reconfirming flights?

[Stephen Chaplin]

For the first time in my life i'm on a totally independent trip. Just got my
flight tickets and it recommends that i should reconfirm onward and return
flights 72 hours prior to depature.

How important is it do this?? I cant imagine many people out of the
thousands who fly each day doing this - or do they?? What is the worst that
will happen if it dont?

[Leo Hamulczyk]

What airlines are you travelling on? A lot of airlines don't require
reconfirmation now. You can also check with the individual airlines.

"Stephen Chaplin" > wrote in message
...
> For the first time in my life i'm on a totally independent trip. Just got
my
> flight tickets and it recommends that i should reconfirm onward and return
> flights 72 hours prior to depature.
>
> How important is it do this?? I cant imagine many people out of the
> thousands who fly each day doing this - or do they?? What is the worst
that
> will happen if it dont?
>
>

[Nik]

True - but some still keep the old practice. I think that TG still does.

Nik.

"Leo Hamulczyk" > wrote in message
...
> What airlines are you travelling on? A lot of airlines don't require
> reconfirmation now. You can also check with the individual airlines.
>
> "Stephen Chaplin" > wrote in message
> ...
> > For the first time in my life i'm on a totally independent trip. Just
got
> my
> > flight tickets and it recommends that i should reconfirm onward and
return
> > flights 72 hours prior to depature.
> >
> > How important is it do this?? I cant imagine many people out of the
> > thousands who fly each day doing this - or do they?? What is the worst
> that
> > will happen if it dont?
> >
> >
>
>

[Stephen Chaplin]

British Midland and American on the way there
United and British Midland on the way back


"Leo Hamulczyk" > wrote in message
...
> What airlines are you travelling on? A lot of airlines don't require
> reconfirmation now. You can also check with the individual airlines.
>
> "Stephen Chaplin" > wrote in message
> ...
> > For the first time in my life i'm on a totally independent trip. Just
got
> my
> > flight tickets and it recommends that i should reconfirm onward and
return
> > flights 72 hours prior to depature.
> >
> > How important is it do this?? I cant imagine many people out of the
> > thousands who fly each day doing this - or do they?? What is the worst
> that
> > will happen if it dont?
> >
> >
>
>

[Binyamin Dissen]

On Wed, 17 Sep 2003 08:52:12 +0100 "Stephen Chaplin" > wrote:

:>For the first time in my life i'm on a totally independent trip. Just got my
:>flight tickets and it recommends that i should reconfirm onward and return
:>flights 72 hours prior to depature.

:>How important is it do this?? I cant imagine many people out of the
:>thousands who fly each day doing this - or do they?? What is the worst that
:>will happen if it dont?

It used to be in the past. Not so much nowadays.

At any rate, you can confirm much longer than 72 hours before the flight. You
can even do it when you arrive. You give them a local phone number and they
might call you if there are changes.

If you must reconfirm and do not, you may lose your seat.

--
Binyamin Dissen >
http://www.dissensoftware.com

[Tony Rice]

"Stephen Chaplin" > wrote in
:

> How important is it do this?? I cant imagine many people out of the
> thousands who fly each day doing this - or do they?? What is the worst
> that will happen if it dont?

Maybe some of the more seasoned travelers can shed some light on why this
recomendation ever existed in the first place. I assume its supposed to
allow you to learn if your flight has been rescheduled or cancelled a few
days out but that sure doesn't seem like the way it really works today.

If a flight is going to be rescheduled or cancelled it's going to be
because of a scheduling snafu (lack of crew, lack of equipment, or
weather) something that isn't really known until that day.

This reminds me of a UAL commuter flight from SJC-LAX I booked a few
months back this kind of flight should be the closest thing to catching a
bus there is in commercial flights. But no.

I called to confirm the previous evening and all was well. I got to the
airport 90 minutes before the flight, all was well. I checked in and got
my boarding passes, all was well. 5 minutes before boarding should have
started the gate agent gets on the PA annouces that due to "crew
problems" the flight will be delayed 30 minutes. Long story short, she
cycled through crew and equipment problems for the next 3 hours before
the aircraft showed up. Chatting with the flight attendent on board I
learned that they had gotten the call the previous day around 6pm that
they needed to take that empty aircraft from Phoenix to San Jose to serve
this flight because of mechanical problems with the equipment that was
scheduled to serve that flight.

Bottom line, UAL knew there was a problem, arranged for alternate
equipment, knew there would be a 3 hour delay because of availability of
that alternate equipment yet didn't tell the passengers this. If it were
upfront about the new schedule for this particular flight. I guessing
they were trying to avoid a bunch of passengers (like me) asking to be
rule 240'd over to a competitor's flight since the next flight to LAX
wasn't for another 6 hours.

[Christopher]

On the airlines you mention - reconfirmation is generally not required but,
just in case, call the airline on arrival at each destination and give them
your location, etc - you may get a call if the flight is very delayed if
nothing else. If they have asked for reconfirmation, the flights may be
very full and this is a way of getting the airline off the hook if
overbooked - "did you reconfirm - no? - sorry - its full !!"


"Stephen Chaplin" > wrote in message
...
> British Midland and American on the way there
> United and British Midland on the way back
>
>
> "Leo Hamulczyk" > wrote in message
> ...
> > What airlines are you travelling on? A lot of airlines don't require
> > reconfirmation now. You can also check with the individual airlines.
> >
> > "Stephen Chaplin" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > For the first time in my life i'm on a totally independent trip. Just
> got
> > my
> > > flight tickets and it recommends that i should reconfirm onward and
> return
> > > flights 72 hours prior to depature.
> > >
> > > How important is it do this?? I cant imagine many people out of the
> > > thousands who fly each day doing this - or do they?? What is the worst
> > that
> > > will happen if it dont?
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Kim Dyer]

>For the first time in my life i'm on a totally independent trip. Just got my
>flight tickets and it recommends that i should reconfirm onward and return
>flights 72 hours prior to depature.

