Delta- Any good experiences/Bad?

[mickey4ver]

Delta from IAD to MCO on the Delta Express. No real complaints, except the express flights are a little cramped, but I can stand it for less than 2 hours and a good fare. I don't like SWA simply because of how they board their flights, no picking your seats and that bugs me! They say that is because of giving discounted no-frills flights, well....hello, most of the other airlines are no-frills and better air fares also, and they can assign a seat number to you.

In fact, we are flying Delta to Phoenix this year, because they leave out of IAD and let you get your seats when you purchase tickets, not any of that "cattle call" getting on board.

Last year, we flew United from IAD to Tampa and were pleased with them also.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

When I can find another airline that will offer a75.00 rt, ns flight from Hartford to Orlando or Tampa, then I will consider an assigned seat an important issue.
I don't find getting a number and standing in line much different than waiting for rows to be called and standing in line. The only difference is the assigned seat. If you get there early, as they advise with any airline, you will find a decent seat. We have arrived later than planned and have had seats in different locations on the plane, not a big deal for me, I live with this person and I am going to be with this person at Disney for a week or more, I hardly think 2 hours and 45 minutes of separation is going to be a huge hardship. Of course, if it were a child that would be an entirely different tune.

 

[mickey4ver]

Gail, I respect your opinion, I was simply stating mine. I do happen to appreciate my assigned seat. I opt for discount travel too, and if worse came to worse would fly SWA, as they are dependable and cheap, but I will fly another airline when possible that allows assigned seating and has a decent fare.

I bet you are a very, very nice person, and very knowledgeable, I appreciate your posts, but sometimes your tone in your posts suggests otherwise.

 

[TinkerbellRules]

mickey4ever: My DH just flew Southwest last week. I thought it was strange the way they boarded as well w/o seat assignments. It didn't bother him because he was flying alone, well, I guess another employee was with him, but it wasn't like flying with family members.

I was ticked off by ATA because there was an EMPLOYEE beside me and DH had to fly up front. This was our family's first time flying together. I asked the employee nicely if she could switch with my Dh and explained my just turned 5 yr DD wanted to fly with daddy, but she wouldn't. I found out later she just wanted to be near the other flight attendant and was out of her seat most of the time! There wasn't any reason why a standby, employee couldn't have been seated up front instead. I know for a fact she was flying standby for the weekend to see her boyfriend.

I'll be checking regularly for the seat assignments. Do they change it on the website when things have changed?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

mickey4ver
I tend to doubt I "put you down" in any way, shape or form in expressing my opinion.
I do respect your opinion, greatly. However, after logging many miles and standing in many lines waiting for people to board, stash their overhead junk, etc. I have found SWA to be little different, only a seat assignment. I only fly SWA, Delta and Air Jamaica, two have seating assigments, one does not. Not a big deal to me, but, as I stated, I don't have children, and I am sure if I did, it would matter more to me.
Please, be assured, when I do express an opinion, it is rarely aimed at anyone in specific, but, more to the point in general.
You need to fly with the airline you are most comfortable. Since my flights to Orlando or Tampa are not even three hours in length, I can deal with whatever is dealt.
Hope this helps you to understand me better.
I am also "terse", which means I am not unusually wordy, I say what I need to say and get it over with.
I have no time for nicey nicey, just plain and simple, sorry if that offends, but, that is how I am. I do know a lot about Disney, travel and life in general. I spend a lot of free time here trying to help others. I don't get paid for this, I do it willingly and happily because I want others to enjoy their Disney experience as much as I enjoy my 2x's a year forays to that magical place.
This medium is difficult, you cannot see the body language, the smile, the frown, the look of utter disbelief at some of the questions, but, rest assured, I could better spend my time elsewhere, but, I choose to be here. So, accept me, please, as I am, or as I appear to you. Take the information offered, use it or discard it as you wish. The choice is yours.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Tinkerbell,
Why she was flying standby is not the issue, the fact that she represented the airline and was so unfeeling is.
As to seating assignments, who are you flying with. If memory serves it is Delta, right? Your assigments should be in your hands now, if that assumption is correct. They don't change, they are made with your ressie and only you can change them. They should be listed on your ressies, Tink.

 

[babslittleones]

I noticed in an earlier statement about the preboarding policies. We had a different situation with both our flights last week. Our first flight was from Columbus, OH on a Delta Express flight. I made sure my husband asked about preboarding when we got to the gate counter to get the flight tag for the stroller. They did let us preboard at Columbus. Everyone was really nice about helping us with the preboard. Coming home was another story. Again, my husband asked the attendant at the gate counter about preboarding when getting the stroller tag. This attendant told us we had to wait until our row was called. So just as stated earlier there were many unhappy people waiting in the aisle of the plane while we put the car seat in, stowed the luggage, and got the kids in the seats. I guess every flight can be different. I always tell my husband that it never hurts to ask.

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by TinkerbellRules
Well, I'm a little more nervous about flying with Delta now. Anyone have any good experiences with Delta? What about the bad ones? We already have reservations, but I'd like to go prepared.

Thanks

Just got off of a Delta Express flight less then three hours ago. We have been down to Orlando twice this year so that makes 4 flights since May and they have all been good ones. We have been flying Delta Express out of Logan since 1997 and have never had a problem.

 

[mickey4ver]

no offense taken and again, I respect your knowledge, as I am a seasoned traveler myself and have seen and done a lot, and know WDW and most of the Florida area quite well, I also having been travelling there for the last 30 years, and know all of our comments can help others make informed choices, and share from the voice of experience. Hope that all of our comments have helped those who were questioning different practices of different airlines. I still stand by my opinion that I don't like the way SW loads people. Our experience with them just wasn't so good. Our flight had come in from New York and very few if any people debarked, so seating was very poor to say the least when we boarded, even being in the first 30 to get on. I unlike you, wanted to sit with my spouse for a 5 hour flight, not on opposite ends of the plane. Nope, no movie, just p-nuts and drinks on the long flights too.

All of us give our free time and want to share our knowledge on these boards, that is why they are so successful and so helpful, free help is the best! Hope ALL our comments are put to good use. I feel I can readily learn more by following these boards and continue to share what I have learned with others. I do not hesitate to ask questions....I certainly don't know it all.

Have no experience with ATA. It appears that that particular case was just a person not having any real manners or concern for somewhen else, and being an employee makes it worse. These people exist in every walk of life.

Gail is correct, if you have your tickets/e-tickets whatever, your seat assignment should be on it. America West is famous though for assigning seats and then overselling them. Had that experience too...you don't want to hear that story...horrendous and to say we put on a "show" at the ticket counter is to say the least

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

mickey4ver,
Thank you for writing.
For the record, I do like to sit with my s/o, BUT, we were late arriving at the airport and were among the last to board, the flight was jammed, so, we sat at different parts of the plane.
This did not upset us at all, you "snooze you loose", it just made us darn sure to be at the airport early on the return and subsequent flights.
My s/o and I love overbooked flights, means that the chances of being bumped are good. LOL.
Most airlines, fyi, do overbook, which is a shame for those who really want to be somewhere at the appointed time. We are kind of laid back and realize that we are on vacation and we spend so much of our time rushing that this, again for us, is not an issue.
Now, there are many things that bug me for travel, but, that is another topic another time.