Kiwi.com flights changed to earlier time

THEV1LL4N

So I purchased 2 x return flights from BHX to ABZ with Kiwi.com on the flight times of my choosing which was great for collecting and returning the car rental at the airport.  However, my flight times were brought changed by 11 hours (outbound was delayed 11 hours; inbound is now 11 hours earlier) which affects the following:

1. Car rental collection - new flight time lands at 21:20.  Enterprise closes at 5pm meaning I will be left without a car which I need to drive to my accommodation.
2. Check-in at hotel - I will miss the check-in time at the hotel
3. Trip itinerary - I was planning to see attractions on the way to the first accommodation as part of a road trip - I now miss out on those.

Other things to note:

• The trip is now effectively 2 days shorter
• This is my honeymoon and not only are we being affected financially, but this is causing distress and completely ruining the experience
• I have requested that our flights change but we supposedly cannot contact them until 3 days before the flight time.  This leaves no time at all to get in touch with them as we are actually getting married then.
• I upgraded to the Plus tier so can email them.  However, they have not responded in over 3 days when Plus members have priority - at this rate it will be too late.  I do understand the situation but I am expecting there to be some resistance from them and fear that getting this resolved or finding some sort of middle ground might be too late.
• I purchased travel insurance at the time of buying the flights
• I have booked some places with AirBNB - which are not fully refundable.

Would really appreciate some advice as I am having a torrid time planning everything in the lead up to the wedding as there have been a lot of last minute hurdles.
Thank you.

Alan_Bowen

Were the original flights booked with Flybe, as you know they ceased flying completely in early March and another airline has taken over? A travel agent has no control over the new airline's timetable and regrettably, many routes have simply disappeared altogether. With only one flight a day, there really isn't much option, is there? If it is a decent hotel the night staff will check you in, either change your car rental to a new company or take the bus/taxi into Aberdeen and collect the car next morning. Some car hire companies offer an out of hours collection service for an additional fee, could be worth checking as it may be less than the cost of alternative transport.
I am sorry to say your biggest mistake was using kiwi.com they are a complete nightmare, and completely pointless for a simple point to point flight that will always be cheaper if booked directly with the airline. Kiwi.com. despite the name are based in Brno in the Czech Republic, they ignore all requests for help according to all recent reviews and should be avoided like the plague

THEV1LL4N

Alan_Bowen said:

Were the original flights booked with Flybe, as you know they ceased flying completely in early March and another airline has taken over? A travel agent has no control over the new airline's timetable and regrettably, many routes have simply disappeared altogether. With only one flight a day, there really isn't much option, is there? If it is a decent hotel the night staff will check you in, either change your car rental to a new company or take the bus/taxi into Aberdeen and collect the car next morning. Some car hire companies offer an out of hours collection service for an additional fee, could be worth checking as it may be less than the cost of alternative transport.
I am sorry to say your biggest mistake was using kiwi.com they are a complete nightmare, and completely pointless for a simple point to point flight that will always be cheaper if booked directly with the airline. Kiwi.com. despite the name are based in Brno in the Czech Republic, they ignore all requests for help according to all recent reviews and should be avoided like the plague

Hi Alan,
Thanks for your response.

The airline company is LoganAir. There were several flights a day and they have disappeared with only one operating each day.
There is a local lockdown in the city of Aberdeen, so that is one area I'll need to avoid.  The car rental was at the airport so meant I would not directly be affected with their local lockdown.

I really do hope that they find some sort of solution and do something.  I would have been better off not going on honeymoon and just delaying it until next year when things would have calmed down.  I am shattered and completely burnt out with everything, only having 2.5 days off from work (another issue altogether) since March and I was looking forward to finally having some well-deserved time off and going somewhere remote to the Scottish Highlands.  I hope Kiwi.com can put me on the flights I want at the very least.

Thrugelmir

Have you spoken directly to LoganAir to ascertain what options maybe available. 

eskbanker

THEV1LL4N said:
The airline company is LoganAir. There were several flights a day and they have disappeared with only one operating each day.

[...]

I hope Kiwi.com can put me on the flights I want at the very least.

If they've moved you to the one remaining daily flight because your flight is no longer operating then what alternative do you have in mind?

THEV1LL4N said:

There is a local lockdown in the city of Aberdeen, so that is one area I'll need to avoid.  The car rental was at the airport so meant I would not directly be affected with their local lockdown.

