Reminder -- keep checking your flight reservations

Yes!!!

I had a flight moved 2 DAYS LATER once. The only direct flight that day was eliminated so they moved me to the next direct - which wasn't until 2 days after the original flight. I called and had no trouble moving to a flight with a connection but imagine if I hadn't noticed!

I'm surprised that kind of thing happens. I booked a flight to France on Delta/KLM last Fall for later this month, and a couple of months ago I got an email that the schedule had changed -- by about 5 minutes for 2 of the flights.

I finally hit my limit when American Airlines made substantial schedule changes to the first leg of the flight and the changes did not flow down to the code share flight on the second leg (which was showing as scheduled to leave two hours before the first flight arrived at the connection city). I got no e-mail, I only found out by a random check. This was on top of at least 6 changes made to another (unrelated) flight a few months earlier...I've never had such a mess happen with other airlines. Since American Airlines systems seem to allow major inconsistencies with code share flights (it's like their systems aren't talking to each other) and they cannot guarantee notification, I just called them up and cancelled the flight altogether (and rebooked with an airline that doesn't cause me to waste so much time dealing with them). If I were you, I would have the airline give you a better schedule. They are obligated to do that in case of major changes.

I learned the hard way to check, especially when a code share flight is involved, for any changes. I always call and reschedule if the changes are substantial or will have an adverse impact. Most airline systems will send automated alerts for any change, even 5 minutes. That's why I was really surprised at what occurred with a code share flight.

No, I'm not saying hands down to avoid any airline (my experience is two data points on two different itineraries, but it was relevant in my decision making)...this is more of a PSA to always check flight reservations. I hardly ever check direct (or one connection) domestic flights like Southwest, but always international ones that have connections where a code share is involved. I can't say that the problem is only in AA...it really depends on how well the alert systems are integrated between airlines and their code share partners and whether alerts/red flags go off when they should (and that communication flows down the chain). I wish I didn't have to check anything but you just can't rely on the airlines when it comes to any complicated itineraries. Mine wasn't complicated per se, but it required a West Jet flight out of Toronto which was somehow not on the same ticket, even though I did not purchase each leg separately. The reservation agent at AA was nice but could not explain the discrepancy of why this change was allowed (despite conflict on second leg) and why they didn't notify me via e-mail even though I'm in their loyalty program (they did so with an unrelated flight earlier - I constantly got e-mails with changes). Whatever the case, you have to choose to where to put your money and I'd rather avoid dealing with stuff like this...it doesn't at all mean that others won't have good experiences.

I had to go back and look at my trip report to remember who I booked with. I flew to Spain in 2012 and had booked a round trip flight to Madrid with United (operated code share by Aer Lingus) with a hop on Spanair (again on the same United ticket) to Barcelona to start the trip.

Between buying the ticket and our trip, I read news that Spanair was going out of business. I contacted United (I think they were merging with Continental at the time) right away and, after hours waiting, was given a very cold response. We are aware of the issue and our agents will take care of it - essentially don't bother us.

I kept checking my reservation and it was the same week after week. About a week or two before the flight I went online and entered our passport numbers and other required traveler information. When the reservation updated, poof, the Spanair portion was gone but replaced by nothing. I called again, spent hours on hold, and finally gave up and drove to the airport to stand in line and talk to a ticket agent. The flight had been direct from DC to Madrid but was replaced by a change in Newark then direct to Barcelona.

What a hassle.

On an earlier flight home from Rome on KLM I got contacted many times about changed times, layovers, etc. After about five changes, I ended up with something that was virtually identical to the original ticket I had purchased. At least they contacted me and discussed my, mostly bad, options (e.g. overnight in Amsterdam or Minneapolis) before rebooking.

I'm going to Paris on May 1st on WOW airlines. I received about 15 emails from them about one small change to my itinerary, my first flight leaves 20 minutes earlier. No big deal for me because I never cut it that close (knock on wood).

