I went through the same thing on a flight from Vietnam to Bangkok where I was supposed to be changing to fly to Samui. Air Asia decided to cancel the flight as there weren’t enough people and I received a text message six hours before we were due to fly. We got to the airport to find out the only other Air Asia flight that day was fully booked and so we were expected to pay full fare for the Vietnamese national airline to get us to Bangkok in time for our next flight… and then that was delayed. You really would think they would at least give you more notice and have other options available – they never refunded us for the original flight either!

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Yeah I can imagine. I would say that these are the risks that come with flying with a budget airline but I’ve had exactly the same problem with British Airways too so…

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This is the absolute norm with European budget airlines. I always check the flight numerous times before we fly and definitely the night before…I thought all travelers checked flight times at least before they take off to the airport that day? Many airlines will also ask if you want a text message as well. I see nothing wrong with that if it changes within a few hours the same day….now flat out cancelling a flight? I would have a big problem with that! Yet another reason, if you are cruising and your port is far away, definitely book the air THRU the cruiseline so they’re scrambling to get you there and not you!

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What about those who don’t have email? Many pensioners, for instance? A lot more seniors are trotting the globe with their funds. Emails are all well and good, but only if used in conjunction with aletter or telephone call.

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it is very bad practice change of timing should have to informed to customer in time so that they can do their arrangement.

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When our Ryanair flight home from Malta was cancelled at short notice due to the ash cloud in May this year, Ryanair sent us a text message in addition to an email. I think a text message is much better as most people have their mobile phones with them on holiday.

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Hi Darren

I agree this is bad, most airlines do this with a confirm button in the UK but not overseas. The reason they do not do the confirm button overseas (or return flight) is it is a condition of all airlines that you reconfirm your flights 72-48 hours before departure.

Most Brits have not got into this habit of doing this as there travel company used to do this as standard. As an agent these days we always underline confirming the return flight 1 -2 days before travel and if you not used a Travel Company to book your flight you do need to do this.

It is a very old rule (over 60 years old) and with people now booking/travelling in differant ways these are the kind of things they need to know.

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I have experienced this twice. I was just a few meters away to the airport and thinking that I am about to be late then the message on my phone tells me the flight schedule has changed. Such a hassle. Not to mention it is 20 minutes before my flight. I hope they can process refunds because in the first place they also add up charges whenever a customer cancels or rebook their flights.

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Dare I say this – of course, if booked through an agent, then the airline/ operator will notify the agent who has the reponsibility to notify the passenger (certainly for the outbound) – if for any reason an agent cannot notify their client, then this information is relayed back to the airline. Bookings made via an agent on the established GDS systems (that is, the airline booking computers) operate a “Q” system and again, it is the duty of the agent to do something about it.

Now, in days of old, the common practice was to re-confirm any flight arrangements the day before travel – in many parts of the world (especially the middle and far east) this is still very much the case – to the extent that you sometimes have to re-confirm your re-confirmed reservation. We have grown, in Europe, very lax about this and tend to “assume” which is never a good idea.

Most airlines (again, especially medium and long haul) ask for a local contact number (as in telephone) and insert this into the booking. That said, re-confirmation is a practice which should be followed as much as possible.

As regards Laura, above, without knowing the exact ticket details – that is what was booked and more importantly *how* one cannot comment. I will say that I sometimes wonder how members of the travelling public are supposed to understand the nuances of ticketing. By all means buy a straightforward there and back ticket online – no point in paying a fee for a simple (say) London to Paris and back BUT if what you are doing involves more then one airline, changes, more than one destination etc etc you are still much better off visiting an agent – who will explain the nuances and (any) cost implications.

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I have never been satisfied with Airlines way of informing passengers about delayed flights or cancelled flight

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Yes, airlines should do their best than just send email to advise customers when there are changes in their flight schedules. Though email is the cheapest form of communication and everyone is doing it, taking the extra mile like a phone call will truly win the trust and loyalty of a person to the airline.

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