Mad at Continental

[Sandi12404]

So we got our flights booked through Orbitz back in April. Then today we got an email saying our flights have been changed. We were leaving out of Cleveland at 7am and now we're leaving at 5:55am. We still get in at the same time so it's no big deal, it's my return flight I'm angry about. We were leaving MCO at 5:56pm and getting to Cleveland at 8:21. Now we're scheduled to leave MCO at 2:00 getting to Cleveland at 5:30.
We purposely scheduled a later flight home so we could have extra time that last day , since ME picks us up 3 hours before the flight. Now we'd have to leave around 11am.
I called Orbitz and they said this happens often. An airline will have two partially filled flights and will cancel one to fill the other to save money. They said they could book us on another flight leaving at 5:05 but it we wouldn't get to Cleveland until 11:30pm (followed by a 1 1/2 hour drive home and work the next morning) so that wouldn't work. I'm so frustrated!!!
My parents are driving down a couple days before us and they said they could take to the airport for our flight home but can you use ME one way? . Orbitz said we could call back anytime and see if anything else opens up so hopefully it will all work out.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I can appreciate your frustration but this is not that uncommon with the legacy airlines, who often open their booking windows 9 - 12 months before the departure date. You also are dealing with the results of the Continental/United merger where many flights are being consolidated.

 

[DebbieB]

So we got our flights booked through Orbitz back in April. Then today we got an email saying our flights have been changed. We were leaving out of Cleveland at 7am and now we're leaving at 5:55am. We still get in at the same time so it's no big deal, it's my return flight I'm angry about. We were leaving MCO at 5:56pm and getting to Cleveland at 8:21. Now we're scheduled to leave MCO at 2:00 getting to Cleveland at 5:30.
We purposely scheduled a later flight home so we could have extra time that last day , since ME picks us up 3 hours before the flight. Now we'd have to leave around 11am.
I called Orbitz and they said this happens often. An airline will have two partially filled flights and will cancel one to fill the other to save money. They said they could book us on another flight leaving at 5:05 but it we wouldn't get to Cleveland until 11:30pm (followed by a 1 1/2 hour drive home and work the next morning) so that wouldn't work. I'm so frustrated!!!
My parents are driving down a couple days before us and they said they could take to the airport for our flight home but can you use ME one way? . Orbitz said we could call back anytime and see if anything else opens up so hopefully it will all work out.

Yes, you can use ME one way. You could still check the luggage in at the resort and not ride the bus.

 

[dudspizza]

I can appreciate your frustration but this is not that uncommon with the legacy airlines, who often open their booking windows 9 - 12 months before the departure date. You also are dealing with the results of the Continental/United merger where many flights are being consolidated.

I totally agree that this is more about the United/Continental merger than Continental consolidating two partially full flights.

 

[seashoreCM]

Go to the airline's own web site and see if there are other flights that you would like. Then call and request those flights. The agency (or airline if you booked directly) should not charge you extra to make this change. You might also consider asking for a full cancellation with refund.

I know that sometimes travel agents (e.g. Expedia, Orbitz) have private inventory (blocks of seats, rooms) that they would like to move (sell, er, resell to you) first but the agency should still get you a replacement flight of your choosing even if the agency has to go outside the box (buy fresh from the airline and sell to you).

 

[ancestry]

Sorry you are frustrated. However like someone already mentioned this is quite common and needs to almost be expected especially when booking far in advance.

As a PP said research other available flights and see if there is another time/combination that works for you and then request that flight.

 

[deegack]

Also check other airlines. If they change your flight by more than a certain time (I can't remember exactly the time) they have to refund you. We did this once when they change our evening flight to a morning. We booked tickets back on a different airline and received a refund for that leg of the trip.

 

[MrsLS]

I know it won't help you this time, but I would book directly with the airline in the future. this way you have control over your own flight and if they (at least in my many experiences) change your flight time (other than a few minutes), you don't have to accept the new flight time. They can book you on another flight if there are seats available.
You don't have to use ME both ways or at all. I don't think they care if you reuse them to go home, just let them know, so they can take you off the schedule. I don't think you are paying for it anyway correct?
I would also check the CO website now and see if there are seats on another plane on the time you would need.

 

[smdigh]

Those are the exact same time changes that happened to our Continental flight out on October 23. Ended up creating a 5 hour layover in Cleveland, so we got our flight changed. We picked the flight for the same reason- it left later in the day and gave us more time in Orlando. I didn't check all days, but Continental may have eliminated that evening flight.

 

[maxiesmom]

Go to the airline's own web site and see if there are other flights that you would like. Then call and request those flights. The agency (or airline if you booked directly) should not charge you extra to make this change. You might also consider asking for a full cancellation with refund.

