TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Another AA April #1596 JFK Change

I just received an update from AA that our April reservation has been changed.

In checking it out I noted that instead of our 4/18 JFK 7am departure, we now leave at 9:25 and arrive in St. Maarten at 1:30ish, considerably later than we had hoped, but it is what it is.

It's still a n/s flight which is the good news, along with the fact we get to sleep a little later before heading to the airport. The equipment has been changed from a 757 to a 767-300 which means the seating has also changed. If you aren't typically in the habit of doing so, and if changes in seating would matter to you, you might want to check your itinerary jic. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

I'm still waiting for AA to put 1596 on the schedule for Nov. If not, guess I'll go Jet Blue. Like you, I enjoyed getting in before all the 'others'.

really strange, we also got a email change notice today, we leave April 19th, plane is still a 757, flight to SXM still leaves at 710AM but our return flight, on April 26 also #1596 now leaves at 1240PM, so the flight down didn't change but the return is now an hour earlier. I am sure it will change a couple more times, as long as it stays direct we are happy

They changed our April 17/18 flight too Pat, changed our seats outbound and on the return on May 2, they had us sitting on opposite walls! :-( I called them and got it fixed as I could not do it on line, all the seats were blocked out.
Ellen

We just booked AA 1596(NS) for Nov 9 which is a Monday. Hope they don't change it!

I've been checking my flights weekly since they were changed without notice n October. Thankfully still solid.

Glad to hear this. I'm looking for Wed. Nov. 11 and was thinking maybe they wouldn't list it for a weekday. Thanks.

We received change notices from AA for our April DFW-MIA-SXM flights yesterday also. Get there a little earlier but shorter time to clear customs and immigration in MIA on the way home.

We just received a notice that my January 29th flight from JFK to SXM is no longer direct. We are seniors and no longer book indirect flights. What do we do now?

I presume you mean "no longer non-stop", not "no longer direct", as "direct" means that the plane stops, but you don't have to change planes to get to your destination. Non stop means that the flight doesn't stop.

Regardless, see what your options are on other airlines, at what price, and see if perhaps there is a nonstop on AA a day or so either way of your original flight. Because there was a 'significant' change in your itinerary, you can call them and cancel your flight all together and get ALL your money back. However, your options on other airlines may involve a lot more money than your original flight. So, you may want to see about changing your dates slightly. But AA will NOT pay for your extra hotel nights, no. AA would prefer to keep your money and switch you to a different date, if necessary, so they will be slightly flexible with you. Best wishes..

Just looked at google flights - for Jan 29, both Jet Blue and Delta have non stop flights from JFK
I would follow Carol's advice and check out the non stop options
J&B

Carol,

I've always taken the full refund when this has happened to us but we are among the early bookers so it's not usually that big a deal and we do usually have plenty of time to rebook before the prices start escalating.

I recently read somewhere - possibly here? - that someone was able to get AA to put them on another non-AA flight when their flight was cancelled. Do you know anything about this? Or is it only the case when your trip is in progress and a later leg is cancelled which I think they HAVE to do if such a flight is available.

And btw, I just checked the late November Saturday post Thanksgiving flight to SXM I was originally booked on before they cancelled it, and it still has NOT been returned to the flight schedule. I had assumed they would ultimately return it for the high season but not so far, and I keep wondering if our April flight will hold. I really do prefer AA over JB, at least going to the island, so I'm hoping it holds and doesn't get cancelled. With Easter being so very early next year I'm thinking anything's possible with them given the way they've been changing things up over the past few years. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Pat--I can't remember what thread it was on now, but one person did post that they were able to get one airline to put them on another airline. However, they are NOT required to do that at all, according to the contract of carriage. I don't think that particular case involved AA, but the principle is the same--an airline is absolutely NOT required to put you on another airline IF they cancel a flight all together, unless it is literally a last minute thing, and possibly not even then.

My Jan 16th flight on American was changed from non stop to a stop in Charlotte. So frustrating when you book in advance and this happens. What's so annoying is we got a great price and if we switch we'll have to pay a nice chunk more. ):

You're lucky if you got a great price. We haven't booked yet our flight to SXM for Feb. Nothing under $750 per person R/T from Pittsburgh. It's $120 more than what we paid this year and these $630 per person were already much more than in 2014 ($540).
I am at a point where I'm close to giving up going to SXM for 1 week. That's $220/day for 2, just for airfare. Add to that the MFs for the TS + car rental + food and fun and we're at $4,500 for a 1 week vacation there.
Rant over.....

Plequerre...if you don't mind a few hours on the road, a friend of mine just book SXM in February out of Buffalo for $385.00.

Take Jet Blue.

Happened to us also. First time, w thought " oh well". They did it again, we said, Go Jet blue and got a refund from AA. The only good thing is you're flying on a 767 instead of a 757. The 767 is a much nicer and smoother plane.

