LAX 10:30 departure time post cruise

[Viv0828]

We have had flight times changed on us - the last time on AA. When we called to complain and request to be changed to a different flight AA did it without a word or a fare increase, even though the new flight was more costly.

 

Even if you have already talked to someone in your airline's customer service and been quoted a ridiculous fare change price, call again. A different agent may be more accommodating.

Edited December 27, 2015 by Viv0828

[toyotaford]

We have had flight times changed on us - the last time on AA. When we called to complain and request to be changed to a different flight AA did it without a word or a fare increase, even though the new flight was more costly.

 

Even if you have already talked to someone in your airline's customer service and been quoted a ridiculous fare change price, call again. A different agent may be more accommodating.

 

I am going to try again tomorrow morning.

[janpo]

We were on this cruise also.

 

Self-disembarked a little after 8:00. As janpo said, the snaking line through customs was a long wait. We got out and were in a car to LAX at about 9:00 and at the airport 9:30ish (great luck with no traffic). I can see if there was a longer wait at customs it could have been 10:30 at the airport easily.

 

 

We took NCL's Shuttle bus and sat waiting for 30- 40 minutes before it was completely full and only then did the driver leave. We did not self disembark. The lines at SW were very long also at LAX.

Edited December 27, 2015 by janpo

[toyotaford]

I talked to United again this morning and they said I would have to pay if we wanted to change flights. This lady said since their flight schedule change was less that 90 minutes our change to another flight would be considered voluntary so we would have to pay. So I have talked to 3 people and gotten 3 different stories. One said no charge, one said a charge since the change was less than 2 hours and the other said a charge since the change was less than 90 minutes. I may just keep trying til I get the first lady back.

[tel2]

Hi!

 

I can tell you that this happened to us last summer. Same airline; different city. United changed our flight from Seattle from 11:45 to 10:30. We were very nervous about making it on time. We also were in a suite, and the traffic in Seattle isn't nearly as bad as in LA, but we also knew there was some big parade the day we were getting back and various street closings. Anyway, it took several calls to United, but they eventually agreed to move all of us (6 of us) to another flight that afternoon, no charge. Keep calling.

 

Terry

[toyotaford]

Hi!

 

I can tell you that this happened to us last summer. Same airline; different city. United changed our flight from Seattle from 11:45 to 10:30. We were very nervous about making it on time. We also were in a suite, and the traffic in Seattle isn't nearly as bad as in LA, but we also knew there was some big parade the day we were getting back and various street closings. Anyway, it took several calls to United, but they eventually agreed to move all of us (6 of us) to another flight that afternoon, no charge. Keep calling.

 

Terry

 

That's what I plan on doing. I can't see just rolling over and paying $10,000 in addition to what we have already paid. We got a great deal on our original 11:30 flight. We may have to cough up some money if we all miss our flights but I'm going to keep calling and see if I have any better luck.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Wishing you luck in getting it changed. While there is a very slim chance of getting there in time, it is slim. As mentioned is two obstacles, first is disembarkation/customs. It's been about 5 weeks since we disembarked Jewel but the early disembark taking off your own luggage was a much longer line than regular customs. We were in a Suite so were off the ship fairly early. We took Super Shuttle but a lot of traffic near the airport and actually did not get checked in till about 10:30. Fortunately our flight was not till 12:35. Unless you can get the Concierge to get you a speedy disembark and hire a private van to be there very early there just seems to be too many risks involved with the change of your flight.

[NMLady]

I have always followed the rule of not booking a return flight before noon but this time the price was great and I figured an extra 30 minutes wouldn't make a difference. Then they moved it up to 10:50 and have now moved it up to 10:30. We are all in suites so will be able to get off the ship in as timely a manner as possible. I guess its not a problem if everything goes as it should and if it doesn't we will just have a little longer vacation than we had planned.

 

With that many people and a time crunch I hope you have reserved drivers to pick you up and aren't depending on the taxi line at the terminal.

