AF Schedule Change Question
Jan 12, 2018, 6:47 pm
#16
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Hah, that's the opposite of my experience 
. But we probably have very different patterns - and I'm not flying nearly as much as you do.
Despite being French, I've been based in the US for a while now and I can't even remember last time I had a schedule change in advance on DL, AA or Jetblue. I fly AF when I go back to France, which is on average 3 to 4 roundtrips a year (+ the odd random intra Europe trip), and for the past 3 roundtrips I got a schedule change on one of the flights. I usually book quite some time in advance, though (at least 3 months).
So maybe my statement was a little "exaggerated" when I said often, because I don't fly them often per se, but proportionally to my flying with AF, it is indeed often.
. But we probably have very different patterns - and I'm not flying nearly as much as you do.Despite being French, I've been based in the US for a while now and I can't even remember last time I had a schedule change in advance on DL, AA or Jetblue. I fly AF when I go back to France, which is on average 3 to 4 roundtrips a year (+ the odd random intra Europe trip), and for the past 3 roundtrips I got a schedule change on one of the flights. I usually book quite some time in advance, though (at least 3 months).
So maybe my statement was a little "exaggerated" when I said often, because I don't fly them often per se, but proportionally to my flying with AF, it is indeed often
.it seems that the almost-unanimous experience is that US airlines are very flexible in frequently adjusting their routing/schedule frequently, including in the near future. That explains why they are also flexible in allowing ticket changes.
Like other European airlines, AF does it very infrequently and usually well in advance (of course near-term changes can happen in case of unforeseen events like repairs to ac taken off rotation. I am thinking BA and 787s)
All statisticians would say that testing a theory on a sample size of one is not significant.
Last edited by brunos; Jan 12, 2018 at 7:43 pm
Jan 13, 2018, 1:28 am
#17
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I have had quite a few schedule changes with AF as well. Usually it is by a few minutes, sometimes a little more.
For example the AMS-CDG morning flight (KL1227 / AF8227). I wasn't always ticketed when these changes happened, but over the years they have shifted the departure time back-and-forth between 7:00AM and 7:30AM in 5 min increments.
These kind of changes can be very useful too though. They changed STD for a flight to paris by 10 minutes (earlier), meaning that leaving with an earlier flight from CDG to AMS was now possible (*just* within MCT). Even though they didnt rebook onto that automatically, they did for free after asking.
For example the AMS-CDG morning flight (KL1227 / AF8227). I wasn't always ticketed when these changes happened, but over the years they have shifted the departure time back-and-forth between 7:00AM and 7:30AM in 5 min increments.
These kind of changes can be very useful too though. They changed STD for a flight to paris by 10 minutes (earlier), meaning that leaving with an earlier flight from CDG to AMS was now possible (*just* within MCT). Even though they didnt rebook onto that automatically, they did for free after asking.
Jan 13, 2018, 2:34 am
#18
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GOT
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The 6.15 AF1553 out of GOT has no end of last-minute schedule changes... If the previous evening's flight comes in more than about 20 minutes late (as seems to happen rather often) then the morning flight is not delayed but actually rescheduled to the original time + the previous nights delay. I'm certain it's due to the same crew running both flights needing a specified minimum rest time.
KL solve the problem by having a fresh crew ready to take the morning flight back to AMS.
KL solve the problem by having a fresh crew ready to take the morning flight back to AMS.
Jan 16, 2018, 10:06 am
#19
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 51
As a TA myself, I would normally ask the question of AF if they would allow to switch flights. They say yes if the same booking class is available, or would also say yes if there is a justifiable reason, like potential to miss a meeting or something. You 50 mins would be less likely to get switched unless the same booking class that you originally booked was available on the flight you want to switch on to.
Jan 16, 2018, 10:16 am
#20
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As a TA myself, I would normally ask the question of AF if they would allow to switch flights. They say yes if the same booking class is available, or would also say yes if there is a justifiable reason, like potential to miss a meeting or something. You 50 mins would be less likely to get switched unless the same booking class that you originally booked was available on the flight you want to switch on to.
I tried to go this route. My original booking class from OTP-CDG is "J", and right now, they're only selling "I" class. I even explained that I was willing to take the "downgrade" in class, but they refused. This is further complicated by the fact that I'm on an AF-operated flight booked in "J" fare class. My preferred flight is an AF-marketed and RO-operated flight. At the moment, again, they're only selling "I" class seats, even though J is higher on the hierarchy.
Jan 16, 2018, 10:37 am
#21
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Waiting months and months and months just so you can talk to AF rather than dealing directly with the agent would not seem to be a strategy that will produce the desired result.
Jan 16, 2018, 10:42 am
#22
Original Poster
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In general, if you don't make contact with the travel agent within a short time after they notify you of the change, then it is deemed that you accept the change.
Waiting months and months and months just so you can talk to AF rather than dealing directly with the agent would not seem to be a strategy that will produce the desired result.
Waiting months and months and months just so you can talk to AF rather than dealing directly with the agent would not seem to be a strategy that will produce the desired result.
