reminder/warning--airlines change flights w/o notice!

[Took]

Several weeks ago, I reserved flights for DD and myself on Airtran. We had a non-stop at 6:30pm in a city that's 45 miles away (at a great rate)!

Today, I just happened to check Airtran's website, looking to see if they might have an earlier flight that we could fly stand-by on. I noticed that there was no 6:30pm flight anymore and then checked our reservations. Sure enough, we'd been moved to a different flight without any notification. Our new flight had a stopover in Atlanta, left an our earlier (at 5:30pm) and arrived over an hour later. We had not been notified of any of these changes even though Airtran clearly has our email addresses on our reservations and we get frequent emails from Airtran on sale fares, etc.

The story has a relatively happy ending. I called Airtran, politely complained about not being notified and asked if my dd and I could be moved to an earlier flight at no charge since the change was not our fault. They said "yes" and we have a somewhat better situation now.

However, the point is check your reservations from time to time! Airlines do have the right to change your flight and they may not notify you of these changes (or, perhaps not until the last minute). Don't assume the flight you purchase will be the same one you keep.

Took

 

[emsamom]

I ran into the same problem w/ NW. I had a nonstop booked from Flint to MCO and when I checked the website 2 weeks later-my flight was cancelled and I was on a flight that made one stop. I also called NW and politely complained and I was able to get a nonstop (although I now leave Flint a day earlier than planned!). I had to be flexible with my date so I just booked a night at POR before we check into OKW.

 

[DisneyaholicRaquel]

With Air Tran it happens a lot. I booked my flight from Orlando to Flint back in January for travel July 12. The original time to depart was 5:20 pm and arrive in flint around 7:52 pm. In February I checked it and the flight changed to depart @ 6:20 and arrive an hour later. March I checked again and it was changed again to depart 7:55 pm. Today I go in and it has changed to depart @ 7:20. So, I don't know what the final outcome will be. I will just keep checking. I need this information to inform the town car company. I hate to wait to the last minute and change the time for pick up. Air Tran changed it last year also but only by a few minutes (and NO I didn't receive an email)!

 

[DVC-Don]

SW does not change flight times once they are announced.

 

[DebbieB]

I noticed on the schedule 2 or 3 weeks ago that our Air Tran flight on 5/7 PIT/MCO was changed from 11:03 to 12:53. I'm waiting to see how long it is before they notify me.

 

[simzac]

Just another reason to fly SW as this never happens on this airline.

 

[ribbot]

I am very happy with AirTran---I booked back in Oct for this April to Orlando and they called me last week letting me know the flight times had changed. I asked them to email me the change and they did that also.

The change gets us there earlier (by a 1/2 hour) but home earlier (by an hour) which we are happy about.

I've never flown with them, but so far I'm very happy with their organization. Plus I was thrilled to get such a bargain and non stop flights too!

 

[NJDisneymom]

My parents are flying Spirit and were just notified that their 10am return flight is now 6pm at night. I personally would love this change, but they are older and do not like having to drive 1.5 hrs. home from the airport at 9pm now.
Fortunately it was before they bought their park tickets so they got 6 day pass instead of a 5 day for just a few dollars difference.

 

[BigTigger]

Just another reason to fly SW as this never happens on this airline.

Not quite true, but the change to my upcoming PVD to MCO flight on SWA was due to MCO arrival slot changes that affected all airlines. It's only an 8 minute change on the arrival time, so it's not the big change noted in some of the other posts above.

 

[Pinnie]

Everytime I read about these changes, it makes me so glad that the majority of my flights are on SWA!

pinnie

 

[Took]

Unfortunately, living in central Illinois, I'm 2-3 hours away from the nearest SW flights. Airtran is less than an hour away and they're inexpensive--so they get my business. It's really not the change that bothers me but the fact that they didn't contact me! Guess the moral is that unless you're on SW, you need to check your flight times periodically.

took

 

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

lives in central illinios too. Are you flying out of bmi. we are the last week in may

 

[sixcats]

Also remember to check your seat assignments when there is a flight change. Our song flight arrival time was changed by just a few minutes but I had to have our seats reassigned.

 

[lsteadman]

Keep share the good information....need to check my seats now.

 

[Savin4Disney]

Happened to me on my Nov. Midwest Express flight.

Departing 5 min later on Arrival Date

Departing 40 min later on Departing day So I get more time in Disney.

I found out by looking online..and then I called and she said if that does not work we can refund your money. HA more time in Disney works for me!

 

[DebbieB]

4/5/05 - I noticed on the schedule 2 or 3 weeks ago that our Air Tran flight on 5/7 PIT/MCO was changed from 11:03 to 12:53. I'm waiting to see how long it is before they notify me.

They finally called yesterday, 11 days before the flight!

 

[ribbot]

I just got back last night flying Airtran from Pitts--LOVED IT! They were friendly, ontime (actually early going there), the plane was clean, service was good and I'd DEFINITELY fly with them again. I was able to pick my own seats 24 hours in advance (even had ASMo do it for me at the desk 24 hours before I was coming back home) and printed out my boarding passes.

No problems at all---and the best part was all 3 of us flew for $470.

LOVE THEM LOVE THEM LOVE THEM!

 

[cdrn1]

SW does not change flight times once they are announced.

Actually, I had a nonstop SW flight out of Indy with a return nonstop out of Orlando a while back, and they changed the return flight time from 5:30 nonstop to a 2:30 with a stopover in BALTIMORE!!! Instead a couple hours it turned in to 8 hours.

 

[WDWsnooper]

When we were flying, my husband called the airline to see if the plane take off time was still on time. Yes, it was. (Note: Husband is a pilot...I figured he'd handle this stuff ) We got to the airport and were dropped off to check in while my inlaws went to park the car. My infant son was with them, they'd park and come into the airport to return my son and say bye.

We checked in, YOWSER!! The plane was already boarding! Inlaws arrived and passed the baby like a smooth football play, we took off for security and got there with no time to spare. I never want to do that again!

The time had changed, but the question asked was "Is the plane still on time?" We've learned to call and confirm actual times.

 

[LoraJ]

this happened to me about 12 years ago. I think it was the first time I had booked a flight online. They ccancelled teh flight and put me on an earlier one. They didn't call, but they sent me an email. But I think I may have accidently deleted that email. I ended up missing the flight. I got to the airport int ime for the one they had me on, but the person who checked me in didn't write the new flight number on the boarding pass or whatever it was I had. I went and got something to eat and still didn't see my flight on the board. Went back to the counter and they said I had missed the flight. WHAT?! it would have been nice if they had actually CALLED me about the change in flights. The internet wasn't as easy to use back then. I couldn't get another flight until the next morning.

Now I always check and re-check.