Travel hacks and advice

[plugboots]

It looks like I might, in a sense, be hoisted by my own petard next week flying back from San Diego. Wife and I are booked on a flight that is scheduled to be on a MAX 9, so I'd say the odds are very good that that flight will be canceled. This morning I was thinking about preemptively changing the flight to another one that is using a different aircraft, but they charge the difference in fare and that's $180 per person. I know you can also change flights the day of for a small fee (Alaska says $25-$50), but I'm worried that's going to be very difficult since everyone's going to know that flight is canceled. Any other recourse other than letting Alaska rebook us, and if so what's the best way to handle that? Get on the horn as soon as they send announce the flight is canceled? Use the website? What's best?

edit: I just checked Alaska's site and it looks like any change fees are being waived, but it mut be on a flight that is currently canceled, and they've only canceled flights through the 18th as of now. So I think I'll need to hang tight until flights on the 21st are canceled and then try to change as quickly as the announcement is made.
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/ad...isories#system

Good luck.
We had to be in Chicago at a specific time this last weekend, (you know, like every single person who flies), so we just rebooked on American. It cost us about 800 bucks extra for the two tickets one way, but frankly there really wasn’t an alternative. Alaska put us on a flight that was four days later, (as if that would do anything).

[The AD]

don't use the website, don't talk to the baggage checkers, do either talk to ak air customer service at the airport, or best call them.
given the # of cancelled flights (took us a couple extra days to get home recently) just call ak air - they have waived rebook fees during this time of chaos.

It seems like their phone lines must be swamped, though. I can't imagine it wouldn't be better to use the app or website where you can get in immediately? Maybe the best strategy is to have one of us try to make the change on the website and concurrently have the other call to cover all bases.

[summit]

Spirit and Jet Blue not allowed to merge by SEC

Probably means Alaska and Hawaiian cannot.

[wendigo]

It seems like their phone lines must be swamped, though. I can't imagine it wouldn't be better to use the app or website where you can get in immediately? Maybe the best strategy is to have one of us try to make the change on the website and concurrently have the other call to cover all bases.

just call.

[The AD]

They just extended the change window to flights through the 24th and I was able to change to a different flight (that's not on a MAX). Hopefully we're good to go now.

[plugboots]

They just extended the change window to the 24th and I was able to change to a different flight (that's not on a MAX). Hopefully we're good to go now.

Cool.
With airlines and travel stuff in general, I think the best results are directly proportional to the amount of time you’re willing to spend comparing online results with stuff you’re calling directly and calling immediately back and trying to get an even better deal.
A million years ago I had a reservation at the Old Faithful Inn and I needed to change it, and after many attempts, I finally got the reservation woman who knew her shit, and put me in one of the coolest rooms.

[The AD]

A million years ago I had a reservation at the Old Faithful Inn and I needed to change it, and after many attempts, I finally got the reservation woman who knew her shit, and put me in one of the coolest rooms.

Yep, good customer service can be awesome. Unfortunately that doesn't seem like the general rule these days.

[plugboots]

Yep, good customer service can be awesome. Unfortunately that doesn't seem like the general rule these days.

No shit. I’ve got about three things going on right now that require customer service and it’s just a holding pattern.

[riser4]

Can I bring a thermos of chili on an airplane, or is that considered a liquid?

Depends.

[summit]

Depends.

Not a bad idea to wear those with chili If it is a long flight or turbulent weather.

[riser4]

Ed Zachary.

[Danno]

I know how to track flight prices through google flights, but is there some way to track special deals on things like miles or whatever?

Scenario: my GF's son is getting married in Paris in October. He found some smoking deal for GF and I with miles on 1-way tix to Paris, and she grabbed those. Now, maybe he finds the smoking deal on a return flight for us too, but I don't want to count on that. So I have a google flights tracked price thing going, but AFAIK that only tracks prices in currency, not miles. And maybe that isn't the best way to track prices anyhow.

Is there some way (super secret or otherwise) to track special deals so we can grab flights home for cheap and not be stuck in Paris?

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

I know how to track flight prices through google flights, but is there some way to track special deals on things like miles or whatever?

Scenario: my GF's son is getting married in Paris in October. He found some smoking deal for GF and I with miles on 1-way tix to Paris, and she grabbed those. Now, maybe he finds the smoking deal on a return flight for us too, but I don't want to count on that. So I have a google flights tracked price thing going, but AFAIK that only tracks prices in currency, not miles. And maybe that isn't the best way to track prices anyhow.

Is there some way (super secret or otherwise) to track special deals so we can grab flights home for cheap and not be stuck in Paris?

What airline? On delta through their website, when you search for a flight you can choose flexible dates, click shop with miles, and then click on the price calendar and it will give you the different options. United has a similar option.

[Danno]

Across airlines. I have miles with a few airlines, and both my GF and I have "points" that can go to lots of different airlines.

[Garbowski]

If you are dead set on using miles, I have used the paid version of https://www.expertflyer.com/ in the past. There may be a free tool, but it has always been worth it to me vs constantly checking multiple different airlines for awards.

