Airline Schedule Changes!!!

[Patti Puzo]

Well, Frontier used to be our favorite airline, and the easiest, most economical, and best way to get from Denver to Ft. Lauderdale.
For the SECOND time in as many months, they have changed our schedule, and I guess their schedule schizophrenia is not over yet.
The customer service manager said that there will probably be more changes, before April 1st, and that they are not liable to commit to a schedule until 30 days out. I've tried to explain that we had international flights arranged and paid for, and that we have already had to pay to have our flights changed from the first schedule mess. The manager just kept reading the policy about "not being liable to commit to a schedule until 30 days prior to our departure date".
Thanks for letting me vent....

[vharrison]

Patti, sorry to hear of your troubles.

[JJ]

Patti, I am also sorry to hear of your troubles, but thanks for sharing. I guess it is risky when you don't fly through with a single carrier for your whole trip.

Although a bit different, I am reminded of the first trip to Abacos we took with the kids in 2000. We were flying on Continental from Orlando with a connection in Miami. On the day of our trip, we arrived at the Continental desk 2 hours ahead of our scheduled flight, as requested for international travel. The line was long. After standing for about 30 minutes, they started making announcements for people on flight such and such to Miami to please move to the head of the line. The flight was one hour before ours and a different flight number so we ignored it. A bit later, we made it to the desk and they gave us a funny look and said our flight was scheduled to leave right now. Our previous flight had been canceled and all passengers were moved to this earlier flight but no one bothered to tell us! The ticket agent called ahead to the gate where they said they could just wait a few minutes, but that was all, so they handed us our tickets and told us to run. Of course, one of my kids required a pit stop (the plane was small with no bathroom). Fortunately this was pre- 9/11/01, so there was no hassle going through security, but the Orlando Airport is pretty big. By the time we made it to our gate, they let us out the door to take the stairs down to the tarmac and there was our plane with the props going and starting to back-up. My three children and I burst into tears. The pilot saw us, pulled forward, stopped the engines and let us board. Everyone on the plane glared at us when we boarded. The plane was one of these small ones with only one seat on each side of the plane, or it may have had two on one side and one on the other. Because we were so late boarding, we had to scatter throughout the plane to the only remaining available seats. This was the smallest plane my kids had ever flown on and the poor things had to sit next to strangers. No one offered my husband and I a seat to be near our kids and the youngest was only 6! We were so happy when we arrived at the ferry dock and could see Green Turtle Cay waiting for us across the Sea of Abaco. Washed all the stress of getting there right away.

[Abacoparrott]

Patti.......I'm wid ya gal! I have a business flight out of Charlotte in 2 months and, as a result of your post, I decided to re-check my flight times......sur enuff, Delta had changed the flight times.......leaving 15 minutes earlier than the originally scheduled flight......all without notifying me directly. I had scheduled my flight DIRECTLY with Delta. If I were these folks, I would be embarrassed that my own customers have to fend for themselves by checking to see if something that they had already sold me had changed. The airlines have now trained us that their service is incompetent so we check these things for ourselves, leaving them free to book more "unknowing" customers.......so much for "technology"......Ken

[Patti Puzo]

JJ, If Continental flew directly to FLL, we would have checked them out, but we have been absolutely dazzled by both Vintage and Yellow Air Taxi several times in the past. The customer service level that they present, especially now-a-days is such a rare treat. They are so easy to communicate with, and they make you feel like you are the only one that matters. Kind of polar opposite from what the big boys are shovelling these days. I just wonder where it is going to go from here?
BTW, all of you that live in Florida are SO lucky to be that close to the islands. I am so jealous!

[JJ]

Patti, I agree about Vintage. That is why we have paid more to fly with them in the past. It is so easy to drive right up to their door at Daytona International (only 45 minutes from our home, north of Orlando) and dump the luggage then park a few hundred feet away. The service is so good and it is as close to hassle free as you can get. We did have some minor issues with them on our last trip that will force us to re-evaluate options next time we go. We also can't afford to go as frequently at Vintage's fares, so may look into less expensive options and expect more hassle on our next trips. We can either drive down to WPB or Ft. Lauderdale or fly Continental from Orlando with connections in Ft. L. or Miami, but these options add 4 or 5 hours to our travel time!

