Just got email for a 10 minute change on a flight - What can I do?
Oct 31, 2014, 9:41 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 5
Just got email for a 10 minute change on a flight - What can I do?
I know this may be silly for a lot of people but I booked a flight 3 months ago for a Singapore - Tromso flight via AY.
Original flight leaves at 18:25. I booked this because I calculated I can leave work at exactly 17:00 and get to the airport at 17:30 and I should have enough time before gates close at 17:40.
They now changed it to 18:15.
I called the travel agent and they said they won't call AY because it's only 10 mins difference. If I want I can call AY and arrange it with them.
I know that 10 minute may not mean anything to a lot of people, but certainly does to me, as I book my flights very exact because I do not want to take leaves, or do not want the hassle of talking to my boss bout leaving earlier.
Does anyone here know of what my recourses are?
Original flight leaves at 18:25. I booked this because I calculated I can leave work at exactly 17:00 and get to the airport at 17:30 and I should have enough time before gates close at 17:40.
They now changed it to 18:15.
I called the travel agent and they said they won't call AY because it's only 10 mins difference. If I want I can call AY and arrange it with them.
I know that 10 minute may not mean anything to a lot of people, but certainly does to me, as I book my flights very exact because I do not want to take leaves, or do not want the hassle of talking to my boss bout leaving earlier.
Does anyone here know of what my recourses are?
Nov 1, 2014, 4:22 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,758
Welcome to FT, Vodkacran.
They will not close the gate 45 minutes before departure. Don't worry. Check in online and travel with hand luggage only. SIN is good in that security is at the gate. If you are at the gate 30 minutes before the departure time, there's no reason to worry.
They will not close the gate 45 minutes before departure. Don't worry. Check in online and travel with hand luggage only. SIN is good in that security is at the gate. If you are at the gate 30 minutes before the departure time, there's no reason to worry.
Nov 2, 2014, 12:11 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 5
1. I can not travel with hand luggage only, so that 10 minutes does matter to me. I would have expected everyone to say then just travel 10 minutes earlier, but it's not easy at work.
2. Is it within my right to cancel against any change by the airline? as what Ed Cost has mentioned?
3. It is operated by CX to HKG.
2. Is it within my right to cancel against any change by the airline? as what Ed Cost has mentioned?
3. It is operated by CX to HKG.
Nov 2, 2014, 1:42 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Switzerland
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 844
Why not ask AY to change to the direct 23:55 SIN-HEL? Arrival in HEL about 30min later than SIN-HKG-HEL, easily making the connnections to Norway.
Nov 3, 2014, 2:21 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Finland, Malaysia
Programs: AYS, EBG, AAP, FB, CZ, AK
Posts: 40
Exactly. Lot less travel time unless you want to hang around at HKG. The flight from HKG to HEL will leave after midnight. So will arrive in HEL almost same time.
Nov 3, 2014, 4:18 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,754
So it's easier to go through all this hassle and worry rather than talking to your boss?
Your boss obviously knows you are going on leave/taking vacation. Why not ask her/him if you can come in 10 minutes early that day, and leave 10 minutes early? Why not ask if you can work through your lunch break? Why not ask if one of your colleagues can cover those crucial 10 minutes before you leave?
Your boss obviously knows you are going on leave/taking vacation. Why not ask her/him if you can come in 10 minutes early that day, and leave 10 minutes early? Why not ask if you can work through your lunch break? Why not ask if one of your colleagues can cover those crucial 10 minutes before you leave?
Nov 3, 2014, 4:22 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,758
Your boss obviously knows you are going on leave/taking vacation. Why not ask her/him if you can come in 10 minutes early that day, and leave 10 minutes early? Why not ask if you can work through your lunch break? Why not ask if one of your colleagues can cover those crucial 10 minutes before you leave?
Nov 3, 2014, 5:12 am
#11
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,182
I can totally sympathize and identify with OP's wish of not wanting to ask for more time off, so let's focus on other solutions.
As for cancellations, I think you should call AY directly and ask. It is not certain advise given here will work in your jurisdiction - ticket rules depend on point of sales.
At the point of sales where I usually buy tickets it is said that a "significant change" in ticket details, like time of departure, is enough to allow for free cancellation. What a significant change is, is not defined by law. So if you want to cancel, you could call AY and argue that 10 minutes change is significant in your schedule.
The other suggestion given above is also worth trying - going directly instead of via HKG. The trouble here is that it can be very different tickets for the two routes, ie is in not just a matter of rerouting, it might be a matter of getting you a completely new ticket. That can lead to a hefty change fee. Again, AY will be able to tell you.
As for cancellations, I think you should call AY directly and ask. It is not certain advise given here will work in your jurisdiction - ticket rules depend on point of sales.
At the point of sales where I usually buy tickets it is said that a "significant change" in ticket details, like time of departure, is enough to allow for free cancellation. What a significant change is, is not defined by law. So if you want to cancel, you could call AY and argue that 10 minutes change is significant in your schedule.
The other suggestion given above is also worth trying - going directly instead of via HKG. The trouble here is that it can be very different tickets for the two routes, ie is in not just a matter of rerouting, it might be a matter of getting you a completely new ticket. That can lead to a hefty change fee. Again, AY will be able to tell you.
Nov 3, 2014, 5:14 am
#12
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,182
And BTW, I just got message from AY about a 5 minute change. Along with the message was this:
So even for a 5 minute change, they are prepared to handle questions and re-arrangements of flights.
In case you have connecting flight(s), this change might have an impact. Please contact Finnair for re arrangements.
Nov 3, 2014, 5:32 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: ZRH
Programs: A3 Gold, AY Silver
Posts: 458
Nov 3, 2014, 5:58 am
#14
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,456
SIN Gates close exactly 10min before departure.
If the flight is 6.15pm, for example, you can plan to have absolutely no problems of catching it when you reach the gate at 6pm.
That's imho the best thing about SIN, guaranteed gate closure times.
No "game" like in most other airports world wide.
If the flight is 6.15pm, for example, you can plan to have absolutely no problems of catching it when you reach the gate at 6pm.
That's imho the best thing about SIN, guaranteed gate closure times.
No "game" like in most other airports world wide.
Nov 3, 2014, 8:53 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: ZRH
Programs: A3 Gold, AY Silver
Posts: 458
Would it be possible for you to check in your luggage at the Hong Kong downtown location before going to work? It seems CX check in opens at 05:30.