Mad, Frustrated with Airtran...anything I can do?

[mommytocalliesue]

I finally booked our airfare about 2 weeks ago when I heard prices will probably go up. So tonight I decided just to check and see what the prices are. That's when I saw that our flight leaves 5 hours later than it suppose to!!! We were suppose to leave at 12:16 pm now we don't leave til 5!!! That is a long time difference...and totally ruins an entire day there. Is there anything I can do.....and why didn't I receive an email saying the flight had change?!?! I'm so mad......

Oh...and to make it worse....the flight prices had went down by $18!!!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I finally booked our airfare about 2 weeks ago when I heard prices will probably go up. So tonight I decided just to check and see what the prices are. That's when I saw that our flight leaves 5 hours later than it suppose to!!! We were suppose to leave at 12:16 pm now we don't leave til 5!!! That is a long time difference...and totally ruins an entire day there. Is there anything I can do.....and why didn't I receive an email saying the flight had change?!?! I'm so mad......

Oh...and to make it worse....the flight prices had went down by $18!!!

Here are you options:

1. Keep the flight they moved you to.

2. Call and request a different flight that day. As long as there are seats available on the flight you want, they'll put you on it.

3. Call and request a refund. You're then free to book whatever you like.

Have an idea of what you'd like before you call. Also make sure that if you paid for seat assignments, that you get them on the flight you end up with. They even gave us the same configuration that we had chosen originally; there were 6 of us.

The reason they don't necessarily email/call people right away is that it may change again before the flight. Once they know their schedule is set, they'll notify everyone.

When this happened to us, they were super nice on the phone and would have done just about anything to make us happy. Ours changed from non stop to a connecting flight.

 

[mommytocalliesue]

Thank you for your response!

Did you fly on Airtran?

Do you think I should wait a month or so and see if they change it again? We don't fly out til June 2nd....so could it maybe change again?

And I'd be super ticked if we went to from non-stop to a stop! That is why I picked this flight....!!!!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Thank you for your response!

Did you fly on Airtran?

Do you think I should wait a month or so and see if they change it again? We don't fly out til June 2nd....so could it maybe change again?

And I'd be super ticked if we went to from non-stop to a stop! That is why I picked this flight....!!!!

Yes, we've flown them a few times now. Is there another flight you'd rather have? Perhaps one that you wanted, but was more expensive? If you wait too long, you run the risk of your desired flight filling up. It's kind of a gamble.

I was very annoyed at the change to connecting flights. We had the perfect post cruise flight time: noon. The next non stop (my dad is claustrophobic and my parents really wanted a NS.) wasn't until 3:30 pm but that was full. So the next was 6:30pm so we took it. That was later changed to 7:20pm. We chose AT so that we could be on a participating airline for DCL's onboard checkin. To get this very convenient service we have to buy DCL bus transfers from port to MCO, $35 pp. Not bad for a good flight time but with 2 kids, why pay extra to ride the bus and have luggage handled (+ AT's baggage fees) only to sit all day in the airport?

We ended up renting a car, and visiting Universal for the day. Not awful but could have flown SW, saved the $60 in baggage fees.

Our flights were only $59 so I really couldn't complain too much. Just wreacked havoc with our original plans and by the time all these changes took place, all other airlines were triple that price. This was in Nov 09 so those cheap fares are history.

Good luck! I hope you find a solution that works for you.

 

[vbarry]

If there is a change in your flight time you can request a change with no fee. Even if you want to leave a day before or after. We did this a few years ago. Airtran changed the time and I needed to change the date...due to a storm coming. They said since there had been a change in the flight time there would be no charge for my change. I would call....they may even refund your money. Good luck!

P.S The flight we are booking at the end of June was just changed from noon to five....not sure what the deal is!

 

[dudspizza]

If there is a change in your flight time you can request a change with no fee. Even if you want to leave a day before or after. We did this a few years ago. Airtran changed the time and I needed to change the date...due to a storm coming. They said since there had been a change in the flight time there would be no charge for my change. I would call....they may even refund your money. Good luck!

P.S The flight we are booking at the end of June was just changed from noon to five....not sure what the deal is!

I did exactly this. I had a change on both flights. So, I choose to be put on the first flight out of the day instead of mid-day, essetnially getting us to MCO 7 hours earlier..... we also moved our return flight to the NEXT DAY to take advantage of out time at WDW. All of this was with no fee because it was Airtran that changed out flight times...

Duds

 

[Hoopfamily]

I've had Airtran change my flight times in the past, and in return, they've let me change not only to another flight, out of a better airport, to a more convenient time, from a 1 stop to a nonstop. I've always had great luck with them. Just call them, and they'll take care of it. Have a great trip.

 

[n2mm]

They did this to us one year too. We were suppose to be on an 8:AM flight and it got changed to 4PM. I called and they refunded all of my money. I booked another airline that had better times. The reps were very good and helpful. I suggest you do that.

