Delta goes chapter 11

[Harambe]

I thought I heard this on the news last night just as I was dozing off. Is it true, and if so, how will it effect flights in September? I just checked my itinerary on the FlySong website and everything looks fine.

Should I worry?

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

I can't find anything on it . . .I checked CNN, MSNBC . . .hopefully it won't affect your travel plans if it does deem to be true.

Maybe someone else heard about it too?

BUMP

 

[ckj]

I didn't see or hear anything about Delta goign ch. 11. Anyhow, I wouldn't worry about your september flights. Many airlines have gone ch. 11.
Chapter 11 allows the company to reorganize, restructure debt, and possibly get out from under certain burdensome leases and contracts. The company will still operate just that is will be under the supervision of the bankruptcy court and/or its appointees.
US Airways did it in 2002 and they are still flying.
I do know that Delta is not looking too great financially and there was talk of them filing for Ch. 11.

 

[ckj]

well,I found this link
http://news.airwise.com/stories/2004/06/1087331844.html

Seems as though Song will be reducing flights after labor day.
Definately keep checking your itinerary.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We're booked with Delta (ComAir maybe?) for our flights in late Sept and early October. What happens if they cancel the flights altogether? Do we lose our money as well? I'm new at the whole flying thing, sorry for the dumb questions, I'm just worried about our trip at this point.

 

[ckret01]

Thanks for the link. It looks that they will only be reducing the flights on September by 25%. But will still keep all their flights for October. I am going in October but I will still keep an eye out on it. What would happen if they cancelled my flight, would they let me pick another and how would they contact us? Would we have to research it ourselves?

 

[ckj]

If they cancel your flight you should be able to get on another. From what I have heard, they aren't always the best at contacting you if they change your flight. I would be proactive and check my flights often to see if there are any changes.
My feeling is that flights to/from orlando won't be affected as much as other routes. Orlando seems to be a popular spot for song.

For more info on what happens with flight cancellations etc. check out Songs Contract of Carriage
http://www.flysong.com/travel/contract_of_carriage/index.jsp

We're also flying song in september however I'm not worried about them cancelling. They may combine flights if there aren't a lot of tickets sold. Just check your flights every couple days to see if there are any changes.

 

[macs4us]

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2004-08-10-delta-bankruptcy_x.htm

Guess we'll have to stay tuned to see if they actually file...

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by bigbabyblues
We're booked with Delta (ComAir maybe?) for our flights in late Sept and early October. What happens if they cancel the flights altogether? Do we lose our money as well? I'm new at the whole flying thing, sorry for the dumb questions, I'm just worried about our trip at this point.

First of all, even if the airline did (or does) file Chaptr 11, it will take a lot longer than 2 or 3 months to go through the process. You should be fine. IMHO, you have nothing to worry about for your late September/early October trip except possibly a schedule change.

If you paid for your ticket with your credit card, you can always file a claim with the CC company - you won't lose your money.

Best wishes -

P.S. Your quesitons are not dumb!

 

[CarolA]

I think Delta is THREATENING Chapter 11 to get the pilots to back down. I do think they will wind up there eventually but who knows when.

If an airline goes Chapter 7 and quits flying Congress has passed a law requiring other airlines to take the tickets and only charge you an extra $25. I think Delta is a long way from this... others are closer.

 

[pumpkinboy]

As CarolA correctly points out, it's no big deal for an airline to file Chapter 11. Remember that United has been operating in chapter 11 for over a year now and most other old-style airlines are in much more difficult financial straits thatn Delta. The main problem Delta has is a Very Expensive pilot contract, while all the other Delta employees have made big concessions.

If they change a few flights, ticket holders will still be OK, they just might have to change their itineraries a little, and make sure that their seats are the ones they wanted. I have two trips booked on Song and fully expect to make those trips as expected, something I would not be as confident about if I were flying AA, USAir or United.

Bottom line: don't worry! Even if they do declare chapter 11, they are gonna keep flying where we need to go.

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

I wouldnt worry much at all about delta declaring chapter 11. IF and when they do. I am a delta gold medallion and know lots about the airline. If it would declar chapter 11, services I am assured will stay the same and skymilies program will stay in effect. The ceo of delta really wants to restructure the airline to get it flying in a better financial state. Delta sent all premium skymilies memebers with delta just about this issue in a recent letter.
Matt
Dont worry, they will be around for years to come!

 

[Abracadabra]

Donalds_best_pal, thanks for the reassurance. My wife and I are taking my niece and her step-sister to WDW in Nov. (their 1st time) and we have tickets on Delta. I've been flying United during their bankruptcy and didn't notice any significant drop in service.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Delta ticket holders don't need to worry.
Leave the worying to the shareholders, bondholders and pilots, from whom the concessions need to be extracted.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Thank you all for the great info and positive posts! My DH talked with the TA yesterday that we booked though as well (hmm..his first reaction is to ask somewhere other than the Dis?) and she said we're covered even if they would cancel the flight, which is unlikely because it's completely full and making $$ for them.....

Thanks again! I'm not sure about flying to start with, haven't done it in 28 years, but no time like the present I guess!

 

[seashoreCM]

Check your flight itinerary (online if possible) often. Should a flight be cancelled, pick out a replacement flight as soon as possible. Call them on the phone and ask for that replacment flight.

If you were automatically rescheduled on a flight you like. immediately call on the phone and ask for new seat assignments. This "accepts" the change and prevents (what could happen) being re-rescheduled due to overbooking.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

On Delta and Song you cannot re-make seat assignments on line if you are automatically rescheduled.

If there is no replacement flight you like you can get a full refund provided you have not "accepted" the schedule change.

Delta has cancelled full and nearly full flights including in and out of Orlando before (just after 9/11/01 if not at other times too). Then they said they had ample capacity on connecting flights through Atlanta.

I still regard Song as an experiment that could be terminated at any time. Then the planes would go into "mainline" Delta service where the biztravelers have been clamoring for the individual TV sets. Since so many first class seats are upgrades as opposed to purchased, a reasonable conclusion about Song is that it is to prove the viability of giving everyone a bit more legroom as opposed to giving just a few elite or medallion or gold members a lot more space.

 

[Harambe]

Sorry it's taken me so long to respond! Thanks for all the reassurance. I'll keep checkig to make sure the flight times don't change.

Thanks again!