Hate the flights DCL gave us!!

[dmi188]

Okay, lesson learned! Next time I will book my own flights!

We have a flight leaving at 6am the day of our cruise, stopping in Atlanta, the busiest airport, for 3 hrs. We will not get to MCO till almost 12. And, according to ATL, our flight is only on time about 60% of the time!

Meanwhile, there is an AirTran flight leaving here at 8, non stop. Why couldn't they book that?!?!

Anyone ever try to change a flight booked thru DCL?? Is it possible??

 

[naner]

I'm sorry that your flights are so awful. Hopefully it will be apart of the 60% that's on time!

 

[misslissa]

I'm not sure whether you tried this or not, but you can request non-stop flights after you have been assigned. It may cost around $50 extra pp. But, by the sounds of your frustration, it might be worth it.
It all depends on the date of sailing and I apologize, I didn't notice yours. You can call in or use the "Flight Modification Request" form on the DisneyCruise.com website. It can be found under My Online Check in. This is something you want to do immediately though...

 

[misslissa]

I just noticed your cruise is a month out... if you booked it on your own, you may be able to call and ask super nicely...
If you booked through an agent, you probably won't have any luck there.

 

[allears]

If it helps your stress level any, keep in mind that if DCL booked the air, then they have used the air line and the route before. If they had trouble with people missing connections, they wouldn't use it.

 

[dmi188]

Thanks all!
I am sure we'll be okay. I am not used to running around airports, changing flights, and such.

We did use a TA. We are in the middle of a blizzard, and I doubt they are even in the office today.

Yes, they are probably sure enough that the flight will make it. They could have given us one with a much closer connection in ATL, but they probably gave us the longer layover to make sure we made it if the original flight was late.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

You'll be fine!

Thankfully I had read the disboards before my first cruise and your story is a familiar one. At least you aren't supposed to be arriving within an hour of embarkation.

 

[NancyIL]

Cruiselines book what is cheapest for them. I hope all goes well for you.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Cruiselines book what is cheapest for them. I hope all goes well for you.

I had remembered reading that they buy in bulk and at thirty days put you in whatever empty seats they have, usually on the least crowded planes to minimize overbooking.

 

[mmouse37]

You case is typical of flights when booking with DCL air. Even though there is a direct flight on AirTran, if they have a "relationship" with the other airline that is the one they are going to use...even if it inconveniences the guest....there have even been reports that families were not seated together.

The only time we used DCL air was on the maiden voyage of the Magic and we had direct flights but we also fly out of NY that has many direct flights. I did not like waiting until 30 days out to find out our flights so that is why we now ALWAYS book our own flights. I like to be in control of when and where I am flying.

We booked our flights for our upcoming October '08 cruise at the end of '07.....$150 pp R/T on Continental with direct flights.

 

[Ski-and-Sea]

We went through this last summer when DCL stopped booking us on direct flights on Continental and instead had us stop through Atlanta on Delta.

No way.

What we did was have our TA look at the cost of canceling our DCL flights and booking directly with Continental. Guess what....the cost was exactly the same so our TA canceled the DCL flights and rebook with Continental.

Go check out flights yourself and see there aren't better options for you.

I agree with the others....DCL is buying in bulk the cheapest fares they can find, convenience for the passengers has nothing to do with it.

 

[AmyM]

Thanks all!
They could have given us one with a much closer connection in ATL, but they probably gave us the longer layover to make sure we made it if the original flight was late.

You could certainly try to standby for the earlier flight and no cost to you. Just check with the airline when you check in the day of your flight.

Good Luck! I'm sure it will work out fine!

 

[80sgirl]

Hi,

Disney couldn't book with them as they are not a scheduled airline but more of a charter company. They can only book through the normal airlines- Delta, American, ect...They have a contract with them that gives a agreed upon price so that's what happen there.
You can file a flight devation when you first book for about $50.00 and request flights, or fly in a day early/ out a day later whatever you want.

I would call back and ask if you could speak to the air deviation desk and see what can be done. It's worth a try.

 

[allears]

The cruise line also doesn't control the routes the airlines use. They have the business relationship with them, but they can't control the schedules.

We have done both DCL air and our own. We prefer to book our own, usually cheaper, more control and we like to come in the day before. However, we have found times when booking with DCL has it's advantages. One year we gave one of my DW's aunts and cousin a cruise, with us. We booked them through DCL. As it turned out Hurricane Jeanne struck. DCL changed their flights three time and ulimately their arrival airport. Would have been a lot bigger head ache if we were trying to do that.

In September 06, we were once again cruising through hurricane season and booked our air through DCL. We figured if we ran into another storm related problem, better they take care of it. Especially if we got "stuck" at sea for extra days, which happend on a sailing in 04, DCL would arrange for our flights home.

So sometimes it can be a good thing.

 

[CarrianneB]

Hi,

Disney couldn't book with them as they are not a scheduled airline but more of a charter company. They can only book through the normal airlines- Delta, American, ect...They have a contract with them that gives a agreed upon price so that's what happen there.
You can file a flight devation when you first book for about $50.00 and request flights, or fly in a day early/ out a day later whatever you want.

I would call back and ask if you could speak to the air deviation desk and see what can be done. It's worth a try.

Actually AirTran is a regular airline. They have scheduled flights etc. While they aren't as large as Delta/American/Northwest, they are probably as large as Midwest. So Disney could easily book with them. In fact they are usually cheaper than the other airlines for the same routes.

 

[Billinaz]

There is no way I could let anyone else plan our flights!


I book ours about 10 months out and get the seats we want waaaaay in advance.


We also arrive the day before just to be sure.


Im way to much of a compulsive planner. We only get non stops from PHX to MCO.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

If it helps your stress level any, keep in mind that if DCL booked the air, then they have used the air line and the route before. If they had trouble with people missing connections, they wouldn't use it.

Sorry to say that was not the case the last time we cruised. I will never use DCL for booking air again. On our way home after the cruise, Disney set us up on a USAir flight that had a layover in PA (final destination Chicago). According to the flight times, there was about 35 minutes from the time our plane landed in PA until our flight took off for Chicago. Every single person trying to make that connection, missed the flight. It was awful. There were families with small children not knowing when they would get home. The one USAir employee was very rude when we tried to find out when we could get out of PA. It was absolutely insane. We got home at 1 am!!! We were supposed to be home around 3 pm. Never again!