What to do if my flight time is changed??

[crashbb]

So, every other day or so there is a post about an airline making a flight change. I thought I'd draft a few helpful hints on what you can do if/when this happens to you.

BEFORE BOOKING
1) Do not plan important things (i.e your cruise leaving port) close to your flight arrival time. The schedule may change before your trip or there may be day of delays cancellations. If I absolutely have to be somewhere for a certain time, I make sure that I am not on the last flight that will get me there in time (and try to leave a day if possible). The same (though to a lesser extent) holds for the day of your return.

AFTER BOOKING
1) Sign up for your airline's notification system (i.e. EasyUpdate on United) and provide both email and phone contacts.

2) Realise that airlines notify people in order of departure date, so you may not be notified right away. Therefore, periodically check your reservation to see if there are any changes. The frequency of checking is directly proportional to the importance of my specific travel time.

AFTER YOU NOTICE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE (the definition of SIGNIFICANT differs by airline, but generally a few hours or the addition of a lay-over)

1) Know that you have three options:
A) Accept the change
B) Be moved to another flight on that airline (with no change fee)
C) Full refund (with no fees)

So, how do you decide?
Look at the new option - does it still work for you? If so, option A might work. If not, check out your airline's schedule (if they are part of an alliance, I'd also check out their flights, in case of code share). Is there another flight that works better? Go for option B. (I'd always check out other flight options, even if the one suggested works - you might find one that works even better). Lastly, if your airline no longer works at all, are there flights on an other airline that work for you and that you can afford? Then go for option C.

2) Employ your option
Do the above steps before you pick up the phone to call your airline. Know your options and know which flights you'd like (if going with option B) before you call. When you call, let them know that you saw the change and would either like to confirm the change (option A), would like to be moved to a new flight (option B), or would like a refund (option C).

If you are sticking with the airline, make sure that any seat selections have been carried over to your new flights and that your are set up for notification on your new flights. If you got a refund and rebooked with another airline, make sure you are set up for their notification system.

3) Go back to step 1 in the AFTER BOOKING section and watch for more changes. There are specific times of the year when most legacy carriers do their schedule changes (though, of course, these can happen at any time), if you book your flights far ahead, it wouldn't hurt to call and ask about planned "schedule tinkering" times.

REMEMBER - the agent you are speaking with on the phone did not make the changes, so do not take out your frustrations with them. They are more likely to work extra hard for you, if you treat them with respect.

CLOTs (and others) - please feel free to add to this or point out any errors/omissions.

 

[bavaria]

Excellent list! I don't have much to add except

Contract of carriage - understand that the airline doesn't guarantee you a particular seat, or flight, or flight time, or even routing; they only guarantee to get you from point A to point B (hopefully on the same day, but for charters which only operate a few days a week, even that isn't guaranteed)

for instance, here is AirTran's CoC re schedules

Understand when schedules change - most US legacy carriers review schedules quarterly and make changes accordingly. For UA for instance, I can expect schedules to be loaded four times per year, so I know that December flights are still subject to change.

Also know that longhaul international flights are less subject to change; I have been flying a LH longhaul flight for more than a decade with zero changes since they started that route. I also know that on the LAX-MCO route on UA will pretty much be guaranteed to have one non-stop per day, as per an agreement which Disney has with UA. It may change times, but I know that chances are the non-stop will not disappear unless the contract changes.

Based on seasonal demand, airlines may remove flights from the schedule, and return them once demand increases. Alaska recently dropped the redeye SEA-MCO as of 2nd week of November; that route will most likely be returned to the schedule once low season is over ie next spring some time.

Learn the lingo - so often here people confuse 'direct' with 'nonstop'. Direct means getting from BOS to MCO with no change of plane, but a stopover along the way. Nonstop means zero stops along the way. If you request 'direct' you may be sorely disappointed.

Understand what is a reasonable request - many here seem to book least desirable flight times because they are cheapest, then call the airline when there is a minor schedule change to change to the more desirable flight time (I've seen people here ask if they can do that for a FOUR minute schedule change, which to me is totally taking advantage) Many carriers do not allow a change in flights for free for 'minor' schedule changes - that may be 60/90/120 minutes, but depends on the airline. Don't expect to get an upgrade due to a schedule change - it just won't happen.

