airline changed our flights-can they do that?
 

My friends & I are taking a trip to Italy this fall. We researched & found the cheapest flights to be with Iberia ($592 with Iberia using passport #'s or $640 same flights with Iberia but through Orbitz with just general info) . We booked our tickets in January with Orbitz because one friend did not have her passport yet. Now our itinerary has changed 3 times! It went from -oh we are only losing a couple hours in Venice to most of the day to we are flying out of JFK instead of Dulles! I literally was on the phone for 5 hours to correct this problem (I actually dressed and got 3 kids ready, swapped from house to cell phone, drove to Drs appt 1 1/2 hrs away, in a state illegal to talk on the phone just to make this happen!!). The correction just gives us an additional flight from Reagan to JFK & on the way home from CHICAGO to Reagan. So ridiculous that we now have 2 extra flights added to our itinerary. This does not seem right. Are there any repercussions we can take?

Yes, they can do that. One generally has the option of accepting changes or cancelling without fee. Annoying as it is. Everytime I have booked flights far in advance, doing much research as you did, something gets changed.

As gail says, they can - and do. Either 1) accept changes - or work out another schedule with the carrier, or 2) cancel without penalty and get full refund.

If you choose the later, you're free to book new ticket with another carrier.

Short answer - yes they can

Long answer - they've changed your flights to what they think is best (ie cheapest) for them. You go and do some research to find options that are better for you and put them to Orbitz and see what they say

PS - if you want to talk with current carrier about options (including flying on partners) do some homework and have several alternatives ready when you talk with them. I've found that sometimes the agent doesn't/can't access all options and I've been able to work out some acceptable alternatives using the info I found on my own.

I'd like to know in which states is it illegal to talk on the phone?

Thank you for responses.
Seems the answer is a YES they can!
The problem with cancelling is the 30 day refund. We are all on a tight budget and would need that refund to reschedule.
By that time it would be too late to reschedule or the prices would be sky high (ha-ha) for booking so late.
VA was the state I was in that it is illegal to talk on cell phones. NY also has this law and it is strictly enforced there-you constantly see people pulled on the side of the road talking on the phone rather than risk a ticket.

DC enforces the no cell phone or texting law also.

When this has happened to me I have done as others have suggested research availability on partners and then gone back to the airline with an option that is better for me. I've even left a day early to rescue the day lost by their change. I have always gotten them to make the changes, although it does take some time on the phone as u have found out.

Not sure exactly what your fall timeframe is for the flights, but there have been some great flight fares around and even with the 30 day lag time to get your refund u could possibly still snag one. Also I have gotten refund from the airlines quicker than 30 days, but that can't be counted on.

Thank you for your advice but with a 3 week trip planned including rental homes in Venice, Tuscany, Umbria and Ligurian Coast it is too risky to chance not getting a flight.
Just thought I could get some money back or a ticket voucher???

You need to talk to Orbitz, not the airline, since it's Orbitz that "owns" the reservation until you check in. This has been discussed here numerous times here and just very recently too.

1. Accept the changes
2. Work out a different itn - with Orbitz
3. Demand a refund

here is the recent discussion on just the same issue

http://www.fodors.com/community/air-...ht-changes.cfm

Wow. I never knew any states had no-cell phone while driving laws.

I did know some states require a hands free device (headset) and I use my <$10 headset all the time, but I've never heard of any state that totally forbids cell phone usage.

Thanks for the info. I'll need to find out those states.

J52 -- sorry, it is no handheld cell phones & no texting, not no cell phone use in DC. The exception is for drivers with learner permts I believe -- no cell phone or texting at all for them. I have read that there are some jurisdictions banning cell phone altogether, but not sure where or the status.

Yes, no cell phones in hand is more accurate. In my head that was my scenario-so that was unfortunately how I worded it.

I did talk to Orbitz and then Iberia & then Orbitz & then Iberia, etc!
Orbitz told me I needed to get flight info from Iberia then call them back to book it.
This went back and forth with wrong info (flights that missed connections, incorrect #'s, etc.)many times until it was resolved.
I have accepted the new itinerary just wanted to know if there was anything I could get for my troubles.
I have not used the airline part of Fodors often so missed previous discussions-sorry to rehash anything.

<i>just wanted to know if there was anything I could get for my troubles.</i>,

No

Airlines reserve the right to change schedules. That same right applies to busses, trains. It's part of travel. Usually airline schedules are adjusted on a quarterly basis, for different reasons. The flight is not profitable so the airline drops it, ATC demands for the airline to leave earlier or later, the airline tweaks the schedule to fit with the rest of their needs, etc. etc. Just business....

Glad it worked out for you.

Have a wonderful trip!

GRAZIE:)

I have nothing to add to the OP's question about her ticket, though I hope she has a good trip. I did want to note, thohugh, that the state of New Jersey and the city of Philadelphia (not all of PA) also have the "no handheld phones and no texting while driving" laws in place.

Oh! "while driving" That makes all the difference!

I know this is off the original topic but just to clarify....It is NOT against the law in Virginia to talk on a cell phone while driving unless the driver is under the age of 18 or just has a learner's permit. However, there is a new law prohibiting text-messaging while driving.