Worried about delays, what should I do?

[Summer-Caitlin]

Okay I have flights booked with MyTravel, flying out on August 16th at 09.00am and due to arrive in Orlando at 13.30. Lately I have been worrying that I may be severely delayed and this is a huge problem as I am getting married the very next day at 10.00am. I cannot just change my wedding as everything is booked (Disney Wedding, photographer, videographer, beauty and hair, dress steamer etc) and I would lose loads of money.
Anyway, my question is this, as MyTravel is a chartered flight, I realise that I cannot just go out a day earlier, which believe me would put my mind at ease no end. So is there anything else I could do that wouldn't cost me a fortune, try and switch to a different flight? I have booked with Going Places and I am due to pay the balance of my holiday in May. I am happy with my flight coming back to the UK, we are staying for 3 weeks but I'm now really worried about the flight going, am I worrying unecessarily?

Thanks

 

[Boo Boo Too]

I am a bit of a "belt and braces" person - especially when it comes to important things like weddings (probably a good thing, because I used to work as a safety critical systems engineer.... ).

You COULD be fine, but I personally wouldn't want to risk it. A plane is a plane and - especially a charter flight - a lot could happen to delay/cancel it. If you were flying a scheduled airline, I would have more faith that they could still get you there in time (by re-routing you etc...)

I think that you have three choices:
1. "head in the sand" - just trust that everything will go right and as it should do.
2. "stay as you are, but if things go wrong..." - ask your "wedding co-ordinator" if things DO go wrong (and you don't get there in time), what can be done. I would be surprised if they could do much at that stage (i.e. you wouldn't know of any delays/cancellations until 24 hours before your wedding), but it is worth asking...
3. "make changes now, just in case" - look at alternative flights and look to make changes now, to give you a buffer if things go wrong. It certainly doesn't hurt to look...

I would go for option 3 (but then I would have allowed a buffer of about 3 days between arriving and getting married...). You could:
- look at mytravel flights from your home airport: what alternative flights are available to you (do they fly every day, every other day, twice a week, once a week?)?
- look at other flight options also
- speak to Going Places, explain the situation and ask how much it would cost to change flights. You SHOULD be able to change details of your holiday for a change fee (no idea - £25/£50 a person - worth it for the "peace of mind" or the chance of missing the wedding altogether...).

Another thing, check that you have insurance that COMPLETELY covers the cost of your wedding. I don't know whether normal travel insurance covers this or whether you get special "wedding insurance"... But I would guess that it is very costly and you want to ensure that it is properly covered IF something unforeseen goes wrong.

Boo

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Thanks for that. To tell you the truth, I never even concerned myself with the possibility of being delayed. I have never flown MyTravel before, I have always flown BA, Virgin, Continental, Quantus and have never been delayed.
MyTravel only fly every Thur from Glasgow. I have just sent an email to my coordinator asking what would happen if I were to be delayed (say overnight) I will see what she comes back with.
Ideally I would like to fly out a day or two before (Tue or Wed), changing my wedding is just way too much money to lose. If I were to change with Going Places would I also have to change my flight coming back? I don't mind paying money to change my flights as I'd rather have peace of mind, but I'm really concerned I would have to pay so much more just to go a day or too early

Just thought to add, do you know if you can fly in and out of a different airport? i.e fly out of Gatwick and fly into Glasgow? I just noticed that MyTravel also fly out on Aug 14th from Gatwick, but I really want to keep my coming home flight the same.

Also noticed that MyTravel fly from Glasgow on the 11th of August too(my travel agent said they flew every Thur only), but that is 5 days earlier, I don't need that much leeway, plus the extra expense to stay another 5 days is way too much, even though it would be great!

 

[carolfoy]

theres nothing you can do that won't cost you money. you really should have organised your wedding for in the middle of the travel dates, I'm very surprised your TA didn't advise you to.
you probably can't do a flight that goes into one airport, out of another at this stage, although you probably could have done that at a very early stage.
Its quite unlikely you will be delayed by more than 24 hours, although my virgin flight was delayed the year before last by 8 hours and the people who had booked on the 12:15 flight from Gatwick were delayed until 11:15 the next day so even if you were travelling scheduled there would be no guarantees against delays.

the EU rules that cover delays wouldn't be of any benefit to you either as any flight would be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.

