Flight time change question
Mar 4, 2019, 9:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: YYZ, but wish I was in CGN
Programs: Anything and everything
Posts: 128
Flight time change question
Hello FT friends,
I originally booked EW 682 (CGN-ATH) flight and at the time of booking the flight times were 11:30 CGN departure and 15:35 ATH arrival. Fare class: Smart Fare.
EW has now changed the flight to depart at 07:00 CGN time. I am not pleased about the new flight time at all but it is a wee bit tolerable (though that means a very early AM hotel checkout). I would have weighed my options and flew out of FRA or DUS had I known it was a morning (weekend) flight.
Am I able to get them to switch my flight to a neighbouring airport (DUS, FRA) on the same day but no earlier than the original departure time and waive the rebooking fee, paying only any fare difference? Or will they cause a stink about it?
I originally booked EW 682 (CGN-ATH) flight and at the time of booking the flight times were 11:30 CGN departure and 15:35 ATH arrival. Fare class: Smart Fare.
EW has now changed the flight to depart at 07:00 CGN time. I am not pleased about the new flight time at all but it is a wee bit tolerable (though that means a very early AM hotel checkout). I would have weighed my options and flew out of FRA or DUS had I known it was a morning (weekend) flight.
Am I able to get them to switch my flight to a neighbouring airport (DUS, FRA) on the same day but no earlier than the original departure time and waive the rebooking fee, paying only any fare difference? Or will they cause a stink about it?
Last edited by wildace; Mar 4, 2019 at 12:02 pm
Mar 4, 2019, 12:26 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,017
Hello FT friends,
I originally booked EW 682 (CGN-ATH) flight and at the time of booking the flight times were 11:30 CGN departure and 15:35 ATH arrival. Fare class: Smart Fare.
EW has now changed the flight to depart at 07:00 CGN time. I am not pleased about the new flight time at all but it is a wee bit tolerable (though that means a very early AM hotel checkout). I would have weighed my options and flew out of FRA or DUS had I known it was a morning (weekend) flight.
Am I able to get them to switch my flight to a neighbouring airport (DUS, FRA) on the same day but no earlier than the original departure time and waive the rebooking fee, paying only any fare difference? Or will they cause a stink about it?
I originally booked EW 682 (CGN-ATH) flight and at the time of booking the flight times were 11:30 CGN departure and 15:35 ATH arrival. Fare class: Smart Fare.
EW has now changed the flight to depart at 07:00 CGN time. I am not pleased about the new flight time at all but it is a wee bit tolerable (though that means a very early AM hotel checkout). I would have weighed my options and flew out of FRA or DUS had I known it was a morning (weekend) flight.
Am I able to get them to switch my flight to a neighbouring airport (DUS, FRA) on the same day but no earlier than the original departure time and waive the rebooking fee, paying only any fare difference? Or will they cause a stink about it?
Mar 4, 2019, 1:55 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: YYZ, but wish I was in CGN
Programs: Anything and everything
Posts: 128
Mar 5, 2019, 8:13 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: YYZ, but wish I was in CGN
Programs: Anything and everything
Posts: 128
EW sent over diddly squat.
Mar 5, 2019, 8:49 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,812
You mean contacting all pax and asking whether the schedule change is acceptable? I'm sorry, but it doesn't work this way. In one way or the other you should get notified of a schedule change, and if it doesn't suit you, you need to react. I bet the majority of pax simply accept the schedule change without fuzz. It would be a huge task if the airline had to contact each and every pax to get their approval of the schedule change - simply impossible.
Mar 5, 2019, 8:53 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,812
To the OP, try to contact EW and ask nicely if you will be allowed to reroute ( I understood that you booked directly with EW so you need to contact and deal with EW). Most likely the answer will be "No". BUT you always have the opportunity to reject the schedule change and ask to cancel/for a full refund. Afterwards, you can book the new flights that fit you better on your own.
