Flight times changed...so upset!

[Kanga1]

Just checked my flight ressies for June 16th and found that my flight from PIT to MCO has been moved 2 hours later and my flight home has been moved UP 3 hours earlier!! That's 5 hours off my vacation!!! And while 5 hours does not seem like that long of a time frame, it is wrecking my schedule!!! We will now miss the MK Dreams parade (and this was the ONLY day I had it scheduled) AND my breakfast at 'Ohana on our departure day will now not work. (DD SO much wanted this breakfast.)

AAUUURRRGHHHH I just don't understand the airline industry. My flight out was the 1st nonstop of the day (7:30am) and now that same flight is 9:45. Same thing coming home...same flight, they just moved it up 3 hrs. FWIW, almost ALL the flights on both of those days are booked solid. Do you think there's a chance they'll add flights closer to my original booking times? And to beat all...no one has contacted me about this!!!!! Is this normal?

 

[Mary Anne]

I would call them and see what they can do for you.

 

[BillSears]

This is why I booked SWA for my most recent trip. Air Tran did the same thing to me last September. I was lucky though, they allowed me to change to a different flight at no additional cost. But it's still a pain when they change flight times. SWA tends to not release flight dates early and because of this they rarely change the flight times.

Good luck to you. I hope you can get something that will keep your plans the way they are.

 

[DebbieB]

USAirways? I wouldn't expect much, they are cutting flights at PIT and have pretty much conceeded the PIT/MCO route to Southwest. Looks like connections could get you there about an hour earlier or stay later, that's about the only option. Looks like they are down to 2 non-stops in each direction per day (used to be 5). You could possibly get a refund and move to Southwest for more options.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think there is pretty much zero chance that your (or any) airline will add flights after the schedules are set.


When you say all the other flights are booked solid, are you going by the available seats, or are you actually trying to (fake) book and are being restricted to a small percentage of the day's flights?

 

[Jeanne B]

Unfortunately this happens quite a bit, it's actually one of the reasons I prefer to fly SW. As BillSears said, because they release their dates so late they are not known for changing flight times. And if I go with an airline other than SW I usually never book more than 3-5 months out.

You can call them but I doubt you have many options, I think if they move your flight more than 2 hours you can move to a different flight without being charged a fee (I could be totally wrong about that though!!).

 

[zurgswife]

This is also why I fly SW. I've never had a flight changed yet...but on the others I have had it moved many times.

 

[Delaware Mike]

Just checked my flight ressies for June 16th and found that my flight from PIT to MCO has been moved 2 hours later and my flight home has been moved UP 3 hours earlier!! That's 5 hours off my vacation!!! And while 5 hours does not seem like that long of a time frame, it is wrecking my schedule!!! We will now miss the MK Dreams parade (and this was the ONLY day I had it scheduled) AND my breakfast at 'Ohana on our departure day will now not work. (DD SO much wanted this breakfast.)

AAUUURRRGHHHH I just don't understand the airline industry. My flight out was the 1st nonstop of the day (7:30am) and now that same flight is 9:45. Same thing coming home...same flight, they just moved it up 3 hrs. FWIW, almost ALL the flights on both of those days are booked solid. Do you think there's a chance they'll add flights closer to my original booking times? And to beat all...no one has contacted me about this!!!!! Is this normal?

Is this USNightmair? If so, did you know they have a policy stating they have to notify you of schedule changes, and they have to allow you time to decide to accept their change? (This might even be an industry-wide policy.)

I forget the amount of time they have to allow for you to accept or decline the schedule change, but it's at least 24 hours. If you decline their schedule change, they have to try to find a flight schedule which accomodates your needs, not theirs. They'll give you all kinda BS about there's nothing they can do, but stand firm.

Our Story: My wife is taking me to Alaska for my 50th birthday in May. We're taking a cruise, and we booked our flights on USNightmair. They changed our flights, without notifying us, and we were to arrive AFTER THE CRUISE LEFT THE DOCK. I called USNightmair and demanded they adhere to their policy. Now, I had to endure being transferred from their "off-shore" call center, being placed on-hold (a lot), talking to a lot of supervisory titles, then finally talking to someone with a Director title...but we got the situation rectified. It was difficult, and USNightmair was difficult to deal with, but we got things corrected.

