Venting about Frontier Airlines cancelled flight!

[abitjaded]

We are in Denver. When we fly to Orlando we have always had two options. An outrageous price for a direct United flight or the long day of changing planes on Delta or United to save money. So...Frontier has had two direct early A.M. flights, and when the price went down, we jumped. Booked July 10-15 for a conference. Got a good rate at the Dolphin, teacher's discount.

So...Friday Frontier calls, they have cancelled the early flight and moved us to the later! Is that O.K.???? I think not. Instead of getting in and registering, DH going to the first eve of the conference at the Dolphin, kids and I hitting the pool or a water park and an evening at MK then making our California Grill P.S., we now get in at 8:00 P.M. I'm so frustrated I could spit. A day of entry fees down the tubes. So now we have gotten Frontier to move us to July 9, think the cheapskates will pay for another nights hotel??? Nah. Anyone know a cheap hotel?

Beware Denverites, United and Frontier get you coming and going.

 

[CAP Aircrew]

Can't help you on a "cheap" hotel and can only offer condolences on the cancelled flight. Unfortunately that is the risk one takes when a flight is booked a good distance in advance. Airlines are constantly revamping their schedules and any schedule is always subject to change.

I've never flown on Frontier and actually do most of my flying on United. United too has made changes from the time I booked until the time I've flown however the changes were never a big inconvience because they only seem to alter by a few minutes or so.

It seems that the LCLF (Low Cost Low Fair) carriers like Frontier are the ones who make more drastic changes.

 

[abitjaded]

The funny thing is, Frontier's direct flights from Denver are priced right on par with United's. It was not even price, at least when we booked, that was the deciding factor. Now the United direct is not available for anywhere near a reasonable amount of money, gee, think Frontier knew that? We were just trying to escape United, always afraid they will declare Chapter 11 the day we want to fly! Not to mention the surley attitude of the United Denver based teams. Delta, even though they have cancelled, rearranged flights on us, albeit by just a few minutes, or once, hours, is at least polite when they do it. Finally Denver has a direct to Orlando choice and they are blowing it. There is even more to the story, we wanted to take the early morning flight so we did not have to fly out the 9th, because we have relatives visiting who don't leave until later the 10th. Vent, vent, what a mess.

Carla

 

[CarolA]

You can call the airline and request a refund. They don't have to put you on a different airline, but if you can get a decent fare on one of the others, then this might work.

 

[Chicago526]

"The only thing guaranteed in travel is that everything is subject to change". They told me that the first day of little travel agents school!

I completely understand your frustration. But ALL airlines do this at some point or another. All they are required to do is find you a differant flight using their own flights, or offer a full refund if you don't like the flights they have. They don't have to pay for a hotel if you choose to change your dates or refund un-used parts of your trip that you miss due to the delay. It sucks, but that's the way it is.

If it were me, I'd fly out on the 9th. You should be able to find a cheap(ish) hotel right by the Orlando Airport (Fairfield Inn is showing $65 plus tax in my computer system) so you don't lose a day of your vacation/convention. You'll miss the end of your guests visit, but I'm sure they'll understand.

Try to look at the bright side, you'll have that much more time on vacation!

 

[hightown]

Carla, As you can I fly out of Denver too. As others said, they all cancel and change flight times although Frontier was a little more reliable (I felt) until the started adding so many new routes and taking planes off other routes. I have flown Frontier for last 3 trips and have been pleased. The staff attitude is very refreshing from United.

This trip in November, I hadn't planned on booking so early but on 5/29 saw a great United (ted) fare for 217 round trip, non stop decent times. Booked it. On 6/7 went into their website and the return MCO to DEN was GONE. It was to have left at 11:30am. Called and of course they put us on 8:30 AM flight out. Got on the phone and they changed us to 2:45 ns back to Denver. But I fully expect them to change times or cancel flights several times between now and then.

Another year with United we had to do what you are and go out a day early too. I was glad however. It costs us more for hotel and all but just glad for the extra time at WDW.

If there are any other sales going on you could probably force Frontier to give you a refund. Check tomorrow. Tuesday is sometimes good for fare sales.

Sorry can't help more but I do feel your pain...

Sharon

 

[paladin]

" always afraid they will declare Chapter 11 the day we want to fly!"

FYI, United has been in Chapter 11 since December, 2002. They were supposed to come out of it this summer, but just recently announced that they need some more time.

 

[javaj]

You can try priceline for getting a cheaper hotel for that first night. Good luck!

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by abitjaded
...We were just trying to escape United, always afraid they will declare Chapter 11 the day we want to fly!...

Just to note, United is still in Chapter 11, and seem to be having trouble climbing out of it They are looking for a sweetheart govt loan guarantee before coming out.

As for a cheap hotel, this might be a chance for you to try Pop Century for the overnight, then have Disney transfer your bags over to the Dolphin; I know it works the other way around, check to see if they'll do it. If you can, then you won't waste too much time transferring stuff around. Good luck! Sounds pretty frustrating.

 

[abitjaded]

Thanks all, I just really was venting. We have had flights rescheduled many times, but this was the worst. Plus I wanted to give Frontier a try. We tried to reschedule on another airline, Frontier had offered a refund, but it was too little, too late. United is now sky high in price. We did get a hotel via Dreams Unlimited, thanks to the postings on the hotel board. $53.29 total for the Rodeway Inn on Arlo Bronson. Now what to do with 270,000 FFM on United that we can never apply to anywhere we want to go. Spent weeks trying almost daily trying to get those 331 day in advance to Hawaii, or Orlando or Ireland or anywhere in Europe...... I hate to give up and use them for Ohio!

Thanks, Pumpkinboy et al., I mis-wrote about the Chapter 11, United's problems are legion here. We have friends who are retirees struggling with United's back-tracking on promises.

