12/4 MCO to BOS 6:55PM Song

[magiroux]

I was bumped, without any advance notification, to this flight after my 5PM was cancelled. Just got a call, from a not very pleasant CSR, asking me to accept a $50.00 future credit to fly a different time/day. HE stated, "It is seriously overbooked because it was assigned a smaller plane." I said, "no thanks", since it is only a long weekend trip to begin with, but I can't help but wonder if the real reason it is "seriously overbooked" is because they combined two flights into this one.

If you're on this one make sure you're at the airport in plenty of time.

 

[CarolA]

Probably why it is overbooked.

However, if there had been a flight you wanted instead of the 7 PM you could have asked to be moved to it when the intial move happened.

Personally, I think this is good DL is trying to avoid bumping folks at the airport. However, they need to come up with more then $50!!! I don't bump for under a few hundred. (Bumped on my last flight out of Boston for $400!!!)

 

[PatsGirl]

I was offered a "bump" on my Thanksgiving flight which I took for $150 voucher each person, but what a fiasco! In hindsight, it's not nearly worth the vouchers because of the many phone calls it took to make other arrangements on my end and then Delta booked us on a flight we had not discussed. Thank God I noticed this when they emailed me the new itinerary and they were very pleasant to deal with and change it to the day I wanted to fly but...

Anyways, I noticed that they are again on my caller id so obviously they are trying to get us to change something. FYI, don't even try returning their calls about these "pre-bumps" -- it took my six phone calls and nearly three hours to get in hold with them over the last change.

On the upside, we are flying out the day before and CSR was able to add an additional night so we are staying at the same hotel for the extra night. This also means I can go to Vegas in May for less than $100 airfare

 

[CarolA]

You generally get more money at the airport. The "pre-bumps" they are trying to do cheap. Plus you get reticked right at the airport so you know what is going on

ON my bump, I got an overnight at the Hilton, free food and a first class ticket the next day....

 

[magiroux]

Probably why it is overbooked.

However, if there had been a flight you wanted instead of the 7 PM you could have asked to be moved to it when the intial move happened.

Personally, I think this is good DL is trying to avoid bumping folks at the airport. However, they need to come up with more then $50!!! I don't bump for under a few hundred. (Bumped on my last flight out of Boston for $400!!!)

I know, Carol and that was a tough one. They had early morning and 2:15 available, but since this is only a long weekend trip (Fri-Sun), I wanted to spend part of Sunday at Epcot. Even if they offered me $400 cash to bump I still have to be at work Monday Morning

 

[seashoreCM]

Just got a call,..., asking me to ... fly a different time/day. HE stated, "It is seriously overbooked because it was assigned a smaller plane."

Happens all the time, often they call you at two in the morning and don't offer you any compensation.

They snag a lot of suckers this way. Don't be one.

Best strategy is to decline their offer. Show up at the airport normally, you have plenty of time to decide whether to volunteer for a bump and score something bigger like a $250. voucher, or to just board as usual.

I would be cautious about accepting even a larger compensaion over the phone. If the airline doesn't honor its promise it is a he said she said dispute whereas if you go to the airport you will definitely get compensation for being bumped.

If you feel confused, press the receiver hook in the middle of your own talking. You don't want to get talked into somethin you do not want. The agent will think it was a bad connection as opposed to your hanging up on him.

If you are bumped involuntarily (at the airport) the airline has to pay you cash if you insist.

By the way, if you find out on your own (via internet or whatever) that your flight was changed on you, immediately telephone and re-request seat assignments if you like the new flight. flightOtherwise you could be re-rescheduled to something you don't like. Or if you don't like the new much flights, hand pick a flight you do like and immediately telephone to ask for a change to that..

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[magiroux]

By the way, if you find out on your own (via internet or whatever) that your flight was changed on you, immediately telephone and re-request seat assignments if you like the new flight. flightOtherwise you could be re-rescheduled to something you don't like. Or if you don't like the new much flights, hand pick a flight you do like and immediately telephone to ask for a change to that..

