Surprise, Surprise Airtran changed my flight

[emmababy]

We are returning home on December 2nd. Booked this flight in April. Our original time was at 3:30 on a nonstop- getting home at 5:45. Now we are on a 6:55 flight not landing until after 9:00. We have 2 little kids- 3 and 1. This is waaayy past there bedtime and I am afraid it will be miserable.

This is the only nonstop flight of the day now. What are our options? Either take a connecting flight- which I don't really want to do. Is there any chance they will add another nonstop back in to their schedule?? Any way to get a credit or discount?

 

[brp]

Airlines change schedules frequently. The further out one books, the more likely a change. I can't speak for Airtran, but I know that AA are pretty good at working with people in these cases and giving them different flights, if there's availability, It helps to have some options to present them-on Airtran,of course, as they're unlikely to put you on a different carrier.

Credits or discounts are unlikely.

Cheers.

 

[crashbb]

That's a pretty significant change. It should be enough to get you a full refund. This only helps, however, if you can find flights on another airline that has flights you want at a price you are willing to pay.

 

[rhiansmom]

I have been watching Airtran pretty close since we are flying it for the first time in November and I have yet to see them add a flight but they are sure good at changing.

I had to call today to ask about our moved flight... was told their policy was if the flight changed they could put you on any flight with seats that same day or any other day 7 days before or after the original flight date OR get a full refund.

 

[DebbieB]

I would stick with the non-stop. Connections can be a pain, especially if your first flight is delayed. If you do take a connection, be sure it's early enough in the day in case of problems. I would give it a couple days, sometimes they make additional adjustments to the schedule.

 

[ontariomonkey]

My Airtran flight time was changed by only 45 mins but they let me cancel with a full refund (but I lost some $ in the currency exchange, doh!). So if there is a flight on another airline that would work for you; time and pricewise, you could rebook on that instead. I happen to think that a direct flight that gets in later is more valuable then an earlier one that has a connection even if the kids end up a bit crankier. Also, if the flight leaves a bit later, that makes your vacation a bit longer, bonus

 

[encinc]

The same thing happened to us, only we're flying Jetblue. I'm not sure what to do. Airtran has a flight that would suit our needs better, but we're not going until December, and I'm afraid that they will change the schedule again, and it won't be worth making the change. My experience has been that Airtran is pretty good about giving a refund or putting you on another of their flights if that's what you want. Just keep in mind that the new schedule isn't set in stone either.

 

[dotcomguy]

Now we are on a 6:55 flight not landing until after 9:00. We have 2 little kids- 3 and 1. This is waaayy past there bedtime and I am afraid it will be miserable.

Your new flight would be perfect for our girls. They were 4mo, 21mo, and 3 1/2 when we went in December. They're all asleep by 7pm so by the time the plane leveled off they were ready to sleep (except for the oldest, she colored the whole time). I kept the middle one in an ergo http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/ and my wife had the youngest breast feeding or in the infant carrier sleeping next to her.

We try to schedule our flights for bed or nap time so they'll sleep. The key for us is not letting them think we're worried. Ours are like dogs and can sense fear. As long as we don't act worried, they're fine.

Have a great trip!

 

[emmababy]

Thanks for all your tips. Because we are going down the day before Thanksgiving- I don't think we will find anything cheaper now. I think my sis is going to cancel hers, but we will keep ours. It is nice that we will be in the parks for a full extra day.

I don't want to change to a connecting flight, because they connect in DC or Atlanta- no thanks!

What stinks is that we won't get home until after 11:00 and have to work the next day, oh well!

 

[crashbb]

Thanks for all your tips. Because we are going down the day before Thanksgiving- I don't think we will find anything cheaper now. I think my sis is going to cancel hers, but we will keep ours. It is nice that we will be in the parks for a full extra day.

I don't want to change to a connecting flight, because they connect in DC or Atlanta- no thanks!

What stinks is that we won't get home until after 11:00 and have to work the next day, oh well!

Keep watching the schedules. In the, unlikely, event that a new non-stop shows up, call and ask to be moved to it.

Good luck.

 

[DVCBELLE]

Thanks for all your tips. Because we are going down the day before Thanksgiving- I don't think we will find anything cheaper now. I think my sis is going to cancel hers, but we will keep ours. It is nice that we will be in the parks for a full extra day.

I don't want to change to a connecting flight, because they connect in DC or Atlanta- no thanks!

What stinks is that we won't get home until after 11:00 and have to work the next day, oh well!

I bet you are in and out of Dayton. I am on the same flight the day before and the same thing happened.

We debated b/c our kids have to go to school the next day. But in the end decided that it would be better than having a layover.

There is a non-stop into Indy that day at 3:42 PM - 5:56 PM. And they have a lot of non-stop options down the day before Thanksgiving. Rates are ridiculously low so if you do that you might want to ask them to just cancel your flights and rebook using the $25 off coupons each way and go through Kayak. Sometimes they let you switch airports and sometimes they don't.

Columbus also has good rates and non-stops. Just not as many options.

 

[emmababy]

I bet you are in and out of Dayton. I am on the same flight the day before and the same thing happened.

We debated b/c our kids have to go to school the next day. But in the end decided that it would be better than having a layover.

There is a non-stop into Indy that day at 3:42 PM - 5:56 PM. And they have a lot of non-stop options down the day before Thanksgiving. Rates are ridiculously low so if you do that you might want to ask them to just cancel your flights and rebook using the $25 off coupons each way and go through Kayak. Sometimes they let you switch airports and sometimes they don't.

Columbus also has good rates and non-stops. Just not as many options.

Yeah, we are flying in and out of Dayton. I really hope this flight doesn't get delayed the day of, because that will be a super late night!! I thought about switching to Indy- but that is a 2 hour drive- so by the time we get home it would be 9:00 anyways. I would rather stay in Dayton and spend some extra time at the mouse! Just seems odd that the only nonstop of the day that they keep is the latest flight of the day.