Please Help Me- I'm such an idiot

[DawnMarie]

I just booked my first flight on Friday, for Feb. 2, 2008. I found what I thought was a good price(Cheaptickets.com) and went for it, no problem. Today while reviewing the schedule I noticed our return flight leaves at 6am from the Orlando airport. I don't think we could make it off the ship and to the airport in time for the flight. I called cheap tickets to change the time as the 1:45 flight is available at the same price, mind your our flight getting into Orlando will remain the same. Cheap tickets is saying it will cost me 600.00 to change the flight time, the total round-trip cost me 693.00. They say United ***** a 100.00 per ticket fee and they 50.00 per ticket. I do expect to pay a fee but this is killing me. I can't afford to shell out another 600 to change our reservation by a few hours. On top of that I'm afraid hubby will be more than upset, he gave me a budget and this will blow the lid off. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do? Please help I about to have a nervous breakdown.

 

[B9erSteve]

WOW! I'm so sorry that this happened! I wish that I had a solution for you, all I can offer is my prayers that someone knows how to help this situation!

 

[Vivianne]

Sorry you're facing this situation.

Other than calling and asking for a supervisor to make an appeal, I can't offer any other suggestions. I normally book directly with the airline and have learned my own lessons by mistakes I have made. Now I check and re-check, it's easy to make a mistake with dates, times and names.

Reading the threads on the Transportation Board are a really helpful learning tool when thinking about travel. I lurk alot before I make a final move. It's always important to read cancellation policies when booking anything even if you feel your plans are solid. I hope you can work it out.

 

[mommasita]

What is the cancellation fee? Perhaps cheaper to do that and restart?

 

[outahere]

You could also call the airline directly and appeal to a supervisor there. I had to do that a few years ago with Delta, and after about 20 minutes of "back and forth" I finally got them to make the change I needed at no cost.

Good luck!

 

[BoardwalkBabe]

I would definitely check to see if the cancellation fee is cheaper. Then cancel and rebook your flights.

 

[figment52]

I know people that have made changes within 24 hours of booking with no fees. Call back, be calm and beg for help. Keep asking for supervisors if you need to.

 

[Selket]

This is one of my fears when booking something - ugh!

I agree with others about calling and keep asking.....and asking....begging and maybe crying a bit. I also have booked my flight through United (directly though) going out of Dulles and I remember the $100 fee restriction - I almost think that is the same whether for cancel or change - but check that out.

I guess that extra $50 fee is a good reason not to go through a broker for the tickets? I don't know what benefits that might give you as the ticket would be the same price (or no more) directly through United I'd think (at least ours are). Seems ridiculous that CT would charge you $200 on top of that - they aren't really providing ANY service to you!

 

[MM4Pres]

DawnMarie,

Please keep us posted on how this turns out for you and how the airlines responds.

I too have made this same mistake (with an airlines that is no longer in business). They were fortunately wonderful about it - making me sad they are no longer in out there! Real customer service is a dying art!

My thoughts are with you!

 

[mmouse37]

I just booked my first flight on Friday, for Feb. 2, 2008. I found what I thought was a good price(Cheaptickets.com) and went for it, no problem. Today while reviewing the schedule I noticed our return flight leaves at 6am from the Orlando airport. I don't think we could make it off the ship and to the airport in time for the flight. I called cheap tickets to change the time as the 1:45 flight is available at the same price, mind your our flight getting into Orlando will remain the same. Cheap tickets is saying it will cost me 600.00 to change the flight time, the total round-trip cost me 693.00. They say United ***** a 100.00 per ticket fee and they 50.00 per ticket. I do expect to pay a fee but this is killing me. I can't afford to shell out another 600 to change our reservation by a few hours. On top of that I'm afraid hubby will be more than upset, he gave me a budget and this will blow the lid off. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do? Please help I about to have a nervous breakdown.

First question is did they make a mistake or did you mistakenly not realize the time of the return flight. If they made the mistake than you can be more aggressive in your dealings. If it was your mistake (I have made plenty of mistakes with travel) then you have to approach them more diplomatically. The previous suggestions are all great....keep calling and asking for an exception. As stated talk to a supervisor and/or call the airline directly.

It kills me that airlines have such control over us.....if the price is the same it should be no big deal to switch the time.

I had to "eat" $600.00 for a hotel reservation that the hotel chain said I never cancelled. I honestly believe I did cancel the stay and even wrote down on my confirmation cancelled on this date at this time. I did not print out a cancellation form because our printer was out of ink and I forgot to jot down the cancellation number. The hotel charged me $600.00 as a no show and would not budge. I even wrote letters to the president of the company and still they would not budge. I wasn't even asking for my money back...I was just asking for a credit for a future stay and no go.....I still am very sore at HYATT hotels for that!!!

Good luck...

 

[Amberle3]

I guess that extra $50 fee is a good reason not to go through a broker for the tickets? I don't know what benefits that might give you as the ticket would be the same price (or no more) directly through United I'd think (at least ours are). Seems ridiculous that CT would charge you $200 on top of that - they aren't really providing ANY service to you!

Restrictions on fares sold to brokers are sometimes different than other fares. Just because a regular fare has one cancellation fee doesn't mean that the same fees apply to fares sold by places like cheaptickets. I wouldn't count on finding a sympathic supervisor at the airline to override the restriction, and in same cases they can't even if they wanted to. Remember though that they can (and often do) make notes on your booking when you call and if you're give them different stories from one call to the next, or are rude and obnoxious to them (and some people definitely are) that gets noted in the file and the next agent dealing with it has access to those notes.

