Anybody here know how to get your flight changed for free or cheap?

[SouthernListen]

Serves you right for using a service that has proudly been screwing their customers for years now and treats you like a criminal.

[Ipokesmot]

[chuk]

Serves you right for using a service that has proudly been screwing their customers for years now and treats you like a criminal.

Umm, did you want him to walk there instead?

[Bob Mitchum]

Never fly. Drive unless it's over an ocean.

[landfill]

Serves you right for using a service that has proudly been screwing their customers for years now and treats you like a criminal.

HA!

[Goods]

Call a travel behaviorist.

[SouthernListen]

Umm, did you want him to walk there instead?

1. Drive
2. Bus
3. Train
4. Stay home

They're not going to improve if people keep putting up with their bullshit. The world rarely gets better w/o someone having to put themselves out.

It's not exactly hopping on a ship and spending 3 years fighting Nazis, but at some point some of us choose to say "no" even if it requires doing without our little desires of the moment. Unless an island is involved, I'll drive. I can manage to live without an island vacation.

Maybe if you..
1. flew a lot and got bumped from the last flight of the night in a strange city with a ticket you'd had for 3 months, even though you checked in 1.5 hours before the flight, requiring you not only to stay in a shitty hotel they chose for you over-night, but to have to take a day off work the next day to get home.

2. or had them decide to cancel a flight for no reason other than it wasn't booked enough, making you miss the meeting the entire trip was planned for, but since they had a later flight available you don't get a refund.

3. or charged you $50 because the grossly obese agent who couldn't bend all the way down with the tape measure claimed your bag was 1/4" too long in one dimension, even though you only had one bag for two passengers and the bag was fine on the other leg of the trip.

4. or sat on the tarmac for 2 hours in Florida heat AFTER you landed because the airline wanted to save on gate rentals and got backed up.

5. or had your bag rifled through by their handlers, with the attitude that "it's no big deal"

6. or got treated like you're a POS by customer service even though you fly 25 times a year with them and are a a member of their "premium" service.

7. or you got bumped to a flight the next day even though you have a $450 hotel room waiting for you at your destination. No compensation, of course.

8. or got to chill out on the floor for 6 hours because of delays because there aren't enough chairs for passengers. Because delays never happen, of course.

Masochists may like this sort of "service". I don't.

[chuk]

1. Drive
2. Bus
3. Train
4. Stay home

They're not going to improve if people keep putting up with their bullshit. The world rarely gets better w/o someone having to put themselves out.

It's not exactly hopping on a ship and spending 3 years fighting Nazis, but at some point some of us choose to say "no" even if it requires doing without our little desires of the moment. Unless an island is involved, I'll drive. I can manage to live without an island vacation.

Maybe if you..
1. flew a lot and got bumped from the last flight of the night in a strange city with a ticket you'd had for 3 months, even though you checked in 1.5 hours before the flight, requiring you not only to stay in a shitty hotel they chose for you over-night, but to have to take a day off work the next day to get home.

2. or had them decide to cancel a flight for no reason other than it wasn't booked enough, making you miss the meeting the entire trip was planned for, but since they had a later flight available you don't get a refund.

3. or charged you $50 because the grossly obese agent who couldn't bend all the way down with the tape measure claimed your bag was 1/4" too long in one dimension, even though you only had one bag for two passengers and the bag was fine on the other leg of the trip.

4. or sat on the tarmac for 2 hours in Florida heat AFTER you landed because the airline wanted to save on gate rentals and got backed up.

5. or had your bag rifled through by their handlers, with the attitude that "it's no big deal"

6. or got treated like you're a POS by customer service even though you fly 25 times a year with them and are a a member of their "premium" service.

7. or you got bumped to a flight the next day even though you have a $450 hotel room waiting for you at your destination. No compensation, of course.

8. or got to chill out on the floor for 6 hours because of delays because there aren't enough chairs for passengers. Because delays never happen, of course.

Masochists may like this sort of "service". I don't.

Unfortunately, I have had all of those happen and then some. I traveled 52 weeks a year for work for almost 10 years. Fly out monday, fly back friday.

[bobartbooey]

What you want is a Stand By flight, on Delta currently you have to be a a fairly senior FF member (Gold and above).

Here is a link to their policies: http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...onditions.html

What I would try is to call and say you fucked up, realize you're not a senior FF member, but is their anything the agent can do to help you.

Empower yourself with info. Check the new flight(s) you want to go out on seat maps (i.e try to buy a ticket on the flight and check seat availability). If the flights are pretty full you're probably fucked, but if the seat maps show they are 60% full or less, they might want to give you a break just from a smart customer service perspective (especially if your origination airport is competitive vs. being dominated by Delta).

Good luck!

