Newbie Mistake...Advice needed!

[Marshel]

If you use National/Alamo you will need to allow extra time since they're not in the terminal at Tampa. Their facility is on the edge of the airport property and they run shuttle buses more or less constantly, about a 5 minute ride. Drop off fees were made illegal inside the state of Florida a while ago; they were charging excessive fees so the legislature outlawed them.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

How are you getting from Tampa to Orlando. If renting a car then hold onto it. It will probably be about the same price as any of the other options. I would also go with what a pp suggested and drive to Tampa the night before and stay near the airport.

 

[July19]

As luck would have it, they changed my flight times! The return flight times have changed by like, 7 minutes. So, I just want to make sure that I am understand this correctly. I found a flight from Orlando at 9:55 am and that works much better for us! But I wonder how to call them? Like, do I need a reason why I need to change it? And if I fail at a good reason, will they charge me the fee?! =)

Thanks for all the help, it is greatly appreciated. I'm so new at this...I feel so dumb!

 

[NotUrsula]

Most car rental companies have a one way charge, if you drop it off in another city, it gets pricey.

You may want to consider hiring a private limo service to pick you up and drop you off.

Actually, the major companies don't normally charge any drop-off fees for one-way rentals within Florida. A car service will DEFINITELY cost way more than a rental car.

OP, if you are heading back on a weekday other than Friday, then I would suggest checking Hotwire or Priceline for the car if you can. One-day rentals on weekdays tend to be very overpriced, and almost no coupon codes are good for that type of rental. If it's Th-Su, then you should be able to get a weekend rate with no problem.

 

[kkmauch]

Call them at the number listed on the website. Tell them your flights have changed and you want to change to fly out of MCO instead. They can walk you though it.

 

[TaraPA]

As luck would have it, they changed my flight times! The return flight times have changed by like, 7 minutes. So, I just want to make sure that I am understand this correctly. I found a flight from Orlando at 9:55 am and that works much better for us! But I wonder how to call them? Like, do I need a reason why I need to change it? And if I fail at a good reason, will they charge me the fee?! =)

Thanks for all the help, it is greatly appreciated. I'm so new at this...I feel so dumb!

Absolutely, just call their toll-free customer service number & state that you have had a flight change that won't work for you. The worst thing they can do is say no, but I've always found Airtran's customer service to be wonderful & accomodating. Our group had a flight time change of only 5 min. & they let us all move to a flight a day earlier with no questions asked. I know in the past a friend of mine was allowed to switch airports with Airtran because of a flight time change as well.

Good luck & let us now how it turns out!

 

[July19]

I did it! And it worked! Free of charge and we are now leaving at 955 am from Orlando to LaGuardia. Whew. Huge relief and a major weight off my shoulders!

Thanks to all again for the advice! I love how friendly people are on these boards =)

 

[goofy4tink]

That's terrific news...congratulations. That will make life so much easier for you. Be sure to book DME back to MCO though.....don't forget to do that!!