My Flights Were Changed...(Long)

[tinkmom2]

I read a post from someone that said airtran changed their flight times so I decided to call. They switched my return flight from MCO to 11 AM. Am I going to have enough time to clear customs, find my luggage and get to MCO in time to go through security and make the flight?
On our last cruise we had a 12:55am flight and were at the air port around 10AM. The other option they gave me was to get a return flight home of 5:29pm but I don't want to be roaming the air port for that long. ..Soo what should I do?

 

[iloveokw]

same thing happened to us we cancelled n booked with southwest not going to spend vacation worrying about getting home

 

[trimix]

If it were me, I would have told the AirTran agent, "We are coming back from a cruise, and the cruise line strongly discourages departures before 12:30 PM, so your rescheduled itinerary won't work for us. What will you book us on that leaves at or after 12:30?"

The reservation agent may not like to hear that, may try telling you they can't reschedule, or may try demanding change fees. Just be firm and, if they refuse to budge, ask to speak to a supervisor.

They accepted your money for a flight that works with the cruise plans, and they have to accommodate your schedule. If they can't get you out Saturday and you have to spend the night in Orlando, then I believe they are liable for a hotel.

 

[Zach's Mom]

They changed our flights also without notifying us. When I called in they were very accomidating and actually changed our reservations so that we have non-stop flights both ways. the person I spoke to was very accomidating and actually suggested the non stop light on the way home even though we were getting in at the same time.

Have you checked to see what other flight times they have available that day and request the one that will work for you.

 

[cats mom]

That's a tough one.

Is it possible to make an 11am flight? Yes

But if you run into delays of any kind, at any point along the way, you could be in big trouble.

I booked a 10:50am flight once. Of course debarkation started later than usual that cruise, we ran into a slight delay picking up the rental car, and one of our bags was overweight. Sheesh!

We made our flight, but it was way too stressful for me. I'll never book that early again if I can help it.

If you do go with the 5:29 flight, maybe you could plan something fun for the day, or just book a day room at the Hyatt and swim or relax.

Good Luck with your decision.

 

[BethA]

if nothing goes wrong you probabl will make it--the longest park seems to be at the airport waiting to check bags and going through security. Last week our flight was not til 2:50 and i wished we had booked the 11 because of all the wasted time sitting around

If you can do the transfers where you check your luggage at the ship you have a better chance of making it since it eliminates one very long line

 

[cats mom]

If you can do the transfers where you check your luggage at the ship you have a better chance of making it since it eliminates one very long line

Unfortunately that won't work for the OP:

"Pre-registration is required and scheduled flights must be after 11:25 a.m. on the day your cruise ends."

From what I can tell this is one of those no bending, no breaking kind of rules.

 

[kcashner]

No, don't take the chance of an 11:00 flight. As above, call the airline and tell them that the cruise line won't allow you to book a flight that leaves before 12:30. MAKE them find you something. If you're not leaving till 5:30, rent a car and have a day at downtown Disney, the FL mall, or whatever, but don't hang out at MCO all day.

Start with the airline--look up flights on line before you call so you know what's out there.

Delta did this to us once...and of course the flights they wanted to put us on ruined my plan of leaving after school was over for the day. They ended up placing us on a flight that I couldn't even find on line!

 

[BethA]

Unfortunately that won't work for the OP:

"Pre-registration is required and scheduled flights must be after 11:25 a.m. on the day your cruise ends."

From what I can tell this is one of those no bending, no breaking kind of rules.

I didn't realize that .We use SW, who does not participate, and my parents-who used it had a later flight-so I did or know there were restrictions on flight time

 

[ikelshellmad]

I am an agent for another major airline. If there is a schedule change and it doesn't work out for you, you can request to be rebooked on a different flight at no charge. If the schedule change is more than 90 minutes, you can request a full refund to your original form of payment. Hope this helps. By the way, everything went smoothly when we returned 2 weeks ago, and we made it to MCO by 9:15am.

 

[kcashner]

I am an agent for another major airline. If there is a schedule change and it doesn't work out for you, you can request to be rebooked on a different flight at no charge. If the schedule change is more than 90 minutes, you can request a full refund to your original form of payment. Hope this helps. By the way, everything went smoothly when we returned 2 weeks ago, and we made it to MCO by 9:15am.

Thanks for the official rules!

Unfortunately, you can't count on everything going smoothly! We've had cruises where the ship didn't clear Customs until ..once at 9:10, once at 8:25. We've also had cruises where we were at the airport by 9. Once the airline moved us from our 12:30 scheduled flight to a 9:30 since we were at the departure gate in time!

 

[BethA]

I am an agent for another major airline. If there is a schedule change and it doesn't work out for you, you can request to be rebooked on a different flight at no charge. If the schedule change is more than 90 minutes, you can request a full refund to your original form of payment. Hope this helps. By the way, everything went smoothly when we returned 2 weeks ago, and we made it to MCO by 9:15am.

REALLY?

does that include delays and cancelled flights? My parents flight was cancelled going to Newark and they had to go by bus to make their connection. This has happened to them several times trying to connect home through Philadelphia dn they have never been compensated.

 

[3mmm]

United did this to us for our spring break cruise. Changed our 11:30 flight to 10:45. The best they could do for us was offer to refund our money - sorry, not an option - we needed a way back to Michigan. They ended up putting us on a flight to Chicago that left at 2PM. There was not a single airline that had an available flight to Grand Rapids (I checked myself - I didn't trust United). We paid an out of work friend to pick us up (3 1/2 hours each way) All united would give the 8 of us was a $25 Credit on a future flight.

The reality is we would have been fine making the 10:45 flight, but I still wouldn't take the chance and we wanted to use on board checkin and couldn't with the 10:45 flight. Good luck. I hope Southwest is more accomodating than United

 

[TnRobin]

I am another who would recommend taking the later flight, rent a one-way car rental in Cocoa Beach and enjoy the day. you coiuld always enjoy the beach for a few hours or go shopping. There is a great outlet mall off of international drive and there is always Downtown Disney. You can have an enjoyable lunch somewhere pleasant.

We always take a later flight so that we can do this. We actually try to get the 7PM flight and then go to the parks or Disney Quest for the better part of the day. I just can't get on a plane and go home after a cruise. I have to have a little Disney fix.

 

[WendyinMaryland]

I have a 12:10 Southwest flight. When I booked it I am sure the recommended time was anytime after 12:00. Did this change? Should I worry?