Changing return flight on Delta

[cruise-o-matic]

I keep checking our flights on Delta and the return flight has no seats left. In fact w/no seats now they are selling the round trip for almost double what we booked at. So whoever buys any of these tickets are paying a lot of $ and not even guaranteed a seat. I guess Delta figures that the extra $ will be funnelled back into vouchers for the "bumpees".

My question is this: Our return flight leaves MCO at 5:30 and the next direct flight isn't until 9:30. We'd like to have an extra 4 hours at WDW instead of at the airport.

We'd like to look at getting "bumped" w/o having to show up for the 5:30 flight. What would be the best way to approach Delta so they won't charge me $100/ea to free up 2 seats on an oversold flight?

 

[safetymom]

You are going to have a hard time trying to do this without showing up at the airport.

The website may show a sold out airplane but they hold back seats to be assigned by the gate agents the day of the flight. So the flight may not be sold out.

You could try calling the day of the flight but your best bet to volunteer is to do it in person at the gate. Get there early and make sure your name is on the list.

Good luck.

 

[BigTigger]

Being able to pick a seat versus seat availability are two different things. Most airlines don't allow seat assignments once a certain threshold is hit (80% or so). The remaining seats are gate assigned at check-in. On the Song flights, Delta holds at a minimum rows 7,8, 16 and 17 for airport assignment. I'm not sure about JetBlue, but United and USAir have similar holds for airport check-in.

It doesn't mean the plane still isn't oversold in the unallocated seats, so you may still get paid to stay a bit longer.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Thanks for the advice. I was hoping to spend 4 more hours at the World. Given the choice, I'd rather get on my 5:30 flight than hang around MCO for 4 more hours for vouchers. Oh well.....

 

[rsschneck]

Your other option is to change flights the day of. I did this in July. Delta charges $25.00 per ticket to change the day of. Delta does not allow standby anymore and this is their option.

Call 4 hours before the flight you want to see if there are seats available. If there are you pay $25.00 and have confirmed/assigned seats. Now since your original flight leaves 4 hours before your regular flight and you would need to leave for the airport a couple hours before that I am not sure how this would work for you. Call Delta and they should be able to help.