Anyone familiar with Delta's policies? **Update**

[cruise-o-matic]

Our return flight in December from MCO to RDU was cancelled. We booked a 4:25 return flight and when I went to the Delta site to check our itenerary, they gave us the 2:45 flight. (They haven't assigned us seats on our 2:45 flight yet.) This cuts off almost 2 hours of park time.

The next flight out is 6:45, which puts us landing at 9:31 on a work/school night. Right now, neither are truly desirable, but I'd almost prefer the later flight b/c more time at Disney.

What are my options? And What should I do?

Should I call and get our seats confirmed on the 2:45 flight? If I do so, do I "lock ourselves in" to that flight? So if they decide to cancel that one and book us on the book us on the 1:20 flight, would they consider my original flicht time of 4:25 or now would it be 2:45?

There is flight back to GSO at 4:15, which is where we live. Can I get them to swich us to that flight instead? (We are flying out of RDU b/c tix were $60 cheaper.)

Thanks.


************UPDATE******************

I called Delta this morning. I was able to get my R/T out of GSO for no extra cost. Plus instead of leaving at 8:30PM, we can leave GSO at 6:30. On the return flight, we are leaving MCO around 6:30PM.

More time with the Mouse! :thewave:

 

[poohbear2]

I would call and ask. They are probably waiting to hear from you to confirm.
One time they switched plane types not flight times after I had purchased tickets. They happily switched my flight to another with no charge.

 

[seashoreCM]

If a flight is cancelled in advance, call and ask for a new flight of your choice before asking for new seat assignments. Feel free to ask for a different airport flight if that is more convenient for you.

Hint: If the airline calls you asking you to switch flights, do not agree immediately but instead start to say something and hang up while you yourself are talking. Then call the regular reservations number of automated reservations number to see whether the flight still exists. The airline may call again thinking it was a bad connection. If your flight still exists, don't agree to a switched flight unless you really wanted to make a change. Once in awhile airlines call people asking people to switch because flights are overbooked. If you don't agree to be switched in advance then they have to pay compensation for bumping you.

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

 

[my3princes]

We have had our return flight for October changed several times. The first couple of times were just flight numbers, then they changed us from a 2:35pm flight to a 12:30 flight. Then Friday they changed our connections and added a second connection. Two connections with 3 kids is not doable in book so I called Delta and asked for the reissue desk. They were able to book us on a flight through Atlanta (only one connection) and we leave at 2:50pm. That gives us an extra hour. I did notice that when I received my email confirmation that she did not assign seats for the return flights. I will need to call back to have that done.

Delta seemed very helpful. She also said that she hadn't seen a fare as low as what I have booked in a very long time. I'm so glad I booked when I did.

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Call and them the new flights wont work for you. The will give you there reschduleing department. When its happened to me they let me pick whatever flights and even let me switch airports because it ended up making it easier but like you had orginally chosen another because of cost. Had it happen once a year or 2 ago and then just this week. They have always helped.

Matt

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

We have had our return flight for October changed several times. The first couple of times were just flight numbers, then they changed us from a 2:35pm flight to a 12:30 flight. Then Friday they changed our connections and added a second connection. Two connections with 3 kids is not doable in book so I called Delta and asked for the reissue desk. They were able to book us on a flight through Atlanta (only one connection) and we leave at 2:50pm. That gives us an extra hour. I did notice that when I received my email confirmation that she did not assign seats for the return flights. I will need to call back to have that done.

Delta seemed very helpful. She also said that she hadn't seen a fare as low as what I have booked in a very long time. I'm so glad I booked when I did.

Go to delta.com and you pick your flights. Under the my trips option enter your confirmation and last name. Have new seats in a zippy.

Matt

 

[bicker]

Each airline has its own policies regarding what constitutes a significant change, typically either 2 hours, 4 hours or 6 hours. When there is such a change, they almost all always try to accommodate you on the flight of your choice, if you contact them and there is space available. (The only thing they won't do for you is kick someone else off the flight. ) Worst case, you can get a refund.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Thanks for the replies. Our problem is that they switched our flight by 1 hour and 40 minutes, so not quite the 2 hr threshold. They still have a 4:15 flight to GSO, but our tix originate out of RDU. The main reason we booked when we did is b/c we had a voucher that expired today and we wanted to take advantage of that.

 

[Chicago526]

Generally speaking, any airline imposed schedule change over a half hour, and the airline will be willing to change you to just about anything that is still available. 90 minutes or more, they'll even refund the ticket so you can book another airline, if the change is really bad and they don't have anything better to switch you to.

But, once you accept any change made (either the change they gave you or the one you picked because you didn't like the new time) they won't let you change again. So once you pick a new time, that's it, you're stuck with it. Seat assignments have nothing to do with it, if you pick a new time or accept the one they gave you, it doesn't matter if you have seats yet or not, they've confirmed the change.

 

[bicker]

I did a quick check on the thresholds. Indeed, some of the airlines have a 2 hour threshold... some have even longer thresholds. While many of the airlines will still often agree to make changes for customers, or refund their money, even if the threshold isn't met, it's not something we can readily expect, but rather something we should be delighted with when we encounter it. AA recently removed their numerical threhold and so now it is up to them when and if a schedule change qualifies. NW's threshold is 60 minutes. US' threshold is 2 hours. UA's threshold is 90 minutes. DL's threshold is 2 hours. CO has a 0 hours threshold (which is rather impressive).

 

[Rozzie]

Delta just changed our flight return back for august. Instead of leaving at 640pm we are leaving at 535 pm, not a huge change, but aggravating since we are losing an hour on a short trip already, and I need to change the towncar time around.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Updated OP.....bumping.