1, ask going places if they can investigate you travelling with Tradewinds and travelling out scheduled a couple of days before (as they own tradewinds they may be more sympathetic towards you and nullify change fees but if you only ever booked a flight only with them that's highly unlikely)
2, search like crazy for cheaper scheduled flights going out a couple of days before and cancel the mytravel flights and cut your losses
3, keep your fingers crossed - mytravel do not have the worse record for delays

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

I booked flights, hotel, disney tickets and dining plan with them. I am going to speak with them tomorrow and see what they recommend, I really don't know what to do. I have only paid my deposit with them, but the total cost of the holiday is £4000, not including my mom and she is on a seperate booking.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Pretty much as Carol said...

If I was you, I would try to get a reply from your wedding co-ordinator ASAP. I think that it is unlikely that they would be able to do anything to help. In the event of you not getting to Orlando in time for your wedding, I believe that you would miss out AND be left to claiming the money back from your travel insurance (the airline would not be financially repsonsible for your losses...). I would hate to see this happen to anyone

Get onto your travel agent and explain your dilemna and ask what can be done to fly out earlier - a good travel agent will look into all the possibilities and give you different prices. A bad/lazy travel agent wont give you much help and will begrudgingly change things for you (hence why I said look at all the possibilities, and your package Ts & Cs, yourself).

Without being a travel agent (so seeing hotel avialability, flight availability, prices, knowing the change fees involved), I would guess that the easiest option might be to fly out on August the 11th for 3 weeks: keep the holiday duration the same and come back a few days earlier (I assume that there is a return flight on that day). I wouldn't look at it as "lee way", but an opportunity to "extend you wedding" a bit (do some nice things before the big day and get REALLY relaxed beforehand).

As I said, it really doesn't cost anything to enquire about changes. Speak to your other half too.

Boo

 

[Boo Boo Too]

I booked flights, hotel, disney tickets and dining plan with them. I am going to speak with them tomorrow and see what they recommend, I really don't know what to do. I have only paid my deposit with them, but the total cost of the holiday is £4000, not including my mom and she is on a seperate booking.

There isn't much that you can do until you speak to your travel agent - apart from speak to your other half and research other flights (so you have knowledge when you speak to the TA).

I am sure that you CAN do changes - a lot of people on these boards do changes to dates, hotels, flights etc when booking a package (mushumadness seemed to change a major holiday detail at least twice a week on a holiday that she had already booked...). I don't book package holidays myself (I always book independently and with scheduled airlines). How much deposit did you pay.

As I said, I really don't mean to alarm you, but being married myself (10 year anniversary this August ) I KNOW how important it is that your big day turns out ok - I would hate for a major delay to cause problems for you. And looking on these boards, major delays are not uncommon with charters...

Boo

 

[wicket2005]

I think you may be worrying unnecessarily though in hindsight having the wedding later on would have been better. You could be delayed but I think by a full 24 hours would be unusual. We have travelled to Orlando 5 times all by My Travel, First Choice and have only experienced a delay last year of 2 hours leaving. Remember you do also gain 5 hours going across there.

As Carol said any changes will involve more expense and it may be difficult to change in any case, especially with it being peak season. I think the best thing you could do is talk to your travel agent and see if she can suggest something.

It sounds like you have booked a package and as such I don't think you can chop and change elements of it, unlike if you had booked everything separately. The only option I think is booking a one way flight across at an additional cost or seeing if the holiday could be moved forward a week.

I understand the dilemma and the worry it must be causing you because you simply do not know. At any such event, nerves start to come in and new worries emerge. Usually everything will be okay. Let us know how you get on.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

It is pretty much a standard risk assessment type exercise:
- what are the consequences of a flight delay (your wedding co-ordinator and insurance policies should tell you this)
- what is the likelihood of a serious flight delay (i.e. 12/24 hours)
- what is the cost of reducing/removing this risk (there may be quite a few different options here)

If you look into all three, you then decide whether:
a. you are willing to live with the risk (but fully understand the implications), or
b. you are willing to spend the money to reduce/remove the risk.

Boo

 

[carolfoy]

ok, now I know you've booked a package your rights actually change!
Your travel agent is obligated to you to explain all the pros and cons of your booking - did they actually advise you to book your wedding the day after you arrive? if so thats very bad planning on their part and they have to do their damndest to make sure that that wedding goes ahead.
I really think they should be coercing with Tradewinds (the Mytravel scheduled group) to get you out before hand. Or in the very least get you out earlierfrom Gatwick (there are flights on the 10th, 11th and 14th) and obviously get you to LGW too. If they are really unhelpful then try to speak to someone further up, state you booked the most important event of your life as a package with a company you thought you could trust and who would help you through the minefield. Ask for written proof that Airtours will compensate you should your wedding not go ahead because of their fault (ie their plane being so delayed you can't get to the venue) ask where you stand under the EU laws regarding delays of over 5 hours.

