Nova Scotia family’s Disney World trip grounded after Sunwing quietly reduces

A Nova Scotia family is upset after Sunwing cancelled their March break flight to Orlando, Fla., with little explanation.

Kevin Hindle said he and his wife made the decision at the end of October to take their daughter, son-in-law, and their two kids to Disney World and booked their flights and accommodations through Sunwing.

The trip was announced to the grandkids, aged five and seven, as a Christmas present. They got Disney-themed backpacks and personal invitations from Disney characters.

“(My granddaughter) jumps off the couch and starts dancing — ‘We’re going to Disney! We’re going to Disney!’” said Hindle.

But now that trip won’t be taking off.

The first “hiccup” came in November, Hindle said, after Sunwing cancelled their flight scheduled for March 10, which was initially supposed to land in Melbourne, Fla., about an hour from Orlando.

They learned that the flight had actually been moved to Orlando, and Sunwing wanted them to rebook at a more expensive price point.

With the help of their travel agent, Hindle said they were able to successfully get their flight transferred, and he thought all was well.

Fast forward to Jan. 9., and Hindle’s travel agent got an email from Sunwing, saying the airline’s planned flight schedule between Halifax and Orlando between Feb. 10 and May 5 was cancelled.

The email said it was due to “unanticipated business or operation constraints,” and no other reason was given.

Hindle said it’s not fair that the airline cancelled the route with next to no explanation after selling the tickets months ago.

“If it’s weather-related, or something like that, that’s different. But this isn’t,” he said.

“You’re just pulling service for several months, but why? If you don’t have the staff, you don’t have the planes, or operationally, you can’t make commitments, then OK, say so.”

Hindle said his flights were refunded, but he already spent another $3,600 on tickets to the park — which, according to the Disney World Resort website, are non-refundable and non-transferable — in addition to $1,200 on travel insurance for the family.

“So, there’s $4,800 that Sunwing’s not going to cover,” he said.

Hindle is trying to figure out other ways to get six people to Florida over March break, “and right now, that doesn’t look like it’s going to be possible.”

“The kids were just over the top, but now, here we are,” he said. “The kids don’t know yet … we’re just dreading the thought (of having) to tell them.”

Sunwing flight cancellations abound

In December, Sunwing announced it was cancelling all flights out of Regina and Saskatoon until Feb. 3.

The airline has made no official announcement about flights out of the Maritimes and has not replied to repeated requests for interviews.

In a statement, Halifax International Airport Authority spokesperson Leah Batstone said the airport was aware that Sunwing has made reductions to its winter schedule, affecting services to Orlando, Cayo Largo del Sur and Varadero.

“We understand the airline is communicating these changes to affected travellers,” she said.

“We expect Sunwing’s other services from Halifax Stanfield, including flights to various destinations in the Caribbean, Jamaica and Mexico, to…