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Funny you should mention the seats. This is the same flight that when they changed the return schedule by 1 minute they wouldn't give me my assigned seat back. Said I had to get my seat at the gate. I had to be (politely) persistant and beg a little and although the CSR said there was nothing that could be done she changed it back to confirmed seat while still on the phone with me. In my persistance I did ask her several times if the flight was overbooked. She claimed it was not. Hmmmmmm.

 

[PatsGirl]

I keep saying they'll be offering much more on the flight, probably after we're seated but with two kids, 7 and 8, there's no way I could drag them off the plane to wait until the next day. Even if it was offered prior to boarding, we are 2 hours away and it just wouldn't be doable with kids, so we'll take the $150 and run with it. I've already warned my friend that I'll be taking whatever they offer on our return flight. She has to be home to work but I'll hang in FL for as long as they want me to if the $$ is right.

 

[seashoreCM]

they changed the return schedule by 1 minute they wouldn't give me my assigned seat back. Said I had to get my seat at the gate..

At least go as far as getting and talking to a supervisor.

* Without a seat assignment on some airlines including Delta/Song the chances of being bumped are greater.

* The first person you talk to on the phone may be at an overseas call center and not have a full command of English including idioms. The way to express disapproval of the outsourcing of jobs including customer service jobs is to assume you are right and they are wrong and stay on the phone until you are satisfied!

* The first person you talk to on the phone may not be knowledgeable of all the booking procedures (Many CM's are not either when it comes to room ressies and ticket changes)

* This may be a conspiracy to give road warriors and business travelers an advantage over families when it comes to seat selection. It's part of the squeaky wheel syndrome and road warriors are more likely to keep checking back and seizing good seats that come available.

 

[joedadof3]

Song called last nite and asked if I would change my 12/10 MCO to BOS flight, they said it was also seriously overbooked! I declined.

 

[goofy4tink]

Hey Mary Ann!!! I can't tell you how glad I am that I cancelled that flight. I knew they were going to have a problem combining the two flights. When I called to cancel it, the CS rep at Song told me it shouldn't be a problem, that they weren't combining flights, just changing the time...ah, yeah...sure they are. I can decipher those seat diagrams pretty well and both flights, that were combined for the 6:55 one, were pretty full.
Yep, I'm happy to be flying home on JetBlue the next day....at 10:00 am, my dh is happy he does't have to drive into Logan to get me late Sunday night, I get to spend a whole extra day at WDW.
Sorry it's just not working out for you. That 5 pm flight would have been so perfect for us. No wonder people are jumping ship from Song to either SW or JetBlue right now. That can't be helping Delta's numbers.
See ya in a week or so!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I was bumped, without any advance notification, to this flight after my 5PM was cancelled. Just got a call, from a not very pleasant CSR, asking me to accept a $50.00 future credit to fly a different time/day. HE stated, "It is seriously overbooked because it was assigned a smaller plane." .

Well, now, isn't that an interesting 'explanation' - given that Song uses ONLY 757-200s?

 

[CarolA]

Well, now, isn't that an interesting 'explanation' - given that Song uses ONLY 757-200s?

That might be changing. Since Song is being "absorbed" back into DL they could have put a smaller DL jet on the flight and used the Song jet someplace else.

One of my Song flights I wound up on a DL jet. They upgraded me to a first class seat!

 

[andriade]

I am sooooo mad at Song right now! They completely cancelled our flight home on January 7. Now we have a layover in Altanta with 5 kids! The only other direct flight is at 7:00 a.m. I got my money back and now I am flying United direct home. Unfortunately, my other family members are now stuck with their layover because the price increase is too much for 5 of them.

 

[magiroux]

Ya know, the sad part is, I would like to continue to support Delta in coming out of this mess 'cause, in the end, I think the more competition the better. I have an Easter trip booked with them, but I am so nervous that flight will never get off the ground.

