Delta Change of Flights!

[bavaria]

Industry experts are clear: There are simply too many airlines. Who pays for that imbalance? So far, we all have, as our taxes have been used to prop-up failing airlines, and in some cases we taxpayers have even assumed their pension liabilities. It is not in the taxpayer's best interest to have so many airlines, to have such a competitive environment, to have such a low-margin industry. And I'm a taxpayer much more than I'm an airline passenger!

And yet we see people over and over not willing to pay more than $39 or $59 for an airline ticket, which just amazes me. I see posters asking if $59 is a good fare - that's just a little more than it costs them to fill their gastank!

Airfare has not increased in the last 10 years (there may be increases periodically but when the average cost is calculated, some airlines have decreased fares on some routes, and overall fares are down)

Sure, we all want to save money, but it's also unreasonable to expect to get something for well below the actual cost, and then have the best of service. Schedules change because airlines need to maximize revenues, simple as that.

I for one will pay more for the overall experience and value of a United ticket, when I could fly cheaper on other carriers.

 

[bicker]

That would be a good poll. How many folks would be willing to regularly (i.e., without curtailing how often you would fly) pay $250-$300 roundtrip, to WDW from East Coast cities? $450-$500 roundtrip from West Coast cities?

 

[ducklite]

That would be a good poll. How many folks would be willing to regularly (i.e., without curtailing how often you would fly) pay $250-$300 roundtrip, to WDW from East Coast cities? $450-$500 roundtrip from West Coast cities?

I've paid up to $300+ per ticket. It's still cheaper than driving if I take my time into account as well.

Anne

 

[bicker]

Okay, well that's one!

 

[ducklite]

Okay, well that's one!

Were yu surprised?

Anne

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

That would be a good poll. How many folks would be willing to regularly (i.e., without curtailing how often you would fly) pay $250-$300 roundtrip, to WDW from East Coast cities? $450-$500 roundtrip from West Coast cities?

Work travel aside... I would have to seriously budget in the extra amount it would cost to fly on leisure trips (as I survey the house and wonder what I could do without ) but I think $350 to $450 for a trans-continental R/T is a fair price.

 

[popstar7867]

Last year we flew Delta from Boston to Disney in Orlando. They did change the times once but it actually was better than what we had expected. Our flight to Orlando was pushed earlier in the day so we could get an earlier start to our Disney vaca and our return home was pushed back. I like Delta because they are one of the cheapest airlines that offer direct flights. With us the change was only about an hour or so in times so nothing too drastic. Just stay on top of checking out your seats online!

 

[bavaria]

Okay, well that's one!

Count me as #3 - before I had the travel job and had few airline miles (and not as much available cash for leisure trips) I paid on average $750 CAD to fly 4x/year to MCO

I could also fly out of a US city for $198 roundtrip in those years, but like Anne says, factoring in my drive time (2.5 hours), getting a hotel, and leaving the car for a week all need to be included in the 'cost' of the cheaper ticket.

 

[bicker]

So three. Hmmm.... I'm not sure we could run an airline with just three passengers!

We should ask for volunteers on the Budget Board -- we might get some pretty colorful, negative responses.

 

[bavaria]

Since we've gone rather off topic here, I vote for bicker to start a new thread with a poll.....

Looking forward to reading the results!!!

 

[safetymom]

America West took over US Airways.

 

[bicker]

Since we've gone rather off topic here, I vote for bicker to start a new thread with a poll.

Done.

 

[Esmerelda]

I'm glad you had (so far) a good Delta experience.

Delta is the ONLY airline I refuse to fly. My experience on 5 other carriers has never exceeded the many horrible experiences I had with Delta.

Keep watching your seats!! The last time I flew Delta was many years ago when I was a single mom and my boys were 4 and 7. This was an L1011 (huge plane) and they changed my seats no more than 24 hrs until the flight. I was in the middle in row 15-18 and the boys were on the left side in row 6. I could not even see my kids. Boy, was I one pissed off mother. This was my last Delta straw. I think this was 1998. To be honest, I have never had anything that compares to Delta's lack of customer service and I fly at least 12 times per year.


