travel agents- i booked a holiday for next summer for my family a few months ago?

Question

yesterday i recieved notice that they have changed my flights from 9am to 5.30 pm so instead of arriving back home at 6pm id now arrived home at 3 am in the morning. i would never have booked such awful night flights as i have 3 kids with me-can anyone tell me of my rights they have said theyll put me on a 8.30 am flight now but i have to pay extra -do i have any choice? serious answersa only please

Answer 1

Booking flights so far out is risky. Airlines change their schedules every season, so yes you are subject to changes with or with out notice, its outlined in the Terms and Conditions when you made the purchase. You can book a flight and it can change or cancel an hour later. They just do a re-work person by person on the remaining flights. They don't know your personal situations, so they don't know your plans once you arrive at your destination. What you purchase is a reservation, you don't buy a seat on a certain plane. The airlines responsibility is only to get you to that destination, times are never guaranteed. You really don't have any "rights" because this is part of what you agreed to when you purchased the ticket. If you are traveling next summer, you can guarantee you flights and times will change several more times. Always keep checking. The only option you would have to get on an earlier flight would be, if space is available and if the airline offers it, pay same day confirm of $25 each. For $25 you can be confirmed with a seat on an earlier flight 3hrs before departure. Some airlines, not many, still offer stand-by. But keep watching the reservations on their website, I can almost promise it will change a few more times.

Unfortunately that's the nature of the beast. Re-read the fare rules, its all outlined in there, or go to that airlines website. They can make changes if it's with-in 12hrs of your original departure time. Rule 240 isn't something you can demand, some airlines don't acknowledge Rule 240. If they do, the accepting carrier must first agree to take your ticket. Usually they will not take the bottom tier discount fares, they won't make any money off of those.

You can keep calling or wait a few months and then check again. If you make changes now and your flight isnt until June, for example, what they put you on now will more than likely change too. I booked a flight 2 months in advanced, and it changed twice with in that time frame, but only a matter of an hour on each flight fortunately.

Each time you call, the reservation is documented of the conversation, so you could call back and get someone who would change it no problem, or get someone who is a stickler for the rules. If you'd like, ask to speak to a supervisor and explain the situation to see if there is anything they can/will do. But just be advised that again, the airline has the right to make changes with or with out notifying the passenger, again....its in Terms and Conditions you agreed to when you purchased the ticket.

Finally, if you went through a 3rd party website, you have to contact them, the airline can not and will not touch tickets that were purchased from websites like Priceline, Cheap Tickets, Hotwire etc...any bulk consolidator like the ones mentioned and any auction website. If you didnt purchase the package with the airline, you need to go back through that company/website/agency.

Answer 2

I think we need to know a few more facts first. None the least of which is which country the question asker is in and if it is a "package" or a split contract job. (ie is it an "all in" job or was the accommodation and the flights booked seperately. Yes, there is in the T and C that phrase "....charter flight times may vary by up to 12 hours" The question is, did buggerlug sign the booking form? He may well be caught in that T&C catch. That said, it seems a bit thick to book him on the 09:00, move it to 17:30, bring in an 08:30 and then say he has to pay extra. BUT it depends on what country buggerlug is in and which tour operator.

Answer 3

Hi
If you booked a package through one of the UK tour operators their is very ;little you can do as they have flight time changes well covered in the terms and conditions and would have to had changed the flight by over 12 hours before you are intiled to any thing. They will have a reference to the brouchure being prepared a long way in advance etc. if you have brought a package that you have put together yourself or your agent has you may be able to get them to change the flight proprtion this will be at a cost but at least you will get better flight times

Answer 4

Generally there's a clause that say they reserve the right to alter your travel arrangements as long as it doesn't cut your holiday short by more than 12 hours. The T&C's tend to tie you hands, they can do what they want. If it's a "component type holiday" like the big villa agents etc. they're generally pretty good and will let you cancel the flights FOC if it's a significant change in schedule and then your can arrange your own. If it's a package holiday or you were thinking of cancelling completely it's highly unlikely they'll let you do that without losing your deposit.

Answer 5

If it is just airfare, the airline must reaccomodate you to a flight time within 2 hours of your original departure time or offer you a refund (their choice) per rule 240. If it's a travel package, the air is considered "chartered" and that provision does not exist. If you have purchased travel insurance, contact them and advise of the schedule change and that it does not work with your schedule for the trip. If either of these do not work for you....

I would insist with the travel comapny that booked your trip that you be changed to the earlier flight, at no cost, per schedule change ...

Good luck

Answer 6

Do a little research on flight times, make sure to have your options ready to give to the agent. Just call the airline, say the new flight schedule doesn't fit with with yours, and tell them what you want to do. They should be able to reaccommodate you with no problems and no fees, or you can get a refund, YOUR choice.

I've been able to get my schedule completely changed around with just a 10-minute schedule change.

To the "Own Jaiden Travel" answerer above... you need to get retrained, as officially there is no "Rule 240" anymore (unless the specific airline adopted it after deregulation), and it is the PAX's choice on reacc vs. refund.

Answer 7

Thnat 3am arrival flight should be a cheaper option, the 8.30 one you should get for the same price, thats not on, its not with "on the beach" holiday company is it, as they have all sorts of clauses and no transfers ect, I think you should stick to you guns, you want the flight for the same price, it is half an hour they are being unreasonable, tell them you will go to abta and are seeking further advice, make sure your speaking to the top man and not the office "jobs worth" person. good luck.