basch0902

Talked to Expedia this morning. After 30+ minutes on hold it looks like Expedia worked it out with Olypmic Air to change our tickets. Now I just need to check back with Expedia in 2-4 days to make the tickets are comfirmed.

Bettina and all...Thank you for your help!!! This is why this board is so valuable!

Bettina222

You're welcome.
I continue to get good advice from everyone too!

suefahy

I still have not heard back in rsponse to my email- so I will be calling Olympic tomorrow. I hope they don't tell me I need to go through Expedia- I've already tried that several times. Thanks Bettina- I'll use the # you called, and hopefully it will get straightened out. Maybe I should ask for the change codes just in case?

basch0902

When I called Olympia (using the number Bettina provided) they told I would need to go back to Expedia. They told me to let Expedia know it was Olympia who changed the flights (called it an involuntary change).

I called Expedia the rep said nothing could be done. I insisted on talking to a supervisor and waited a long time (20 minutesish) to talk to the supervisor so be prepared. They supervisor was much more understanding.

I explained that Olympia said the tickets could be changed because it was Olympia who made the change (involuntary...their words), and the new times impacted other travel arrangements and that Olympia said...as long as we traveled on the same day we were good.

So insist on talking to a supervisor if Expedia rep gives you a hard time.

Bettina222

good luck suefahy

suefahy

Thanks basch0902 and Bettina222...
I was prepared to call Olympic Air directly this morning during their business hours, and was pleasantly surprised to see that they had replied to my email. They are giving me the alternate flights that will work with my travel plans, as well as telling me there will be no additional charges- on the same day- just earlier than the flights they had changed me to. This is great....now I have logged into Expedia, and they are showing that I have canceled the two flights in question, but have not replaced those with the new flights. I will be calling Expedia- asking for a supervisor - to make sure they have us booked for these new flights...crazy- I think I need a vacation before my vacation!

LMKDesigns

Hi all and especially Bettina222,
On Feb. 1st I bought 4 etickets on Olympic's website (not a consolidator) from Athens to Santorini for June. I was given a reservation number with my itinerary and it said I would receive an email shortly with my booking reference and ticket number. Thankfully I printed this page or I would have nothing, as I have still not received my confirmation. I have checked my junkmail, also. I have sent 4 emails and not heard back. Two were sent via the website's contact page and two to reservations@olympicair. I also called all of the known numbers, most of which were disconnected. I have not tried the Greece number but that will be next. I am really starting to panic. My credit card was charged that same day so I know it has gone through. How long did it take you to get an email response from Olympic? Any other suggestions, Please!!!

Bettina222

It didn't take long at all to get my confirmation from them when I first booked the flight.
It did however take several days (at least 4-5 from what I remember) for them to answer my emails when the times changed and I wanted to change my flights

LMKDesigns

Thanks for your quick reply...I wish Olympic would be so fast! I can't understand why I didn't receive the confirmation when they did charge my credit card.I feel a bit better that it took them a few days to respond to your email because maybe that means my emails aren't just getting lost. I'm concerned because I don't want to go through the hassle of getting the charge taken off my credit card, and the flights for the day I'm coming into Athens are filling up fast and are much more expensive now.

Heimdall

Hi LMKDesigns,

It seems Olympic Air hasn't gotten off to a very good start. Many people are still confusing it with Olympic Airlines, a company that stopped flying in Oct 09. I couldn't get their website to work, so booked my flights through Expedia. I asked Expedia to reconfirm my reservations, and their customer services representative answered "I can confirm that you have booked to fly to Athens with Olympic <i>Airlines</i>." [italics my own]

As far as I know, Olympic Air has no contact numbers in the U.S. Olympic <i>Air</i> is a Greek company, and if you wish to contact them by telephone you will have to call their Greek number, preferably during business hours, which are 7 hours ahead of EST in the U.S.

LMKDesigns

Thanks Heimdall, I am going to wait 1-2 more days for a response to my emails and then I guess I will call...

travelerjan

As per my experience this past week calling Aegean Air (when they changed their schedule and did not notify ticket-holders) ... you will do well to have an extra cup of coffee and stay up until about 1:30 or 2 a.m EST = 8:30 - 9 AM greek time. If you wait until a sane hour in the US, it is already late afternoon in Greece -- and I never have luck getting through to any official number then... you get stuck on hold, or get a recording. Do it in the middle of the night (our mid-of-night).

LMKDesigns

Thanks travelerjan, I'll do that...I've read that most things in Greece get done only between the hours of 9-1 local time.

daveesl

For future reference, with companies like Expedia, Travelocity, etc.. Be certain to tell them you are a member of the Fodor's Travel Board and if they do not treat you properly you will be certain to post it on the board, which is read by many TENS of THOUSANDS of travelers from all over the globe.

You'll be amazed, sometimes, at how nice and helpful they can become.

dave

suefahy

Hi LMK designs....make sure you also check and double check your credit card statement. I booked 4 flights within Greece- to and from the islands from Athens, and all 4 were changed. When I looked at my crdit card bill, It was charging me not only for the original flights, but also for the ones they were changed to- and the charges came from Olympic Air- not Expedia. I am waiting for another billing cycle before I make any inquiries, hoping the refund will show up on my next statement.

LMKDesigns

Thanks for the advice suefahy, I will definitely keep checking my creditcard. I have still not heard back from Olympic, now I'm hoping it's because it's the weekend. I am beginning to wish that I had booked with Aegean even though they were more expensive...it's just not worth the worrying and aggravation!!

LMKDesigns

suefahy, how long did it take for you to get your response for your email??

travelerjan

LMK, look at my message above... Aegean is not necessarily more quick to respond.

Heimdall

Right now is a time of change for all the Greek airlines. Flights to the islands are seasonal - everyone wants to fly to the islands in summer, but hardly anyone in winter. The airlines are now in the process of publishing their summer schedules.

This is an especially difficult time, because Aegean, Olympic, and other Greek airlines have bid for 24 subsidized island routes, and won't know until later this month which routes they have won. Aegean Airlines has bid for 11 routes, and Olympic Air all 24. The whole issue should have been settled last Autumn, but Greek national elections in October delayed the tenders.

Until the airlines know which routes they have won, they won't be able to finalize their summer timetables. Santorini isn't one of those subsidized routes, but the airlines will have to schedule their fleet to accommodate the extra flights. By March the airlines should have their summer schedules comlete.

suefahy

LMKdesigns- I emailed them on a Monday, and got a response on Thursday.