Flight change

[DebHorner04]

We are sailing in June. Our flights have been booked for months. Today, we received notice that our flight times have changed. We will be traveling via Disney transfers from Port Canaveral to Orlando. Our original flight time was 12:10 pm (which we had in the past and had no issues being on time). Our flight is now changed to 10:51 am. Do you think that is enough time. I realize we don't have to check our bags. I'm guessing as long as we are able to get off the ship quickly, we can make it. Has anyone had a flight out this early? Any thoughts? Thanks!

Update: Waiting in the airport for 5+ hours would be more stressful than doing the Express Walk-Off. I was just informed that if we keep the early flight (10:51) and do Express Walk-Off, we can no longer use DCL transfers. It appears that others replying to this post have used DCL transfers. I'm so confused. Is there another reliable private transfer that anyone can recommend. Thanks!

Update #2: We've decided to just change to a later flight. Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[Dug720]

You can call the airline and tell them the new flight does not work. Because the change is over an hour, they should change you to a more amenable flight at no charge.

IMHO that is cutting it way too tight for the freak show that MCO TSA is at the best of times.

 

[apathetic]

You can make that, probably no problem. But you have to take your bags, which eliminates one of the nice things about taking the bus. You probably want to do the express walk-off and get on the first bus. Definitely a bit more stressful. I would see if there are other flight options, but I think you can make that flight.

 

[cedricandsophie]

You won’t be able to use onboard check in with that early if a flight so u need to take bags off, get thru customs, get to airport, check in and get in the security line. Even the Tsa pre lines are slow there especially early when lots of people are trying to get flights out. It’s possible but I personally wouldn’t take chance. We have gotten to airport as early as 9 am With an 11 30 flight but our bags were prechecked, we had boarding passes and tsa pre check. So we spent a couple comfortable hours in United club. If u want to try it I would definitely book a private transfer so you can immediately leave once you get thru customs.

 

[cruiser21]

We always take the 1045 flight non stop back to Phoenix. We do express walkoff at 700- 730. The DCL bus is very reliable as soon as it's full which generally takes about 5 minutes. They pull out and go. The airport is only a 40 minute drive and were always there by 830- 845.

 

[Shanti]

You can do it but you'll feel rushed & probably stressed. Not the ideal way to end your hard-earned cruise. Since the airline made a time change of over an hour, they should give you the opportunity to switch flights at no charge, and if doing so makes you lose extra cost seats you had purchased for the flight, those fees should be refunded, as well. If prices are much higher now due to the trip being a lot closer than when you booked, they shouldn't make you pay the fare difference when changing to a similar itinerary flight due to the airline's time change.

I've had this happen and was able to just cancel the flights & get a full refund for the flights & for the upcharge for seats. You might not want to cancel (although you might consider that & check other airlines' itineraries/prices before calling), but you should at least be able to change flights without it costing you financially.

If you keep your current flight, I recommend disembarking first thing and taking the DCL bus to the airport. That's more efficient than a private transfer that you'll have to schedule a time for, & that might be late. The DCL buses will definitely be ready and waiting to take you to the airport.

 

[Dug720]

You can do it but you'll feel rushed & probably stressed. Not the ideal way to end your hard-earned cruise. Since the airline made a time change of over an hour, they should give you the opportunity to switch flights at no charge, and if doing so makes you lose extra cost seats you had purchased for the flight, those fees should be refunded, as well. If prices are much higher now due to the trip being a lot closer than when you booked, they shouldn't make you pay the fare difference when changing to a similar itinerary flight due to the airline's time change.

I've had this happen and was able to just cancel the flights & get a full refund for the flights & for the upcharge for seats. You might not want to cancel (although you might consider that & check other airlines' itineraries/prices before calling), but you should at least be able to change flights without it costing you financially.

If you keep your current flight, I recommend disembarking first thing and taking the DCL bus to the airport. That's more efficient than a private transfer that you'll have to schedule a time for, & that might be late. The DCL buses will definitely be ready and waiting to take you to the airport.

It's funny this popped up today because shortly after I read it, I got notification that my flights for a family reunion in June had changed. There really wasn't an option on the first one as I have to be at school through the school day until 2:50 on June 20 and the only other flight was at 2:45, but coming back it put me into LGA a little later than I'm comfortable with for a day when I have to be at work the next day. I called American and she was able to change that flight no problem to one that gets me in earlier (and to JFK, which is better all the way around). She looked at the to Nashville flight just to see, but there was only one other possibility and it involved a plane change in Charlotte AND still got in about the same time.

IMHO it's worth calling to see if they can move you to another flight because I agree that it might be able to be done, but it would stress me out WAY too much.

 

[DebHorner04]

Any private transfer companies that you can recommend?