CO Getting Nasty with Schedule Changes
Jan 29, 2009 | 5:28 pm
#46
Join Date: Apr 2005
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RULE 24 FLIGHT DELAYS/CANCELLATIONS/AIRCRAFT CHANGES (revised December 7, 2007)
C) Change in Schedule - When a Passenger’s Ticketed flight is affected because of a Change in Schedule, CO will, at its
election arrange one of the following:
1) Transport the Passenger on its own flights, subject to availability, to the Destination, next Stopover point, or transfer point shown on its portion of the Ticket, without Stopover in the same class of service, at no additional
cost to the Passenger, provided that a Passenger who paid a Coach fare will only be transported on a flight in First Class or Business First Class Service subject to seat availability and if such flight will provide an earlier arrival
than CO’s next flight on which coach space is available;
2) Reroute Passengers over the lines of one or more carriers when a Change in Schedule results in the cancellation of all CO service between two cities;
3) Advise the Passenger that the value of his or her Ticket may be applied toward future travel on Continental within one year from the date of issue without a change or reissue fee; or
4) Provide a refund in accordance with Rule 27 A) if the Passenger is not transported as provided in C) 1) or 2) above and does not choose to apply the value of his or her Ticket toward future travel as provided in C) 3) above.
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...2008031001.pdf
C) Change in Schedule - When a Passenger’s Ticketed flight is affected because of a Change in Schedule, CO will, at its
election arrange one of the following:
1) Transport the Passenger on its own flights, subject to availability, to the Destination, next Stopover point, or transfer point shown on its portion of the Ticket, without Stopover in the same class of service, at no additional
cost to the Passenger, provided that a Passenger who paid a Coach fare will only be transported on a flight in First Class or Business First Class Service subject to seat availability and if such flight will provide an earlier arrival
than CO’s next flight on which coach space is available;
2) Reroute Passengers over the lines of one or more carriers when a Change in Schedule results in the cancellation of all CO service between two cities;
3) Advise the Passenger that the value of his or her Ticket may be applied toward future travel on Continental within one year from the date of issue without a change or reissue fee; or
4) Provide a refund in accordance with Rule 27 A) if the Passenger is not transported as provided in C) 1) or 2) above and does not choose to apply the value of his or her Ticket toward future travel as provided in C) 3) above.
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...2008031001.pdf
Problem is, she is connecting to another airline (on a separate ticket) at the CO destination and now faces a six-hour layover. She wants to take option #4 (refund and rebook on CO or another airline.)
One CO agent has told her that she can't get a refund because she's getting in earlier than originally scheduled. I'd guess their argument was that CO has chosen option #1, and that's that. A second apparently refused because the schedule change was made four months or so ago, and said basically that it's too late to do anything about it.
Any chance of getting a refund from CO? If so, what's the best way to try (besides calling?)
Jan 29, 2009 | 6:56 pm
#47
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OK, I have a situation where the schedule change has impacted the passenger as in case 1 - she now arrives almost four hours earlier than originally scheduled.
Problem is, she is connecting to another airline (on a separate ticket) at the CO destination and now faces a six-hour layover. She wants to take option #4 (refund and rebook on CO or another airline.)
One CO agent has told her that she can't get a refund because she's getting in earlier than originally scheduled. I'd guess their argument was that CO has chosen option #1, and that's that. A second apparently refused because the schedule change was made four months or so ago, and said basically that it's too late to do anything about it.
Any chance of getting a refund from CO? If so, what's the best way to try (besides calling?)
Problem is, she is connecting to another airline (on a separate ticket) at the CO destination and now faces a six-hour layover. She wants to take option #4 (refund and rebook on CO or another airline.)
One CO agent has told her that she can't get a refund because she's getting in earlier than originally scheduled. I'd guess their argument was that CO has chosen option #1, and that's that. A second apparently refused because the schedule change was made four months or so ago, and said basically that it's too late to do anything about it.
Any chance of getting a refund from CO? If so, what's the best way to try (besides calling?)
As for when the schedule change happened, you will need to counter with the fact that she never accepted the change, regardless of when it happened.
The phrase to request is "INVOL REFUND" and escalate to a supervisor or WE CARE until you get what you want.
Once they realize you will continue to waste their time until they do what they're supposed to, they will do what they're supposed to.
Jan 29, 2009 | 7:39 pm
#48
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Welcome to Boston. Expect stupid.
Programs: Foodland Maika'i Plastic Card, DL GM when it meant something
Posts: 300
Thanks for the suggestion, I will advise her to escalate this, but I get the feeling she will not want to pursue it that hard. (Which grates at me, because if it was my $150 at stake, I'd be all over CO until they caved.
)
Last edited by timstravel; Jan 29, 2009 at 7:43 pm Reason: can't add times right
Mar 20, 2010 | 8:08 pm
#50
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Central Florida
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Posts: 881
Does CO do regular schedule changes (i.e. on a specific date) or are they just random occurrences? I have a flight booked out for Memorial Day weekend and would prefer not to have some random happening alter my plans. So, if there is a specific day (like known schedule changes on April 15, for example), then I would know to check on my routing on that day and make any changes as necessary. If it is totally random, I guess I need to just pay attention, huh?
Mar 20, 2010 | 8:35 pm
#51
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,070
Does CO do regular schedule changes (i.e. on a specific date) or are they just random occurrences? I have a flight booked out for Memorial Day weekend and would prefer not to have some random happening alter my plans. So, if there is a specific day (like known schedule changes on April 15, for example), then I would know to check on my routing on that day and make any changes as necessary. If it is totally random, I guess I need to just pay attention, huh?
Mar 21, 2010 | 12:48 am
#52
Join Date: May 2009
Location: EWR
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Posts: 992
I don't expect heart, just fare rules and their operating as a for-profit entity.
Mar 21, 2010 | 6:58 am
#53
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,175
- Expect bookings far in the future to experience schedule changes more so than those less far out. (Still possible! But less likely.)
- At the risk of stating the obvious, expect bookings with connections to experience schedule changes (there are more flights involved).
Mar 21, 2010 | 7:24 am
#54
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I think they tend to "finalize" the schedule about two months out, and load schedule changes on a weekend towards the end of a month.
"Finalize" is in quotes because they tweak flights all the time, but the majority of the updates seem to be done around that time.
Mar 21, 2010 | 10:44 pm
#55
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Central Florida
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Thanks for the help, folks. Actually, the info provided was really what I was looking for. I will keep my eyes wide open through the end of March - and then check back periodically for any updates. I really like the flights that I have - as much as I can like RJ service into MKE - but, the times really work for me on the outbound. I wouldn't mind catching something a little later on the return, so if they do make a change, hopefully, it will be in that direction (never seems to work out that way, though, huh? 
).
).