Only because this incident took place within the past 4 weeks, do I know of this policy. If it didn't happen, I doubt I would ever know of it, since USNightmair probably would never allow the general traveling public to know this policy exists.

Good luck!

(Oh...PS: I'm now a customer of another airline, too.)

 

[curlyjbs]

Continental changed our upcomming flights but only by a few minutes coming and going. No big deal but I wouldn't have known if I didn't check. They do ask you to confirm your acceptance of the change on the website. It would be nice if they notified us but I don't think they HAVE to. AA has sent us email in the past about changes - I guess Continental doesn't. Oh well, I'll just keep an eye on our flights up until the last minure. I don't want any surprises.

Kanga1, I hope it all works out for you! Good Luck!

Happy Easter!
~Connie

 

[bicker]

AAUUURRRGHHHH I just don't understand the airline industry.

Neither do I. They are still selling airline tickets for $310 roundtrip for flights that cost $400 to provide. Seems pretty stupid to sell practically every ticket at a loss.

And to beat all...no one has contacted me about this!!!!! Is this normal?

It varies by airline, but generally you'll be contacted three weeks prior to your flight, if your flight times have changed, because by that time, there likely will be no further flight time changes.

 

[Starr W.]

I booked NWA for Thanksgiving last year, about 5 months out, the departure time on the outbound flight changed 3x before we left. It ended up leaving 30 minutes earlier than the original scheduled time. Departing MCO stayed the same.

Now our May move back 30 minutes on the way down. Now each time I was notified by email by NWA for these changes. I signed up for their frequent flyer program and they have where you can sign up for different notices. Pre-departure day, I get emails on flight days they will call my cell phone.


As for USAir, the few time I have flown them. The only good thing was they got me into Charlotte late so I missed a dinner meeting, a majority of the people had upset stomaches the next morning from something they ate.

 

[bicker]

If so, did you know they have a policy stating they have to notify you of schedule changes, and they have to allow you time to decide to accept their change? (This might even be an industry-wide policy.)

There are no longer any industry-wide policies like that. Regardless, US Airways policy is to notify passengers of itinerary changes after the last scheduled change before the flight, at least three weeks prior to the flight date. I don't remember if US Airways' policy was 2 hours or 4 hours, but either way if the flight times changed by at least that amount, then you are entitled to a full refund (but nothing else -- you start looking for flights from scratch).

I forget the amount of time they have to allow for you to accept or decline the schedule change, but it's at least 24 hours. If you decline their schedule change, they have to find a flight schedule which accomodates your needs, not theirs.

That's not true at all. Once they offer you a refund, all their obligations are fully satisfied. They will work with you to try to find a mutually-acceptable alternative to a refund, but note that you'll never get anything better than a refund (like, they'll not put you in first class or on another airline's flights), unless you're a very frequent traveler.

 

[Delaware Mike]

There are no longer any industry-wide policies like that. Regardless, US Airways policy is to notify passengers of itinerary changes after the last scheduled change before the flight, at least three weeks prior to the flight date. I don't remember if US Airways' policy was 2 hours or 4 hours, but either way if the flight times changed by at least that amount, then you are entitled to a full refund (but nothing else -- you start looking for flights from scratch).

That's not true at all. Once they offer you a refund, all their obligations are fully satisfied. They will work with you to try to find a mutually-acceptable alternative to a refund, but note that you'll never get anything better than a refund (like, they'll not put you in first class or on another airline's flights), unless you're a very frequent traveler.

Sorry, bicker, but since I just went through this situation, you don't have the facts completely correct.