 

[LidoDeck]

AirTran did the same thing to an itinerary I booked for my mother. The schedule change wasn't an issue, but going from a non-stop to include a stop and plane change for my elderly mom was! They were awesome about changing her to a flight with a stop, but no plane change - and without charge. I'm not a fan of AirTran because of the frequent changes, shortage of non-stops and bag fees but in my experience they do work with passengers under these circumstances.

 

[mommytocalliesue]

Thank you all for your responses!! I feel a lot better now that I'm going to be able to move my flight! I called Disney today and booked a day early....and am hoping to change my flight for the night before! I will even switch to a closer airport!

Another question...right now the flights are priced lower than before...will they credit me the difference?!?!

 

[Henlady]

Don't stress right now about the flight changes. My DD flew Airtran last summer. They booked in January, 2010 for a non-stop 8:00am flight in July. There were at least 4 time changes between booking and the July flight. Airtran changed to around a 10:30am departure, non-stop, then changed to a stop-over with plane change at about 9:30am, they finally ended up with a 8:05am departure with a stop over & plane change. I believe there was another time change in there, but don't remember what it was. I wouldn't worry till you get to early May, they probably won't have anything finalized till then.

 

[mickey2000]

This time thing has been going on for years!
I NO LONGER FLY with them !

 

[mommytocalliesue]

Yeah...I'm not doing anything yet. I'm going to wait til like April and then see. If they were to change to a stop I would DEFINITELY switch no matter what. I'm not going to deal with that....the whole reason I picked the flight I did was because it was nonstop!!!!!

 

[srferson]

I can't say anything helpful regarding the time changes, but an FYI about the ticket prices.

If you buy your tickets and then see that the tickets are now less expensive than they were when you bought them, you can call Airtran and ask for a credit for the difference.

It has to be used within a year of the original ticket purchase though.

But it's still a nice gesture on their part, I think.

If you end up using it, great. If you don't, it just cost you a few minutes on the phone.

 

[leebee]

If you wait to change until April, though, you run the risk of all the decently-timed flights being full. They can only change you if the seats are available!

My BIL is a flight attendant for a different airline, but he says it's common knowledge that Airtran schedules a bunch of flights to a destination to get people's business, then, as they flight dates approach, they change the number of flights depending on what's fullest, who they can shift around, etc. They basically get a bunch of reservations on a bunch of flights, then cut flights and change people's plans so that they are flying fuller planes. I am usually happy to fly Airtran because of the price, but always know that nothing about my flight times is set in stone until I have actually boarded the plane!

 

[n2mm]

If you wait to change until April, though, you run the risk of all the decently-timed flights being full. They can only change you if the seats are available!

My BIL is a flight attendant for a different airline, but he says it's common knowledge that Airtran schedules a bunch of flights to a destination to get people's business, then, as they flight dates approach, they change the number of flights depending on what's fullest, who they can shift around, etc. They basically get a bunch of reservations on a bunch of flights, then cut flights and change people's plans so that they are flying fuller planes. I am usually happy to fly Airtran because of the price, but always know that nothing about my flight times is set in stone until I have actually boarded the plane!

I agree! I would not wait at all. There needs to be seats available on the flight you want to switch to in order to get your entire party on. Plus if others have already purchased the seat assignments, your party will be split up (which I've witnessed many times). I would switch now and if your time changes again, deal with that when it happens.

 

[mommytocalliesue]

I am watching the other flight carefully...and right now there are plenty of seats (I'm flying from a small airport)

My biggest concern is that the one I'd switch to (which is suppose to leave at 5:00 pm....which is perfect because I have school that morning) will switch to an earlier time and then I'd be in trouble! But...I guess if it switches dramatically...then I will just have to switch to another flight...right?!?!

Ugh...I just wish it was set in place!!

 

[vbarry]

R u flying out of Bloomington? It looks like all the flights that were at noon are now at 5. Really bums me out and we are looking to fly out of St. Louis or Indy just to get better flight times. I do not want to get there at 8:00.

Good luck! Love my little Bloomington airport but not a lot of options for non-stop travel! Good luck!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I am watching the other flight carefully...and right now there are plenty of seats (I'm flying from a small airport)

My biggest concern is that the one I'd switch to (which is suppose to leave at 5:00 pm....which is perfect because I have school that morning) will switch to an earlier time and then I'd be in trouble! But...I guess if it switches dramatically...then I will just have to switch to another flight...right?!?!

Ugh...I just wish it was set in place!!

You will not be "in trouble" you would then have another opportunity to call and ask for a different flight or get a refund. Watching, waiting, and holding onto a flight that you currently don't want, isn't going to help at all.

If you see a flight that works for you and it's available, call and switch to it.

 

[mommytocalliesue]

R u flying out of Bloomington? It looks like all the flights that were at noon are now at 5. Really bums me out and we are looking to fly out of St. Louis or Indy just to get better flight times. I do not want to get there at 8:00.

Good luck! Love my little Bloomington airport but not a lot of options for non-stop travel! Good luck!

Yes....we are suppose to fly out of Bloomington....now I'm looking at Moline! Which is closer for us!

Ok...I'm just going to call and try to switch now!!