I know that sometimes travel agents (e.g. Expedia, Orbitz) have private inventory (blocks of seats, rooms) that they would like to move (sell, er, resell to you) first but the agency should still get you a replacement flight of your choosing even if the agency has to go outside the box (buy fresh from the airline and sell to you).

DO THIS!!! I have had the same thing happen on Delta, and had booked my tickets thru Orbitz. They were more than happy to move me to a different flight that I had picked out. It actually ended up gaining me some time at WDW so I was quite happy.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Problem one. Orbtiz. They really told OP that? Because it is not entirely correct. They do schedule adjustments based on overall expectations of demand. They do not just cancel flightX on Day y...

As was pointed out, if CO has a flight you like better call back and ask for it. Sadly, you get to deal with Orbitz again so you may have to fight with them, but the airline generally won't charge you for the change so they should be able to do it. You can also request a refund and start over if you can get the same fare on another carrier.

 

[brockash]

I know it won't help you this time, but I would book directly with the airline in the future. this way you have control over your own flight and if they (at least in my many experiences) change your flight time (other than a few minutes), you don't have to accept the new flight time. They can book you on another flight if there are seats available.
You don't have to use ME both ways or at all. I don't think they care if you reuse them to go home, just let them know, so they can take you off the schedule. I don't think you are paying for it anyway correct?
I would also check the CO website now and see if there are seats on another plane on the time you would need.

This. We learned this the hard and very frustrating way, and now that we book directly with the airline, it's so much easier. I've already had changed/gotten refunds for our Sept. flight through United/Continental 3 times since we've booked, because they've changed the times (We have ppl. flying out of 3 different airports, and each one eventually got changed.) Also, every time we see that 6:00pm Continental flight for a way home, we know that it's most likely going to get changed. I don't know why, but every year for the past 4 years, it has changed to a 3ish flight.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Also check other airlines. If they change your flight by more than a certain time (I can't remember exactly the time) they have to refund you. We did this once when they change our evening flight to a morning. We booked tickets back on a different airline and received a refund for that leg of the trip.

Just to clarify, under the terms and contract, they do not have to refund you due to a time change. When purchasing a ticket you are purchasing travel on a given day between two cities, the time, aircraft, seat, etc are not guaranteed by your purchase.

That said, most airlines have guidelines they follow and will allow a passenger to change to a different flight if they are impacted by a schedule change. Some will do it with a small time change (ie. less then 30 minutes), others are more restrictive (ie. over 2 hours) and still others will only change a passenger to a new flight if the same fare class is still available (which impacts those booking the cheapest fares).

As unfair as it sounds, this is what we all agree to when we buy a ticket, so it's best to know your rights and ask nicely then it is to ever demand a change.

 

[Sandi12404]

They changed it again!!! We're still getting to Disney at the same time but on a different flight number. Now I'm starting to worry about ME. I already submitted my flight info twice and now I have to change it again. Worried that there will be last minute changes and my luggage will never make itmy resort because ME won't know the flight I'm on.

 

[maxiesmom]

They changed it again!!! We're still getting to Disney at the same time but on a different flight number. Now I'm starting to worry about ME. I already submitted my flight info twice and now I have to change it again. Worried that there will be last minute changes and my luggage will never make itmy resort because ME won't know the flight I'm on.

They will see your yellow tags, and your luggage will be pulled. Don't worry!

Honestly, if your trip is 2 months away, your flight may change yet again. Keep watching it, and stay on top of any changes. I know it is a bit unnerving, but it happens on many airlines, not just continental. I had one flight on Delta that kept ping ponging back and forth 5 minutes. Just keep checking and it will be ok!

 

[seashoreCM]

Going to Disney, if your arrival changes by just a few hours it is not necessarty to call Magical Express again.

 

[corster]

UA and CO are changing all of their flight numbers to remove any duplication in the system. I've had my flight number changed two times now on my CO reservation, there's a good chance that your reservation on either airline may have a flight number change, if it hasn't already.

Once this step is done, I'd expect the airline to stop selling CO flight numbers altogether by the end of the summer and just sell all Continental flights as UA XXX operated by Continental while they wait for their single operating certificate (which will allow them to drop the operated by Continental part). It's the same way that US Airways phased out America West, and if i'm not mistaken Delta may have done the same thing with NWA too.

 

[dis_guy]

The PP is correct. There have been a lot of flight number changes lately. At one point our Jan 7 2012 (on CO) return flights had 4 different incarnations on the schedule, all with different combinations of flight numbers. Now they've got it down to only one.

And to just remind people that if you've had flight number changes, check your seat selections! We had to reselect on a couple of legs for our trip.