 

[bicker]

They do not have to find you a flight you find acceptable. They may have done so for you, but they did not have to do so. For more details, see http://www.usairways.com/common/resources/_downloads/aboutus/US_contract_of_carriage.pdf

 

[bgdiznee]

For anyone who has booked air travel and then experiences a dramatic schedule change there is an airline fare rule called "Rule # 240" unacceptable schedule change refund. You can goggle and see how your particular airline interprets this rule but all must abide by it. It is mandated by the FAA. I've had recent experience with Delta, and you will be able to change your flight at no additional cost to you ( or ask for a refund if no other solution is available) When you call ask to speak to a supervision. The reservationist can't make any changes to your iteniary. The reservationist and the supervisor may try to blow you off but just hang in there and be polite but firm and keep reminding them of the fare rule. It took almost 1 and 1/2 hours with Delta (helps to put your phone on speaker) but we did get the flight changed w/o any cost. Hope this helps.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally Posted by Delaware Mike
I forget the amount of time they have to allow for you to accept or decline the schedule change, but it's at least 24 hours. If you decline their schedule change, they have to find a flight schedule which accomodates your needs, not theirs.

In this case, there are no other non-stops with better times. If she declines their change, the only option with USAirways is to take a connection, which I don't think she wants. I don't see how they can find something acceptable in this case if she declines, other than a connection or full refund.

 

[Delaware Mike]

In this case, there are no other non-stops with better times. If she declines their change, the only option with USAirways is to take a connection, which I don't think she wants. I don't see how they can find something acceptable in this case if she declines, other than a connection or full refund.

Ah, I see the confusion....I made a slip of the finger, so to speak. I meant to say "try to find you an alternative." Please allow me to make the correction in my post.

In my case, USNightmair didn't even want to try to make the effort in finding a reasonable accomodation to my schedule needs. They simply said there was nothing they could do.

As to the rule, the poster refers to what I was trying to say...sorry to say, gaining on 50 makes me forget his name already (grin....sorry). (Edit: Thanks, bgdiznee!)

Sorry for the confusion.

 

[bicker]

Just reading over the CoC, US Airways' commitment for schedule irregularities is for changes of over 4 hours. US Airways' threshold for accommodations in case of delays is 2 hours. (I think Delta's commitment, for both schedule irregularities and delays, is for over 2 hours.)

 

[Kanga1]

OP here...

Wow, thanks everyone for all the responses. I had no idea of these rules or laws or anything. We fly one time a year (to Disney) so we're not up on all that flight stuff.

Anyway, I got it rectified. Debbie and Mike, yes it was USAirways (or USNigtmaiways...ha!) I felt like the best solution for us was to add a day to our vacation! I called this morning and talked with a USAirways rep and told her I wanted the nonstop flight out of MCO the next day. (I had checked for the flight and there was availability.) She placed me on hold for about 5 minutes to talk to her supervisor. All was go because we now have seats for a nonstop flight about 24 hrs. later at no additional charge! I suppose I could have gotten a refund and booked another airline (and yes, SW had the schedule I was hoping for) but we used $99 R/T companion tickets for 2 out of 3 of our seats and there was no way I could find a better deal. That's the ONLY reason I stay with USAirways.

Thanks everybody for your input! Now I gotta go tweak those ADR's...

 

[Cinderella1122]

Is this USNightmair? If so, did you know they have a policy stating they have to notify you of schedule changes, and they have to allow you time to decide to accept their change? (This might even be an industry-wide policy.)

I forget the amount of time they have to allow for you to accept or decline the schedule change, but it's at least 24 hours. If you decline their schedule change, they have to try to find a flight schedule which accomodates your needs, not theirs. They'll give you all kinda BS about there's nothing they can do, but stand firm.

Our Story: My wife is taking me to Alaska for my 50th birthday in May. We're taking a cruise, and we booked our flights on USNightmair. They changed our flights, without notifying us, and we were to arrive AFTER THE CRUISE LEFT THE DOCK. I called USNightmair and demanded they adhere to their policy. Now, I had to endure being transferred from their "off-shore" call center, being placed on-hold (a lot), talking to a lot of supervisory titles, then finally talking to someone with a Director title...but we got the situation rectified. It was difficult, and USNightmair was difficult to deal with, but we got things corrected.

Only because this incident took place within the past 4 weeks, do I know of this policy. If it didn't happen, I doubt I would ever know of it, since USNightmair probably would never allow the general traveling public to know this policy exists.

Good luck!

(Oh...PS: I'm now a customer of another airline, too.)

I've never had a problem with USair and I fly them all the time. It may be because I fly out of Philly and USair has plenty of flights out of there. Of course I may have now jinxed myself for my flight on USair that I have scheduled for December