Flyertalk is the forum for hardcore miles junkies, but they seem to all be loyal to their programs so not easy to get good general 'I want to go to Paris' info unless you want to do it on Delta miles or whatever. But definitely the place to learn how it all works and what the 'pros' do.

Definitely consider flying to another city if it means getting a great deal on business/first class for your long haul leg.

[Pinned]

What programs can you transfer to? I'd start there and see what programs tend to have the best availability (both flights and awards).

If you want to fly economy or premium economy it's probably pretty easy, business might be a bit less available (or require more hunting to find). Many airlines still have fixed costs versus DL, UA, AA using dynamic pricing. I'd look to either fly a partner airline using fixed price awards from a US airline miles currency or transfer points to a program from a foreign carrier. A lot of miles and points folks like Air Canada Aeroplan for that.

[summit]

Flying international into NRT Tokyo and transferring to a domestic flight... both should be Terminal 1. I have 2h10m between flights. I'll have luggage. Is that gonna work?

[NBABUCKS1]

Flying international into NRT Tokyo and transferring to a domestic flight... both should be Terminal 1. I have 2h10m between flights. I'll have luggage. Is that gonna work?

sounds like you don't have a choice. make it happen.

[mcski]

Flying international into NRT Tokyo and transferring to a domestic flight... both should be Terminal 1. I have 2h10m between flights. I'll have luggage. Is that gonna work?

Sake bomb it. Gambate.

[BFD]

need some professional advice. Just woke up to texts saying my flight is cancelled. Am now rebooked on United instead of Lufthansa. I had already chosen my seats. United wants to charge me to pick seats in economy. I really have no desire to sit 3 across seating so do not want to pay more to pick seats. Business class does not appear available. Also I now only have 30 minutes for a flight Vienna to Innsbruck. Kind of doubting my luggage will make it. So do I just sit back and eat the shit they throw at me? Is it possible to actually talk to a human for advice and help on seating. The main reason i booked the flight was the 2 4 2 seating on the airbus.

[zion zig zag]

need some professional advice. Just woke up to texts saying my flight is cancelled. Am now rebooked on United instead of Lufthansa. I had already chosen my seats. United wants to charge me to pick seats in economy. I really have no desire to sit 3 across seating so do not want to pay more to pick seats. Business class does not appear available. Also I now only have 30 minutes for a flight Vienna to Innsbruck. Kind of doubting my luggage will make it. So do I just sit back and eat the shit they throw at me? Is it possible to actually talk to a human for advice and help on seating. The main reason i booked the flight was the 2 4 2 seating on the airbus.

Arriving from U.S. in Vienna and then transfer to Innsbruck in 30 minutes? I don’t think you’ll make that with passport control. Doors typically close 15-30 minutes before scheduled take off. Start looking at other flights leaving Vienna later that day.

The seating change sucks but you likely have no options without some type of status with that airline.

[summit]

787-9 Polaris... never done it... 2A or 11L? Is the more private 11L worth being farther back right next to the engine?

BFD

Who did you book through originally? A carrier or a travel site?
What carrier are you ticketed on in Innsbruck?
Whose metal are you actually flying? (who actually operates the aircraft for each flight)
Do you have status on any of these carriers? Or alliance status?

That's gonna help guide you on who to call, especially calling a status only line. But first, do some searching and see what other flights are out there that they could viably put you on to have a functional itinerary before you ask to be switched to it and-oh-by-the-way-I-want-this-seat-free-or-refunded.

[alpinevibes]

need some professional advice. Just woke up to texts saying my flight is cancelled. Am now rebooked on United instead of Lufthansa. I had already chosen my seats. United wants to charge me to pick seats in economy. I really have no desire to sit 3 across seating so do not want to pay more to pick seats. Business class does not appear available. Also I now only have 30 minutes for a flight Vienna to Innsbruck. Kind of doubting my luggage will make it. So do I just sit back and eat the shit they throw at me? Is it possible to actually talk to a human for advice and help on seating. The main reason i booked the flight was the 2 4 2 seating on the airbus.

It’s definitely worth calling and talking to them and asking to be changed to a different flight/itinerary. Any time there are changes like this you have the ability to have them rebook you for free.

Some airlines will offer full refunds and/or discounts for these types of aircraft-change situations (AA). United and Lufthansa aren’t explicit but Lufthansa’s contract of carriage alludes to it vaguely:

“10.1.1. In the event of a cancellation, rebooking or delay, a reimbursement of the fare may be possible under certain conditions, in addition to other claims. “

https://www.lufthansa.com/xx/en/busi...conditions-1#9

[riser4]

Fucking Luftwaffe.

[BFD]

thanks for the advice. I was able to get seats on United for no extra charge. Got two isle seats across from each other. Have to look into the passport control. I arrive in Munich than over to Vienna so maybe I do the passport control in Munich where I have more time. Booked through the carrier thinking it would be easier to deal with situations like this. I will work on trying for new reservation but am probably locked into what I have based on flights out of Denver. Thanks again.