EK flight time changes...
 

In the last several months I am noticing EK making changes to my booked flight times. Today a flight EK852 on April 13th has been advanced by 10 minutes. Before Christmas I got caught with such a change and had to pay a penalty to catch a later flight. In that case, I arrived at the airport (DXB) with my printout and was told - "Sorry it has been changed and you should have received an SMS." Mobile was turned off as I was outside of the UAE and ... Grrr. Lesson learned. Now I get my alerts with emails.

In addition, my flights 106 and 881 on April 21st and 22nd have also been changed.

Anyone else have such changes? Ten or 15 minutes can make a BIG difference in my travel plans when others are depending on me leaving at a certain time and NOT earlier.

Comments? Is there a way to change this flight to a later one and NOT pay the EK "change fees"? Flying later would be better than flying sooner.

I don't really see how 10 minutes makes that much of a difference. With air travel having flexibility of 30-60 minutes built into one's schedule is pretty much required.

Free changes are generally permitted with significant schedule changes (not sure how EK defines this, but it'd be >60 minutes most likely)

I am expected to be at a meeting until a certain time. Period! I get good money to follow the Boss' schedule. My Boss gives diddly squat about what EK is doing with my travel plans. Hence the question about changing to a later flight.

Yes but if your schedule doesn't allow for a 10-minute delay it's a bit tight to begin with I'd say, what if there's a traffic jam? Do you plan to arrive at the airport at exactly T-60 to check-in?

In the same way that your boss does not care about what EK does with its scheduling, EK does not care about your schedule with your boss.

For small time changes such as this, it is unlikely you will be offered free rebooking regardless of ticket type.

You will likely be liable to any change fees and fare differences if you want to change flight.

I agree with skywardhunter that if 10-15 minutes is enough to make you a no-show, then your itinerary probably needs more time to allow for unforeseen issues (which could even be long queues at security or immigration).

Traffic is not an issue mid-day. I may either ask my Boss if I can leave early, or (more likely) drop my bags off before the meeting .....

No one is commenting on whether these schedule changes are common with EK. I have had 4 already since Dec 2016 and I don't fly EK that often (10 times since Sept 2016).

I don't think they're that frequent, but more likely that an occasional overall schedule review causes multiple flight schedules to be adapted slightly. Also adjustment for change in winds/average flight times etc. I've noticed one of my regular flights now arrives 10 minutes later than it used to.

Luckily this hasn't resulted in me missing a meeting yet!

Your first sentence seems to indicate you don't work for someone else or else your boss is carefree wrt your work schedule. When a schedule is posted and a booking made (based on the assumption that the stated schedule will remain as printed), what consequence is there for changes? You say none for the customer. When does a change become important? 10 minutes, 30 seconds, 40 minutes?

Just wondering, because it seems the customer is left holding the bag with changes?

As far as your comment about EK not caring, I suppose I can always fly Qatar next time. Their schedules have never been changed (after booking) in the past 3 years of flying with them. Besides, they have more available flights - but they cost more :rolleyes:

I fail to see how pointing out that EK does not care about the schedules of its passengers has to do with my working arrangements.

The point is, EK is not liable for consequential losses - of which you missing a flight because of your personal commitments would be.

Yes - customers are left holding the bag, that is nature of air travel.

Emirates' conditions of travel makes the threshold for changes being "reasonable":

https://www.emirates.com/english/ima...233-431995.pdf

Specifically in the main contract, Article 9.1.1:

https://cdn.ek.aero/english/images/c...233-194795.pdf

There are remedies of course, if:

Of course, what is reasonable would be up to a court to decide, but I think 10 minutes is not going to pass that test. An hour, potentially, potentially not. I think it would also depend on the notice given.

If it was held that they failed to operate the flight reasonably then:

- you can be rerouted
- you can have a refund reflecting carriage not taken

I would wager that most EK pax` schedules include over 12 hours of travel time, sometimes more than double that. A 10 minute (less than 2% of total travel time) change is truly, by no standard, significant.

No matter now. The EK changes are what they are. I have now made my next booking with QR and their more frequent flights will not make things "so tight for me" - even if they make a 10 or even 30 minute schedule change ;)

I expect no changes to their schedule (as I also do expect with any airline when I book with them). But you never know.