 

[DawnMarie]

I made the mistake. I did tell me hubby he was very understanding. He also told me as well to check into cancelling then rebooking. So, that is next on my agenda. If that doesn't work I plan on contacting the airline directly and throwing myself upon there mercy. Thank you everyone for the advice.

 

[Amberle3]

It kills me that airlines have such control over us.....if the price is the same it should be no big deal to switch the time.

Ah but the real price of the ticket may not be the same. Often times the tickets sold to discounters and brokers is lower than the actual price of the ticket. The broker then marks up the ticket, sometimes to roughly the same as what the airline is charging and sometimes lower than. So for instance:

The airline lists a fare for a flight as $600
The discounter lists the fare at $550. Wow, great saving!
The discounter actually buys the fare for $300, making $250 on the sale plus whatever fees are added on.

So when the customer wants to change the ticket, the new fare might be listed as $550 so it looks like it's the same, but the discounter might actually have to pay $500 for it. The actual price on the last fare was $300, the new one is $500, it it's costing the discounter $200 more to purchase the new ticket.

Isn't travel fun?

 

[Surroundedbyboys]

I had to change flights bought on Orbitz for United. They were going to charge me $150 per ticket. (X4) I called and begged and they would not give way. Finally though, a United worker told me that we could try stand by for the other flights and that was free. There was also a "reserved" standby for $35 a ticket. We did the stand by and got on the flight we wanted- which was a day earlier- with no extra charge. You should check to see how many seats are available for the plane you want and then ask the airline their opinion on doing that. Good luck

 

[deaner]

A few thoughts....

First, go directly to the airlines. If you end up paying a fee, it will be less than having to pay a fee to both the airlines and cheap tickets.

Second, and this may be risky, if you miss your flight at 6am but you arrive to the airport within 3 hours of that flight time, I believe they will automatically book you on the next flight out. SO.....you may want to 'accidentally on purpose', miss your 6am flight and get booked on the next flight for FREE. BUT...before you do this double check this with the airlines to be sure this is still their policy. It has been awhile since I had this happen. Maybe that is a way to get around the fee.

Third, did you try to book for the next day at the same time and see if they are still going to charge you. Maybe you can keep the same flight but just change the day. Then you would only have to pay for a hotel for one night, still cheaper than $600 bucks!

Fourth, try to book a one way flight to your home destination and see if that is less expensive than the $600. Keep your original flight but just buy an extra flight.

Maybe one of these might help you!

 

[drew64]

The main problem you will face is that the tickets were purchased thru cheaptickets. They buy blocks of seats at a discounted price similar to what package tour companies sand cruise lines do.
Thes etickets are more restrictive than tickets purchased directly from a travel agent or the airline. Often, they are not transferrable to another flight at the same fee. also, as you see, they impose fees on top of the airline fees for changes.
Right now, you are actually ahead of the game in only being quoted the $150.00 change fees instead of also being charged for a move to a higher fare on top of that.
Yes, you can miss the flight and stand-by. The airline will get you on another flight, but the airlines can identify "cheap bucket shop" tickets such as those purchased through cheaptickets. You will be low on the list of priority to the airline for stand-by and may have ot split the family among several flights.
My adice. Call the airline directly and try to get them to reissue for only their $100 per ticket change fee. If that doesn't work, pay the $150 per ticket through cheaptickets.
Whatever you do, do it fast. If the same fare basis as your ticket was issued in becomes unavailable on your alternate flight, then the cost to change will go up quite a bit.
Sorry!

 

[ejacoby1]

If you do book your own seperate flight home, don't just "not show up" for your scheduled return flight. It is my understanding that since 9/11 if you don't show up you are "flagged".

Also, will they allow you to cancel both flights, and keep a credit for future travel? You would have to book airfare again but at least it wouldn't cost you $600 for nothing.

Ed

 

[Disneyhappy]

It may be cheaper to wait for SW out of BWI to open up their schedule. Sign up for their e-mail specials and Dings. We got our summer flights for $59 each way from PHL to MCO with taxes. I really feel for you! It stinks when hindsight is 20/20! Good luck!

 

[outahere]

If you do book your own seperate flight home, don't just "not show up" for your scheduled return flight. It is my understanding that since 9/11 if you don't show up you are "flagged".

Not sure about being "flagged", but it as been my experience that if you don't cancel your reservation prior to flight time, that you lose the value of that flight, so you wouldn't have a credit with the airline for a future ticket.

 

[DawnMarie]

Thanks everyone I really appreciate the suggestions . Turns out the tickets I bought will cost the same to cancel, the remainder will be issued via credit. I checked directly with the airline(twice)one csr said I needed to go through cheap tickets. The next said they would charge me 400.00(better than 600.00 but still costly). I was informed of the "reserved standby" which is free. Or I can call the airline 4 hours before a flight on the same day, if there are seats available I can change then for only 100.00.

So here is my plan of action...

A)Try to find cheap flights back home. We are flying out of Dulles (our car will be there) so we need to fly into Dulles.

B)Try the stand by options if plan a fails.

C)If plan b fails we'll spend the night in Orlando(kids are hoping for this plan) and drive home the next day. Ironically, we usually drive to and fro Orlando.

I haved learned to be more carefull when making any contractual agreement.