We had stayed at the POP in January with the whole extended family, this was supposed to be an EASY get-away for the core-nuclear unit without wheelchairs, bad hips, bad attitudes, carry-ons full of drugs, constant communication by cell and walkie-talkie and angina! (Dig up my trip reports in the Cruise reports for a blow-by-blow.) The value resorts price above the quoted Rodeway rate, and we do have a rental car, which also had to be re-booked.

Our "easy" trip is turning into our standard "Nitwits on Vacation" scenario. The powers that be just never seem to flow with us. Anyone read "12,000 Miles in the Nick of Time" by Mark Jacobson? He sub-titles it " A Semi-Dysfunctional Family Circumnavigates the Globe". That is us. But hey, we can't even circumnavigate the WORLD SHOWCASE without being semi-dysfunctional.

Carla

 

[NotUrsula]

We always Priceline something in Downtown Disney when we are arriving late, which we do about 9 times out of 10. We can usually get something for around $40.

I pack one carryon as an overnight bag, and leave everything else in the rental car until we move to the Swan in the morning. We go over first thing, drop the bags with bell services, and head straight for the EMH park of the day. We don't usually bother to check in until we come back for our midday break.

 

[abitjaded]

Tried Priceline, but only got a low rate if I included the airport area for our date. Plus, it gives me the willies that they only guarantee a room with one bed, and if the room was a smoker my DH would never let me hear the end of it, so we went for a sure thing. I am curious, how much luck have those who do Priceline had if your group is larger than two people?

Carla

 

[debster812]

abitjaded--we Pricelined our first night's hotel in January. Scored the Renaissance at MCO for $47. Once I had the confirmation, I called the hotel, explained that it was myself, DH, and DS, and 'if it was at all possible' could we get 2 beds. ANd that I understood completely if we could not, and that DS could smoosh onto the King with us for one night.

She immediately flagged us for late arrival, and 2 queens, because as she said, "you are arriving sooo late, and that baby of yours will need a good night's sleep before heading over to Disney" mind you my baby is 7.

So, it is possible for you to make a request with Priceline, and be all set. (We also requested non-smoking)

 

[momsully]

Hightown- Hi there. We are in Highlands Ranch as well.

Abitjaded - Sorry to hear about your flights. We got a great deal for December $127 RT and I check every week to see what changes have taken place with the schedule. I fully expect them to change I just want to be prepared when they do.

We have had great luck with Priceline and Hotwire. We always fly in late on a Friday or Saturday and spend the night at the airport then check in first thing the next morning. I prefer Hotwire over priceline because I like seeing the actual dollar amount. We have done what Debster812 suggested and called the hotel so they had us down for two beds.

Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[NotUrsula]

"Tried Priceline, but only got a low rate if I included the airport area for our date."

I'm a frequent Priceline user, and this statement makes no sense to me. You give Priceline the rate, not the other way 'round. Hotwire does work this way, though.

Last time I bid Orlando, the airport was not a free bid area for 3* and better. DON'T wander blindly into Priceline bidding; go to biddingfortravel.c.. and study carefully first. Just lately, the most common winning 3* bid right around WDW has been the Sheraton Safari in Lake Buena Vista for $39-40; not DD, but darn close. Orlando has so much room capacity that the only time you are not going to be able to get ANYTHING w/ Priceline in one or the other of the resort areas is on a major holiday. Even a really huge convention doesn't fill the metro area entirely.

As to the issue of the bedding, I've never had an issue in the US except in the downtown areas of major cities, where some older hotels may have almost no 2D's (their 2 bed rooms may be twin beds.). A call to the hotel after the bid is accepted will add the notation that you need two beds. Most vacation destination hotels have fewer kings than 2D's and will be happy you want 2 doubles.

 

[hightown]

Hi back to you, Momsully

I sent you a PM

Sharon

 

[ColoradoDis]

Hi - I'm in Highlands Ranch too!


Sorry you had such bad luck with your Frontier Flight. I fly them a lot for vacation and work and haven't had nearly as much trouble as on United. In fact, I only fly United if there is absolutely no other choice. At least Frontier staff are friendly and seem to enjoy working with their customers. I always get the feeling that United staff would rather that there weren't any customers!

 

[abitjaded]

Ye gads, any Coloradoans on the DIS who are not in Highlands Ranch besides us????

Poor United employees, I'd be pretty surly if I was treated the way some of them, especially the retirees are. I hope Frontier does something to impress us, they need to make a bit of lost ground with me. I still have not had the heart to tell my SIL and nephew that we are finking out on them a day sooner since having to move the flight up.

Carla

 

[hightown]

Hi from the Ranch on Saturday night!

I've seen Parker, Ft. Collins and Denver too but more of us in Highlands Ranch and one from Lonetree.

I'm glad I'm not the only D-nut in the local area. Makes me feel better about my obsession. We ought to have a 'dis meets' or trade pins at Park Meadows sometime.

Colorado Dis, totally agree about United. I know their employees have been through a lot but still, the attitude is hard to take. Heck my department has been outsourced and gone from 70 to 2 and I'm not so sure about one of those--me!

abitjaded, Frontier is really my preferance now so hang in. At least they called you which is more than I get from United!

Sharon

 

[javaj]

Don't forget another DIS family in the Springs here! We go up to Park Meadows for our Disney Store fix since they closed the Disney Stores in the Springs last year.

We are flying out of DEN on AA for our December trip because we got a pretty good rate ($183) to MCO. We like to fly out of the Springs because of convenience and the size of the airport but it is over $100 more right now and I don't think we'll beat that price. A direct flight on United or Frontier would've been nice but they are usually a lot more.\

Josette