Now you have to get your carryons from baggage services and make a final bathroom break. Too close IMO.

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

Not sure how I get the perk of changing times/ flights when the airlines make a change in my reservation. Sounds like I must be the luckiest person who has ever booked flight reservations. I can only give information that has been personal in my case/ cases --since this has happened more then once. Please remember charter airlines do not have to follow same federal rules that all regulated US donestic airlines do -- . I know my rights traveling via domestic US flights. ( I totally understand AA is not a charter airline--LOL) Please look up rule 240. Information from each domestic flight Co . is included. Some of the key wording is "if alernate flight is not acceptable to you -------" the information lets you know your "rights". It is nice to have a copy of the 240 rules in case this ever comes up while traveling. Happy flights :

Rubbish. There is no such rule. Airtran, as a courtesy, will let you change or even cancel a flight over a minor schedule change. Most airlines only extend that courtesy if their is a "major" schedule change. The definition varies by airline. Four hours is a typical policy. You can ask for consideration if a 4 hour change doesn't work for you but you may not have the right to refuse.

Charter type airlines define a major change as a change in the day of the flight, sometimes a 2 day change.

 

[gmeh1]

Not sure how I get the perk of changing times/ flights when the airlines make a change in my reservation. Sounds like I must be the luckiest person who has ever booked flight reservations. I can only give information that has been personal in my case/ cases --since this has happened more then once. Please remember charter airlines do not have to follow same federal rules that all regulated US donestic airlines do -- . I know my rights traveling via domestic US flights.

American Airlines is not a charter airline.

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

Thank you -- Yes I am totally aware AA is NOT a charter airline. TY for posing in case any one should have thought AA was charter airline.

 

[Minnesota!]

I would try and score an 11am ressie at CP....I really don't think the noon one is do-able...sorry

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, Would you consider a LATE breakfast ADR at CP?? We usually get a 10:15-10:30 am reservation. I am not sure that they do any later since they totally empty the restaurant before lunch service begins. A later ADR at CP usually means more character interaction because the restaurant is emptying out as you eat breakfast. Joan