So much for plan B

[Aliceacc]

We leave for WDW on 7/29. I booked our flights in January, after watching the flights for weeks. I jumped on the day when each of our 5 tickets went down by $50; they were back up the next day.

In order to get the times I wanted, I have us leaving from LaGuardia and returning to JFK. Under normal circumstances, JFK is about half an hour closer, but for the times and prices, it was a no brainer.

Fast forward to July. It's looking more and more likely that the Long Island Rail Road will strike on 7/20. That will pour thousands of commuters on to the very same roads between Long Island and NYC that I'll need to be on to get to LaGuardia.

New flights have since opened up from JFK. I just called Jetblue to ask about changing to an early morning flight out of JFK.

No luck. It would involve a change fee of $100 per ticket. Even if we wait until midnight the day before our flight, the fee only goes down to $50--times 5 tickets --and I would have a heart attack trying to make that happen at the very last minute. It's no accident that I booked the flight 7 months out.

Ah, well, it was worth a shot. Instead, we'll just plan to leave a lot earlier and save all that money. We've booked a ride; I'll wait to see what happens with the strike and call them if necessary to get us on the road a lot earlier. We can always have breakfast at the airport.

For what it's worth, the exact flights that cost us $1220 when we booked in January are now up to a total of $2775.

 

[seashoreCM]

Any budget motels with airport shuttles near Laguardia? You could go there the night before and stay over and reduce anxiety.

 

[Aliceacc]

Honestly, it's not that far. In normal traffic, JFK would be 20 minutes away, and LaGuardia about 45 or 50.

So even if it takes us an hour and a half to get to the airport, it's not a real issue.

I just thought I would give it a shot. Had it been $10 or $20 a ticket to change (to a less expensive flight, opening up seats on the more expensive flight) I would have considered it.

Ah well, more time to bond and talk about our trip enroute to the airport

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Honestly, it's not that far. In normal traffic, JFK would be 20 minutes away, and LaGuardia about 45 or 50.

So even if it takes us an hour and a half to get to the airport, it's not a real issue.

I just thought I would give it a shot. Had it been $10 or $20 a ticket to change (to a less expensive flight, opening up seats on the more expensive flight) I would have considered it.

Ah well, more time to bond and talk about our trip enroute to the airport

Let's hope they don't strike.... not sure where you are on LI or what time your flight is....I'm at exit 61 right off the LIE about 47 miles away..in normal rush hour traffic leaving at 7am...it usually takes me an hour and a half to pass LGA on my way into the city

 

[JimboCh]

We leave for WDW on 7/29. I booked our flights in January, after watching the flights for weeks. I jumped on the day when each of our 5 tickets went down by $50; they were back up the next day.

In order to get the times I wanted, I have us leaving from LaGuardia and returning to JFK. Under normal circumstances, JFK is about half an hour closer, but for the times and prices, it was a no brainer.

Fast forward to July. It's looking more and more likely that the Long Island Rail Road will strike on 7/20. That will pour thousands of commuters on to the very same roads between Long Island and NYC that I'll need to be on to get to LaGuardia.

New flights have since opened up from JFK. I just called Jetblue to ask about changing to an early morning flight out of JFK.

No luck. It would involve a change fee of $100 per ticket. Even if we wait until midnight the day before our flight, the fee only goes down to $50--times 5 tickets --and I would have a heart attack trying to make that happen at the very last minute. It's no accident that I booked the flight 7 months out.

Ah, well, it was worth a shot. Instead, we'll just plan to leave a lot earlier and save all that money. We've booked a ride; I'll wait to see what happens with the strike and call them if necessary to get us on the road a lot earlier. We can always have breakfast at the airport.

For what it's worth, the exact flights that cost us $1220 when we booked in January are now up to a total of $2775.

Call again,never know getting a different agent may get a different result. Tell them about the train situation........who knows may be alot more seats available on the plane you want to switch too and the one you have booked may be over booked meaning they would be asking for volunteers anyway to change flights.

 

[Aliceacc]

Call again,never know getting a different agent may get a different result. Tell them about the train situation........who knows may be alot more seats available on the plane you want to switch too and the one you have booked may be over booked meaning they would be asking for volunteers anyway to change flights.

Good point. Maybe I'll try again on Monday, then wait and see whether they actually do strike if I don't get an answer I like.

We're in Hicksville, and have a 9:30 am flight. We could take one at 8:30 or one at 9:30 out of JFK.

 

[JimboCh]

Good point. Maybe I'll try again on Monday, then wait and see whether they actually do strike if I don't get an answer I like.

We're in Hicksville, and have a 9:30 am flight. We could take one at 8:30 or one at 9:30 out of JFK.

I know the 12 Noon flight from JFK would put you into MCO 2 and half hours later but that flight has a ton of seats still available. May be an option for you.

 

[Sadie22]

Would a rail strike really last more than a couple hours?

 

[Aliceacc]

Would a rail strike really last more than a couple hours?

Past LIRR strikes have lasted much longer than that: (from Wikipedia)
"The strike began at 3:00 a.m. EST on December 20, 2005. ...The strike officially ended at 2:35 p.m. EST on December 22, 2005. Service was restored overnight, with all transportation systems fully operational by the morning commute of the 23rd.[1]

This was the third strike ever against New York City's Transit Authority. The first was a 12-day walkout in 1966 which prompted the creation of New York's Taylor Law. The second was the 11-day 1980 strike. "


I'm probably making a lot more of this than I need to. If they won't switch my flights for practically nothing, we'll just get out of bed earlier and spend more time in traffic. Not really an issue, just something I usually try to avoid.

I just thought I found an easy way around it, and was disappointed to find that my fix would cost $500.