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Last month I bought 2 RT tickets from New York (LGA) to STX via San Juan through Travelocity for April 29. Got a good price, $374 ea. taxes inc. The first leg is on US Air, LGA to SJU. The SJU to STX on American Eagle. Every thing was looking good. Just enough time to change planes with a minimum of hanging around in the airport.
Then, last Sunday Iget an e-mail telling me that US Air has changed the times of the flights. Going down, we now arrive one half hour AFTER our flight to STX has left. This is not acceptable.
I called Travelocity, talked to the lady in India. She called US Air while I was on hold, argued with them (reps and at least 2 supervisors) to make things right. They agreeed to change my booking to another flight though Charlotte but wanted some one to pay fees and increased ticket price. Well, after an hour and a half on hold with intermitent updates I was rebooked at no charge to anyone and will arrive in SJU within a few minutes of my original schedule, Yes, I have to leave earlier, travel longer, be stuck in San Jaun an extra 2 hours on the way home but I can sleep better knowing thatI'll get at least as much time on island as I had planned.
I've always gone AA all the way in the past with no problems even when threatened by a hurricane last Oct. They gladly accomodated the needed change of flight. I am now soured on US Air. Maybe that's why they are having financial problems.
Glad to hear that Gnome made things right in the end (albeit after some long hang time). Enjoy your trip 🙂
That is similar to the problems I have experienced with them, which I have previusly detailed. However, they are probably the only airline offerig a low price guarantee on their tickets (without a penalty) - meaning you get a voucher if your fare goes down before you travel. AA doesn't offer that. The vouchers are my reason to continue with USAir and their antics.
I've never had problems dealing directly with USAirways when something like this happened, providing I booked directly with them (or through a travel agent). I was anticipating a problem this trip when the schedule changed, but before I could deal with it, it changed again and the conflict was resolved. I lose two hours on arrival, but have a later departure so it all works out.
I ALWAYS use an Travel Agency. Heard so many nightmares from these on - line booking sources and do not want to jepordise my vacation that I work so hard for.
It's usually the same price and if it's just a couple bucks more, it's worth it.
Even booking with the airlines direct is risky. They will only offer flights with them-which is sometimes not a lot of options. Plus if they go on strike or file for bankrupcy...good luck trying to get a person to speak to
I booked USAIR to STT for March out of Boston in early November. Since the merger, my flights have been changed five times. Orginally I ws scheduled to get into STT at 1:30pm just a few minutes behind my friends and now I'm 45 minutes later. Same thing with going back. Next time I'm take another poster's advice and pay the money for the non-stop.
Unfortunately, using a TA does not insure smooth travel. My brother-in-law had huge issues when the TA they used filed for bankruptcy...and they had travel insurance.
I guess the point I was trying to make is that it's good to have a big guy on your side if a problem comes up. If I had bought the tickets direct from USAIR I'd probably be SOL. And as Chris mentioned, if you go with a little guy you may also end up stuck.
Bassman
I've gotten vouchers twice with AA and used them without problem. That is why I'd prefer to stick with the airlines directly and am hesitant to use travelocity, etc.
My understanding is the AA charges a penalty for their fare change vouchers, while USAir doesn't charge the penatly. Does anyone know if AA is issuing vouchers without penatly now?
On American you loose $100 per ticket change so the fare change has be huge to get a voucher.
It;s been awhile since I did that. At the time it did seem too good to be true. Oh well, so much for that. Thanks for letting me know.
No airline is perfect, but US Air has bailed me out a number of times when I've had problems with other airlines with supposedly better reputations. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I like US Air.
Me too. I don't get the attitude from them that some of the others have. They've gone out of their way a couple of times to bail me out even when I was the one who screwed up.
This thread is very timely for me. I was just notified about 2 hours ago by my travel agent that our flight times on AA for our wedding/honeymoon were changed. It was a rather significant change at that - originally arriving in STT around 3:30, new flight wouldn't get us there until after 10PM. So, now we had to cancel our flight on AA and book on USAir, which will cause us to spend over $300 more total. I guess when USAir has a strangle-hold on your airport (PIT), you're screwed. Hope the prices drop, but TA thinks they will only issue a voucher for future use.
I just got my tickets yesterday......$406 pp out of IAD to STX for June. That seemed fairly low so I bought them (I took note that the plane was 1/2 full from IAD- STX). Last night the tickets went up to $600 pp. It's wierd b/c just a few days ago, the flight times out of PHL changed dramatically and flights were cut. I did call AA and the woman spoke of unfilled flights. Maybe that's why the price went up?? Who knows. I was just lucky. I bet the price will drop again soon.
If my flight changes, hmmmmm, I dont know what I'll do. I do have a travel agent friend who I would consult and I bet she'd have some good advise. It all seems like a crap shoot to me.
You can be sure I will check regularly to see if my flight is still there!!
Travelocity, Orbitz, etc are good to check various flight times and numbers - then go to the carrier to book the flight directly. I have found more times than I can count the fare I booke directly with USAir was lower than what was offered on Travelocity - I fly direct STT to CLT (love the non stop...and fares generally will usually be in the $400 to $500 range, as long as you aren't flying on a weekend....which is when EVERYBODY is flying, it seems.....I won't bore you with an EOM Sunday flight nightmare...teehee)
USAir has always been great - and the flight staff has gotten to know me by now 😉
I looked at your method myself last year. It turned out that the buy direct price didn't show taxes and airport fees until time to pay so they seemed cheaper than Travelocity. They include hose costs up front. Also, will the airline notify you of flight changes or do you have to constantly check back for changes? or find out when you get to the airport that your flight/ticket was changed and the flight has left or will leave in another 6 hours?
I was notified by e-mail by Travelocity as soon as the change was made.
Bassman,
Continental will notify you of any changes by e-mail automatically. I live in Canada and fly Air Canada a lot. They also notify me of any changes.
Just a question to ponder... How many other industries/companies do you think would be able to survive if they did the same things the airline industry does... dramatic price increases/decreases... flight changes... cancellations... constant delays. Would you buy a product anywhere else and pay for it 2 months... 6 months or even a year before it's delivered and you use it? And then not be able to cancel your order without a hefty penalty? Would you shop at a store that constantly was changing it's prices so you didn't know what price something would be at any given time? How about if that store yanked their product off the shelf at any time and told you that you couldn't have it?
I know... it's my choice to fly or not, but I still feel like they have me by the cahonies!!
crickett : )>
I agree. I find this all very frustrating. Give me a price and let me buy it. I am not a gambler and I like things in black and white. So, I bought my tickets at a price I thought was reasonable and now I just live with it. If the prices drop, of course I'll feel bad but I know I have a ticket......except the whole over booking thing, which is another source of frustration to me. UGH!!!!
