Cruise and Theme Park Operational Updates due to Coronavirus

[KBoopaloo]

If you're on an early morning flight on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, the plane will likely be pretty empty, but they've gotten a lot smarter with their pandemic flight scheduling. Most (though not all) afternoon/evening flights I've been on have been almost, if not entirely, full.

I am a compulsive flight shopper even when I know I am not going anywhere and when I‘ve looked at JetBlue flights from MA to MCO, they’ve appeared fairly open a couple of months out but then they seem to be canceling and consolidating flights as you get closer to the departure date and the flights are all much fuller.

 

[mum22girlz]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1319298058228695048

My flight down will have no one in the middle seat, but my flight back is after 11/30. It will be interesting to see the difference.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

I'm a big American flyer (have 150,000+ miles with them, credit card holder, etc...), and I've been wholeheartedly disappointed with how they've handled the pandemic. While I've been on almost empty American flights over the past several months, most have been packed by even pre-COVID standards. A total free-for-all when disembarking. Not a lot of mask enforcement either. I really don't care what they say about the air circulation, air particles, etc..., you're not going to convince me that that is totally safe.

And yes, I'd prefer the middle seat open. Will it keep me from flying? No; I really don't have much of a choice these days with work, family needs, etc... and I accept the risks. Anyone flying should go in expecting the risk these days.

Family has had to travel from CA to TX a few times, and American is the only good option for their flights. Not a single flight has been on time (we're talking hours long delays, missed connections, and including rescheduling they were never informed about). Maintenance issues. Every flight out of CA was completely full (in May, July, August,...). We normally fly American so seldom that we didn't have much opinion either way about them (previous flights had been middling), but we're making a conscious decision not to use them now.

Normally the Southwest boarding procedures stress me out, but we've been happy with the changes since this all started. We also like that they haven't been packing flights. We have had flight changes (non-stops changed to one-stop, time changes,...) so that's annoying but hasn't been the end of the world. Family has also had good experiences on Alaska Air recently.

 

[andyman8]

American wasn’t my first choice here but Southwest cancelled the flight I had going home and I didn’t want to leave very early. Considering I’m not flying into a big airport I’ll be on a smaller airplane to begin with.

Similar thing actually happened to me. Had SW booked both ways but SW canceled the return trip so I rebooked with American. One other piece of advice I'd give to anyone flying these days is to check your reservation every week or two. I've had several American flights cancelled and wasn't emailed about it. Usually American is pretty good about that but I know others here have reported logging on to check their flight and see it's completely different.

I am a compulsive flight shopper even when I know I am not going anywhere and when I‘ve looked at JetBlue flights from MA to MCO, they’ve appeared fairly open a couple of months out but then they seem to be canceling and consolidating flights as you get closer to the departure date and the flights are all much fuller.

In my experience, American and JetBlue have been doing a lot of consolidations within 2-3 weeks of the flights themselves. I find their schedules to be bit more fluid. United, on the other hand, seems to be sticking with a slightly firmer schedule.

Family has had to travel from CA to TX a few times, and American is the only good option for their flights. Not a single flight has been on time (we're talking hours long delays, missed connections, and including rescheduling they were never informed about). Maintenance issues. Every flight out of CA was completely full (in May, July, August,...). We normally fly American so seldom that we didn't have much opinion either way about them (previous flights had been middling), but we're making a conscious decision not to use them now.

Normally the Southwest boarding procedures stress me out, but we've been happy with the changes since this all started. We also like that they haven't been packing flights. We have had flight changes (non-stops changed to one-stop, time changes,...) so that's annoying but hasn't been the end of the world. Family has also had good experiences on Alaska Air recently.

I don't fly SW much, but I've been really happy with them the last few times I've flown them. The customer service has been very good, which is especially appreciated right now with all the anxiety/stress attached to travel at the moment.

 

[TakesFaithTrust&PixieDust]

I don't have faith Americans will get it.
Everyone yelling we need the vaccine, but when it's available, won't get it. I have trust in the process (it's no different than any other vaccine and won't change no matter who is president) and will be getting the vaccine as soon as I am able.

We want Disney and other businesses to come back and restrictions to ease? This is how.

I totally agree with you. I’ll take the vaccine, too, as soon as it’s available. This is the only way WDW, and especially DL, will be able to get back to more offerings for their guests. I don’t think Disney will jump in to normalcy for a bit after that though. As the months go by more hotels will open, fireworks will come back and restaurants will have more offerings.

