Delta from CA?

[ACDSNY]

It seem Delta has been getting a bad rep lately. Anyone want to share their experience with Delta? I'm looking a booking flights for Apr/May and they seem to be the cheapest.

 

[beccasmom]

If Delta is the cheapest from CA, I would not hesitate to book a flight. However, make sure you use a credit card, not a debit card, as consumer protection differs. Delta is filing for bankruptcy, but so has almost every other airline since 9/11 and they are all still flying. USAirways wants to purchase Delta, but I hope they don't. We have diminished competition as it is.

Our experience with USAirways throughout their bankruptcy proceedings was probably typical. Customer service declined in quality, no doubt as a result of renegotiation of union contracts. We found we needed to get to the airport earlier because of a lack of agents assisting with the check-in process and longer lines. Luggage woes are almost endemic here in PHL w/USAirways....it is a continuing saga, unfortunately.

But we did not feel any diminution in safety measures and procedures and our flight experiences did not change much, except for no snacks (which was a mixed blessing anyway).

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Delta is filing for bankruptcy,

Delta is not filing for bankruptcy, they are in bankruptcy, have been since Sept 2005.

Frankly, I would not book at this time for a Delta flight for next April/May, considering their uncertain future and the possible hostile takeover by US Airways.

 

[ACDSNY]

I keep trying to decide whether to book now or wait and see if United or Continental have a sale around or after the holidays.

I waited too long yesterday and missed the SW internet specials for the dates and times I wanted. My sinuses can only handle one stop so that limits what I'll purchase from SW.

 

[dis-happy]

I would book it. Delta and all their flights aren't going to disappear overnight. Even if there's a USAir takeover they will keep the routes or worst case scenario make different flight arrangements for you. My family flies Delta to CA / West Coast all the time and other than having to go through Atlanta we haven't had any problems.

 

[CarolA]

Keep in mind that the reason DL gets such a rep on these boards is that DL is a MAJOR flyer into MCO.

If you were reading a Vegas board or other travel board you would see that ALL of the major airlines change schedules and screw up routinely.

Americans want to pay next to nothing to fly and then want service. It's a hard balance and service gets lost a lot.

 

[ACDSNY]

Keep in mind that the reason DL gets such a rep on these boards is that DL is a MAJOR flyer into MCO.

If you were reading a Vegas board or other travel board you would see that ALL of the major airlines change schedules and screw up routinely.

Americans want to pay next to nothing to fly and then want service. It's a hard balance and service gets lost a lot.

I wondered if that was the case. I'm fairly easy to please, all I care about is getting to our destination safe and sound. I do my check ins on-line so I don't have to wait in the lines at the airport, so we've don't usually have any problems.

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Fly Delta... compared to many other airlines the are wonderful service wise. Now I didnt say they have wonderful service, haha but compared to many they are good. I fly them 95% of the time and they treat me well. Delta also has doing great in bankruptcy, and is on target to exit in 2/2007. With this is mind I doubt the hostile take over wil be sucessful and I hope it isnt. US Airways is horrible, at least my experiences were.

Good Luck

 

[pppiglet]

I don't have any experience with them, but booked our May flight with them. It was the best price and nonstop from LAX to MCO. Hey...we have something in common...I have sinus problems too and I have a cousin who lives in Elk Grove! Maybe I'll run into you in May!

 

[ACDSNY]

I don't have any experience with them, but booked our May flight with them. It was the best price and nonstop from LAX to MCO. Hey...we have something in common...I have sinus problems too and I have a cousin who lives in Elk Grove! Maybe I'll run into you in May!

I wish we'd get a non-stop from SMF. I'd be in heaven! I guess now it comes down to whether I can stand taking a red-eye to MCO. Expedia has the Continental red-eye on 4/29 with a Delta return on 5/5 for $216 RT. That's a great price.

 

[goaliewife]

I keep trying to decide whether to book now or wait and see if United or Continental have a sale around or after the holidays.

I waited too long yesterday and missed the SW internet specials for the dates and times I wanted. My sinuses can only handle one stop so that limits what I'll purchase from SW.

ACDSNY ...... I am in Stockton.

I have been investigating air fares from CA also. We don't go until October, but just keep watching and trying to get an idea of what the rate would be.

Are you AAA members? Try going to their website. They often list specials and. Continental is one that comes to mind when I was looking sometime ago as having a special for AAA members. I don't know if it would be cheaper for you or not, not sure what their current specials are, but it might be worth checking into.

 

[adrock1976]

Keep in mind that the reason DL gets such a rep on these boards is that DL is a MAJOR flyer into MCO.

If you were reading a Vegas board or other travel board you would see that ALL of the major airlines change schedules and screw up routinely.

Americans want to pay next to nothing to fly and then want service. It's a hard balance and service gets lost a lot.

You hit the nail right on the head. Champange service on a beer budget when it comes to most leisure travelers anymore. I must say, Delta is not one of my favorite carriers, but in all honesty, things have always seemed to work out for us when we do fly Delta. We usually do United or Hawaiian to fly to California, but we shop around to get to MCO, and from LAX, Delta is one of the few that has a non-stop. United flies an awful A319 on that route, while Delta uses a 757 which is much nicer for me.

Delta will not go away overnight, especially routes that are profitable, and from what I have read over the years, the transcontinental flights from the West Coast to MCO are pretty full.

I suppose if I lived in a Delta locked city like Atlanta or Cincinnati, and did not have a ton of competititve choices besides Delta, I might feel different.

 

[ACDSNY]

Well I went ahead and booked the Delta flights for $217 RT. They route SMF-LAX-MCO on the way there and MCO-SLC-SMF for the trip home all with short layovers. It's possible I could of found some good prices on Continental or United later, but I didn't want to take the chance.

Thanks everyone for your advise.

 

[Armadillo4]

Well I went ahead and booked the Delta flights for $217 RT. They route SMF-LAX-MCO on the way there and MCO-SLC-SMF for the trip home all with short layovers. It's possible I could of found some good prices on Continental or United later, but I didn't want to take the chance.

Thanks everyone for your advise.

That's a GREAT fare from the West Coast!!! Like many others that have posted here, I wouldn't worry about Delta going away. Even if the hostile takeover is successful--which is an iffy proposition--it'll take months, if not a year or two to resolve. You may even get one of the re-assigned "Song" planes for the LAX-MCO segment. These were great planes with the seatback video carrying the DISH network. I had a couple of very pleasant Song flights from LAX to MCO and back.