Sept 17 2005 Magic - am i alone on the ship?

[jmcdonnell04]

Good Evening to All,

Delta called this evening via computer to let me know that my flight # on September 16th had changed from Cincy to Nashville and Nashville to Orlando. The problem is that my reservations were for a direct flight from Cincy to Orlando. Delta cancelled my 7 pm direct flight and put us on the non-direct Nashville route. So much for saving my frequent fliers for 5 years only to get cancelled. Already taking the kids out of school for an entire week so I do not want them to miss the Friday before as well. I changed to a 6 pm departure and now going thru Atlanta so we will get to MCO around 10 pm. I know Atlanta is bigger and busier but it also represents more flights to Orlando if there are any problems Friday night or Saturday morning. I can also rent a car and drive 9-10 hours if I have to catch the boat.

Sorry to be so long winded but this is reminding me of the hours spent on the phone with Delta changing flights from our last shortened cruise in Sept 2004 due to Hurricane Frances. No more changes please.............except for cabin upgrade.

Good night

 

[donaldsgal]

Lorra,

I'm not sure if they'll budge, but at least they now WHY they've lost a customer to the competition. When I've written letters to companies like local car dealerships with multiple sites (not as big as an airline), I get a letter AND a personal "I'm sorry about your bad experience. What can we do to make it better?" call. So I'm thinking that might work with this too. Of course, I've heard awful things about US Airways so maybe they just don't care anymore. But with airlines raising prices, I think they have to keep their customers any way they can. I have no proof that this will work, but I'd give it a shot. The other thing I'd do is report them to the Better Business Bureau. You can't report the whole company, but you can report their local office. What have you got to lose? I hope it works, but if not, you've only wasted .37 cents.

Did your daughter mean to log you off? My sister/roommate catches the brunt of my anger (like tonight) when I'm grumpy or upset. Hopefully you guys can patch things up!

Keep us posted on your US Airways saga. Tammy survived her TA fiasco; hopefully this will work out for you in saving money too!

 

[donaldsgal]

John,

Gosh, all kinds of airline problems tonight! I certainly hope this doesn't happen to us the next morning (out of Columbus). We have the time to make the change (6 AM departure), but I really want to get to the port asap.

I'm sorry you had problems too! No way around it? Do they "reserve the right" to change flights whenever they want to? I wish companies could make and keep these things set!

Good luck, John.

 

[shmora]

Thank you! I have decided to write them a letter just to get it off my chest. My blood is boiling and I need to at least tell them how I feel and let them know how their company employees are treating their customers. There are 98.00 specials all over the internet right now, I guess I should have waited a little longer to book our flights. I just was afraid we would be paying out the nose if we waited too long. I'm still new at this, last year was the first time any of us flew so we are newbies.

Lorra

P.S. Can they just change you to a new flight John?

 

[tracyl921]

Lorra,

I have no idea where in PA you are; however, I live in southern NJ and was able to book cheap airfare through southwest out of philly. I'm wondering if you're near the Lehigh Valley Airport. There are a bunch of airlines that fly into either Orlando or the nearby Sanford Airport, maybe you could check the prices on those. USAirways has been pretty expensive and the employees have had so many problems at Philly with strikes and baggage delays which is why I won't book with them anymore. Maybe you could look at it as a blessing in disguise! Good luck with the fare hunt and let me know if I can help you at all (they call me "the travel agent" in our church).

 

[Tammy1]

I really thought I had them when I talked to the superviser but it all slipped away at the end. I could have choked my daughter for taking that price off my screen. I think he would have budged then but I lost the price when she logged me off. Do you think writing will do anything? Do big corporations budge with small people like us?

