Should I Be Worried - Airtran Flight through Hotwire not on Airtran Site?

[DutchsMommy]

I booked a non-stop flight on Airtran via Hotwire for Dec 13th and have been keeping an eye on the price via the Airtran site. So, today I go to check and my flight is not showing up at all on the Airtran listing of all available flights? They only have 1 non-stop a day and I have the flight number and everything. My flight down to FL is showing up but not the flight back? Should I be worried here....

 

[DutchsMommy]

Son of a $%#$ - looks like my return flight is now no longer non-stop and I have a 4 hour layover in Georgia. I am ticked. This is my first experience with hotwire - I usually book directly with the airline. I checked SWA and of course they have non-stop both ways and the price is even cheaper now. I dont think there is anything that can be done according to the policy on the hotwire website. I guess I will try and call tomorrow and see if there is anything they can do. I would never book anything other than a non-stop and this just sucks.

 

[quirty30]

I believe Hotwire only guarantees 0-1 stops....at least this is my recollection from a few years ago, and the reason I won't book airfare on Hotwire. Any layover is one too many for me. Do you recall when you booked if it mentioned 0-1 stops? If so, I'm sorry to say, but you probably don't have any recourse.

 

[dioxide45]

This is why booking directly with AirTran would be better. You could call up AirTran and get moved to a different flight that works better. In this case you could perhaps be eligible for a full refund and rebook on a different carrier.

 

[DutchsMommy]

Yup - lesson learned. Never again. I did not in particular see that information on the Hotwire site. I would not say it is prominent. Regardless, I will try and call and see what happens.

 

[DutchsMommy]

Fewh - Disaster Averted!

Both Airtran and Hotwire were very accomodating. There is no direct flight on my return date, but there is one the day before. Hotwire did need to make the change (Airtran could not do it directly) but Hotwire made the change while I was on the phone and I now have a direct flight home. The only bad thing is I lose 1 day in Florida. BUT, it's better than hanging out in the Atlanta airport for 5 hours (although others on this board may diagree LOL).

 

[dudspizza]

Fewh - Disaster Averted!

Both Airtran and Hotwire were very accomodating. There is no direct flight on my return date, but there is one the day before. Hotwire did need to make the change (Airtran could not do it directly) but Hotwire made the change while I was on the phone and I now have a direct flight home. The only bad thing is I lose 1 day in Florida. BUT, it's better than hanging out in the Atlanta airport for 5 hours (although others on this board may diagree LOL).

I'll be one that disagrees. I would never give up a day of my vacation just to avoid a layover. But that is just me.

Also, watch your flights. You still have 1.5 months to go and things could change again...

Have fun.

Duds

 

[Dan Murphy]

......I now have a direct flight home...

Don't forget, a direct flight is not a non-stop. It usually means a stop, but not a change of plane.

http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/difference-nonstop-direct-flights.html?id=336285

 

[dudspizza]

Don't forget, a direct flight is not a non-stop. It usually means a stop, but not a change of plane.

http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/difference-nonstop-direct-flights.html?id=336285

Yep. Usually people use the terms to mean the same thing. I am sure OP meant non-stop, but if Airtran states it is a direct flight, then it is a flight with a stop, but no plane change. Southwest is probably the airline that has the most "direct" flights.

Duds

 

[JennSaint]

There were no other flights with a shorter layover you could have switched to? I would never give up a vacation day!!