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Flight Itinerary Changed...Train Tickets Already Purchased - When to Exchange Train Tickets

Yesterday morning, I received an email from Justfly.com (with Tap Air Portugal airlines) telling me that my Italy flight itinerary (June 17th - June 30th) from EWR airport in N.J. to Bologna, Italy was changed. It really messes things up for me. My destination time was changed to a later time. I was supposed to take a language placement exam at the Michelangelo Institute in Florence, Italy. However, my flight, is now changed from a 3 hour delay in Lisbon, Portugal to a 5 hour delay in Lisbon prior to changing airplanes in Lisbon airport. This brings me into Bologna airport at 3 p.m. instead of 12:30. By the time, I get a shuttle bus from Bologna airport to Bologna train station it is too late for me to make the 3:30 p.m. train to Santa Maria Novella train station in Florence. (Michelangelo Institute closes at 5 p.m.) Aside from that, the return home is even more interesting! The times are fine but one day later returning home! So, I had to change my hotel reservations in NY because I was to arrive originally at JFK 8:00 p.m. on June 30th and stay at the hotel till the morning before getting a shuttle bus home to Pennsylvania. Also, the return flight change involves a 24 hour layover in Lisbon, Portugal! I am currently trying to get a hotel voucher. I haven't heard back yet. My question is do you think I should wait until a week before my trip to exchange my train tickets? They are first class from Bologna to Florence. The customer service rep at Tap Portugal suggested waiting to exchange the train tickets in case the flight itinerary were to change again! I am worried that if I wait to exchange the tickets I could lose out on getting the times I need. What do you think?

Posted by
11247 posts

I think you should get a refund on your train tickets and buy them at full price when you have finally landed and cleared passport control in Bologna. We often advise (here on the Forum) to wait until you are on-the-ground for train tickets anyway. This situation is no different unless the tickets are non-refundable entirely and can only be exchanged? What e3xcatly are the terms on the train tickets?

Posted by
4137 posts

Can you change your plane ticket for one 24 hours earlier ( EWR to Bologna ) ? That way all of the issues from Bologna to Florence would be a non issue ( You would only need a hotel in Bologna for one additional night )

Posted by
26834 posts

If I were to fly overnight to Europe, land at 12:30 PM and take a language-placement exam the same afternoon, it would not go well.

Posted by
16 posts

Thank you for the responses! Previously, I already booked a hotel stay near JFK Airport upon returning because the shuttle bus won't pick me up at 8:00 p.m. Regarding a flight change, the only other available flight would bring me back to EWR airport and I would lose the money on the hotel in NY if I tried to cancel it.

The train tickets are non refundable and first class tickets. I wanted a more comfortable ride because last summer the train I took back from Santa Maria Novella to Milan ran out of cars. I had a ticket with car 11 and there were only 9 cars. That never happened to me before. So, I am a bit nervous about purchasing tickets at the train station the day of my arrival. I need to get to my apartment asap to check in. I was going to try to just exchange my train tickets for a later time.

Posted by
10120 posts

As others said, I'd exchange the flight over for a day earlier, if possible, instead of a train for a later hour. You'll do better on the placement exam, too.

Posted by
16 posts

I would like to but there aren't any earlier flights available at this time.

Posted by
3938 posts

People are recommending that you take a flight on June 16 instead of June 17 because of your unacceptable schedule change. Can you call and ask them to make this change so that you won't miss the class you need to be present for? There are economy seats available on the 16th.

Posted by
16 posts

I just looked at my travel insurance policy and it states the following:
"Travel Delay Coverage: If you are delayed on your Trip for 12 hours or more, we will reimburse you, up to the amount shown in the Schedule for reasonable additional expenses incurred by you for lodging Accommodations, mearls, telephone calls, local transportation, and additional vehicle parking charges and ...",.etc. Then it says "We will not pay benefits for expenses incurred after travel becomes possible."

So, maybe I can get reimbursed for changes to my train ticket, hotel, etc. I hope!

Posted by
3812 posts

Vmcarson there is no connection between what happened to you from SM Novella to Milan and the class you are travelling. Somebody messed up with the number of cars needed for that train, that's all. Travelling in first class on a 35 minutes ride for this reason makes no sense. Didn't the conductor find a seat for you?

Look on trenitalia.com and italotreno.it the huge number of high speed, local and Intercity trains running between those 2 cities, There are subway lines with a less frequent service.

Posted by
16 posts

Ok! Thank you! I usually book my trains through Raileurope.com. I have already purchased my tickets so I'm not sure how this works yet. I may try to change my flight first and then work on the train tickets. I appreciate your advice. Oh...by the way...no, the conductor of that messed up situation did not try to find me a seat. There were many other people standing and squished between two cars. It was not a fun ride and very hot!