Flying Delta - planning for the worst

[MUN]

The Alaska cruise leaving Monday 8/15. We fly into Vancouver (the port we're disembarking from) arriving at 1am Sunday morning. We booked the flights ourselves and made a point of having 36 hours between our arrival and the last option to depart. Hopefully that will be enough, since it seems like if we miss the boat there's no way for us to go on any portion of the cruise.

Is there a special number for emergencies on my paperwork? Should I assume DCL is aware of the situation or call to warn them?

You should be ok. I think Delta flights are getting back to normal. Enjoy your cruise.

 

[olookasquirrel]

We flew during a Snowmageddon a few years back, right after the holidays. We went out about 5 days after the snow stopped, so our flight operated as scheduled. But the woman next to us was on a flight cancelled during the storm. She had spent the last 5 days trying to get home. So if your flight operates as scheduled, no big deal, but if it gets cancelled, you may need to get creative.

Snowmageddon also made it difficult because ALL planes in the northeast were grounded. Delta has the option of getting at least some people onto other carriers, or flying more planes than intended in the next few days. Not sure they would do either, but they have the option. I wouldn't be too worried unless it gets towards Friday and they're still experiencing massive delays.

 

[Dug720]

We flew during a Snowmageddon a few years back, right after the holidays. We went out about 5 days after the snow stopped, so our flight operated as scheduled. But the woman next to us was on a flight cancelled during the storm. She had spent the last 5 days trying to get home. So if your flight operates as scheduled, no big deal, but if it gets cancelled, you may need to get creative.

Snowmageddon also made it difficult because ALL planes in the northeast were grounded. Delta has the option of getting at least some people onto other carriers, or flying more planes than intended in the next few days. Not sure they would do either, but they have the option. I wouldn't be too worried unless it gets towards Friday and they're still experiencing massive delays.

The Christmas Blizzard (I refuse to use "-mageddon" on anything. )? Yep! I was stuck in Orlando until January 1. LUCKILY my sister was a CM at WDW at the time so I had somewhere free to stay (and was the adopted project of her office and was given all her co-workers' about-to-expire day passes). I also was lucky in that it was JUST me, and I could easily fly into JFK, EWR, or LGA and could also have managed Philadelphia, the DC-area airports, or Boston and then done the train to NYC. Even so, it was January 1 before they were able to put me on a flight. (And my dad was checking flights out of Nashville to see if I could get out of there even faster - then we would have dealt with trying to get me to Nashville.)

 

[bumbershoot]

Is Delta offering any alternatives -- like booking you other another airline just in case?

They are offering rescheduling, or a refund if you want to book with someone else. Not sure this would help with the OP though. She could heck the delta site to see if her date applies but then she would be flying in earlier not later.

The reason is Delta has an obligation to those that were grounded already.

Nah. Those grounded need to be proactive to get themselves on the plane. Dallas ice storm a few Decembers ago they kept auto-re-scheduling DH to flights three to five days later. Nope. Every time we called right back. We had two computers looking at flights plus the agent's, we told them what flights to book etc. you can't just take what they give you without trying.

The Alaska cruise leaving Monday 8/15. We fly into Vancouver (the port we're disembarking from) arriving at 1am Sunday morning. We booked the flights ourselves and made a point of having 36 hours between our arrival and the last option to depart. Hopefully that will be enough, since it seems like if we miss the boat there's no way for us to go on any portion of the cruise.

Is there a special number for emergencies on my paperwork? Should I assume DCL is aware of the situation or call to warn them?

You'll be fine from this mess.

My originally flight was yesterday 6:50. That got rescheduled to this morning 5:45. We called and got on a flight that was slated for 5:35pm yesterday. By the time it hit the app it was delayed to 8:45. It finally got out nearing 11pm.

And that's on THE day.

Of course, lax to sea is easy. The plane we were on was just going up and down the coast all day.


As for getting you to a later port, that's a question for the legalities. And I can never remember the answer. Cruise critic would know if an Alaska cruise allows it.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

As for getting you to a later port, that's a question for the legalities. And I can never remember the answer. Cruise critic would know if an Alaska cruise allows it.

As I noted, not many major cruise lines will allow embarkation at a subsequent port any more. Legally, it can be done, but the paperwork involved in the change from a foreign port closed loop cruise (Vancouver/Vancouver) to a foreign itinerary cruise (whatever US port/Vancouver) is typically more than the cruise line wants to deal with any longer.

 

[thornton0511]

Nah. Those grounded need to be proactive to get themselves on the plane. Dallas ice storm a few Decembers ago they kept auto-re-scheduling DH to flights three to five days later. Nope. Every time we called right back. We had two computers looking at flights plus the agent's, we told them what flights to book etc. you can't just take what they give you without trying.

If you are talking about 2013 I totally remember this! We were set to fly out for our WDW trip when it was going to get bad in Dallas and were frantically waiting for American Airlines to "call it" so we would have the freedom to move our flight up a day without penalty. Finally last minute they did and we were able to rebook for an earlier flight and just made it before things got bad. I had so many panic attacks trying to be proactive and move our flights I swear!

 

[Weedy]

As I noted, not many major cruise lines will allow embarkation at a subsequent port any more. Legally, it can be done, but the paperwork involved in the change from a foreign port closed loop cruise (Vancouver/Vancouver) to a foreign itinerary cruise (whatever US port/Vancouver) is typically more than the cruise line wants to deal with any longer.