Lorra

Lorra, yes I do why would they want to loose a possible life long customer over a few pennies (to them). Word of mouth goes a long way, especially in this trying time for airlines. Like Jenny said I would wirte a letter, write more than one. Use logic, common sense and then show frustration. They will respond

 

[jennat]

Lorra, Sorry about the frustration. I would call back and go as high in the chain as I could as sweetly as I could. I would do it under the pretense that it started out about the lower fare but now it is about the fact that the manager said he could take care of you then basically said scr*w you. I would ask if this is the type of customer service they want representing them to the world, negative word spreads fast...etc. I would ask why they spend money on expensive commercails when one unhappy customer can touch as many people. I don't think it will hurt at all to write a letter but I like the more hands on approach. I wrote Princess a letter last year, not because of the hurricane but because of the incredibly bad, rude, you cannot even imagine service we received on board. I specifically did not mention the hurricane except to say I understand that those things happen and it was NOT about that. They sent me the same "hurricane" letter that everyone else got. Never once addressing my issues. I can't say I will never cruise Princess again, because they have a good reputation and if a good enough price comes along...I'm weak, but they have left a nasty taste in a BIG MOUTH. NOT good for business. I hope it all works out for you.
John, Yuck! I hate it when they do that. And they do it a lot! You were getting in at 9:30, right? So it is still about the same time. Do you have to travel all day? It is just the rigamaroll that is irritating!
Good luck all!

 

[rotary2808]

Skycon, what part of the Florida Gulf are you living in?

Lorra, sorry to hear about your problems with the airline. They should have given you the price without questions.

John, I understand the frustration with Delta. We were originally flying out Sat. morning at 5 am. It was from Huntsville to Atlanta to Orlando. Delta canceled that flight. Now we're flying out of Huntsville direct at 6:45 pm and get there around 9 pm and staying near the airport that night. I think it will work out better in the long run, but still frustrating.

Later everyone,
Emily

 

[Tammy1]

John, hate to hear your experiencing that..not the way you want to begin your vacation

Jen, or anyone what is the story with pillowcase signing?? My DGS would love that. ..is there a specific pillowcase that you bring?? Maybe a disney one? Or does it need to be plain for the signatures? Can you give any info to this old gal???

 

[baward]

HI all, just checking in. Not much here, today is my Friday. 4 day weekend here I come.

John- Delta pulled the same crap with us last year. Direct flight to/from. Then 3 weeks prior changed to 1 stop in Atlanta on both legs. Kind of frustrating.

Donna-ditto on the other comments. Thanks to your husband (& you) for your service.

I'm gone for now, talk to ya'll later.

BRAD

 

[jennat]

I am totally laughing....Here we are all these woman, like little hens...chat chat chatting, everyday, day in and day out and our dis men, ever present and silent, watching over us, popping in every now and then to say hi or offer a word of support or comfort. It is like real life! Always good to hear from you!
Brad, Have a great four day vaca....enjoy Holiday World....can't be bad,it's named after a holiday!
The story with the pillowcases.....you take a pillowcase and a bunch of different colored sharpies and put them in a ziplock bag and drop them off at customer desk and at the end of the cruise they will deliver them signed by the characters.....or Jennifer's(my) version, you sign them yourself (because not to burst your bubble but Cinderella....really Muffy from MSU on college break) and put them on the kids pillowcases the first night when they are not looking. Boy, I'm a little bit of a Magic killer aren't I. Someone send pixie dust...quick! I was just laughing at this whole thing when I saw a bunch of adults really wanting one of the pillowcases...people!
Shmora, We need our resident lawyer to weigh in on the correct terminology for the airlines. Wendy....I know you are out there!

 

[Tammy1]

OK...call me a GRANNY!!! Anywho I do get the pillowcase issue....as a matter of fact might be more fun to have this done in advance either to surprise on board or to lay out on the bed for his return to home.

Another question, I know you have answered in the past but I kept going over our pages and GOLLY we do talk alot! Who was it that would do up a basket and take to DCL there in Port Can???

