Delta changed my departure times?

[esk]

After much searching and checking, I found -- and paid for -- tickets to Orlando in December on Delta.

Now, 2 weeks later, Delta has changed the departure times of both in and outbound flights, to early early early.

We live 1.5 hours from the only airport in a 4 hour radius, so we can't change airports. These tickets are paid for already and we're grumpy.

Instead of an 8:45 departure (6:15 house departure) now we have to depart the house at 5 am to hit a 7:30 flight. And returning, instead of 8:00 out of MCO we have to get a 7:30 flight which means a 6 am SSR departure.

My TA said Delta is "notorious" for changing flight times, right up until you get on the plane. We've mostly flown Northwest and United, so I have no idea if this is true.

Anyone have experience with this? Delta cancelled the 8:45 flight altogether and now the options are 7:20 or 1 pm which would get us into SSR at like 10 pm, New Mexico time.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

Good Luck...we will never fly Delta again...too many changes...our last flight was changed 5 yes 5 times in 2 weeks prior to leaving! The last change was a difference of 8 hours, so we cancelled, got our money back and got tix on another airline.

 

[snels]

We are flying out on Northwest-soon to be Delta....I had so many changes in our flights, I decided to count them....We have 20 changes since booking our tickets..Some of the changes have been major...We are not thrilled with Northwest/Delta.

 

[OKW Lover]

If the new schedule doesn't work for you, Delta will most likely make a refund under these circumstances. That would leave you free to book on another line that has flights that are more to your liking.

 

[safetymom]

Be aware that most airlines do this. If you do a search here on the DIS this happens to lots of people and they are flying other airlines.

 

[crashbb]

Here are your options:

1) Stick with the changes Delta made;

2) Find other flights on Delta (or a Delta codeshare). These flights could be on the same day of your original flights or the day before/after. Call Delta and tell them that the flight change doesn't work for you and that you'd like to be changed to the flights you've chosen;

3) Find flights on another airline that work for you and that are at a price you will pay. Call Delta and tell them that the flight change doesn't work for you and that you'd like to cancel your tickets and get a refund.

HOWEVER - in the grand scheme of things, your flights haven't been changed by that much (especially the flight home). For many airlines, 90 minutes is the "magic" number for a flight change for which they'll waive fees. However, most people have had luck with changes under this amount. I suspect that airlines may start buckling down on this, but (assuming that there are flights that work) I'd definitely give it a try.

 

[DebbieB]

Take a look at the schedule. If there's another flight that better suits you, they will change it for free. I have a flight in early December, I have changed it twice to a better time.

If you have a 7:30am flight, you should leave SSR before 6:00am. I assume you have a car, DME would leave around 4:30am. I would allow at least 2 hours.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

These are less then 90 minute changes, which usually the airline will hold you to, remember the airline has no obligation to offer to change your flight or refund money, but they usually will when there is a exceptional change, which is usually defined at least 90 minutes, sometimes as much as 120 minutes from your original time.

Someone mentioned code-share, I've never had any luck with rescheduling on a code-share, so YMMV.

 

[dollarmite]

I just found this thread.

I booked my Delta tickets from MCO to New York through Expedia Australia about 2 months ago. Now I discover that the flight out has been changed from 6pm to 2pm. I only discovered this when I checked the itinerary through Expedia. It's still showing as the orginal flight when I checked the reservation on the actual Delta site. At no time has Delta itself advised me of this change.

Now the Delta website is showing that there is another flight leaving at 6pm, but with a different number.

Does anyone know whether it's possible to change to the new flight number with the 6pm departure online? Or do I need to call Delta itself? There does seem to be an Australian number I can call if necessary.

This is our first flight with Delta, and I can tell you, it will definitely be our last. Not impressed.

This is our first, and possibly only, trip to WDW, due to the distance and cost involved in getting there from Australia, and I don't want to waste a moment of that time.

 

[seashoreCM]

Call Expedia first, naming the flight you want. If they can't get you the flight you want, then it should be your last flight with Expedia while you still mull over whether it should be your last flight with Delta.

Anyway, if Expedia can't do it, try calling Delta directly shortly thereafter.

 

[dollarmite]

Will do, thanks.

I almost booked directly with Delta originally but decided on Expedia in the end as all the costs were in AUD. I've booked trips and flights with Expedia (Australia and New Zealand) before without any problems, but then again, those airlines weren't changing the flight times all over the place.

 

[safetymom]

Most airlines have flight changes not just Delta. Once you book flights it is a good idea to check them at least weekly for any changes. Don't depend on the airline notifying you.

 

[RMulieri]

Most airlines do this.Some more than others. My flight on Airtran has progressively gotten earlier and earlier for my December 12 trip ( I booked in June) .Last year on United I had 5 complete changes in flight times.On continental and Delta I have also had frequent chgs ..They can chg even after you have checked in for your flight as well.You need to be flexible these days