Etihad and Orbitz Make Unwelcome Changes to Mistake-Fare Flights
Turns out that those magically cheap Etihad fares that we shared back in December may not be so magical, after all. I've been hearing from readers that although Etihad has agreed to honor these cheap mistake fares, the airline is now making changes to some their itineraries—and not for the better. In case this happens to you, I want to provide you with some tools to reach out for help.
The reader stories are coming fast and furious:
TPG reader Courtney was able to snag an Etihad flight LAX-EVN round-trip for $200 in May, but recently noticed that Orbitz has changed her entire outbound journey by two days. She'll now have a 50-hour (rather than three-hour) layover in JFK and a 27-hour (rather than two-hour) layover in AUH, and will arrive Monday rather than Saturday—and doesn't know where to turn.
Another TPG reader, Chase, says his trip dates were upended by Orbitz with zero notification, resulting in changes to his outgoing and incoming flight dates, the addition of two travel days, and a formerly non-stop leg from DFW now including a layover in ORD. The online travel agency said he would be allowed to rebook the original dates at no fee (though that one leg would still have the layover in ORD) and given time to make decisions after seeing if additions could be made to his non-refundable hotel reservation.
I was dismayed by yet another story from TPG reader Stuck in Texas, whose fast-approaching outgoing flight to AUH has been suddenly moved forward two days, while the return flight will now be a day earlier—resulting in the loss of confirmed seats, the need for a different hotel booking, and a request for two extra days of vacation time from work. These changes have come, once again, with no notice from Orbitz. The online travel agency has instructed Stuck to work directly with Etihad, while Etihad's customer service says they're locked out of the reservation because this is a promotional fare (which Stuck insists wasn't listed anywhere on the original reservation) and Orbitz is the one changing dates.
Resources
In case you've been affected by these last-minute changes from Etihad and Orbitz, reach out to these resources to seek help:
Twitter: @EtihadAirways -and- @Orbitz
Facebook: Etihad Airways -and- Orbitz
Customer service phone numbers
Etihad: (888) 838-4423
Orbitz: (888) 656-4546
As consumers, don't allow yourself to feel inconvenienced and pushed around without a fight—make sure that your stories are seen and heard!
If you booked Etihad sale-fare flights, has your itinerary been changed? If so, did you try to have it changed back—and did you receive a satisfactory result? Please share your experience in the the comments below.
[card card-name='Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card' card-id='22125056' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.