It is never too early to check your flight reservations.
May 23rd, 2006, 03:44 AM
#1
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It is never too early to check your flight reservations.
Using ff miles, I made reservations in February for a trip in October to Portugal. We must fly from Pittsburgh-Philadelphia-Lisbon.
The agent wanted to give us reservations to PHL on a 6:00 flight out of PIT which would get us into PHL after 7:00. I didn't feel that this was enough time to go between terminals and board for the 8:30 departure for Lisbon. So I reserved an earlier flight.
US Airways has launced a new website, so I decided to register and look at my reservation.
Our flights had been changed between PIT and PHL to that 6:00 flight. We didn't receive any notification. And since we are using miles, the closer to the trip date, the less chance of changing the flights.
So I guess it doesn't hurt to periodically check advance reservation. They have now placed us on a 3:00 flight from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. We arrive a little early to PHL, but at least now we have a little leeway.
The agent wanted to give us reservations to PHL on a 6:00 flight out of PIT which would get us into PHL after 7:00. I didn't feel that this was enough time to go between terminals and board for the 8:30 departure for Lisbon. So I reserved an earlier flight.
US Airways has launced a new website, so I decided to register and look at my reservation.
Our flights had been changed between PIT and PHL to that 6:00 flight. We didn't receive any notification. And since we are using miles, the closer to the trip date, the less chance of changing the flights.
So I guess it doesn't hurt to periodically check advance reservation. They have now placed us on a 3:00 flight from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. We arrive a little early to PHL, but at least now we have a little leeway.
May 23rd, 2006, 03:50 AM
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Sher...Same thing happened to me for my trip to Paris this fall on Air France. I was just checking online (because I still can not believe I am getting to go back so soon!!!) and all of a sudden the flight out of NY was later which made my connection ridiculously short.
I emaled AF and they took care of the whole matter. It is always a good idea to check periodically.
I emaled AF and they took care of the whole matter. It is always a good idea to check periodically.
May 23rd, 2006, 03:53 AM
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I'm sorry to tell you, but your rant is totally unnecessary. 1.5 hours in PHL is more than enough time to connect, in fact it's about 3 times as much as needed. With your new schedule you will end up sitting at some restaurant/bar/lounge/gate seats for VERY LOOOOOOONG time now.
OTOH, have a great trip!
OTOH, have a great trip!
May 23rd, 2006, 03:59 AM
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Well, let me tell you AA:
The last two international flights we have had with a connect from Pittsburgh through Philadelphia we had not made the connect and had to be rerouted.
So that itinerary has taught me to be safe rather than sorry.
And yes, it is a long time if we arrive on time... a little over four hours. I will be sitting in the US Airways lounge.
The last two international flights we have had with a connect from Pittsburgh through Philadelphia we had not made the connect and had to be rerouted.
So that itinerary has taught me to be safe rather than sorry.
And yes, it is a long time if we arrive on time... a little over four hours. I will be sitting in the US Airways lounge.
May 23rd, 2006, 04:06 AM
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I have on more than one occasion had an airline change flight times without any notification and several times these were changes involving several hours, not just a few minutes. In one case I would have arrived a full hour after a meeting (which was the sole reason for the flight)had begun.
When I called the airline involved and protested I was put on an earlier flight.
I don;t always mind these changes so much but I do mind not being told about them and in this age of electronic messaging I suspect there is an efficient way travelers could be notified.
When I called the airline involved and protested I was put on an earlier flight.
I don;t always mind these changes so much but I do mind not being told about them and in this age of electronic messaging I suspect there is an efficient way travelers could be notified.
May 23rd, 2006, 04:15 AM
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Intrepid. I have to say that usually I book flights directly with an airline. The flight was changed because they have cancelled my original flight. And of course, they wanted to put me on the last connecting flight as they tried to do when I booked the original flight.
But on the few occasions that I have booked with Orbitz, they have consistently notified me of any change in my flight status.
If they can notify people, I wouldn't think it would be so difficult for an airline.
Dejais. Obviously what they consider a reasonable connect time is just not what I do (and you too!)
But on the few occasions that I have booked with Orbitz, they have consistently notified me of any change in my flight status.
If they can notify people, I wouldn't think it would be so difficult for an airline.
Dejais. Obviously what they consider a reasonable connect time is just not what I do (and you too!)
Aug 21st, 2006, 06:49 AM
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Ugh, I wish this were the case for me.
I booked what was The Perfect Itinerary* for flights IND-LAX-SYD for my son and myself, arriving in Sydney late at night on November 24. I prefer arriving at night as opposed to the 8am arrival, especially seeing I will be travelling with an 18-month old.
