DW NIGHTMARE you never think this will happen to you

[Riu Mambo Bride to be]

Late yesterday afternoon I recieved a phone call from my TA who proceeded to tell me that our flight (Air Transat) had been CANCELLED to puerto plata from Nov 3-10. At first I thought she was just playing a sick joke on my... I HAD 34 DAYS TO GO and then this bomb was dropped that threw my wedding up in the air. Not only was my flight cancelled but every flight out of calgary was cancelled up until NOV 24th and there was no wedding availablility for that week... SO WHAT NOW... Panic set in, hyper-ventilation, anger, saddness, pitty, desperation. You name it I was feeling it. The wedding itself is still up in the air . My travel agent ofcourse feels so badly she is almost willing to do anything to make me happy. We have no had to choose a different destination, we chose Punta Cana because we have already done all our legal documents and because I went through the consulate directly they are willing to re-do them at no charge. We had to choose another hotel, so we decided to stay with the Riu chain and chose the Riu Bambu. The only thing thats still up in the air is the ceremony date and time. Im preying that they can accomidate us to still legally get married. The only thing is now our departure date has changed from Nov 3 to Nov 5th. So I've got to call each and everyone of my 36 guests and explain over and over again .... The other thing that is a bummer is all my personalised beach bags, luggage tags, travel mugs EVERYTHING says Riu Mambo puerto plata, NOV 7th...

 

You hear about this stuff happening to someone else but never in a million years think it will happen to you!!!

 

AIR TRANSAT is to blame and when I called them for information NOBODY would talk to me, Nobody would exlpain how this happens or why and there is NO COMPENSATION on thier part....

 

CRAZY!

[nsbride2010]

HOLY F%$*%!

 

I cannot even imagine this happening!! Actually, a couple that I know was supposed to be married around the end of January in Cuba, and found out about a month ago that their flight was cancelled as well! Luckily they were told in enough time to change all of their wedding plans (Majestic Colonial in Punta Cana now), but your situation is 10 fold worse! The personailzation would be the thing that would get me up in arms, since I know how much it costs to do those things! Is the personalization done with thread (for the beach bags, for example)? Could you possibly find someone in Calgary that can do this cheap? Explain what has happened, and people will try to help you out as best as they can. What a sin, I truly feel for you! What is being done by your TA for the travel arrangements? I hope they are going to send you and your guests to the new resort without an extra charge! To go to people a month or so before their trip and say "oh by the way, we need $300 more for your trip since Air Transat sh*t the bed" would be completely unfair!

[~Keira~]

Oh dear. I'm getting nervous now. We leave in 30 days and we too are meant to be flying Air transat.

 

I hope everything works out for you!!

[Riu Mambo Bride to be]

My beach bags are silk screened!!! So this is the second DATE change already and these are my second set of bags I've ordered. We are just going to make a joke of it )Make the best of the situation) and SHARPI the 7 into a 9, cross out puerto plata and write punta cana on them. I AM NOT buying beach bags for a 3rd time. My luggage tags are just paper and Im going to just re-do them myself.... As far as everything else, Im just going to have to Run with it.. I suppose is my FI and I can get through this...we can get through anything.... My eyes were so puffy yesterday I could barely see.... Just Nuts. My TA is not offering any compensation either other then sending us to Punta cana at no extra charge. And at this point I am SOOOO over confrontation and arguing ... I just want to get there and enjoy myself with my FI, family and friends... I can't believe this has happened.. It seems like a dream, really...

[Tam]

That is absolutey horrible!! Surely there has to be some recourse you can take... and make sure you don't have to pay more than you already have. In Ontario, we have TICO (travel insurance company? of Ontario) they protect you from that .. I think.

Do you have anything like that in Alberta?

Air Transat can't just leave you high and dry... make them fly you to TO, and go from here or something.. surely there are some alternatives they can offer you.

 

Remember you didn't do this, so your guests should understand and be sympathetic.

 

Try sending out an email to everyone to save from the repetitiveness and time of calling everyone.

 

Take a big breath and take it one step at a time... also, call AT head office and be insistent at talking to someone with authority...

 

Good luck and keep us posted!!

[Riu Mambo Bride to be]

TRust me I called Air Transat and they upright REFUSE to talk to the public because I went through an agency.... I was bounced back and forth between departments for over an hour getting nowhere because nobody "deals with these situations"... It's just NUTS....

[Nonnie]

OMG!! I can't believe how frusterating this must be

 

i'm travelling with Air Transat out of Edmonton in Early December, I better email my TA and find out if I should be concerned

[kris]

Did they tell you why they cancelled flights! That's insane...I'll be flying Air Transat from Calgary in January...that's so scary...you poor girl. I hope everything works out for you!!!! Everything happens for a reason right ??

[*Heather*]

OMG, this is horrible. Sunquest cancelled my flights too so I can relate, although at least we had 4 months to rebook everything. I can't believe they would do this to you so late in the game! I'm so sorry. Just know that everything is going to work out in the end and you'll be married to your FI which is really all that matters (I know, hard to see now). Big hugs!

[MilitaryMrs.s-to be]

OMG! I'm so sorry this is happening to you. I hope everything works out. And I know its hard to see right now, but everything happens for a reason. Best of luck to you