I think AA is particularly known for schedule changes and haphazard notification. At least according to Flyertalk. We usually fly Alaska for domestic travel and BA to Europe, both very good at notification (and few schedule changes). But on two recent trips AA was our only choice. For a domestic trip I booked AA with Alaska miles and Alaska notified us of a schedule change, no problem. Our most recent tripmwas to Patagonia and AA had the best flights, so I joined their mileage program and booked with them way in advance. On the flight to Santiago there was an equipment change that rendered our chosen seats non-existent. Fortunately I had read about AA schedule changes on Flyertalk and noticed the change in time to get good seats on the new plane.

On the return we flew from Buenos Aires to Miami with. 4-hour layerover before flying to JFK. The airline changed the flight number and departure time of the MIA to JFK flight so we had a longer layover and 1 am arrival at JFK. Again, no notification, but I did find these changes in checking our reservations.

It is good practice to check every month or two if you make reservations long in advance.

Do any of you sign up for flight notifications when you make your reservations? It's not always automatic but I have always been notified of any changes.

Frank,
It fell through the cracks in my case. I'm always signed up for notifications (and loyalty program of each airline I do business with), and I did not get one. It wouldn't have gone in my spam folder either because I've received notifications in the past from the same airline. The airline could not explain why I didn't get one this time, or why the info didn't cascade down to the second (code-share) leg which was left "as is" even though the flight was logistically infeasible given the changes to the first leg.

Laura, what airline are you flying on? I am curious because we looking at flights between SFO/Paris for the fall. We already rejected WOW based on several reviews of passenger experiences where they cancelled flights at the last minute. Pity because they have such good fares, but reliability is a key factor for us. We are currently stalking United and Air France hoping to get a deal.

Update -- our flights are Air France, bought last fall when KLM/Air France had a sale to Italy. My best guess is that the afternoon CDG-SFO flight on Memorial Day wasn't popular because that flight is operating the day before and after but cancelled for May 31. Since I don't like early mornings or stressful quick connections I checked the alternative flights and sent a message to KLM Customer Service asking to change from 6:40 a.m. Rome to CDG on the 31st to 4 p.m. the afternoon before, connecting to a 10 a.m. flight out of CDG on the 31st. SO instead of last night in Rome we will probably check in to the Ibis at CDG then hop on the RER for an evening strolling along the Seine. (KLM made it clear they weren't paying for the Paris hotel -- but we were going to have to sleep someplace that night, so no additional cost. And we arrive home mid-day, and I get my Paris fix.)

Thanks to this thread I avoided a stressful situation at check-in. Turns out my first and last name were reversed (and wouldn't have matched my passport) on one ticket and checking two weeks ahead figured it out. Thanks Laura!

Glad it helped, Richard. Nothing beats heading off a disaster

Laura B: I had exactly the same thing happen not long ago, and posted about it. I'd received an email when our departing Aer Lingus flight had changed by five minutes, but not when they canceled our flight to Venice, and they only have one flight per day between Dublin and Venice. I had just happened to log on and noticed things didn't look quite right. To their credit, Aer Lingus' customer service personnel were courteous and more than understanding when I called. The solution ended up being to leave ORD earlier, so we'll be spending an extra night in Venice, darn it! But now I log in and double-check at least once a week. No further changes with less than five weeks until our trip. Fingers crossed.

I had a return flight change in the middle of a trip. Thank goodness for on-line check-in. It was only when I was couldn't check in online for my flight home from Madrid that I discovered the airline had bumped me from my evening flight to another flight the next morning. Fortunately my hotel wasn't fully booked, so it just meant another €€ for another night.

After boarding our first of three flights to Salzburg, British Air sent me a text advising that our flight from London to Salzburg had been cancelled. They followed with, "Sorry for any inconvenience." I sent a quick text telling them to re-book us and hoped for the best, as we were about to take off. In the end, they did re-book us, adding a fourth flight to our itinerary. As unhappy as I was with British Air, their on-the-ground employees were wonderful. I've yet to book another flight with them.