 

[Tigger's ally]

I always fly SW for both work and pleasure. Main reason is just because of flights offered in and out of Indy and the Lou. Once you get used to their wacky boarding system, they really are quite easy to travel with. My employer allows me to do the early bird check in so that is a big advantage and something I have gotten used to and won't do without on personal flights either. Our December trip does have me worried though. We got changed already for flight home similar to Teetz, but so far we have not had our non stop on the way down there moved. Hope to stay with that one.

 

[Leigh L]

If you're on an early morning flight on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, the plane will likely be pretty empty, but they've gotten a lot smarter with their pandemic flight scheduling. Most (though not all) afternoon/evening flights I've been on have been almost, if not entirely, full.

My 2 p.m. United flight (on a Wednesday) next month from MCO is getting pretty full, esp now that they consolidated their 4 or 5 flights for November into one, so consistent with your experience.

 

[Leigh L]

I am a compulsive flight shopper even when I know I am not going anywhere and when I‘ve looked at JetBlue flights from MA to MCO, they’ve appeared fairly open a couple of months out but then they seem to be canceling and consolidating flights as you get closer to the departure date and the flights are all much fuller.

Big time. JB moved us 3-4 times in August and our trip shifted by 3 days on each end when all was said and done (I think our final switch was 8 days out). DH had to cancel a Tampa trip to see his dad about 2 weeks ago after JB shifted by 24 hours.

From DC, they've been flying 3 direct flights a week instead of 3-4 per day after their cancelations. I've got my eye on one for next month to switch from my above mentioned United flight, but I'm fairly certain it'll be canceled and I'd be shifted to the next day. Which would be great, one more day at WDW except I don't have flexibility this time to do that

JetBlue was an awesome experience mostly though when we finally did get a flight that stuck lol. Although, this was in August and it was definitely not a close to full flight going either direction.

 

[JacknSally]

https://allears.net/2020/10/22/epco...troll-is-returning-this-year-in-disney-world/

 

[Sarahslay]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1319298058228695048

So it looks like Delta will be the airline of choice for anyone wanting to take the safer route with flying. I know if I chose to fly I would stay away from the others for a while, I don't want to be a sardine in a tin can.

 

[Tigger's ally]

So it looks like Delta will be the airline of choice for anyone wanting to take the safer route with flying. I know if I chose to fly I would stay away from the others for a while, I don't want to be a sardine in a tin can.

Ummm. Well.... call me a cynic but I have this weird feeling that Delta will fall in line very shortly.

 

[MrsBooch]

https://allears.net/2020/10/22/epco...troll-is-returning-this-year-in-disney-world/

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSS

THIS IS ALL I NEED TO KNOW.

 

[gottalovepluto]

So it looks like Delta will be the airline of choice for anyone wanting to take the safer route with flying. I know if I chose to fly I would stay away from the others for a while, I don't want to be a sardine in a tin can.

Ummm. Well.... call me a cynic but I have this weird feeling that Delta will fall in line very shortly.

Delta said about a week ago they will stop blocking the middle seat at some point in the first half of 2021. Then yesterday DL CEO told Fox Biz the policy will continue “well into next year”. Link based on all that my guess is Q2 2021.

 

[rteetz]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/10/holi...epcot-international-festival-of-the-holidays/

 

[jlwhitney]

I think there's more than a dab of hope for next October!

The next couple months or so won't be spectacular, but then hopefully things start to turn around (slowly at first) and for good this time!

I agree with you. I think people will be surprised come spring how much starts changing for the good. Now I do think Disney will be slower but more and more.

 

[LSUmiss]

https://blogmickey.com/2020/10/holi...epcot-international-festival-of-the-holidays/

I hope holiday stuff starts earlier in MK!

 

[rteetz]

I hope holiday stuff starts earlier in MK!

November 6th

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Ummm. Well.... call me a cynic but I have this weird feeling that Delta will fall in line very shortly.

Maybe, but we KNOW the others will/have stop/ped blocking the middle, or were never doing it in the first place. And aside from international flights (like Lufthansa to Europe, Quantas to Australia/NZ), Delta has generally been the most pleasant flying experience for us, certainly consistently better than other domestic airlines. We'll still book SW, but if our flights in January are packed, we'll probably opt to fly Delta in February.

 

[Justrose]

I hope holiday stuff starts earlier in MK!

Same! Pretty bummed I will miss all this cool stuff in Epcot.

 

[Sarahslay]

Ummm. Well.... call me a cynic but I have this weird feeling that Delta will fall in line very shortly.

I have friends that work at the Delta headquarters, there is no talk currently about any changes in the foreseeable future. They said there are rumors that come Christmas time they’ll make changes, but for now they’re staying safe and blocking out seats. Besides, they’re having to combine flights just to get to their new full capacity, I don’t think there is a need to stop the middle seats now anyway.