Maybe I read your post wrong but JB only flies A320's and 321's (and E190's)

AA flies 757's to the Caribbean usually, and on occasion the 767. I knoe Jet blue uses Airbus models. Flew the Boeing 767 to and from Puerto Rico. Just clarifying and responding to Pat's original post. Sorry for any misunderstanding. Should have clarified myself.

Marshalls,

I'm slightly confused about your post since, in checking my own AA flights for April I also checked your January date.

The AA website is still showing the normal non/stop flight, #1596, on that day departing JFK n/s into SXM. If you booked the n/s flight, call them and ask to be put back on it. There should be no charge if they arbitrarily rebooked you on a connecting flight without your consent.

Or am I missing regarding your post? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Hi Pat
I've checked several times and the flight is gone. ):
There are 6 of us that we're flying together and all 3 were put on different RT flights. I'm changing in Charlotte, another couple in Miami and the 3rd got their return flight switched. So disappointing. I just checked before writing this and it's gone. They did tell me when I called, there is always the possibility it will switch back to non stop. This never happened to me before so I'm not sure if I should wait, or cancel and fly Jet Blue.

Pat...On the AA website I see what you are seeing...



I even entered data to get me to seat selection and there are a decent number of seats remaining..(mostly in preferred seats but also some in the back of the plane)

Weird situation....

boucharda--you have the totally wrong date for Marshalls, who was talking about January 16, but I just checked AA's website myself and 1596 is there nonstop on January 16.

Carol,

I think the problem with Boucharda's response is that MY original post was referencing 1596 in April 2015 which they may not have picked up on.

The other posters problem is for January 2016. But the fact still remains, as far as I can see, AA#1596 does still exist and flies out of JFK on January 16, 2016 according to the AA schedule. If they were all booked on that flight originally and were moved to different significantly different flights both in time and number of stops, AA should move them back at no charge to them AS LONG AS THERE ARE SEATS AVAILABLE. At least, that's what they e always done with us when these changes have happened.

Sorry ...saw the original post (Pat) and commented on that...confused it with Marshalls
Her changed flight is the one I mistakenly commented on BUT that (the one that started the thread) is available as I posted...so BOTH "cancelled" flight dates show availability (1/16 (Marshalls) and 4/18 (Pat's))

Even weirder...

Boucharda,

My original post that started this thread was made in January, 2015 and was referring to our April 2015 trip, and NOT April 2016. But you are correct in that the January 16, 2016 flight Marshalls is referencing is still on the AA January 16, 2016 flight schedule.(Our April 2016 dates are totally different and are still good - please, AA, don't change them again this year!!)

I hope these six people contact AA directly and are able to get this straightened out to their satisfaction. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Are all of you seeing this on AA.com???? This is so strange, I want my old flight back!!!! I'm calling there right now!! Thanks everyone!

Sounds like what used to happen to me with JB...I would see a flight one day and when I went back a few days later it didn't exist anymore...but...when I went on a different computer it was back again.

I also checked ITA software and it is there as well

Now I just checked the IT software and the flight is not there. WTH- could it really be because I'm using the same computer? That's crazy- starting to hate American right now lol

I did that ITA search 10 minutes ago and chose N/S only...and it was the only flight that came up but it did come up (as posted in the quote)

I can't believe cache issues with AA would affect ITA also..AND...I repeated the request a couple of times and still got the flight to show...so not a cache issue

Must be something you are imputing that is changing or diverting the search somehow....(of course that doesn't change the fact that AA says it was actually cancelled <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />)

Maybe it's a phantom flight placed there with the express purpose of getting travelers to book it and then later change them to the connecting flights that really do exist....hmmmmm.....

I definitely saw it on the AA website. Did you call AA yet?

I cancelled and booked with Delta- I really like to fly non-stop, I'm a bit of a chicken lol

If it is available, N/S on the return is awesome...JB has me hooked on that leg

I feel your pain! We have a week booked for April. Airfare from Chicago is $747, $900 if we want non-stop. We too, are considering giving up the trips to St Maarten, even though we love it there! We can take 2 vacations for what we spend going to St Maarten for 1!

Take Jeffs advice Jet BLUE We have confirmed resv. feb20 return mar1 888.00 for 2

I have flown to SXM from Boston/Providence 3 times. . . each time there was a problem. When you're heading back from a great vacation, even a terminal change without notice is frustrating. Checking fares religiously, i've also found that AA/USAir is markedly higher. Delta seems to be there worst. Now having flown JetBlue, it's the only airline i'd chose. . .i find them to be lower and if you see a lower price within 2 weeks of purchase they'll credit your JB account.

In the future if JB is an option I would second (or third) that suggestion.

This thread was about a reservation for April 2015, and somehow keeps getting brought up to the top. Will close it now, to prevent further confusion. If people have issues with future AA flights being rescheduled, please start a new thread.