 

[Elise79]

Another thing you may not have considered and I am not sure if it still applys but do you not need to apply for you marriage licence before the wedding? And if so even if you were delayed only a couple of hours could this cause problems for the wedding?

Like I said I do not know for sure on this but it might be worth finding out

Out of interest is the wedding part of the package or has that been booked direct?

Hope you get everything sorted

Elise

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Carol - Does this still apply if I haven't booked the wedding with them? I had already booked my wedding with Disney prior to booking my holiday with Going Places and I advised Going Places when it came to booking that I had booked my wedding on Aug 17th. It was not my idea to fly chartered airlines and I know she was just trying to get me the best deal. I have called my TA (within the last 30min) and they are calling me back (supposedly today)
I have explained the situation and the girl said she would need to speak to the manager to see what they could do. I was going to go in and see them tomorrow as this may be easier to explain in person. I would so much rather fly out on the 14th a 3 day window is so much better than my 1 day

 

[carolfoy]

no - if they haven't booked the wedding they are not obligated to ensure you get there for it. Its very bad service though if you told them when the wedding was booked for and they didn't arrange your flights to fit. I really hope they sort something out for you but unfortunately the wedding won't be covered under their ATOL rules if it wasn't booked through them.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

no - if they haven't booked the wedding they are not obligated to ensure you get there for it. Its very bad service though if you told them when the wedding was booked for and they didn't arrange your flights to fit. I really hope they sort something out for you but unfortunately the wedding won't be covered under their ATOL rules if it wasn't booked through them.

Like so many things, it is "buyer beware"... . Although you can get some great and very knowledgeable travel agents out there, there are a much higher percentage of not very good ones out there (you say "I want to be in Orlando for the 16th August for our wedding", they say "perfect! I have flights on the 15th!") - you need the knowledge and research to ensure they book what you need/want. What is why I book independently - a whole lot easier...

Boo

 

[mattnkatsmum]

Poor you. I really understand your dilemma. Have you quantified you cancellation fees as opposed to what it would cost you to book a scheduled flight earlier in the week? For me it would be worth a couple of hundred quid for peace of mind.

That said, I think the prospects of a 24 hour delay are extremely remote. We've travelled on both charter airline and scheduled ones to the States on many occasions and have never been delayed more than 8 hours (and that was with Virgin).

You've received some great advice here already. It will be interesting to see what your travel agent comes back with.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Not to worry you, but is there not a requirement to have been in Flrida for a certain period before they will allow the wedding?
Its been some 12 years now since my neice was married out there but I seem to remember that they had to be in Florida for a certain time before the wedding.
Can anyone who has done this recently help?

 

[carolfoy]

I thought there was too OBi but I checked and found this on the myfloridacounty website:

Is there a waiting period for the issuance of a Marriage License?

Yes, Florida Statute 741.04 (3) says the effective date shall be delayed 3 days from the date of application unless Florida Residents present the following:

Certificate of completion of a premarital preparation course from a qualified course provider listed with our office.
Completion of the Family Law Handbook.
A statement attesting to completion of the premarital preparation course and have read the Family Law Handbook.

There is no waiting period for out of state residents.


but I'm sure there used to be so thta's probably what you're thinking, and there definately is in the caribbean.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

ah right. its been a long time since my nieces wedding.

 

[carolfoy]

its a very good point though, you'd be amazed at the amount of people who think they can just buy a dress, get on a flight and get married in the sun. everywhere has very differing restrictions.

 

[Laurafoster]

No Carols right you dont have to be there a certain amount of time before the wedding! I checked that out before getting married out there in Dec.

Peronally if it was me i would try and get out there a day earlier!
Also what are you doing regarding the marriage licence? Are you getting it in person from the courthouse or are you getting it on the internet? If your pushed for time i really would consider paying the extra costs and getting it fedex'd accross before you leave. I did and i was glad to have 1 extra thing not to do when i got there!

If you are unable to change your flight i would recommend getting wedding insurance! Travel insurance will not cover your wedding costs in full. I got wedding insurance from confetti.com - they have 3 levels of wedding insurance for wedding abroad and they only cost about £40 or so and really put my mind at rest incase something would go wrong!

As for moving the wedding - you shouldnt lose any money. I know Disney dont charge for moving the wedding as i considered rescheduling mine at one stage! Not sure who you have for photography or videography - i had Randy Chapman and Stan and they advised me aslong as they are available there would be no charge! If your using Carolyn Allens for steaming im pretty sure they wouldnt charge either! They were more than helpful with all of my little issues!

Anyway thats enough of me wittering away! I hope you get it sorted! Let us know how it turns out!