Flights re scheduled - want to cancel help chatgpt

eskbanker

coatona said:

Yes Birmingham to Bangkok Via Delhi Airline is Air India Agent is trip.com

Minimum layover time

• Domestic to Domestic - 45 Minutes
• Domestic- International - 90 minutes
• International- Domestic - 90 Minutes
• International-International - 60 Minutes

https://www.airindia.com/in/en/travel-information/airport-information/delhi.html

coatona

Yes Okay. If we were talking about an absolute 100% constant that's fine. But this means this scheduled inbound flight has zero tolerance to meet that minimum layover time. 

Ayr_Rage

I have searched a few sites but flying with Air India the minimum available connecting times appear to be 4 hours on the departure leg and 10 hours 55 minutes on the way back.

What airlines are they offering on the return journey?

coatona

It is Air India for both legs. The new proposed flights are as follows
Bangkok Depart 22nd Aug 08.40 Arrive Delhi 11.35 - Delhi Depart 12.35 Arrive Birmingham 18.15 

coatona

Just a side note I requested chatgpt to get some statistics it says 24% of inbound flights inbound to Delhi from air India are delayed. I would have to verify that but if its anywhere near true its alarming.

Hoenir

coatona said:

Just a side note I requested chatgpt to get some statistics it says 24% of inbound flights inbound to Delhi from air India are delayed. I would have to verify that but if its anywhere near true its alarming.

Planes aren't like trains or buses. Schedules cannot be guaranteed for a whole host of reasons. Travelling long distances will always be subject to what if's. That's the inherent risk one tasks. Not something I would describe as alarming. Just the way it is. 

Ayr_Rage

AIC2333 has been on time 6 days out of the last 7.

Even so, 1 hour at DEL is going to be tight whatever happens.

coatona

Well that sample is more reassuring. But yes on other comment agreed and that's my point, the shorter the lay over the more risk there is. This is at the highest risk on the spectrum. But yes I can see that even with the delayed departure its made up the time. 

jimi_man

But the crucial point is that 1 hour is in accordance with the MCT so the journey has been accepted through the airline’s algorithms. If the BKK flight is late then the connection will be broken and you’ll be taken off the next flight. This often happens whilst passengers are in the air. Assuming it’s all on one ticket (I think you said it was) then the airline will just reroute you. 

So it helps to do some advance planning. Have some options of later flights if there are any. You may have to consider different airports - MAN, LHR for example. Or potentially different airlines (Air India are part of Star Alliance so look at those ones). Also research the journey between flights at Delhi as best you can - will there be a terminal change (unlikely as T3 will be the likely arrival and departure terminal), through security again (likely) etc. However it’s not peak time so with a bit of luck transit security will be light and there won’t be a problem. 

You may well find that Air India staff will be at the plane door/gate on arrival to escort tight connecting passengers to the next gate which can assist. It can be worth making some enquiries in advance to see if this is the case. 

I’d far rather have one hour than 11 hours. Then at least if Air India get it wrong then they’d be on the hook for some expenses/hotel possibly if long enough. 

HTH

coatona

There is now a spectacular result. I looked to see what trip.com had in the way of direct flights and called them up to ask if I could switch airlines without any costs. This time the agent put me on hold while she checked the T&C's. She came back and said I was entitled to a full refund on the flight with no cancellation fee. Reason being the first return leg was cancelled (not re scheduled) but they had automatically allocated me to an alternative flight. So I triggered the refund request last night, this morning they confirmed the airline had processed the refund. So it ended well. So I guess 2 learnings here. Read the T&C's and don't assume the agent knows everything.