Brad, always glad to see you pop in...have a GREAT L...O...N....G weekend!!! Trying to get my DH to start posting, he has starting reading them so maybe... I know seeing other male's post makes him know you guys are out there

Have a good one

 

[4kidsandadog]

Popping in to say I'm still alive. Today is day 1 of 9 days with no dh. He left this morning for the national AANA (American Association of Nurse Anesthetists) conference in Washington, DC.

While we're sharing airline stories, when I booked our flights, I had to choose between an early (6:30ish) flight or a slightly later (8:30ish) flight. Being that the airport is an hour and a half or so away, I chose the later flight. Less than one week later, we got an email saying our flight was changed to the earlier flight. Geez, if I'd *wanted* that flight, I'd have booked that flight! Now we are driving down the night before and staying in a hotel. We do not want to have to get up at 3 to go to the airport.

Just 3 weeks till we get to go see "Wicked" (the musical) down in San Francisco. We bought center orchestra seats to celebrate our 19th anniversary on the 16th (not getting to go until the 23rd). We've heard good things about it and are really looking forward to it.

Karen

 

[jennat]

Here it is http://www.theperfectgift.cc/
I would love to do something for the kids but I don't want a lot of frivilous junk. Anyone have any ideas? I need to call Shirley. Once again, my kids are 9 boy and 6 girl.

 

[4kidsandadog]

Jen, I'd love to do something like that too, but I'm like you... I don't want "junk". We certainly don't need snack items; there's enough stuff to eat on the ship. We have autograph books galore from previous Disney trips. How many Mickey autographs does a person need?

Sorry I don't have any fabulous ideas for you...

Karen

 

[Tammy1]

Here it is http://www.theperfectgift.cc/
I would love to do something for the kids but I don't want a lot of frivilous junk. Anyone have any ideas? I need to call Shirley. Once again, my kids are 9 boy and 6 girl.

Thanks again Jen for the web site.
I'm more new at this than you so the only sugestions I could give you is goodie bags with the things you know they could use or like...arcade cards, sun glasses, pool/excursion items, jewelry for you DD?? Action figues for your DS, or down time things to help them calm down before bed??? You probably know or have already done these so sorry can't be of more help..

Knowing you...you will figure out some GREAT gifts!!!

 

[skycon]

Skycon, what part of the Florida Gulf are you living in?

Later everyone,
Emily

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Hi Emily, I am from the Clearwater, Palm Harbor area. Moved here the end of March. I love it very much. It is hot but you really get acustomed to it. It was hot and humid in Va Beach VA too. Oh well.

 

[Tammy1]

Well, looked at the web site and even though she has great ones....Problem is DGS already has a Pal Mickey that he's taking on board. (Cannot leave Pal Mickey!!) I can take the snacks if needed, we're celebrating his 4 th Birthday while on board so I think I'll end up doing the streamers and cake with DCL. Sneak the other stuff in before he goes inside of cabin. Pool/beach items coloring/sticker books and of course action figures of Peter Pan and Captain Hook.
Also going to take goodie bags for the older ones, chap stick, books, snacks, if I can't come up with anything else I'll just give them a little suprise cash. DH keeps telling me...your going to need an extra suitcase just for cabin gifts. Well...I said that will just give us plenty of room for souvenirs on returning home

But this is our first DC and he's only four once and I'm a Grandma-ma so I guess....I'm allowed

 

[Tia]

Karen, Your husband is a nurse-anesthetist? Mine is too. Unfortunately he has not been able to get to any of the conferences so when he gets back he has to catch up on that as well. We are hoping to combine some of them with some mini-vacations!
My ds made his official cruise calendar count-down this morning, needless to say we are excited!-Donna

 

[4kidsandadog]

Donna,

That is too wild! I will be sure to tell my husband when he calls that there will be another military CRNA on board. How long has he been gone? We got lucky in that my husband's 2 deployments were short. One pre 9/11 one was to Kuwait for 2 months and the other post 9/11 was to Oman for 3.

Is your son a young 10 or an old? My oldest boy will be 10 at the end of the year.

Karen