Delta reliability for schedules

[New England Eeyore]

I'm looking at airfare to WDW from Boston for November. Since Jet Blue has been in existence, I have been 100% loyal to them, because I absolutely adore them. But I wasn't able to buy tickets as early as I usually do for this trip and Delta has a nonstop that can beat Jet Blue's price by about $80 per person. I can live without the TVs, etc, but I'm a little nervous about going back to Delta. I remember in my pre-Jet Blue days we had a couple flights from other airlines that changed flight times dramatically. I can live with a little shift, but if the times were to change by more than a couple of hours, it would greatly impact plans as this is a quick trip.

Do you think I have anything to worry about? I'm leaning toward just paying the extra money because I know I won't have anything to worry about with JB. Anyone have experience either positive or negative with Delta lately?

Thanks!

 

[iteachlit]

I can only tell you about my Delta experience in 2006. We got a really good deal on Delta out of PIT. Originally, we had a short layover (c. 60 min.) in ATL. No problem. Grab a quick snack, use the restroom, off we go to MCO.

About a month before the trip, Delta changed the departure time for the ATL-MCO leg of the trip. We ended up with a 2 1/2 hour layover in ATL. I didn't like that.

Also, Delta changed the flight times about 5 times from the point I booked the flight. Each time, I had to log in to the Delta web site and re-assign our seats. EVERY TIME!

Here's another Delta story, this time from my dad and brother. They were flying on Delta for business. When they got to the airport, they found that their flight had been canceled. Nothing mechanical or weather related, just canceled. They didn't get the email / text notification from Delta until AFTER they arrived at the airport. They had to wait three hours for the next flight.

I have pretty much decided that we will always fly Southwest out of BWI (cheaper than PIT) or JetBlue out of Dulles. In my experience, SW and JB seem to stick to their schedules fairly well.

 

[DebbieB]

In my experience, Delta does change times frequently but they were good about moving us to better flights last year.

 

[traveljunkie2]

I would worry. I would be looking at how many flights Delta has out of your location and see if you would be OK with any of them. It is likely that they will get changed, especially if you are getting a really good deal.

We had a horrible experience with Delta last January. We had booked a great fare about 8 months in advance. About 2 months after booking I happened to check the flights and they were gone. We were never notified by Delta of the change. When I called, I was told that the schedule had changed and we had been rebooked. We now had flights with layovers of 9+ hours one way and 11+ hours the other way. I had to rebook, and the only other flight left at 6 am and had a very short layover. Returning I went from one 3 hour layover (original flight) to two layovers with 3 hr layovers at each spot. It was miserable. And it totally screwed up my rental car ressie since we arrived 6 hours earlier than I had booked. What a mess. I swore never to fly Delta again.

Oh, in addition to all that, when we checked in to our 6am flight (which we had done online check in for the night before) we were told that we had been put on standby on our connecting flight. A party of five with two kids and a disabled passenger on standby with a confirmed check in and seats assigned the night before? I was steaming! It took alot of effort by a ticket agent to get that worked out.

The rest of our party flew from LAX and their flights were also changed, but only by an hour.

I would count on you original flight being changed. You will probably have lots of other flights to choose from if they do change it, but make sure you are OK with changing to one of those other flights before booking with them.

 

[Dewy]

This isn't recent (2008) but we flew Delta out of Boston and had booked in May for an October trip and the flight times changed 4 -5 times. The return flight was canceled and there was no longer a non stop flight for the time that we wanted so we had a connecting flight home.

I called once and asked why all the changes and was told by the agent that Delta doesn't make much money in the Florida market so they are always changing flights, planes and times...In other words, they list way more flights that they plan to actually fly and as the time comes close they cut flights and change times to fill the aircraft.

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

I fly Delta once a month and united twice a month usually. Delta has never been late and usually arrived 5-10 minutes earlier sometimes more on ALL my flights (ive been lucky)
The movies they choose are usually descent and I like Todd English's menu. I wouldn't be too concerned things will work out ESP since flying south from boston the jet stream makes you arrive earlier (my flights from Ottawa and toronto have been up to 30 mintues early!!)

Have a great trip!

 

[buzz5985]

I flew Delta out of Boston on June 5. Early morning flight 7am. I paid 180 round trip - that price includes taxes etc. We checked one bag for $23. This was about $90 cheaper than SW out of Manchester, and about $120 cheaper than Jetblue. For entertainment - I paid for the onboard WiFi for $9.95 and rented a movie from Amazon. Next time I will remember to download something before I go - movie kept freezing.