I was going to book my July/August trip even after I heard about the bankruptcy news. Well, after neurotically checking my flights every day, twice a day on weekends and now worring that my kid's school vacation trip is going to be ruined I've decided they are just not worth the trouble.

 

[magiroux]

Hey Mary Ann!!! I can't tell you how glad I am that I cancelled that flight. I knew they were going to have a problem combining the two flights. When I called to cancel it, the CS rep at Song told me it shouldn't be a problem, that they weren't combining flights, just changing the time...ah, yeah...sure they are. I can decipher those seat diagrams pretty well and both flights, that were combined for the 6:55 one, were pretty full.
Yep, I'm happy to be flying home on JetBlue the next day....at 10:00 am, my dh is happy he does't have to drive into Logan to get me late Sunday night, I get to spend a whole extra day at WDW.
Sorry it's just not working out for you. That 5 pm flight would have been so perfect for us. No wonder people are jumping ship from Song to either SW or JetBlue right now. That can't be helping Delta's numbers.
See ya in a week or so!!!

I know, Diane. I sure wish my schedule could more flexible, but I had to beg, borrow and steal for Friday off...well, not really but it was tough.

Can't wait for Dec 2nd

 

[bleeps]

Song called last nite and asked if I would change my 12/10 MCO to BOS flight, they said it was also seriously overbooked! I declined.

Joe -- can you be specific about your 12/10 flight details? We're holding tickets , on Song, MCO to BOS that day, and even though I've called to confirm, etc. etc., I'd love to know if I should be even more wary of problems... thanks! I believe our flight is scheduled to leave MCO at 2:45 pm....

 

[CarolA]

Ya know, the sad part is, I would like to continue to support Delta in coming out of this mess 'cause, in the end, I think the more competition the better. I have an Easter trip booked with them, but I am so nervous that flight will never get off the ground.

I was going to book my July/August trip even after I heard about the bankruptcy news. Well, after neurotically checking my flights every day, twice a day on weekends and now worring that my kid's school vacation trip is going to be ruined I've decided they are just not worth the trouble.

The problem is I am not sure that any of them are much better. DL just is the current problem. Last time at this year this time there were just as many threads about USAir... We have also done this to a smaller extent with UA. (they don't fly as much into MCO)

Independence probably won't survive! I think DL will, but as with USAir last year we have to live thur the "adjustment".

So.. right now you book SW or JetBlue... (I think both of them are in good financial shape, but don't quote me especially on Jet Blue)

 

[joedadof3]

Hi Bleeps,

It is the pm 215 flight out of MCO, flight #1995...I think it was originally scheduled for 245pm. I booked this flight a long time ago and when I checked on it last month it had changed times and they said my seats were also unassigned(I had 6 seats assigned right in a row when i booked). They told me they would assign my seats at the airport but they were not sure if the could be seated together(3 adults, 3 children) After 2 customer service persons and a supervisor they saw it better to assign me my seats right then . So now I have 2 rows of 3.

 

[Paula H]

Wow, I'm having the same problems with Song. Our flight from Hartford to Orlando did the ridiculous one minute earlier, one minute later thing for a couple of weeks, and we'd lose our seats each time. I finally got the seats back, but that required several phone calls. Our return flight has turned into a real problem. I originally booked a 1:00 flight out of MCO - giving us plenty of time to get in from our Wonder cruise. That flight was clearly consolidated with a noon flight and now leaves at noon. The 1:00 flight disappeared altogether and by the time I discovered what had happened (on my own, with no notice from Song), there were no seats left on any of the other flights back to Hartford that day. I regrettably accepted the noon (it's going to be a very stressful morning I suspect; I now wished I'd really pushed them into finding another alternative), and after several more calls got assigned seats, but not altogether - 2 seats in one row, 2 in another. Not very happy with the whole situation and I'm really wishing now we'd bought tickets on Southwest, like we always do.