Thanks to all for the input. I will see if my Boss is understanding and will let me leave the meeting early... Fingers crossed. :rolleyes:

Maybe it's time to get a new boss ;)

Unless it's the Boss meaning Bruce Springsteen.

Don't make him / her anymore important by giving them a capital b!!! If they aren't going to let you leave ten mins early they sound like an arse.

Unless of course you work in a nuclear reactor or your boss is a heart surgeon :)

All airlines have schedule changes, and generally do not provide for free flight changes for minor schedule changes (10 minutes is minor). I think you've been lucky with QR (and/or have not flown with them often enough to experience this).

Sometimes they will provide more flexibility - if it suits them (e.g. your original flight is oversold but the other flight option is lightly loaded), or as a goodwill gesture to high status/high value customer. However, this is never guaranteed. It doesn't hurt to ask EK but don't expect a free flight change for such a minor schedule change.

This BOSS is the best one I have worked for in a veeeerrrrry long time. Hence my attitude to following his directions. Nope, Brucie is not a Boss that I recognize - he depends of fans for his income. I don't contribute to that sort of media hype :p That said, Brucie is a very good singer/songwriter ^

No matter, the deed is done with EK. My Boss is happy too with my "unscheduled" early departure. Maybe I should bring him some Turkish locum when in the Greece-Turkey area flying a connection with EK.

Strangely enough, my MAN-DOH on QR flight time was changed from 08:00 to 07:50 a couple of months back. Fortunately, I'm not important enough that it made any difference :)

To answer your question: yes, I find that on the DXB/CPT (vv) sector there are relatively frequent (usually small) changes.
I yesterday has a quick look at an upcoming trip on my 'phone app and it alerted me to a 35 (!) minute change (later, not earlier) on the DXB/CPT return in October (that's not cool, as the layover is now almost 4 hours and I don't particularly enjoy that much lounge time from midnight until 03:50) .
It required me to acknowledge the change before allowing me to look at the itinerary. Also, before my acknowledgment it told me there was no seat reserved and afterwards my 7K was back.

Well, from my perspective, a delay is better than an advanced departure time - unless a connection must be made...

That said, I have invoked my idea that I fly at my convenience (not at the convenience of any airline), and also invoked "the customer is always right" clause. Two basic customer rights everywhere... Airlines rely on paying customers rather than passengers relying on any particular airline - as seemed to be intimated in contribution #5.

Instead of selecting my next flight with EK, I have paid for a QR flight. Cost a bit more than the EK flight (well about 5 Euros more), BUT I have lounge access with QR and free seat selection so for me it a better deal. Got great seats in row 14 on both flights. No row 13... wonder what that means ;)

That said, originally, I switched to EK because QR costs were up to 100 Euros more than EK flights. Thus, earlier (ie Sept to Dec 2016) it was wise to save the impact on my wallet by switching to EK. This EK schedule advancement thing (this week) was the final straw. BUT is a significant price discrepancy starts up again, then I will reconsider again.

Now to see if they (QR) leave earlier than currently scheduled, or (more likely with QR) a bit later than scheduled. :rolleyes:

I think there's another contributor on here who you may get along quite well with. I believe he's also currently favouring QR over EK

I think you misinterpreted my post.

You said in post 3:

To which I replied stating that, in the same way, EK will not be generally be flexible because you change your plans - they don't care that your boss has made you stay an extra 10 minutes or refuses to let you go 10 minutes early, and their flight time change might make you miss your flight.

In their book, that is a voluntary no-show and the usual penalties apply, because 10 minutes is "reasonably" close to the schedule, which you have accepted as being approximate in buying the ticket.

Whilst it's trivially true that airlines rely on customers for revenue, and people have changed carriers for less than refusing to waive a change fee, there are always streams of people switching the other way (e.g. from QR to EK because of fares, customer service, etc.)

If you are looking for an airline that will guarantee you a schedule, you will not find one because all airlines have similar clauses in their contracts.

