Delta - BDL/MCO [RT] No more nonstops

[PCFriar80]

Just checked my upcoming itineraries for October and January, and the non-stop flights I had for early January no longer exist. They tried to reroute me through Atlanta with an hour layover and 3 hour later than planned arrival so I requested [and got] a full refund. I'll be looking at SWA and JetBlue options for the same time in January. Just wanted folks in the same situation to be aware!

 

[francie57]

Not sure of your dates, but I just put in some random Oct. dates and the first in the morning non-stop is there. We always take that flight and then take the last non-stop back. If you check and that flight is available for your dates (click on more booking options and check non-stop) then call Delta and ask to be put on that flight. They had changed our flights from a non-stop to a top over when they merged with Northwest. I just called and calmly explained what flights I had and what they did and then asked to be put back on the non-stop and they did it with no problem and no change fee. I always check all three of the airlines when booking our flights and Delta usually has the best times for their non-stops so we have been using them for years. Just reread that you were looking at the January trip. I would still call Delta and ask them what your options are, can't believe they would do away with the non-stop at the beginning of the day since that is really their popular flight, maybe the site is wrong.

 

[PCFriar80]

Not sure of your dates, but I just put in some random Oct. dates and the first in the morning non-stop is there. We always take that flight and then take the last non-stop back. If you check and that flight is available for your dates (click on more booking options and check non-stop) then call Delta and ask to be put on that flight. They had changed our flights from a non-stop to a top over when they merged with Northwest. I just called and calmly explained what flights I had and what they did and then asked to be put back on the non-stop and they did it with no problem and no change fee. I always check all three of the airlines when booking our flights and Delta usually has the best times for their non-stops so we have been using them for years. Just reread that you were looking at the January trip. I would still call Delta and ask them what your options are, can't believe they would do away with the non-stop at the beginning of the day since that is really their popular flight, maybe the site is wrong.

We're all set with our October trip [10/14 - 21]. It's the January trip that was impacted with the no more non-stops.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Oh wow, sorry to hear that! We sometimes fly out of BDL but it seems the options are getting more limited even on SWA (not as many n/s as they seemed to have in the past). Hope you're able to find something that works on JB or SWA.

 

[ctparrothead763]

Just tried booking for March 2012. No nonstops. I called Delta and was told that none are on the schedule after November 1, 2011.

Also, Southwest released their March 2012 schedule today and there are 4 daily nonstops, at least on Saturdays. Another sign, perhaps, that Delta has stopped the service.

 

[Kim1964]

I'm really disappointed about this. Due to some issues we had with Southwest a couple of weeks ago, I was thinking about flying Delta in May, but I don't want to sit around Atlanta or Michigan for 4-5 hours for layovers. I hope Jetblue (which I've never flown but would like to try) has some decent flight times.

 

[francie57]

Hopefully they will add them back since when we flew in Aug. the planes were full each way. I checked and JetBlue has some good times for their non-stops - just back later on the return flight. Maybe we should all contact Delta headquarters and let them know we want them back.

 

[DebbieB]

Hopefully they will add them back since when we flew in Aug. the planes were full each way. I checked and JetBlue has some good times for their non-stops - just back later on the return flight. Maybe we should all contact Delta headquarters and let them know we want them back.

When you have 3 airlines flying non-stops on the same route, fares stay low due to competition and even with a full plane they can still lose money. So they choose to walkaway and let the others have the route. They still offer service through their hubs. 3 airlines with the same route at an airport is rare, especially a smaller city like Hartford. Plus Orlando is not a route that commands alot of business travel, which typically are last minute and pay more.

 

[PSL]

I just posted this on another thread, so I thought I would post it here too!

Yes, Delta just eliminated all direct non-stop flights from BDL to MCO this past Saturday! I was watching the flight that I wanted to book for next April and now it's gone. Sent them off an email and this was their reply:

Thank you for your e-mail to Delta Air Lines regrading your future
travel from Hartford to Orlando.

We appreciate your comments about our recent schedule change. A variety
of factors impact our decisions regarding which markets we may best
serve, and with what level of frequency. The decision to withdraw our
service from Hartford was made only after extensive evaluation of
customer demand, along with detailed cost analysis. We continually
evaluate potential markets, including the possibility of reinstating
previously served markets, as changes in passenger demand occur. Your
feedback is critical to our Leadership team as we seek to maximize the
highest travel value for our customers.

We appreciate your support and trust your future flights will be
entirely satisfactory.

Please anyone who is concerned about this....send them an email with your feedback, if they get enough negatives maybe they will reinstate it at some point? We also flew Delta all the time for our Disney vacations, they had the best times for us both ways, now I have to book SW which I don't want to do because there is only one non-stop departing and it's really early! Coming back it's better but I hate not having a seat and the hassle of checking in at the 24hr. mark. JB is a little higher in price but I have no idea when they will release their schedule past 4/30, we need a return flight for 5/5 and it's not released yet. So upset with Delta right now!!!!