I sincerely hope your trip turns out well for you and your family, I truly mean that.

flying dust.....********
Esmerelda

 

[CarolA]

As we trash Delta see the posts below

Airtran

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1110158&referrerid=&highlight=Airtran

USAir

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1154802&referrerid=&highlight=usair

United

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1301989&referrerid=&highlight=united

American

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1282600&referrerid=&highlight=american


Delta gets more hits because DL is a major flyer into MCO. If this board was for Vegas, California etc it would be one of the others getting trashed.

And for all my horrid DL expereinces. I will take them over AA and USAir any day. (Don't ask it's just a nightmare story. The AA gate agent started CURSING at the passengers and calling us names that you can't print on the DIS... BIZARRE. When we complained the station manager said "she is one of my best employees LOL! TOO FUNNY! ) I have learned never to say never however. There are some places that only AA or USAir go. (I don't think my boss would like it if I wouldn't go to work because I didn't like the airline LOL!)

 

[bavaria]

excellent point Carol. EVERY single airline or rental car company or car service has I believe had a detractor at least once here.

for those of you who say 'I'll never fly/rent with XYZ again' and HAVEN'T, good for you. We often see leisure travellers say that, but as price is usually their prime motivator, once XYZ has a low fare/low rental rate they go back to them.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

And for all my horrid DL expereinces. I will take them over AA and USAir any day. (Don't ask it's just a nightmare story. The AA gate agent started CURSING at the passengers and calling us names that you can't print on the DIS... BIZARRE. When we complained the station manager said "she is one of my best employees LOL! TOO FUNNY! ) I have learned never to say never however. There are some places that only AA or USAir go. (I don't think my boss would like it if I wouldn't go to work because I didn't like the airline LOL!)

Serving the public is no easy task... but what the gate agent did was beyond ridiculous. Unfortunately, station managers have a LOT of discretionary power when it comes to customer service/employee reprimand issues. His or her response to you was even more inappropriate. Those days may not be around for long, though... From the grapevine I hear the only job more temporary than a gift wrapper at Sharper Image is a Delta Station Managers' job... as evidenced by the recent exodus locally and elsewhere.

 

[CarolA]

Serving the public is no easy task... but what the gate agent did was beyond ridiculous. Unfortunately, station managers have a LOT of discretionary power when it comes to customer service/employee reprimand issues. His or her response to you was even more inappropriate. Those days may not be around for long, though... From the grapevine I hear the only job more temporary than a gift wrapper at Sharper Image is a Delta Station Managers' job... as evidenced by the recent exodus locally and elsewhere.

Oh, I think they all lost thier jobs. The station was basically closed and the station manager told me "we probably won't have jobs long" I pointed out to him that abusing the customers did NOT strike me as a good way to stay employed. Let's see you major competetion at BNA at that time was SW. SW has it's issues, but 90% of the employees I meet are at least nice. (Not something I can say for any other American airline.) And if you want REAL service and WONDERFUL employees fly Singapore Air. (However, they don't fly to MCO!)

 

[Alexander]

Is this worth it to you to deal with all of Delta's problems?
I think it would be worth it to use a reliable carrier and drive to Melbourne. Just MHO.
All of that unpredictability would make me ill!

I really don't have any problems with Delta. As I posted, one phone call and I end up with better flights than I originally paid for. As for driving to Melbourne....with an 8 y/o and a 7 m/o, a 2 hour drive to my parent's house in Fort Pierce after 5-7 hours of airports and flying is the part that is not worth it for me! Melbourne is about 25 minutes from their home.

I was a little confused about question about the $250-300 posts for flights, but out of Syracuse, we have never paid less than $200 for a flight into Orlando, and it is usually more like $250. Our flights into Melbourne were $305. Granted, most of our flights are during peak travel times, but as a teacher, I don't have a choice as to when we are off of school.

 

[bicker]

Oh, I think they all lost thier jobs. The station was basically closed and the station manager told me "we probably won't have jobs long" I pointed out to him that abusing the customers did NOT strike me as a good way to stay employed.

Perhaps not, but the point is that, in many cases, it is clear that treating customers well is not a good way to stay employed either, and could be even worse. As much as some folks like to throw around accusations of "bad management" online, that really is bad management: Crafting a working environment wherein the employees have no means of doing a "good" job. And nothing prompts that kind of thing like lack of profitability (low fares, high costs).