I just looked at Expedia and saw that Qantas bumped my flight so that I will now arrive at 8am on the 25th, and have a 13 hour layover in LAX on Thanksgiving.
Ugh. I'm trying to find friends out there who wouldn't mind crashing their Turkey Day lunch!
*Murphy's law. I've travelled enough to know that there is no such thing as a perfect itinerary. Invariably, something always comes along to muck it up. I am just thankful it happened two months prior to departure.
Liz
ozmum.com
I booked what was The Perfect Itinerary* for flights IND-LAX-SYD for my son and myself, arriving in Sydney late at night on November 24. I prefer arriving at night as opposed to the 8am arrival, especially seeing I will be travelling with an 18-month old.
I just looked at Expedia and saw that Qantas bumped my flight so that I will now arrive at 8am on the 25th, and have a 13 hour layover in LAX on Thanksgiving.
Ugh. I'm trying to find friends out there who wouldn't mind crashing their Turkey Day lunch!
*Murphy's law. I've travelled enough to know that there is no such thing as a perfect itinerary. Invariably, something always comes along to muck it up. I am just thankful it happened two months prior to departure.
Liz
ozmum.com
Aug 21st, 2006, 07:18 AM
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I posted similar problems about a month ago. I have two European trips that are coming up, and both were changed significantly. I did not receive any notification from AA about either change, and was told that they typically don't notify customers until 30 days before the flight to give it time to change again. I personally prefer to know right away, so I now check my reservations often; about once a week!
Tracy
Tracy
Aug 21st, 2006, 11:41 AM
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So far, my most recent flight lands us (hopefully) in PHL at 5:30.
The flight to Lisbon now leaves at 8:15.
So a flight that had me arriving in PHL at 7:10 would not have made me comfortable, I am afraid.
I am crossing my fingers that this latest flight is not taken out of the schedule. But, I still keep checking.
The flight to Lisbon now leaves at 8:15.
So a flight that had me arriving in PHL at 7:10 would not have made me comfortable, I am afraid.
I am crossing my fingers that this latest flight is not taken out of the schedule. But, I still keep checking.
Aug 21st, 2006, 12:11 PM
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I got an email from USAirways 2-3 weeks ago saying that changes had been made to my itinerary, and it was only a flight number that had changed. Strange how they'd notify of that rather insignificant modification but not an important one such as time. Go figure! 
Sher, thanks for your helpful advice on my car rental post!
Sher, thanks for your helpful advice on my car rental post!
Aug 21st, 2006, 01:14 PM
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"I'm sorry to tell you, but your rant is totally unnecessary. 1.5 hours in PHL is more than enough time to connect, in fact it's about 3 times as much as needed...."
AA, all it takes is one tiny little snaffu and you will be eating those words. Thunderstorms in PIT. Blown fuse on the running lights. A passenger wants off the plane and they have to retrieve her luggage. The cabin door won't close. A member of the flight crew is stuck in Cincy. The catering truck is late. The cleaning crew is still cleaning. The plane's computer is on the fritz. Baggage handlers are on strike.
Your plane finally takes off and you miss your connection. No problem. They'll put you on the next one. Oh. Sorry, that one's booked. They'll get you on the first flight out tomorrow.
As you might have guessed, I have personally been in each of these situations plus some, and I can promise you that I will never, ever again book less than a 2 hour window on an international flight. I always try for 3 to 4 hours.
I'd much rather be reading a book and sipping a drink in the lounge than worrying about all the ramifications of missing the oversees connection. (And there are many.) Stateside, I can deal with it.
AA, all it takes is one tiny little snaffu and you will be eating those words. Thunderstorms in PIT. Blown fuse on the running lights. A passenger wants off the plane and they have to retrieve her luggage. The cabin door won't close. A member of the flight crew is stuck in Cincy. The catering truck is late. The cleaning crew is still cleaning. The plane's computer is on the fritz. Baggage handlers are on strike.
Your plane finally takes off and you miss your connection. No problem. They'll put you on the next one. Oh. Sorry, that one's booked. They'll get you on the first flight out tomorrow.
As you might have guessed, I have personally been in each of these situations plus some, and I can promise you that I will never, ever again book less than a 2 hour window on an international flight. I always try for 3 to 4 hours.
I'd much rather be reading a book and sipping a drink in the lounge than worrying about all the ramifications of missing the oversees connection. (And there are many.) Stateside, I can deal with it.
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