Delta Experiences?

[cybrkitn]

Anyone have any experience with Delta? Good and/or bad? They seem to have cheaper flights compared Jet Blue and SW. However, when I mentioned this to DH, he said he's not too sure about Delta b/c they have a tendancy to cancel flights.

Thanks.

 

[maxiesmom]

I like Delta. I have never had a problem with them cancelling flight, but with them changing flight times by 5 minutes this way or that, and loosing my seat assignments.

For me, Delta seems to be pretty on the ball. No complaints.

 

[capstubbs]

This is funny because we only fly Delta because we heard JetBlue has a tendency to cancel flights! LOl! We have had no problems with Delta except one flight the time changed by 30min.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Something to keep in mind. Are baggage fee's. Compare the baggage fee on Delta to the ticket price with SWA and see if there is a savings by going with Delta. Just something to think about.

 

[Jaymie]

We use Delta all the time and haven't had any issues or cancellations. Knock on wood!

 

[sam_gordon]

I try to fly Delta whenever I can (granted, not much). That being said, for our last trip (in June) we booked ~320 days out. Flights were changed, eventually it changed enough that I could "handpick" my way into a better flight. If you're booking a long way out you can gamble and select a cheaper flight that doesn't really fit your timeline, then hope they change your flights and you can select a "better" flight. Again, that's a gamble, but I'd put the odds at 50/50.

As far as luggage fees... if you have decent credit, sign up for Delta's American Express card. You get one bag free for every member of your party. $99/year but 1st year is waived. I got it for our trip and will cancel before the 1st year is up (and then get one in my wife's name... LOL).

As far as travel... no problems. Various planes have various features (ie: online, TV's, etc). That all can be found on Delta's website or seatguru.

 

[Brian Noble]

I fly about 40K air miles a year with Delta, give or take. Unless you are booking months and months in advance, your flight time is pretty likely to stay right where it is. Even months and months in advance, most flights eventually settle within about 30 minutes of the original schedule.

 

[katieandrob]

We fly Delta most every time and have had good luck.

 

[OKW Lover]

We fly Delta very frequently. They don't have any problems that any other airline doesn't also experience from time to time.

 

[cybrkitn]

Something to keep in mind. Are baggage fee's. Compare the baggage fee on Delta to the ticket price with SWA and see if there is a savings by going with Delta. Just something to think about.

I checked it out. Southwest has free checked bags for up to 2 bags. After the 2nd bag, they start charging. Delta only allows 1 checked bag at $25 for flights going to Florida and that's probably only one way. That would be a total of $150 for all three of us round trip, which would put the cost a little higher than SW (not by much though).

I think we might stick with SW and not have to worry about paying for checked bags.

 

[nh-try]

With the Delta Skymiles card you only pay $85.00 per year after the first year
but you also get a $99.00 companion fare each year.
That said for two tickets round trip you will still save $15.00 plus what you save on the companion fare. good deal

 

[Melanie230]

Anyone have any experience with Delta? Good and/or bad? They seem to have cheaper flights compared Jet Blue and SW. However, when I mentioned this to DH, he said he's not too sure about Delta b/c they have a tendancy to cancel flights.

Thanks.

We are using Delta to fly my MIL here to take care of our dogs when we go on our trip. The only problem we have encountered this far is that they have changed her seat. I have to call them and let them know that she is in her late 60's and has had hip replacement. That seats in the back will NOT work and to please move her back to her original seat. I hope they can help us out with that. When I used to work for the airlines years ago...DELTA had the acronym...Doesn't Ever Leave The Airport!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Delta only allows 1 checked bag at $25 for flights going to Florida and that's probably only one way.

I think that you are confused. Delta does not limit you to one checked bag for flights to Florida. It limits you to one checked bag only to Key West, FL, not other FL destinations.

Yes, you have have to pay for checked bags each way if there is a fee.

 

[pooch]

Actually have had more delays on SWA than Delta . This year I'm flying down on SWA for $80 and back on Delta for $99 (cheaper than SWA even with a bag fee)

 

[cybrkitn]

I think that you are confused. Delta does not limit you to one checked bag for flights to Florida. It limits you to one checked bag only to Key West, FL, not other FL destinations.

Yes, you have have to pay for checked bags each way if there is a fee.

Yep, you're right. I was a bit confused and didn't see Key West listed there. Funny thing is that I read it more than once and still missed it.

 

[nkereina]

I suppose you can have a bad experience with any airline but in all my travels, I've never experienced such poor customer service as I have with Delta. I flew on a direct non-stop flight from Rochester, NY to Atlanta. It was quick 2 hour flight, one of the first of the morning. They lost my checked luggage. When I got to Atlanta and realized it wasn't coming down the baggage carousel, I walked all over the place trying to find the Delta baggage office. I thought it would be noticeable since I believe Atlanta is Delta's main hub. I finally found it, waited in line for about 15 minutes, and then was told by the guy there it was "probably" transferred to the off-site terminal for the local air carrier called Georgia Skies, because they had several people on my flight going there. I then had to take a bus from the main building to the Georgia Skies office (small charter planes that go to smaller cities like Athens from Atlanta). The Georgia Skies people had no idea what I was talking about and told me to hang out for a bit and maybe it would "show up". Four hours later I was still sitting there and had no bag. I finally threw my hands up and decided to go to my hotel and demand it be delivered. A few hours after checking into my hotel, I still hadn't heard from Delta so I called them. After talking with three different people, they finally told me they had my bag in the Delta office. They were not willing to deliver it so I had to call a taxi to bring my bag to me which cost $40 that I had to pay. I wrote and called Delta customer service when I got home and they told me they could not locate me on the passenger manifest from that day and to give them my ticket number, which of course I no longer had now that the trip was over. I never pursued it further because I was so upset. The moral of the story is... pray to God they don't lose your bags or don't go to Atlanta on Delta

 

[sam_gordon]

It wasn't until nkereina posted that I finally remembered Delta HAS lost our bags on past flights. Both times Delta delivered the bags to where we were (30-60minutes away from airport). One of those times was the Saturday after 9/11, so I can probably forgive them for that one.

 

[lacy1101]

Does anyone know what causes them to change your seat assignments? This has happened to me twice now for our November trip.

 

[cybrkitn]

I think we will go with Southwest. They have free checked bags for the first 2 which will work out cheaper in the long run. Delta would not be based on their charge for checked baggage.

The other issue was airport for us. I don't mind traveling to either Laguardia airport or JFK if the price was worth it. However, having to pay for luggage round trip would increase our airfare over that of SW making it not worth the extra travel. Islip/MacArthur airport is only about 15 - 20 minutes from us (even though they only have SW and USAirways).

 

[nkereina]

Does anyone know what causes them to change your seat assignments? This has happened to me twice now for our November trip.

Only thing I can think is people calling requesting certain seats, maybe families with small children or something. Were you in an exit row or front row seat when it was changed? In that instance, it could have been an elderly person or tall and/or overweight person. Or it may even be a Delta employee flying that wants your seat if its a good one.