Consider booking short term - I know that is somehow unheard of here for many. But consider not booking your flights until a month or two in advance, if you are the type of person who loses their temper when schedules change. I have had zero schedule changes in the last 3 years (not counting day of departure changes) with an average of 150,000 miles flown every year. I book most of my flights 0-7 days in advance, but even booking 2 months in advance strongly reduces the chances of a schedule change

 

[safetymom]

Once you book it is your responsibility to monitor your reservation. Keep an eye on it every week or so for any changes. Don't wait for the airline to notify you.

Also be aware that you are not guaranteed a certain seat on a plane.

Don't threaten someone sitting in the seat you want on the plane. Ask nicely and realize they may have a reason for selecting that seat.

 

[goofy4tink]

A most excellent and timely thread.
Remember people...flying today is not the same experience as it was 10 years ago. With the price of fuel, most airlines are constantly tweaking their schedules...meaning that someone is going to end of on a different flight than they booked.
It behooves all of us to constantly watch our flights. That way, when they do change, we know about it as early as possible...giving us more wiggle room to make suitable changes.

I have to completely agree with the day of arrival planning. I seldom make any plans for that arrival day. Way too many things can change. Those who arrive at 1pm and plan a HDDR meal for 5 are asking for trouble. Even arriving at 8am can have it's own issues. That flight can be changed, your plane can be delayed for numerous reasons. Never book anything on that arrival day that you won't mind canceling down the road.

This board does an incredibly good job of putting out good info. Despite that, some people still get 'caught' unawares by the airlines. I can completely understand their frustration but knowledge is power. If you know what to expect, you are prepared for most eventualiites.

 

[Lewisc]

I didn't post in the closed thread. Although I agree with most of the posts in this thread, and in the closed thread....
1)How many posters don't want to wait for SW, another airline has flights with "perfect times".
2)How many times are those flights changed, multiple times.
3) Does the airline make it clear passengers are booking a hypothetical schedule?
4) Saying the terms are listed in the CoC isn't really very fair. How many people, excepting the travel geeks, actually read it? The terms of the CoC say it's subject to change. Go back a few years, maybe just a few months, and the CoC described how passengers will be handled in the event of schedule changes. Most of the CoC no longer even guarantee a refund if the schedule change exceeds a specific threshold.

Since the airline is doing a poor job in establishing, and communicating a policy and think there should be government imposed minimum standards. A guaranteed refund if the schedule change is more then 2-4 hours (depending on flight duration).

SW has said one of the reasons they don't book against a tentative schedule is to tremendous customer service resources it takes to deal with a small number of passengers, who booked cheap (less profitable) fares.
For Disney trips I book SW. I don't worry about flight changes. I try to book the first flight in the morning, which reduces weather delays.
For trips that are time sensitive, such as a cruise, I'll fly in the previous day or two.

 

[bicker]

Since the airline is doing a poor job in establishing, and communicating a policy and think there should be government imposed minimum standards.

Do people really support that sort of thing? I wonder if people really put their money where their mouth is and translate their feelings about how business treats them as consumers into support for a more highly regulated economy.

 

[goofy4tink]

Don't go there.....there is no, I repeat NO, room for political discussion here. It is not relevant. Yes, I'm sure someone can make an argument that is is relevant but....I'm invoking my 'power' and asking that no political discourse happens here. Thanks!

 

[bicker]

Sorry about that.... I've updated my message to remove that connotation.

 

[goofy4tink]

Sorry about that.... I've updated my message to remove that connotation.

Ahhhh, that was nice. Thanks a ton!!

 

[Brian Noble]

there should be government imposed minimum standards.

I think that barring significant philosophical changes in the executive branch, that ship has sailed. I do not see this change coming about in either potential new administration, and I do not see a groundswell of support on the part of consumers for this. There are bigger fish to fry.

I'll also note that while Southwest tries hard not to change their schedule, and announces late to facilitate that, they don't guarantee it either---at least, as far as I can tell.

 

[bicker]

...I do not see a groundswell of support on the part of consumers for this.