Last edited by SK AAR; Mar 5, 2019 at 8:58 am
Mar 5, 2019, 12:15 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: YYZ, but wish I was in CGN
Programs: Anything and everything
Posts: 128
You mean contacting all pax and asking whether the schedule change is acceptable? I'm sorry, but it doesn't work this way. In one way or the other you should get notified of a schedule change, and if it doesn't suit you, you need to react. I bet the majority of pax simply accept the schedule change without fuzz. It would be a huge task if the airline had to contact each and every pax to get their approval of the schedule change - simply impossible.
I'm just not too pleased they had originally set the summer schedule to be mid-day flights and then all of a sudden move them to morning flights after I book the ticket far enough in advance to avoid major changes.
Mar 5, 2019, 12:27 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,017
I agree. There is nothing in a business contract (aka. ticket purchase) that says "we will ask for your permission" before making any changes. However, at the very least the other party - in this case the airline - should be sending you notifications that some changes have been made, and it be up to you what you want to do next (i.e. change/cancel ticket, keep flight as is, etc.).
I'm just not too pleased they had originally set the summer schedule to be mid-day flights and then all of a sudden move them to morning flights after I book the ticket far enough in advance to avoid major changes.
I'm just not too pleased they had originally set the summer schedule to be mid-day flights and then all of a sudden move them to morning flights after I book the ticket far enough in advance to avoid major changes.
Mar 10, 2019, 3:17 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: Miles & More, BA Executive Club
Posts: 751
You mean contacting all pax and asking whether the schedule change is acceptable? I'm sorry, but it doesn't work this way. In one way or the other you should get notified of a schedule change, and if it doesn't suit you, you need to react. I bet the majority of pax simply accept the schedule change without fuzz. It would be a huge task if the airline had to contact each and every pax to get their approval of the schedule change - simply impossible.
Mar 10, 2019, 3:28 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: Miles & More, BA Executive Club
Posts: 751
I agree. There is nothing in a business contract (aka. ticket purchase) that says "we will ask for your permission" before making any changes. However, at the very least the other party - in this case the airline - should be sending you notifications that some changes have been made, and it be up to you what you want to do next (i.e. change/cancel ticket, keep flight as is, etc.).
I'm just not too pleased they had originally set the summer schedule to be mid-day flights and then all of a sudden move them to morning flights after I book the ticket far enough in advance to avoid major changes.
I'm just not too pleased they had originally set the summer schedule to be mid-day flights and then all of a sudden move them to morning flights after I book the ticket far enough in advance to avoid major changes.
This has happened to me recently too, albeit a route cancellation rather than a change of schedule. The airline rerouted me with very few questions asked. In my case though, it was a very public event too which did make things a bit simpler, as I only had to wait and see if my flights were affected and wait for the system to accept reroutings.
I had to book early for my trip but it still happened. Circumstances change and I’ve been told nothing is confirmed until about two weeks before the flight. Airlines sell so far in advance to help us but they can’t confirm everything then.
Last edited by iLied; Mar 11, 2019 at 7:15 am
Mar 11, 2019, 5:56 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,812
The issue is not to contact the pax - that should be fairly easy as you already point out. The issue if you have a procedure where the pax needs to positively react to a schedule change, i.e. to accept the schedule change. What will happen to the majority of pax who doesn't respond? The airline can/has to cancel and refund their tickets because new schedule is not accepted? I can assure you that would develop into chaos at airports with pax turning up for the flights but their tickets being cancelled because they didn't accept the schedule change. In reality there is no other solution than pax being informed of the schedule change and pax need to contact the airline or the OTA to get rebooked or cancel if they are not happy with it.
Mar 11, 2019, 7:13 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: Miles & More, BA Executive Club
Posts: 751
The issue is not to contact the pax - that should be fairly easy as you already point out. The issue if you have a procedure where the pax needs to positively react to a schedule change, i.e. to accept the schedule change. What will happen to the majority of pax who doesn't respond? The airline can/has to cancel and refund their tickets because new schedule is not accepted? I can assure you that would develop into chaos at airports with pax turning up for the flights but their tickets being cancelled because they didn't accept the schedule change. In reality there is no other solution than pax being informed of the schedule change and pax need to contact the airline or the OTA to get rebooked or cancel if they are not happy with it.