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Re: Surviving airline issues
[Re: Manpot]
#60714
07/06/2015 05:57 PM
07/06/2015 05:57 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,530 Ya never know...
HillsideView
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,530
Ya never know...
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Knowing your options doesn't take a whole heck of a lot work. Before your trip, take a few minutes to run your destination on something like Priceline which will come back with all sorts of options on various carriers.Print it and keep it in your pocket. The few times I've had an issue, I have found offering some possible options, rather than asking what options are, is appreciated by usually flustered agents. Ranting and raving MAY get you rebooked, but expect a good view of the lavatory. And your luggage will be headed the other way. Don't be an AH.
My foot fits right into my shoe and my shoe will fit right into your...
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Re: Surviving airline issues
[Re: HillsideView]
#60715
07/06/2015 06:29 PM
07/06/2015 06:29 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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Another good tip - if you have to deplane due to an issue, get on the phone right away - It seems the majority will try to go to the ticket counter where there will be a long wait - calling in is often much faster, and even if its not, never hurts to cover all the bases.
Matt
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Re: Surviving airline issues
[Re: maytrix]
#60716
07/06/2015 06:38 PM
07/06/2015 06:38 PM
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,032 GA/NC
GeorgeC1
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,032
GA/NC
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maytrix said: Another good tip - if you have to deplane due to an issue, get on the phone right away - It seems the majority will try to go to the ticket counter where there will be a long wait - calling in is often much faster, and even if its not, never hurts to cover all the bases. You can actually do both. Get on the phone and jump in line. If the issue is being caused by a major storm the res lines could be jammed. If it's a problem unique to your flight you should get right through. G
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Re: Surviving airline issues
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#60717
07/06/2015 07:17 PM
07/06/2015 07:17 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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Yeah, that's what we've done in the past - thought I had mentioned that - guess I just thought about mentioning it and didn't <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />
Matt
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Re: Surviving airline issues
[Re: GeorgeC1]
#60721
07/07/2015 09:46 AM
07/07/2015 09:46 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,717 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,717
Central Florida!
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Great advice, George, especially the part to know what your options are for other flights that get you where you need to be, as we have often found the rebooking agent will just automatically offer you a flight the next day on their airline, effectively scr*wing you out of a whole day of vacation. Many or most people just take whatever the agent offers.
A couple of years ago, we had our flight out of Tampa, going to Atlanta and then to ST. Maarten, cancelled. Delta offered us the same flight next day. No way, Jose!! We knew that US Air flew Tampa-Charlotte-SXM and we were able to get them to put us on that flight and we ended up landing in SXM before our original Delta connection would have!!
Carol Hill
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Re: Surviving airline issues
[Re: Twanger]
#60723
07/07/2015 11:25 AM
07/07/2015 11:25 AM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 397
jbuch02
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 397
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This is a great thread. Thanks to the OP for starting it.
I've been fortunate in my years of airline travel having experienced few glitches (knock on wood).
However, I am very careful HOW I book. Originating out of major hub helps and then arranging the reservation with a single carrier (even if there are subcontracted legs or code share agreements) so, one entity owns the problem should one develop.
We also minimize aircraft changes when flying long haul and try to find flights where, if there is an intermediate stop, the equipment does not change. That's a lot harder on short haul flights.
Finally, no matter what, we have travel days so that if something does go wrong we just relax at the place where it did and get it sorted out while doing so. In that same approach, for the BVI we plan for 2-3 days on the front and back end of the visit. It reduces stress levels considerably.
Certainly, not everyone is able to do that with work, school, kids schedules etc. But it might be totally worth it to plan that way regardless.
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Re: Surviving airline issues
[Re: Twanger]
#60724
07/07/2015 11:28 AM
07/07/2015 11:28 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,717 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,717
Central Florida!
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...actually that did happen to us on that very trip. At that time, Delta had free bags to SXM, and US Air did not, so we had to pay, but we were so happy to get there on the date we originally booked.
Carol Hill
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Re: Surviving airline issues
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#60725
07/07/2015 12:20 PM
07/07/2015 12:20 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999 Macon, Georgia
GlennA
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999
Macon, Georgia
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Even worse on Spirit. Flight delay out of ATL would have missed the FLL/STT leg and no compensation for staying in FLL over night. Rebooked for the next day but made me pay the baggage fee again. Said what I paid was for the original flight and baggage fees are not refundable.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. - Mark Twain
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Re: Surviving airline issues
[Re: GlennA]
#60727
07/07/2015 01:28 PM
07/07/2015 01:28 PM
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100 Maryland
Twanger
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100
Maryland
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GlennA said: Even worse on Spirit. Flight delay out of ATL would have missed the FLL/STT leg and no compensation for staying in FLL over night. Rebooked for the next day but made me pay the baggage fee again. Said what I paid was for the original flight and baggage fees are not refundable. Yep.
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Re: Surviving airline issues
[Re: Twanger]
#60729
07/07/2015 01:51 PM
07/07/2015 01:51 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951 St. John, USVI
RickG
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
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Twanger said: Lesson learned - if you outbound flight gets changed, make sure you're return flight is intact! Booking one-way flights has been working out pretty well for us. We frequently take United down on a weekend and AA or another airline back. For the last couple of years it has been cheaper that way. We also prefer off-season travel and sticking to a single airline for both directions limits choices a lot. Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: Surviving airline issues
[Re: Twanger]
#60730
07/07/2015 01:52 PM
07/07/2015 01:52 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,717 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,717
Central Florida!
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Now, that was a major screw-up by whoever re-booked you, as that should not have happened. Yes, they do cancel your return flight if you flat don't show up, but that wasn't the case in your situation.
Carol Hill
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