Our flight schedule changed - NOT notified

[kelscross]

Yes...they did it..Airtran changed our flight schedule. They have been flying the same flight, same flight number direct to/from our airport for 4 years and they've changed it. They changed it once a few weeks ago and notified me. The flight was pushed forward an hour. That's okay..we'll deal with it.

Today, I was looking on the boards and someone mentioned an airtran sale, so I went over to airtran to see if our flight had been put on sale so I could call for a credit. Yes they went on sale so I did get the credit.
BUT..the return flight has been pushed forward two more hours! I was not notified of that change. The rep stated that it is not the airline themselves that change the flights randomly, air traffic control tells them when they need to change the flights. How does air traffic control know 6 weeks out that there is going to be air traffic problems??

The problem is..we have reservations for the Family Magic Tour that day because our flight was to leave so late in the evening. Now we're pushing to be finished with the tour, getting back to the resort so we can take ME to the airport in time.

I'm wondering if we can just take a cab back to the airport so we don't have to leave as early?? How early before your flight does ME come to get you?

 

[Traveliz]

ME picks you up 2 and half to three hours before your flight.

Liz

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Air Traffic Control does NOT tell the airlines how to set their schedules. If they could, flights would be a LOT more spread out and there would be far fewer delays. That is bull XXXX. Nonetheless, airlines do try to notify passengers of schedule changes and travel agents will do the same if you purchase tickets through them. But ultimately it's the passengers' responsibility to check their schedule for changes prior to departure.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Minniemouse07]

In the past if my flight was changed to an inconvenient time for me & my family the airlines worked w/ me to change it to a better time. I even went from layover to a non stop!

I would call AirTran and make them change the flight until later in the day.

 

[englishteacha]

I agree with MinnieMouse07. Call Airtran and request a different flight. Airtran cancelled our flight home, and I noticed it online before we ever got notified. I called and they put me on a different flight later in the day for no extra charges. They were very helpful.

 

[CarolA]

Air Traffic Control does NOT tell the airlines how to set their schedules. If they could, flights would be a LOT more spread out and there would be far fewer delays. That is bull XXXX. Nonetheless, airlines do try to notify passengers of schedule changes and travel agents will do the same if you purchase tickets through them. But ultimately it's the passengers' responsibility to check their schedule for changes prior to departure.

BobK/Orlando

Well, that's not entirely true.

ATC does control the "flow" into and out of the airport. So IF they tell the airlines...."Sorry, but we are only going to land and take off X flights in this time span" something has to give

That has actually been ongoing in Atlanta this year as they attempt to "rearrange" flight schedueling to reduce delays.

 

[kelscross]

I understand that it is ultimately the passenger's responsibility to check, and its not like we're leaving tomorrow. I was surprised that I got notified of the first change but not the second change. I was advised by airtran that they may in fact change the flight back to the original time, I need to call them 24 hours to departing from Orlando to confirm the flight time.

The rep did say that if the time ultimately didn't work for us, they would switch us at no charge, however the later flight times involve a layover (we are a nonstop flight) and I would not be willing to do that.

I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that they don't make it even earlier so that we don't have to cancel our Magic Tour plans. The girls are looking forward to that activity. Maybe we'll go ahead and switch the tour to the day before we leave. I had orginally thought that would be a nice activity to do on the last day since our flight wouldn't be leaving until 8pm.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Air Traffic Control does NOT tell the airlines how to set their schedules. If they could, flights would be a LOT more spread out and there would be far fewer delays. That is bull XXXX. Nonetheless, airlines do try to notify passengers of schedule changes and travel agents will do the same if you purchase tickets through them. But ultimately it's the passengers' responsibility to check their schedule for changes prior to departure.

BobK/Orlando

The FAA limits the number and time of takeoffs and landings, also known as slots. Airlines meet quarterly to barter and negotiate the slots available between them from what they have been previously assigned by the FAA. From each according to their excess, to each according to their bartering skills. After the slots have been allocated for the quarter, the only way to adjust according to advance demand (i.e., ticket sales) is to change equipment, if possible.

 

[tkldisney]

I check my flts. daily for any changes because I book so far in advance they change several times. I have to call in to get my same seats.
The thing is if you see a change, call in and accept the change then decide you don't like it, most likely the airline will not do any other changes for free.
Normally, you'll will have to wait and hope they change your flt. again. Maybe if your really nice to res. agent they'll do it for you after you've accepted.

 

[matsterrocks]

Yes they went on sale so I did get the credit.

Didn't know you could get credits back from airlines if price went down? Is this true for most airlines?

 

[kelscross]

I didn't get a cash credit back to my CC. They have a credit sitting in their system that I have until next June to use toward any ticket. I don't know if every airline offers this.