The logical extension to this is that consumers (passengers) need to accept that how things are is how they're going to be, and they need to be prepared to deal with it, rather than expecting it not to be the case.

 

[crashbb]

Okay, I hate when OPs come back and try to direct the posting on their threads but...

PLEASE leave the arguing out of this thread. This thread was meant to be a helpful thread (perhaps eventually a stickie thread) for the way the airline business is, not a discussion about how it should be. If you want to debate changes to the airline business, please, please start your own thread (which, to be honest, will likely get locked).

Thank you (and you don't have to tell that you dont' have to listen to me - I know that )

 

[Misty89]

AMEN!
and thank you for posting this.... alot of people lately have been
real issues with flight changes.

flying from the midwest in winter, we have learned that arrival day and depature day cannot be consider as "vacation days", they are "travel days".
this way of thinking saves alot of heartache and anger if "plans" get messed up.

 

[Brian Noble]

crashbb: I think it would be useful to collect any helpful suggestions made by others (I have not made any ) into the original post. I'd hope that the moderators could then sticky it, or a new post that was then locked.

Misty is right, and that's what we do too---we usually book a morning flight out of DTW or FNT. If all goes well, that gives us the afternoon. However, flying out during late February when the snow flies, all does not always go well.

 

[danielle.st]

Excellent list! I don't have much to add except

Contract of carriage - understand that the airline doesn't guarantee you a particular seat, or flight, or flight time, or even routing; they only guarantee to get you from point A to point B

I read that here on this board in the past and said it to my dh. He now walks around quoting it to everyone who will listen.

 

[bavaria]

Smart man! I tend to agree with Lewisc most of the time, but in this case I think that if someone is spending several hundred dollars on something they have a responsibility to educate themselves. I am frankly tired of people who expect to be hand held every step of the way and then cry 'it's not FAIR!' when they find out something they don't like.

I am a great believer in education. I read a lot of books every week, and research things on line. If I haven't done something before, I research it as best as I can.

Most consumer websites do have information listed, but most of us choose not to read it. How many times do we click 'I agree' without reading the fine print - shame on us.

 

[Lewisc]

The government recently increased the minimum compensation for IDB. The government told airlines they couldn't use the "subject to change" provision of their CoC to increase checked luggage fees to passengers that have already purchased tickets. The government told the cruise lines they couldn't add fuel surcharges to existing reservations. The government has, so far, refused airlines that requested the ability to add fuel surcharges as an add on, and not include them as part of the displayed fare.

I certainly don't see us going back to regulated fares but airlines are looking for trouble if they think they can make major (8-12 hour) changes in flights without offering refunds. There is a difference between re-regulating the airlines and subjecting them to a number of consumer protection requirements.

Suggesting passengers consult the CoC, when the CoC is now largely silent has limited value. Spirit is one of the few airlines that has a clear policy, if the change is more then 30 minutes you can get a refund.

I wrote this before I saw Bavaria's reply. A consumer can read the entire CoC but still not know how many hours an airline can change a flight before they're entitled to a refund. Airlines should have to disclose the minimum policy. I don't think it's adequate to bury it in the CoC but the airlines aren't even doing that. Experienced, business fliers, aren't typically the passengers booking 6-12 months in advance but they're the passengers most likely to understand the rules.

 

[bavaria]

I certainly don't see us going back to regulated fares but airlines are looking for trouble if they think they can make major (8-12 hour) changes in flights without offering refunds.

Does any airline in America do that? I was not aware that passengers can NOT get a refund with a major schedule change. I am in full agreement however that airlines should not offer refunds for minor schedule changes, and I have seen people here abuse that with changes of as little as FOUR minutes.

 

[bicker]

Good catch bavaria. I haven't read of a single case where refunds were denied given a time change of over four hours (typically less).

 

[Brian Noble]

A consumer can read the entire CoC but still not know how many hours an airline can change a flight before they're entitled to a refund.

Northwest's COC does define the situations in which the passenger can request a refund: any "schedule irregularity/schedule change". It is Rule 71 and 72, and the limit is 60 minutes on either side for departure, 60 minutes later on arrival, the addition/removal of stops, or a change in equipment.

http://www.nwa.com/plan/contract2.pdf

Which airlines do not define the time limit in their documents?