The local restrictions have been lifted since the beginning of this week.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-local-measures/

[Deleted User]

You are not alone in having to be resourceful in these strange times.   Instead of stressing, try to plan differently.  IF you are still being offered a flight to Aberdeen, work out what time you will arrive.    If you really can't rent a car at that time then look to book into a hotel for the night.    OK might be extra money you didn't budget for but you can perhaps have one meal out less?  What I am getting at is that you will have budgeted for certain things over and above the flights, car hire and hotel.  Where are you heading for after landing at Aberdeen?   There may be other ways to get there?  Forget about the road trip, least of your worries you can do that from your hotel, once you pick up a rental car.
Edited to add:  Just seen you are staying at various places, so if the first one is not accessible other than car then booking into a hotel seems your best option until you can pick up your rental car.

THEV1LL4N

Thrugelmir said:

Have you spoken directly to LoganAir to ascertain what options maybe available. 

I contacted them online and they stated the following:

"As you booked through a 3rd party you will have to speak to them to find out what your options are as Loganair are not permitted to make any changes to your booking on your behalf, only Kiwi can do this."

THEV1LL4N

Tedber said:

You are not alone in having to be resourceful in these strange times.   Instead of stressing, try to plan differently.  IF you are still being offered a flight to Aberdeen, work out what time you will arrive.    If you really can't rent a car at that time then look to book into a hotel for the night.    OK might be extra money you didn't budget for but you can perhaps have one meal out less?  What I am getting at is that you will have budgeted for certain things over and above the flights, car hire and hotel.  Where are you heading for after landing at Aberdeen?   There may be other ways to get there?  Forget about the road trip, least of your worries you can do that from your hotel, once you pick up a rental car.
Edited to add:  Just seen you are staying at various places, so if the first one is not accessible other than car then booking into a hotel seems your best option until you can pick up your rental car.

Thank you.  I am thinking along the same lines and am just trying to think of an alternative way to do this of Kiwi don't accommodate me.  I would need to alter the itinerary and perhaps change the second day.  Although it would be much easier to get those flights changed if there are still seats on the flights I want.

I purchased a economy ticket as it was much cheaper.  Would it be possible to pay the difference and upgrade to a flexible flight ticket in case any changes are made again in the future?  I didn't think a domestic flight within the UK would be such a headache.

Thrugelmir

THEV1LL4N said:

Tedber said:

You are not alone in having to be resourceful in these strange times.   Instead of stressing, try to plan differently.  IF you are still being offered a flight to Aberdeen, work out what time you will arrive.    If you really can't rent a car at that time then look to book into a hotel for the night.    OK might be extra money you didn't budget for but you can perhaps have one meal out less?  What I am getting at is that you will have budgeted for certain things over and above the flights, car hire and hotel.  Where are you heading for after landing at Aberdeen?   There may be other ways to get there?  Forget about the road trip, least of your worries you can do that from your hotel, once you pick up a rental car.
Edited to add:  Just seen you are staying at various places, so if the first one is not accessible other than car then booking into a hotel seems your best option until you can pick up your rental car.

 just trying to think of an alternative way to do this of Kiwi don't accommodate me. 

What you hoping for? 

sheramber

https://www.enterprise.co.uk/en/help/faqs/can-i-return-or-pick-up-a-car-outside-opening-hours.html

CAN I RETURN OR PICK-UP A CAR OUTSIDE THE OPENING HOURS?

 

The short answer

 

• Yes for airports     
• Generally no for other locations
• If you are in need of a full 24/7 service, check out Enterprise Car Club Learn More

sheramber

THEV1LL4N said:

Alan_Bowen said:

Were the original flights booked with Flybe, as you know they ceased flying completely in early March and another airline has taken over? A travel agent has no control over the new airline's timetable and regrettably, many routes have simply disappeared altogether. With only one flight a day, there really isn't much option, is there? If it is a decent hotel the night staff will check you in, either change your car rental to a new company or take the bus/taxi into Aberdeen and collect the car next morning. Some car hire companies offer an out of hours collection service for an additional fee, could be worth checking as it may be less than the cost of alternative transport.
I am sorry to say your biggest mistake was using kiwi.com they are a complete nightmare, and completely pointless for a simple point to point flight that will always be cheaper if booked directly with the airline. Kiwi.com. despite the name are based in Brno in the Czech Republic, they ignore all requests for help according to all recent reviews and should be avoided like the plague

Hi Alan,
Thanks for your response.

The airline company is LoganAir. There were several flights a day and they have disappeared with only one operating each day.
There is a local lockdown in the city of Aberdeen, so that is one area I'll need to avoid.  The car rental was at the airport so meant I would not directly be affected with their local lockdown.

I really do hope that they find some sort of solution and do something.  I would have been better off not going on honeymoon and just delaying it until next year when things would have calmed down.  I am shattered and completely burnt out with everything, only having 2.5 days off from work (another issue altogether) since March and I was looking forward to finally having some well-deserved time off and going somewhere remote to the Scottish Highlands.  I hope Kiwi.com can put me on the flights I want at the very least.

Have you checked that the flights you want are operating.  There may only be that one flight each day now.