 

[francie57]

I sent an email to Delta about the non-stops also. Will see what they reply with. We have been Delta customers for at least 20 years and am really frustrated with them right now. JetBlue has a non-stop to and from that would work but for our last trip they were more expensive, even when you added luggage fees. Does anyone know, when does JetBlue open flight for next Aug.? Don't like that we have to wait for booking dates to open - liked the 330 rule with Delta.

 

[PSL]

I sent an email to Delta about the non-stops also. Will see what they reply with. We have been Delta customers for at least 20 years and am really frustrated with them right now. JetBlue has a non-stop to and from that would work but for our last trip they were more expensive, even when you added luggage fees. Does anyone know, when does JetBlue open flight for next Aug.? Don't like that we have to wait for booking dates to open - liked the 330 rule with Delta.

Glad you sent an email, maybe if they get tons of negative feedback they will reinstate it, I doubt it but at least they will know that they have upset a bunch of people but I'm sure they could care less, it's all about the money anyway. See if you get the same generic reply that I did?

I hate waiting for schedules to open up too, makes the planning somewhat more stressful IMO!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Delta will reply that they appreciate your email. However the decision was probably made because the route was not profitable so it won't change unless SW or JB pull out and Delta can raise fares

 

[herb102211]

Thank you to PCFriar80 for the info! We're so annoyed that Delta is canceling the non-stop flights out of Hartford. We always flew Delta to Orlando for Disney and our cruises. We did fly JetBlue once, but their flight times are not always prompt like Delta was. I don't know why Delta canceled the flights. Every time we've flown them, the flights have been full. Hopefully if enough people complain they will reinstate the non-stop flights.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

. Every time we've flown them, the flights have been full..

Full and profitable are NOT related.

The better question is "what type of fares were you paying?" If they were very cheap then full could have equaled "money losing" And for years the airlines seemed to think that worked....

In the past few years a lightbulb finally went on and they realized that if it costs $10,000 to fly to Orlando and we only bring in $8000 selling every seat on the plane it does not make sense to keep doing this. So the bigger question is not "was it full" but "was it making money"

With three carriers on a route like this I expect the fares were just too low to make sense. I also expect that SW and JetBlue will 'creep' those fares up now.

 

[Brian Noble]

Exactly. The only thing that will bring those flights back is if Delta thinks they can be flown profitably---and that is probably difficult from such a small airport with not one but two LCCs serving the route.

 

[DebbieB]

From what I see on the October schedule, it was only 1 flight per day in each direction. So if it wasn't profitable or barely profitable, it was easy for them to just say cut it and use the plane somewhere else. Hartford still has 2 other airlines with non-stops plus other airlines offer connections through their hubs, which is typical for a smaller city.

 

[HelenParr]

We used to fly Song out of Bradley -- loved it, loved the little tv. Then Delta closed Song...JetBlue wasn't in Htfd yet, so we switched to Southwest and we've been pretty happy. Almost always on time. No schedule changes. No bag fees. No change fees (which is probably the best part). No frills for sure, but on a 2+ hour flight, a can of soda, some sun chips, and my ipod work just fine.

 

[PCFriar80]

Thank you to PCFriar80 for the info! We're so annoyed that Delta is canceling the non-stop flights out of Hartford. We always flew Delta to Orlando for Disney and our cruises. We did fly JetBlue once, but their flight times are not always prompt like Delta was. I don't know why Delta canceled the flights. Every time we've flown them, the flights have been full. Hopefully if enough people complain they will reinstate the non-stop flights.

One more update...was able to get a reasonable RT fare [$239] with JB to replace the Delta flights I had [1/4 - 1/12]. In the end, net /net when I factor in the $25 baggage fee for Delta the cost is about the same. Times are good too; early AM to MCO and noontime return home. Now I get to watch TV on trip to/from!

 

[Sheepdog23]

I just spoke with them regarding this and they were incredibly rude. I told them that the new flight was not practical because trying to switch planes with 3 kids under 7 in 40 minutes just is not going to happen without having to run and I do not know any kids who can run that fast, especially with parents lugging carryons and an infant. I am so angry because I was booking Jet Blue and my mom who is one of delta's elite platinum members with an amex said that she would book all of us on delta with her. Now we are getting screwed! I am going to speak with my mom later and demand her to refund the money and put us on jet blue because I am not stopping. What would you guys do?

 

[cel_disney]

Hmm...my return flight from MCO to BOS was cancelled for my September trip and the other direct flights didnt work for me. Delta refunded the second portion of my trip for me without any problem and the sky miles for my kids tickets...

I am also a delta elite flyer so I was talking to their CS Reps who are a little more accomodating...have your mom call, she should have no problem doing this for you..