I've known for 6 months that I want to go to a conference in New Zealand in January then take a week of vacation. I've got a limited travel budget, so I've been watching the fares and getting email alerts, but no budging for the peak month. This week the prices did move up by $30 and the trip is in 6 weeks, so I decided to bite the bullet and buy.

I could get a RT ticket from LAX on Air NZ web for $1500 plus buy a separate ticket from ATL for $300 on DL or Airtran. Air NZ has two flights a day each way. But after reading the post from the JetBlue lady who had a large group who missed their separate ticket connection to Europe, I was nervous unless I booked a long layover between flights--seemed to be easy to get 4 hour layover. I couldn't schedule in an overnight in LA and that would eat up the savings. But husband didn't like idea and persuaded me much better to buy one combined ticket on two airlines and pay the $250 extra just in case of weather delays in January.

So, Friday I purchased a $2030 combo ticket ATL-LAX-AKL-LAX-ATL on DL and Qantas (the Air NZ connection was $100 higher when combo)via AAA website. Qantas has just one flight each way. Chose 2 hour layover going out and 4 hour layover coming back. Got email confirming reservation. Logged into DL frequent flyer quickly and saw the reservation there, so headed off to work.

Saturday I decided to log onto my DL ff account and check seats, etc. There is my entire reservation; however the return flight to ATL is now just 1 hour layover in LAX. I got into Galileo viewtrip and see that my first flight is marked Unavailable and I am now confirmed on the earlier flight. I checked DL and the original flight is gone/so must have been cancelled that night after I made my reservation.

The 1 hour layover is DL's last direct flight to ATL of the day. DL has a connecting flight through DFW scheduled to depart 2 hours after my arrival.

So, all my waiting until what I feel is the last minute and then working to put myself on one ticket so that the airlines will accommodate me if I miss a connection has almost ensured I will miss the connection for their last direct flight of the day. And for this I pay a $200 premium.

The Air NZ fare is still available, but only on their later flight to AKL now (I usually avoid last flight of the day just in case of cancellations). How many of you would laugh and just expect to miss the flight home and hope for space on the connecting flight? How many of you would say the change is unaccepable and ask for a refund, then book two separate cheaper tickets with 4 hour layovers, but same or more risk? If one does want a refund, does one go through the online booking agency (AAA) or directly to the airline that has made the offending change, though the ticket covers two airlines?

When I worked in customer service at UAL we weren't allowed to change reservations made through travel agents. I think you need to call whoever you booked it through and have them straighten it out. Your ticket is validated on NZ since they're the international carrier so I don't think DL can do a damned thing for you anyway.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

The airlines are just going to tell you to contact your travel agent. I would call triple-A and tell them that I messed up and what I really wanted was one ticket, a roundtrip ATL-AKL.

With one itinerary and you miss your connection however short they will honor your ticket for the rest of the itinerary with no increase in fare.

With two itineraries even a four hour layover is not a guarantee you will make the connection.

Travel tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm

You do have just one ticket, right? Or am I reading this wrong? If so, I highly doubt a one hour connection on your return would be a legal connection so something has to be done for you. What a nightmare!

Right, I bought the one ticket. I didn't mess up. DL's cancellation and rescheduling of my flight made it an "illegal" connection time at LAX.

Making the reservation initially online meant no service fee as AAA member. Calling an agent to change/cancel a reservation incurs a $20 fee according to website, but last time I used a human travel agent at AAA the fee was $40 for international ticket.

Oh, and just so there isn't any more confusion--the AAA website did not book an "illegal" connection time. It/they booked me on the original flight. DL changed my flight and reservation after the "legal" connection reservation was confirmed.

If the connection is now "illegal", then you should be booked on the next flight, which is next day. And they should provide you with a hotel room at LAX. That's what I'd ask for.

Apparently, if you need to get home same day, then you can ask for a refund and look elsewhere for another deal.

This could turn into one of those travel soap operas. IT overload shows lots interesting items--DL website shows the changed connection as reported with DL seats, Galileo shows the changed connection but no seats assigned even on DL, and Qantas site shows me changed to next day return from LAX to ATL on the original flight number. I'll need them to get that straight before my return to check in properly to ensure DL knows I'm coming on that one ticket.

The later flights on my return day are possible connecting or two redeyes. As you surmised, I do need to get back to work the next afternoon, so spending an overnight in LA would be stressful. My flight has been removed from the schedule starting in mid-January on Tuesdays only.

I called Qantas for seat assignments and found that the outbound flight from LAX is over 80% assigned, so rest of seats must be assigned at airport. I have DL ff pull, but none with Qantas. Any suggestions?

I kept watching for two weeks to see what might happen with my reservations and options, but no changes so finally emailed AAA who called me back. Agent said they were working through all the computer reassignments as if it had just happened (I think nothing would have happened if I hadn't emailed).

He was going to ask DL to put me on either a connecting flight return if Class available or the redeye (10 hours in LAX). I told him I would accept the connecting else I wanted refund and I would just book the higher priced ticket with Air NZ that allowed for sufficient layover.

He spent hours with the airlines--DL was willing to refund, but Qantas said it was DL's fault and DL issued the ticket so they wouldn't cooperate. DL said Qantas was the key as they are the international segment.

Bottom line is that DL rebooked me on the connecting flights (Continental to Houston, then ASA to ATL) and Qantas said they have to reissue my ticket (e-ticket) at the airport to reflect the changed connecting flight. I get less comfortable planes and a connection, but scheduled return on same day. Galileo and Qantas show me confirmed on both the original direct flight and the connection. DL website shows just the new return and lists me in Qantas First Class (don't I wish!).

I have a feeling it is going to be one of those trips where I have to show the confirmation/receipt/itinerary every step along the way and may still not know exactly when I'll get home. I think carryon luggage is a smart idea--I could make the one 22" rollaboard limit, but not the 15lb limit on Qantas.

glad you had a pleasant, and educational trip on air france.
couldn't be your first trip on af though, could it?

Back from the soap opera.

Plane into LAX with 2-hr layover on way out was 1 hour late, so hurried to Qantas who said "why are you rushing?" and ticket OK.

Return Qantas check-in bags to destination and give first boarding pass. I arrive LAX and go to DL counter--the original flight I had been "illegally" rebooked on was boarding, but I didn't ask for it as my bag was in the stack being transfered to my connecting flights.

DL sent me on to Continental because although codeshare, operated by CO. At CO the agent can't give me boarding pass because ticket was never reissued. She tries to work it out on phone to avoid sending me 3 terminals down to Qantas, but finally has to send me back to DL. DL agent apologetic she didn't look at my situation more closely. Says I am on the 2pm flight (the original one that was cancelled), realizes my problem, then goes to work and manages to reticket me without trekking down to Qantas--using up my 2-hr layover as I go back to CO for boarding passes and on to plane.

Connect at IAH via bus to DL terminal. Make it home, but no bag. Check at baggage service and bag spending the night at IAH. Delivered the next day with DL LAX-IAH codeshare number marked out and CO flight code written in.

Isn't flying fun?