For example, in QR's condition of carriage, Article 10:
http://www.qatarairways.com/global/e...-carriage.page

Once again, in an identical fashion to EK, the test is "reasonableness".

You are, of course, free to choose any carrier you wish for any reasons you wish - clearly you feel that any schedule change should entitle you to a free change in all circumstances and EK is not meeting your needs there.

The customer may not always be right - but he is the customer.

Schedule change policy
 

I have a ticket on Emirate in F (A booking class) that I purchased in January. The departure date is in a week. I had booked the flights that I believe were operated by the A380 between DXB and JNB. Since then, they have changed the schedule and my flights are on a 77W and offset to 40 minutes earlier out of DXB on the outbound.
I would like to get back on the A380 operated flight that now departs 6h later in both directions.
The fare has increased significantly, so a normal change procedure before departure would require a large difference in fare that I do not want to pay. Changing the return would be inexpensive after departure and I don't have an issue with paying the change fee if it comes to that.

How flexible is EK with changes when there's a 40 minute schedule change?
Or how difficult is it to change once in DXB on the outbound, if availability is still there? Once in DXB, it is after departure from origin and I believe there would not be any re-faring involved.

I don't think you'll have a lot of luck here. A 40-minute schedule change is not going to trigger them changing your flights. You could ask, but I would expect to be told 'no'. You are never guaranteed an aircraft type.

How short has it made your layover? You've correctly picked up that as soon as the trip begins historic fares at the time of original ticketing are used. However this means if the later flight (which at the original ticketing time was scheduled on a 77W) was originally more expensive, it still will be if you want to change it after your first flight departs.

The fact you're in F may help. Initially I would definitely try calling and pleading, on the basis that:

1. You specifically wanted the A380 for the shower and bar which the 77W doesn't have
2. Your layover is now too short for you to enjoy the lounge and have a stress-free transit (don't know how short it is, of course this argument won't hold if you still have a 4h layover).

Have you looked at the next day's flight and adding a 1-day stopover in DXB? Unlikely that fares would be significantly different but perhaps an option.

I'd try calling at least twice, if the first agent at least hesitates before saying no, you might just get lucky. You can also ask them to consult a supervisor and make it clear you're very unhappy, no idea if it'll work. Please do report back, though.

Lastly, you're in F. The difference isn't that significant in F. In J it's another story. You're missing out on the bar and the shower, however I'm guessing you're US based, judging by your FF memberships, and probably have an A380 to DXB for the first leg, so you are going to experience those perks. The suite itself is basically identical in a 77W as it is in the A380.

skywardhunter, my first flight is from the Middle East, so no A380 there.
The new schedule has reduced the connection time from 4h to 3h20.

Personally I like the quieter A380 to the 77W. The difference is very noticeable to me. Also having the possibility of taking a shower before landing is something I enjoy.

I will call and see what they say.

Ah that is unfortunate, in that case it might be tricky, as you have plenty of connection time and equally aren't otherwise experiencing the A380. Call and see what you get, no harm in trying.

Agreed, although when I make a booking it does on most sites list the type of aircraft for each leg and for me that is a defining reason why I book said ticket.

Another factor that can affect this is the amount of time that has elapsed since the change. IME, changes such as this are subject to the usual 'cooling off' period of 12 hours. This is the time when CSRs can make changes to a booking and waive the change fees without going to their supervisor. If you call within that time frame and you're adamant about how unhappy you are, you will have a far greater chance.

Hope it works out for you. Don't worry if it doesn't, F in the 77W is still marvellous.

EK don't guarantee a particular plane so no chance they'll let you move it without paying the fare difference.

You leave yourself open to a lot of disappointment, and not just on Emirates.

Perhaps but so far I have been lucky, other than screwing up a booking once.

My point is, if the website is showing me what type of aircraft the ticket is based on, I would try my luck with Emirates - I appreciate that from the airlines POV T&C's would cover any aircraft changes but it would be worth a shot.

Oh yes, it is, if requested. The EK schedule change policy has no minimum time change threshold that must be met before a passenger may change to an alternate flight. The only major consideration is the passenger must pay any difference in taxes if, for example, the new itinerary creates a stopover in DXB, or uses a different departure airport.