Delta - BDL/MCO [RT] No more nonstops

[HelenParr]

Sheepdog...I say do whatever you need to to fly direct if possible (unless they won't refund and then you are probably stuck). While I think you would make the connection, what a total drag and the stress of it would be a deal breaker for me.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

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?

1. You are going to to "demand" your mom refund the money? Generally with airlines and parents you get farther with "honey" then "vinegar"

2. If your mom booked an paid for the tickets there was very little the agent could do to help you. Your mom will need to call, explain this won't work and Delta will refund her. No big deal, but since it appears it's her credit card and she's the 'reservation' owner they aren't going to do that for you.

This is a risk of air travel. On any of them, they can do this. Some are worse then others but... having been traveling a long time the only airline that hasn't done this kind of thing to me is SW. The "downside" is that you have to wait much longer to book them.

 

[Brian Noble]

What would you guys do?

Well, for starters I would calm down a little bit. If you were booked on a non-stop, but moved to a connecting flight, Delta's terms allow for a refund.

As for what to do: I generally will pay more for a non-stop flight than a connecting one.

 

[DebbieB]

Have your mom call. I have found the elite line more accomodating. They should refund the tickets since they are no longer non-stop plus the departure/arrival times had to have changed drastically.

 

[PCFriar80]

Have your mom call. I have found the elite line more accomodating. They should refund the tickets since they are no longer non-stop plus the departure/arrival times had to have changed drastically.

And when you call ask to be transferred to the refund desk. They have a separate unit that handles refunds. It worked for me on Sunday.

 

[Sheepdog23]

She has also spoken with them and they offered her a different connecting flight or refund so she is also angry. We are on two separate reservations, so I do not get anything special. She just paid because she got extra miles and she owed me the money. I have found an ok alternative, but what angers me the most is that I already paid extra to fly them because of the flight home, and now I will pay extra to move it again, even though because of baggage fees etc, it works out to be about the same as if we leave it. I was against flying them because of all the negative experiences I have had the past few years, but we are expecting a new baby so I went along with it for the extra set of hands to help with the kids. Now I am really regretting it and will definitely go back to avoiding them at all costs. I was just really frustrated earlier and didn't mean to write it so directly but we already paid a fortune for tickets from Europe to my parents and now this, I just really do not like to have problems when I save for 2 years to be able to this.

 

[Brian Noble]

they offered her a different connecting flight or refund so she is also angry.

What else do you want them to do? They no longer have a non-stop flight on the route (and they aren't going to re-establish one even for a Plat).

now I will pay extra to move it again

Delta *should* rebook you on a different flight (of your choosing) on the same day, between the same set of airports, at no cost; this is what they typically do in event of a "major" schedule change.

 

[veritas01]

I had booked and paid for 3 non-stop round trip tickets from Bradley to Orlando for June 23-June30. I was thrilled. Paid $255 a ticket. Traveling with a 4 year old. Left at 8 am and arrived at 11:30...can't do better than that.

That was a couple of months ago. Well I check my reservations...and they have, of course, dropped the direct flights. I am on a 6 am flight that connects through Detroit and still arrives in Orlando around 11:30 or so...very short layover in Detroit which makes me nervous. Plus 6 am is a far cry from 8 am when you are dealing with a 4 year old. What could have been a pretty decent first day will have to be cut back a bit with a sleepy child and his parents. Hopefully my Disney room will be ready when we arrive so he can nap...but it is June so I am not holding my breath. Staying at Port Orleans Riverside this trip.

But here is the topper...if you want to book that flight today....the 6 am departure...11:30 arrival. It will cost you $555 per person. over $1500 dollars total. Are you kidding me? Does anybody pay that kind of money?

My wife is from Argentina and we do a lot of traveling there and back via American and they are a piece of work too. I know airlines have to make money but seriously....they are making the price of traveling anywhere by air so expensive...at some point nobody will fly unless they absolutely have to.

 

[DebbieB]

I've found DTW to be a good connecting airport if you are going mainline to mainline (not regional jets). It's one long concourse and has an overhead train running the length.

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

Well, considering I only fly non-stop from BDL to MCO, Delta is no longer an option for us.

Just checked our 11/23 flights . . .still good for the non-stop . . .have Jet Blue on the return . . .

I'll be sayin buh bye to Delta now . . .unless they go back to a non-stop itinerary.

 

[airplanegod]

The last time I flew Delta from BDL-MCO was when they did "Delta Shuttle" back in 2002. I say, good riddance. Southwest dominated the market there, and when Jetblue moved to BDL, Delta was done with that route. Anyway, For my last April trip and upcoming April trips, we have used Jetblue out of BDL. My upcoming trip next week, we are using Southwest. Jetblue is a good choice because of the TV's and free snacks, and Southwest is a good choice because of their many daily flights and 2 free checked bags. What did Delta offer? Nothing.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But here is the topper...if you want to book that flight today....the 6 am departure...11:30 arrival. It will cost you $555 per person. over $1500 dollars total. Are you kidding me? Does anybody pay that kind of money?

Absolutely.
And look at the value you're getting. I don't know or care what you paid, but you're getting $555 worth of ticketing for each passenger now .
Really, people who need to get somewhere on a certain date by a certain time do pay that much.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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?

Well, first, I wouldn't let my anger or frustration with a company out on one or more of its employees who had nothing to do with, in this case, either the schedule change or me letting my mother change my mind no matter what her reason is. Or at least, if I thought I was going to do that, I would (do, in fact) warn the CSR, "I know this isn't your fault, but I'm upset so please forgive me in advance if I raise my voice". You may not think/feel you were anything but calm and polite, but you'd be surprised.

Anyway, you're not getting screwed. Schedule changes happen. Good luck with your mother. You're going to 'demand' that she refund you? Interesting? You asked what we would do? I'd stick with Delta and keep a good relationship with my mother. I'd see if there's a different combination of flights that worked - maybe one with a longer layover? I'd take fewer carry-ons. Or maybe I'd consider driving to Boston or New York, if I really, really wanted to find a Delta non-stop.

 

[DebbieB]

The last time I flew Delta from BDL-MCO was when they did "Delta Shuttle" back in 2002. I say, good riddance. Southwest dominated the market there, and when Jetblue moved to BDL, Delta was done with that route. Anyway, For my last April trip and upcoming April trips, we have used Jetblue out of BDL. My upcoming trip next week, we are using Southwest. Jetblue is a good choice because of the TV's and free snacks, and Southwest is a good choice because of their many daily flights and 2 free checked bags. What did Delta offer? Nothing.

Delta is more of a business travel airline because of their medallion program for frequent flyers (25,000+ miles a year). With that you can get free first class upgrades, free luggage, free preferred seats, bonus miles. They also have a large international network. I use them for most of my business travel. Southwest & Jet Blue are more leisure travel.