For you, it may be best to fly down to Ft. Lauderdale a day early and spend the night there before heading out the next morning to The Abacos. That would give you a lot more lead time if there are changes in your Denver to Ft. Lauderdale flight.

[SusieAndAl]

Patti,

Have you considered Midwest Airlines to FLL via Milwaukee for your next trip? It's a terrific airline.

[culp]

Can't believe it happened again, Patti! But the airline told me this is why they don't notify you of changes prior to 30 days...it can change several times between now and 30 days before departure.:mad:

[Patti Puzo]

Thanks SusiandAl. We have to look for different options next time, for sure. I just hate giving up a direct flight. It is such a luxury (or was). Guess it's all relative now.
Jeana, I hope your flight avoids all this craziness, since we recommended the merit and glories of Frontier. Sheeesh!
The manager pretty much assured us that another change or two would happen... since they are going through operational changes (trying to improve the bottom line).

[Abacoparrott]

Patti, why don't you let the Frontier manager know about this website. I think it's good for them to know that their "operational changes" have a side effect and that others now have a way to "spread the word".......Ken

[DaGoose]

Patti, that's too bad. Coming from the West there's really no great way to get to Abaco. It looks like you had that with a non stop flight, did they completely cancel that flight? I'm going to Hawaii in April (I know a neener neener should be forthcoming;) ) and my return flight from Lihue (on a Thursday) is not non stop but the same flight which Tony is taking is a non stop (on a Saturday). Have you tried maybe seeing if you left a day earlier, if that would help? You could stay at Grabbers for that night!

We're thinking we've found a pretty good flight for us which leaves San Diego around 9pm, stops in Las Vegas for an hour and a half and then a non stop to FLL getting us in at 7am. The problem is that it's US Airways and from previous discussions they aren't that great! The good news is that we're booked on the 9am flight to MHH with Continental!

At least that's what's scheduled, I'd better get on the horn and check! We booked thru Vayama, has anyone used them?

Teener

[Patti Puzo]

I did see that flight Tina. It was funny to go from Denver, to Las Vegas, and then to FLL. I may have to do some rearranging before May.

Ken, I was too busy counting to 10 and doing deep breathing exersizes while the robot on the other end kept reading me their new policy about the 30 day notice thang.

I did think for a brief moment about bringing up Mark's family....and making them an offer they couldn't refuse....... JUST KIDDING!!!!!

[Abacoparrott]

AHA! The old Mafia "prod"...........it MIGHT be the only thing that the airline folks will understand......ya gotta do what a woman's gotta do!............ken:D

[DaGoose]

I did see that flight Tina. It was funny to go from Denver, to Las Vegas, and then to FLL. I may have to do some rearranging before May.



Denver can't be that far from Las Vegas. It sure is going to be nice to get into MHH at 10am! We might not be able to check in to Sea Loft until 3pm but I'm sure we'll find something to do!:rolleyes:

Tina

[Marty]

Instead of dealing with the stress of international connections on different airlines, we fly into FLL the day before our flight to MHH and fly out of FLL the next day. The kids enjoy the extra day on each end in the hotel anyway. We usually take JetBlue from Dulles (DC) to FLL then Continental over to MHH and back. Continental changed our flight times last trip to an hour earlier and we barely made the connection going there. My fishing rods never made it. Picked them up on the way home. Going home, JetBlue cancelled our flight and rescheduled us for a flight the next day. They also paid for our hotel that year as well as giving us a hefty credit on each ticket. They screwed up our schedule, but more than made up for it.

[Patti Puzo]

After numerous phone calls, I received some good news. Hopefully, it will all work out. A very congenial customer service supervisor told me that Frontier has a policy stating that if, because of their schedule change, it impacts your original schedule and connecting flights by more than a 4 hour change, they will make it right by booking us with another airline. They want to wait until closer to 30 days prior to our depature, but I think I can work with that. I really appreciated her extra effort!:)

[DaGoose]

That's good news, Patti! We'll keep our fingers crossed for ya!

Tina

[Patty&Rudi]

Just got an email today from two folks coming to Hope Town with us.
They are going from Alberta (-50C) to visit their mom in Florida, then head to MHH.

Well, Continental called today and told them they'd get into Marsh Harbour around 5-something!

I checked the ferry schedules in a panic.

She called Continental back and said no way, and they changed her to a flight that gets in at 3-something.

Phew! Scary!