Reminder to flyers:confirm your flights!

[polygirl86]

Hi! Just wanted to be sure no one else gets the surprise I did yesterday. We're leaving in 2 weeks for Orlando, so I went to confirm my flights with Northwest (IND-MCO). I had a booked a non-stop roundtrip ticket. (2 hours each way) When I tried to confirm yesterday, my outbound flight was fine, but apparently my inbound flight had been cancelled, so they had put me on a flight that leaves 2 hours earlier, and has a stop in Detroit! That would mean I would spend an extra 3 hours in transit. Long story short, I'm now staying in Orlando an extra night, as we got the first non-stop flight the next morning.
The thing that's important for others to know is: 1. since I booked online, I was never notified of the change as the airline says it's my responsibility to check; and 2. if you don't like the alternate arrangements the airlines have made for you when your flight gets cancelled, you may be able to make changes if you call them. I'm just glad I figured this out in time to make the change that I did.

 

[momsgoofy]

Just want to add that sometimes the airline does notify you. We're leaving for DL in about a week...I'd booked online with AA back in March or April and since then our flight times have changed (minimally thank goodness). I had given my email address for confirmation and notification as well as my phone number, so when the times changed AA sent me an email with the new times.

But no matter what, it is always best to double check travel plans.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

since I booked online, I was never notified of the change as the airline says it's my responsibility to check

Not true. You could have signed up to receive such notification. From the NWA website:

When viewing my reservation on nwa.com, I see that the times of the flights have changed. Why did this change occur without notification to me? Is there anything I need to do?

When a schedule change occurs we contact passengers based on their date of departure. If your travel is for a date in the future, you are likely to have not been contacted yet. If you have noticed a change in your reservation, we ask that you please contact Reservations at 1-800-225-2525. They will assist you with the details of the change and help you with reviewing other possible flight options, if you choose.

You may sign up to automatically receive flight schedule change notification. Free registration on My NWA Info is available to all WorldPerks members. You may choose to be notified of any scheduled changes via e-mail, phone or wireless device.

 

[polygirl86]

I was just saying what I was told by the agent on the phone. You were more helpful than she was! I have now gone to nwa's website and have signed up to receive alerts. In the past I have always booked through travelocity or expedia, and they have been great about notifying me of changes. I wish I would have known about the option to be notified by nwa in the first place. Thanks again for your help.

 

[JoyG]

Yes! Definitely confirm your flights! You don't want to do what I did, I booked online with SW at spring break and reversed the drop down cities. My flight down was really a flight home and my scheduled flight home was really a flight down! Ugh! At the last minute SW was able to squeeze us on different flights but right up until departure we were scared we'd have to end up driving!