Flying in the day before

[jack87891]

My family of 7 is going on the Wish April 3-6. Normally we would fly in two days before the cruise. However, my daughter did not want the kids missing any school on Thursday so we booked an 8:00 pm flight from Chicago to Orlando. I didn’t like the idea but checked and saw there was also. 7:00 the next morning that would still get us there in time in case of flight issues. Again not my favorite plan
The day before the flight United sent a text and said weather might be an issue and to look at flight options.My daughter relented and said ok on pulling kids earlier. United was able to get all 7 of us on a 1:05 flight arriving at 4:55. Here’s the rest of the day
2:15 flight. On time arrived 6:10
4:00 flight delay, delay, delay then cancel-at one point it showed a 6 hour delay before being cancelled
6:10 flight delay/delay/delay finally leaves and arrives 2:52 am
8:00 ( our original flight). Delay/delay/delay finally leaves at 2:30 am arrives 6:30 am. We would have been in time to get our bags and then check into DCL transportation at 8:00 am

The good news is both the 6 and 8:00 flights left and any cruisers still got there. I’m sure there was lots of anxiety along the way though

I think whenever possible I’ll go back to arriving two days before when I fly just for my peace of mind

 

[ladyofthetramp]

arrrgh- flying these days! Stressful-glad it all worked out. If you can swing it-two days is great. We always try and leave in the morning-day before-minimum.

 

[hardcorestitch]

My family of 7 is going on the Wish April 3-6. Normally we would fly in two days before the cruise. However, my daughter did not want the kids missing any school on Thursday so we booked an 8:00 pm flight from Chicago to Orlando. I didn’t like the idea but checked and saw there was also. 7:00 the next morning that would still get us there in time in case of flight issues. Again not my favorite plan
The day before the flight United sent a text and said weather might be an issue and to look at flight options.My daughter relented and said ok on pulling kids earlier. United was able to get all 7 of us on a 1:05 flight arriving at 4:55. Here’s the rest of the day
2:15 flight. On time arrived 6:10
4:00 flight delay, delay, delay then cancel-at one point it showed a 6 hour delay before being cancelled
6:10 flight delay/delay/delay finally leaves and arrives 2:52 am
8:00 ( our original flight). Delay/delay/delay finally leaves at 2:30 am arrives 6:30 am. We would have been in time to get our bags and then check into DCL transportation at 8:00 am

The good news is both the 6 and 8:00 flights left and any cruisers still got there. I’m sure there was lots of anxiety along the way though

I think whenever possible I’ll go back to arriving two days before when I fly just for my peace of mind

Yeah that’s a terrible thing to do for cruising… flying day before.

 

[justafigment27]

Gah! You dodged a bullet!

We were supposed to leave the day before for our NYE cruise, but ice storms were projected for Detroit, so we switched flights to arrive a day earlier. Our original flight ended up taking off as scheduled, but we did get the ice and the drive to the airport would have been a nightmare, so I’m glad we took the earlier departure (though it was chaotic to get everyone ready a day earlier than planned on short notice).

My husband and I are supposed to fly down the day before our next cruise and I’m already thinking we should just switch flights and arrive 2 days earlier.

 

[Skippyboo]

I think if you can do the morning the day before that’s better especially since weather can back things up as the day goes on. I’m am sailing the Wonder out of Vancouver this May. I’m flying out in the morning Saturday before getting on the ship on Monday since I’m coming from Atlanta. Have to change planes in Seattle.

 

[wnissen]

Oof, your original flight was delayed 6.5 hours? That is painful. That's the problem with evening flights, the cascading delays. Not that the first flight of the day can't be delayed, especially from a crappy airport like O'Hare or Cleveland, but it rarely cascades into multiple delays. Glad you made it.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

FWIW United is not a good airline with respects to delays and cancellations. And Chicago is a particularly bad airport for them.

I wouldn't fly them unless I had to and I would personally build a lot more lead time if having to fly them.

All airlines are susceptible here but United...United is just really bad.