>How important is it do this?? I cant imagine many people out of the
>thousands who fly each day doing this - or do they?? What is the worst that
>will happen if it dont?

It depends on where you are going and what airline you are flying. Flying
itty-bitty airline to an out-of-the-way location, yes, call and confirm.
Confirm that morning too. Major airline to a major city, call only that
morning and only if you hear of a disruption in air travel (major storm, etc.)
Remember that if an airline has a hub airport shut down due to weather ain't
nothin' goin' nowhere until it's dealt with.


-- Kimbis

[Peter L]

"Stephen Chaplin" > wrote in message
...
> For the first time in my life i'm on a totally independent trip. Just got
my
> flight tickets and it recommends that i should reconfirm onward and return
> flights 72 hours prior to depature.
>
> How important is it do this?? I cant imagine many people out of the
> thousands who fly each day doing this - or do they?? What is the worst
that
> will happen if it dont?
>

The worse that can happen is that the schedule may have changed or even the
flight canceled, and they either forget to notify you, or you are traveling
and cannot be reached. Check 24 hours ahead of time, it's a couple of
minutes out of your life.
>

[mrtravel]

Stephen Chaplin wrote:

> For the first time in my life i'm on a totally independent trip. Just got my
> flight tickets and it recommends that i should reconfirm onward and return
> flights 72 hours prior to depature.
>
> How important is it do this?? I cant imagine many people out of the
> thousands who fly each day doing this - or do they?? What is the worst that
> will happen if it dont?
>

It is important if you find out your flight has been rescheduled and is
leaving 3 hours early, or 12 hours later. If an airline really required
it, you could lose your seat. So, check with the carrier.

[mrtravel]

Tony Rice wrote:

> AJC > wrote in :
>
>
>>The airline called me and gave me the new departure and
>>check-in time.
>
>
> This is the first time I've ever heard of someone actually being called by
> the airline with schedule change info.

I always get called if the schedule change is far enough in advance.

[Binyamin Dissen]

On Wed, 17 Sep 2003 12:46:55 -0500 Tony Rice >
wrote:

:>AJC > wrote in :

:>> The airline called me and gave me the new departure and
:>> check-in time.

:>This is the first time I've ever heard of someone actually being called by
:>the airline with schedule change info.

I have, on several occasions.

Unfortunately there were other occasions where the call would have been nice -
when I didn't get it.

--
Binyamin Dissen >
http://www.dissensoftware.com

[JohnT]

"Tony Rice" > wrote in message
...
> AJC > wrote in
:
>
> > The airline called me and gave me the new departure and
> > check-in time.
>
> This is the first time I've ever heard of someone actually being
called by
> the airline with schedule change info.

It has happened to me several times regarding British Airways Domestic
flights.

JohnT

[Citronella]

I never used to bother with confirmiing flights, but now often do. It
takes only a few minutes and as everyone mentions will give you a
chance to see if there are schdule changes and more important will
give you a higher spot in the pecking order when there are bumps to be
made. Why not do it? it will cost nothing and while it won't guarantee
a seat, at least you will have moral right on your side if they try
and bump you.
C.


On Wed, 17 Sep 2003 08:52:12 +0100, "Stephen Chaplin"
> wrote:

>For the first time in my life i'm on a totally independent trip. Just got my
>flight tickets and it recommends that i should reconfirm onward and return
>flights 72 hours prior to depature.
>
>How important is it do this?? I cant imagine many people out of the
>thousands who fly each day doing this - or do they?? What is the worst that
>will happen if it dont?
>

[Stephen Chaplin]

Ta for all replies, looks like it will be worthwhile giving a quick call.
Although what is the actual purpose of reconfirming. Some replies suggest
that you are acalling to say that you WILL be on the flight whereas otheres
are saying it is to confirm that the flight is going to be on as scheduled

[Whytoi]

In article >, Stephen Chaplin
> wrote:

> Ta for all replies, looks like it will be worthwhile giving a quick call.
> Although what is the actual purpose of reconfirming. Some replies suggest
> that you are acalling to say that you WILL be on the flight whereas otheres
> are saying it is to confirm that the flight is going to be on as scheduled

Bottom line, you are ensuring that if anything goes wrong, it will be
the airline's sole responsibility. Not only should you call, you should
also leave them your contact phone number so that they can contact you
in the event of any problems.

And what's the cost of a call? Free 1800 number + your time (2mins to
20mins depending on the time of the day). Just do it!

[Leo Hamulczyk]

TG don't. Have flown with them several times in the last 2 years.

"Nik" > wrote in message
...
> True - but some still keep the old practice. I think that TG still does.
>
> Nik.
>
> "Leo Hamulczyk" > wrote in message
> ...
> > What airlines are you travelling on? A lot of airlines don't require
> > reconfirmation now. You can also check with the individual airlines.
> >
> > "Stephen Chaplin" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > For the first time in my life i'm on a totally independent trip. Just
> got
> > my
> > > flight tickets and it recommends that i should reconfirm onward and
> return
> > > flights 72 hours prior to depature.
> > >
> > > How important is it do this?? I cant imagine many people out of the
> > > thousands who fly each day doing this - or do they?? What is the worst
> > that
> > > will happen if it dont?
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Leo Hamulczyk]

"Tony Rice" > wrote in message
...
> AJC > wrote in :
>
> > The airline called me and gave me the new departure and
> > check-in time.
>
> This is the first time I've ever heard of someone actually being called by
> the airline with schedule change info.

Ansett once called me to tell me my flight was departing 10 or so minutes
early.