I believe you ( you are up to date on info) but I always thought? read? Made up in my head?? you could catch up with your cruise if you had a valid passport port and had insurance or were willing to pay.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I believe you ( you are up to date on info) but I always thought? read? Made up in my head?? you could catch up with your cruise if you had a valid passport port and had insurance or were willing to pay.

Legally, yes it's allowed. But many of the major cruiselines have recently (like the last 2-3 years) opted to not allow it. Primarily due to the extra paperwork involved when the cruise changes from a "closed loop" cruise to one that's deemed to be a "foreign itinerary" cruise.

If even one passenger embarks at a subsequent port, the whole passenger complement paperwork must be processed as if they all embarked at that subsequent port.

 

[OKW Lover]

Talked to Delta just a few minutes ago (on an unrelated matter) and was told that they would be back to normal operation sometime tomorrow (Wednesday). You should be in good shape this weekend.

 

[Weedy]

Legally, yes it's allowed. But many of the major cruiselines have recently (like the last 2-3 years) opted to not allow it. Primarily due to the extra paperwork involved when the cruise changes from a "closed loop" cruise to one that's deemed to be a "foreign itinerary" cruise.

If even one passenger embarks at a subsequent port, the whole passenger complement paperwork must be processed as if they all embarked at that subsequent port.

Interesting thanks

 

[bumbershoot]

If you are talking about 2013 I totally remember this! We were set to fly out for our WDW trip when it was going to get bad in Dallas and were frantically waiting for American Airlines to "call it" so we would have the freedom to move our flight up a day without penalty. Finally last minute they did and we were able to rebook for an earlier flight and just made it before things got bad. I had so many panic attacks trying to be proactive and move our flights I swear!

Yep. And dh was on American as well!

He was on a work trip in Dallas and needed to get home for 24 hours, to see DS dance in his first Company performance. He managed it, got back to TX around 30 hours after he left Dallas, but I'm pretty sure we were on the phone for 20 of those hours lol.



I've never heard that cruise lines aren't allowing it because of the hassle. I've heard on cc that it's the PVSA or whatever it's called. The stop that the passenger joins on has to be either before or after the distant foreign port or whatever. That's the part I can't recall. In jan 2014 we saw people joining (hassled looking, tired people with big suitcases and carryons walking TO the ship) our Royal cruise in Sint Maarten.



But the OP isn't going to have an issue.

 

[Plaid Princess]

If you are flying soon, I would be worried. The reason is Delta has an obligation to those that were grounded already. They are going to be on the first flights. If you can get on a flight any where close to FL, that would be huge. You can rent a car to drive the rest of the way. If I were any where within a 16 hour drive at this point, I would drive instead of rely on Delta. Also look into other airlines to see what they have available.

No airline is going to deny boarding to accommodate displaced passengers. Any time a passenger is involuntarily denied boarding on a flight that departs as scheduled, legally the airline has to issue a cash payout on the spot. It's much cheaper to issue vouchers and upgrades to passengers from delayed or cancelled flights. They'll put people in every available seat, and on standby, but they're not going to bump anyone to try and get delayed passengers out first.

Delta is already catching up to the problem, as they were eventually able to get flights out yesterday. Now they are down to delays, mostly due to flight crew work restrictions and equipment changes. If your flight is at the end of the week, you will most likely be fine. Just stay in communication with DCL, and check on your flight status regularly.

 

[lanejudy]

It sounds like you should most likely be fine by this weekend, but I did want to point something out for future reference or for others' reading:

We have travel insurance through Disney.

We booked the flights ourselves

You booked your own airfare, therefore travel delay prior to embarking the ship is not going to be covered by the insurance purchased through DCL. That insurance will only cover portions of your vacation purchased directly through DCL. It will not cover your flights or delays/cancellations related to those flights. Next time, third party insurance will cover all aspects regardless of how booked.

Is there a special number for emergencies on my paperwork? Should I assume DCL is aware of the situation or call to warn them?

DCL will NOT automatically be aware of individual passengers and travel delays. If you should find yourself in such a situation, you will need to make contact with DCL throughout to try and work something out with the cruise if possible -- be that you are stuck in an airport, or landed late but enroute to the port or whatever. Depending on circumstances, DCL may be able to wait or have you catch up in another port (but that is all up to DCL).

Good luck with your travels and enjoy your cruise!

 

[Plaid Princess]

For peace of mind: a friend who works for Delta just told me that they are officially back to "normal operations" as of today. Flights are expected to depart as scheduled.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I've never heard that cruise lines aren't allowing it because of the hassle. I've heard on cc that it's the PVSA or whatever it's called. The stop that the passenger joins on has to be either before or after the distant foreign port or whatever. That's the part I can't recall.

The PVSA only applies to cruises that start and end in different US ports. If a cruise has a foreign port as it's start point or end point, the PVSA doesn't apply.

As I said, legally, it's quite permissible for people to join a cruise at a subsequent port, if they miss the embarkation port, and it's generally still allowed for extenuating circumstances, as long as it's legal. But, for the most part, most major cruise lines won't allow it, simply because of the extra "hassle" of the customs/immigration processing for a "foreign itinerary" cruise vs a "closed loop" cruise.