[mking8288]

Keep calling UA back to get the solution you are looking for - a later flight with time to spare in getting from San Pedro pier to LAX (and, you know UA have flights out of both T6 and T7 - make sure you get dropped off as close as possible to the "F" check-in counter. Otherwise, hang up and call again - try late in the day/evening when the lines & call center are sometimes not as busy - with elite status, you should have access to a Premier hotline/exclusive reservation # to use (not that it's always "friendly")

 

You've mentioned getting a great deal of those ticket prices, are those round-trip or one-way fares? Nonrefundable and/or with a substantial fee or penalty for change ? Aside from extra legrooms, for short-haul domestic flights on UA (and, most legacy carriers these days) - F is really not worth our money, unless it's employer paid or status upgrade (and, tons of qualifying members ... just by looking at the overhead monitor board of those waiting to clear) - especially the "bigger" aircraft on your segment might just be a 738 narrow body vs. CRJ or similar regional jets.

 

Rather than paying UA for the involuntary changes, is there an option to get one-way coach tickets for 13 of you, at less than $10,000 and tell UA to - -

 

Even if NCL do dock at (say, for example) at 6:30 AM and get cleared and deliver on its pledge to escort your group with luggage off the gangway by 7:30 AM and out thru CBP, and loaded everyone onto ground transportation by 8:15 AM, you still need to allow 30 to 45 minutes to breeze northwest on I-405 Freeway to LAX exit and to the terminal, and do the luggage dropoff & thru TSA via the exclusive line for F passengers (and/or flight crew with escort) - and give you enough time to get to the boarding gate. Over at Flyertalk forum, the rules of thumb for LAX with luggage is to arrive minus 2 hours before scheduled departure, 3 hours for international -

 

Have you track the on-time departure & arrival time of your flight, and look at the inbound aircraft - what other flight options for the afternoon do you have, if you missed the 10:30 AM on UA ?? (Winter weather events on the East Coast & midwest, including ORD, are impacting on arrivals & departure at LAX this afternoon ...)

Edited December 29, 2015 by mking8288

[toyotaford]

Keep calling UA back to get the solution you are looking for - a later flight with time to spare in getting from San Pedro pier to LAX (and, you know UA have flights out of both T6 and T7 - make sure you get dropped off as close as possible to the "F" check-in counter. Otherwise, hang up and call again - try late in the day/evening when the lines & call center are sometimes not as busy - with elite status, you should have access to a Premier hotline/exclusive reservation # to use (not that it's always "friendly")

 

You've mentioned getting a great deal of those ticket prices, are those round-trip or one-way fares? Nonrefundable and/or with a substantial fee or penalty for change ? Aside from extra legrooms, for short-haul domestic flights on UA (and, most legacy carriers these days) - F is really not worth our money, unless it's employer paid or status upgrade (and, tons of qualifying members ... just by looking at the overhead monitor board of those waiting to clear) - especially the "bigger" aircraft on your segment might just be a 738 narrow body vs. CRJ or similar regional jets.

 

Rather than paying UA for the involuntary changes, is there an option to get one-way coach tickets for 13 of you, at less than $10,000 and tell UA to - -

 

Even if NCL do dock at (say, for example) at 6:30 AM and get cleared and deliver on its pledge to escort your group with luggage off the gangway by 7:30 AM and out thru CBP, and loaded everyone onto ground transportation by 8:15 AM, you still need to allow 30 to 45 minutes to breeze northwest on I-405 Freeway to LAX exit and to the terminal, and do the luggage dropoff & thru TSA via the exclusive line for F passengers (and/or flight crew with escort) - and give you enough time to get to the boarding gate. Over at Flyertalk forum, the rules of thumb for LAX with luggage is to arrive minus 2 hours before scheduled departure, 3 hours for international -

 

Have you track the on-time departure & arrival time of your flight, and look at the inbound aircraft - what other flight options for the afternoon do you have, if you missed the 10:30 AM on UA ?? (Winter weather events on the East Coast & midwest, including ORD, are impacting on arrivals & departure at LAX this afternoon ...)

 

I paid $530.20 round trip for first class tickets from Houston to LA. I was very pleased with that rate. I have paid that much for coach on some of our flights to LA before. And considering I don't have to pay bag fees for anyone since we are all flying first it is an even better deal. I have been calling the elite line but will try calling late at night to see if maybe they are a little nicer. I now realize they are under no obligation to let me change at no fee but am sure that if I get the right person it can be done.

 

We live about 2 hours from Houston and had hired a transfer van and driver to drive us from our home town to the airport but after this has come up have decided to drive and take 2 vehicles in case we end up missing the flight home and have to come in at different times.

 

Will continue to try getting it changed but determined to not let it get in the way of our excitement about our trip. And who knows, it may get bumped back again.