When we arrived at the airport our flight was delayed 2 hours - I received a call at 5:30 am, as I was putting my shoes on after going through security!!! I was pissed. LOL About 45 minutes later - received another phone call - the flight is on for 8 am. We were pushed to the front of the line for take off, given priority when landing, and ended up being 20 minutes late. The flight wasn't full and we were all encouraged to spread out. One thing that I was a little disturbed by is some woman was letting her about 18 month old run up and down the aisle - in BAREFEET!!!! The barefoot thing really got to me. LOL

Return flight was uneventful. We had left our car at Preflight. When we arrived back in Boston, I left DH to wait for our bag, grabbed DS and we headed over to get our car. We were barely out of the airport and DH called to inform me he already had our bag!!!

You might want to consider AirTran out of Boston too. We used them last November and they were a lot cheaper than anyone else - I paid $168 round trip, and used all carry ons. Would fly with them again.

The days of me flying for business are long gone. I fly so little that loyalty doesn't get me anything. So I fly the cheapest way possible. So if you see anything for around $175 round trip - I'd jump on it.

 

[francie57]

We always use Delta out of Hartford and we have not really had any trouble with them at all. The time of our flights has only changed by 10 mins. so that is no big deal. Not sure if it makes a difference, but we take the first non-stop out in the morning and the last non-stop back at night. We have always been right on time and even have been a little early at times. We will be flying Delta in a few weeks and haven't had any changes and we have been booked since October. I just keep checking each week and I do know if they make a major change they will work with you to get you on a better flight. I like that I have my seats already (for no charge) and that I can check-in 24 hours in advance and also pay for the luggage at that time so we just get to the airport and get our baggaage claim receipts and go to security. I know there are complaints on here about Delta but from reading posts you will find complaints about every airline so it really is just make a reservation and hope for the best - whether it be Delta or any other airline.

 

[Shih-Tzu]

I fly Delta out of Bangor. On our last trip from when we booked to when we actually went, the times changed 4 or 5 times, but only about 10 minutes one way or the other, so it was no big deal at all.

My December trip (which I booked in May) has already changed once with our NY to Orlando flight leaving NY about 1/2 earlier - still left with lots of time to change planes and grab a coffee at the airport - but we get to WDW earlier...but I know that it will change again.

I think all airlines switch the schedules around as required - not just Delta - and the time of year would also result in last minute changes - if your actual aircraft was delayed somewhere because of a snow storm, then they may have to move things around....but we can't help the weather.

 

[pooch]

out of HTFD (Hi Francie!!) but SW has really started to squeeze this airport. The early non-stop out & late non-stop back on SW disappear in Sept. and the fares are nothing to write home to Mother about. DD and I flew Delta down last year. The time of the flight changed by about an hour from the original booking. Lovely flight down with a comp to first class. I was able to snag fares $70 less than SWA. We can do it with only 1 checked bag each way so I'm happy.

Will your times change, probably, but is it worth the significantly higher price? Only you can decide that!

 

[Brian Noble]

I fly tens of thousands of miles each year on DL. I can count the number of "significant" time changes (enough to make me call and request new flights) over the last ten years on one hand.

 

[elgerber]

I have had more changes on Delta in the last 2 years, than I have on any other airlines put together. We are booked on them next month, and they have cancelled my 7 am departing flight to Orlando and my 6pm flight out of Orlando. So now we get in 3 hours later and leave 3 hours earlier. I am not happy at all with my new times, but can't change, because the good flights are gone.
We have had them change and cancel several of our flights in the last couple of years.

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

Im surprised to see everyone has all these issues with delta scheduling changing and I fly them multiple times a month just goes to show ya how everyone will have a different experience.

I wish you all wonderful pixie dust that your flights wont change!!

 

[New England Eeyore]

That's what I thought I'd get - mixed reviews. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with Jet Blue (I forgot about the baggage fee for Delta - that will shrink the price difference a little.) The extra money is worth my piece of mind. I've flown JB dozens of times and they've never changed my flight times by more than 45 minutes.

Thanks for all the responses!!

 

[ocean134]

I'm a firm believer in AirTran when it comes to my flights to Florida. I have flown them over and over without complaint. I just wish airlines would cut back on the baggage fees. AirTran gets some really good rates, but then you have to pay for bags. Only bad side I can see.

 

[disneymom/teacher]

I just booked round trip from Allentown, Pa to MCO for 8/1 @ 6:30 am and then returning on 8/9 @ 7:45 pm. I chose Delta because Allegiant's flights weren't going to fit our schedule, so I really hope that my fights don't get changed.

 

[DebbieB]

I booked flights for October in February with miles. The latest flight I could get for the return left at 12:35pm. So we pretty much lose our last day but what can you do, free tickets. I've been watching the schedule. They changed it to 12:10. I called and they said the change has to be at least 90 minutes for a change without a fee. So I checked yesterday, it was moved to 11:55. So I thought I would call again. I did a dummy reservation and they now had a flight for the same amount of miles leaving at 6:35pm. I called and I said it has been changed to earlier twice now and it really doesn't work for us. She said let me see what I can do. Then I said I noticed the 6:35pm flight for the same miles. No problem, we can change it! Yea! Now we have time to do a park on our last day!