Jan 18, 2018, 4:54 am
#23
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That does not follow. What it implies is that this constitutes a change of schedule constitutes a breach of one of the terms of the contract. But not every breach of a term in the contract necessarily gives rise to a right to rescind the contract and therefore a refund.
Jan 25, 2018, 2:51 am
#25
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It's happening quite often lately. I have experienced 3 involuntarily long haul rebookings with AF in the past 2 months. And not just by a few hours, but by a full day. In all cases I cancelled with full refund, and rebooked with LH on the days I originally wanted to fly on.
Apr 14, 2018, 9:48 pm
#26
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How Flexible When Connection Is No Longer On Schedule?
Hi,
I am booked YVR-CDG-TPE and TPE-CDG-YVR (great fare in Premium Economy). On the return, my CDG-YVR segment no longer operates on the day I was scheduled.
Air France has changed my reservation so that my CDG-YVR has been moved up a day so that CDG-YVR actually departs well before my TPE-CDG flight lands -- that won't work, of course.
I have emailed Air France requesting they change my return to LAX since CDG-YVR no longer operates that date. Think they will accommodate that request?
Thanks!
I am booked YVR-CDG-TPE and TPE-CDG-YVR (great fare in Premium Economy). On the return, my CDG-YVR segment no longer operates on the day I was scheduled.
Air France has changed my reservation so that my CDG-YVR has been moved up a day so that CDG-YVR actually departs well before my TPE-CDG flight lands -- that won't work, of course.
I have emailed Air France requesting they change my return to LAX since CDG-YVR no longer operates that date. Think they will accommodate that request?
Thanks!
Apr 15, 2018, 1:57 am
#27
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Hi,
I am booked YVR-CDG-TPE and TPE-CDG-YVR (great fare in Premium Economy). On the return, my CDG-YVR segment no longer operates on the day I was scheduled.
Air France has changed my reservation so that my CDG-YVR has been moved up a day so that CDG-YVR actually departs well before my TPE-CDG flight lands -- that won't work, of course.
I have emailed Air France requesting they change my return to LAX since CDG-YVR no longer operates that date. Think they will accommodate that request?
Thanks!
I am booked YVR-CDG-TPE and TPE-CDG-YVR (great fare in Premium Economy). On the return, my CDG-YVR segment no longer operates on the day I was scheduled.
Air France has changed my reservation so that my CDG-YVR has been moved up a day so that CDG-YVR actually departs well before my TPE-CDG flight lands -- that won't work, of course.
I have emailed Air France requesting they change my return to LAX since CDG-YVR no longer operates that date. Think they will accommodate that request?
Thanks!
Apr 15, 2018, 4:49 am
#28
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I think that TPE-CDG only operates three days a week, so that might get tough to change the return date. But if you find a date that works for you (moving both flights) AF should be able to do it.
But I wonder how is your connection in CDG as TPE-CDG, as the AF flight arrives early evening and the YVR flight departs in morning. Maybe they had put you on BR (Eva Air)??
If you wish to keep the same travel date for your CDG-YVR, you should indeed look at CDG-SEA-YVR. DL has frequent flights SEA-YVR, but few on LAX-YVR. That way you could keep PE on the TATL, if you reroute on KL or DL, there is no PE.
As Goldorak suggested, you should do a lot of research before calling AF to propose alternatives.
But I wonder how is your connection in CDG as TPE-CDG, as the AF flight arrives early evening and the YVR flight departs in morning. Maybe they had put you on BR (Eva Air)??
If you wish to keep the same travel date for your CDG-YVR, you should indeed look at CDG-SEA-YVR. DL has frequent flights SEA-YVR, but few on LAX-YVR. That way you could keep PE on the TATL, if you reroute on KL or DL, there is no PE.
As Goldorak suggested, you should do a lot of research before calling AF to propose alternatives.
Apr 18, 2018, 1:41 am
#29
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Hi,
I am booked YVR-CDG-TPE and TPE-CDG-YVR (great fare in Premium Economy). On the return, my CDG-YVR segment no longer operates on the day I was scheduled.
Air France has changed my reservation so that my CDG-YVR has been moved up a day so that CDG-YVR actually departs well before my TPE-CDG flight lands -- that won't work, of course.
I have emailed Air France requesting they change my return to LAX since CDG-YVR no longer operates that date. Think they will accommodate that request?
Thanks!
I am booked YVR-CDG-TPE and TPE-CDG-YVR (great fare in Premium Economy). On the return, my CDG-YVR segment no longer operates on the day I was scheduled.
Air France has changed my reservation so that my CDG-YVR has been moved up a day so that CDG-YVR actually departs well before my TPE-CDG flight lands -- that won't work, of course.
I have emailed Air France requesting they change my return to LAX since CDG-YVR no longer operates that date. Think they will accommodate that request?
Thanks!
Three airlines (AC, BR, CI) have nonstop flights between TPE and YVR (10h30 duration).
Choosing to fly via Europe doubles the flight time not counting the transfer time in CDG. Even if PE is available at a cheaper fare than Y nonstop, it is not worth it. It is just slightly better economy. Of course, if Business class was available for the price of nonstop Y, that might be a different story.