[Tish]

Hi. I fly non rev all the time on buddy passes. Here are the things I know.
the agents have ALL the power. They actually will be nicer to you then me because you paid. Go to airport. Stand back and scope out who's not stressed. Go to that ticket agent and be honest. Or sort of honest. Say you NEED to be home for a family thing. There is a huge storm coming through soon. So if they have a seat, they would love to put you on it. Things are about to become a mess. If your affected by this big storm they also will want to to move you along. So my point? They have all the power. It always works for me because I kiss ass. I even bring them coffee. If there is a open seat you should have it. So yes show up. Kiss ass. Be humble. Patient. I always compliment them on their hard job. Works ever time!!! Good luck. What's point a to point b?

[SouthernListen]

Nothing can ruin a good vacation quicker than flying there and/or renting a car. Get a nice European car and use it. Or take a train. They're slow, but on Amtrak at least you can sleep, shower, and have sex in a cabin. As long as a barge doesn't hit a bridge the tracks go over, you should be fine. Of course this goes all against my "fight the power" strategy, as they're government supported, but at least you stick it to the airline industry.

[Beth143nacho]

Your problem is that you're dealing with the call center. They won't do shit for you over the phone.

Your per problem is that you're trying to change your reservation and get a different reservation. Find the flight you want to go on and call the call center to find out how full it is. If it has a lot of space, Call the airport and ask if you can go standby on the new flight. I've doe this for free many times, even days in advance.

The change fee is bad enough, but when they throw I. The difference in fare and make sure that fares get higher as their departure date gets closer, they control your ability to change.

But the ticket counter at the airport has a lot more power (and a lot more understanding) than the call center. Use them if you can.

[Beth143nacho]

[MutteringJohn]

Get on the phone and start crying. Tell them an immediate family member died. You have to really lay on thick and sound unconsolable. Not enough money for funeral and you are really in a bind. Remember, never stop crying!!!

[JustAddWater]

Unfortunately, I have had all of those happen and then some. I traveled 52 weeks a year for work for almost 10 years. Fly out monday, fly back friday.

Flying used to be glamorous and FUN, with the whole family driving to the airport and watch the take-off....
Now it's just like taking a damn bus or subway. I dread flying sometimes, and the fat slobs on the planes with the smell of food and bad breath-circulates around. ewwwww!

I just get a window seat, put my hoodie up and dissapear until I see the ocean. ~~

[JustAddWater]

Oh...one more thing. I always check out the folks waiting in the termial seats before boarding to see what
I'm flying with.
Quite entertaining I must say

[landfill]

Hi. I fly non rev all the time on buddy passes. Here are the things I know.
the agents have ALL the power. They actually will be nicer to you then me because you paid. Go to airport. Stand back and scope out who's not stressed. Go to that ticket agent and be honest. Or sort of honest. Say you NEED to be home for a family thing. There is a huge storm coming through soon. So if they have a seat, they would love to put you on it. Things are about to become a mess. If your affected by this big storm they also will want to to move you along. So my point? They have all the power. It always works for me because I kiss ass. I even bring them coffee. If there is a open seat you should have it. So yes show up. Kiss ass. Be humble. Patient. I always compliment them on their hard job. Works ever time!!! Good luck. What's point a to point b?

Hmm...I might try this. My friend recently got his change over the phone for $50 and I have gotten same day flights changed for $50. Going from Detroit to Honolulu. I only paid $725 for the ticket.

Oh...one more thing. I always check out the folks waiting in the termial seats before boarding to see what
I'm flying with.
Quite entertaining I must say

I usually do the same thing. I always like to see who I'm flying with.

[landfill]

1. Drive
2. Bus
3. Train
4. Stay home

They're not going to improve if people keep putting up with their bullshit. The world rarely gets better w/o someone having to put themselves out.

It's not exactly hopping on a ship and spending 3 years fighting Nazis, but at some point some of us choose to say "no" even if it requires doing without our little desires of the moment. Unless an island is involved, I'll drive. I can manage to live without an island vacation.

Maybe if you..
1. flew a lot and got bumped from the last flight of the night in a strange city with a ticket you'd had for 3 months, even though you checked in 1.5 hours before the flight, requiring you not only to stay in a shitty hotel they chose for you over-night, but to have to take a day off work the next day to get home.

2. or had them decide to cancel a flight for no reason other than it wasn't booked enough, making you miss the meeting the entire trip was planned for, but since they had a later flight available you don't get a refund.

3. or charged you $50 because the grossly obese agent who couldn't bend all the way down with the tape measure claimed your bag was 1/4" too long in one dimension, even though you only had one bag for two passengers and the bag was fine on the other leg of the trip.

4. or sat on the tarmac for 2 hours in Florida heat AFTER you landed because the airline wanted to save on gate rentals and got backed up.

5. or had your bag rifled through by their handlers, with the attitude that "it's no big deal"

6. or got treated like you're a POS by customer service even though you fly 25 times a year with them and are a a member of their "premium" service.

7. or you got bumped to a flight the next day even though you have a $450 hotel room waiting for you at your destination. No compensation, of course.

8. or got to chill out on the floor for 6 hours because of delays because there aren't enough chairs for passengers. Because delays never happen, of course.

Masochists may like this sort of "service". I don't.

It's still the easiest way for me to get there.