Flying Delta

[happytraveller]

Hi everyone, i'm considering using delta to california changing at atlanta.Has anyone flown delta/any carrier , changing at atlanta.Is it an o.k hub.The saving is well over a grand and as i have 3 children, with eldest classed as adult, it would make a real difference.Thanks in advance

 

[disneyholic family]

Hi everyone, i'm considering using delta to california changing at atlanta.Has anyone flown delta/any carrier , changing at atlanta.Is it an o.k hub.The saving is well over a grand and as i have 3 children, with eldest classed as adult, it would make a real difference.Thanks in advance

do you mean flying Delta from the UK to California, via Atlanta?
If so, I can't tell you anything about Delta's international flights.

Regarding their domestic flights, they're just as good or bad as most of the US domestic airlines. Economy is cramped but fine. It's probably about a 5 hour flight to Ca (shorter on the way back with tailwinds). I'm not a big fan of Delta, but I hate Northworst even more. But as i said, they're all about the same. Not great, not horrible.

Atlanta is a major hub (Delta's main hub) and is just like any other main hub in the US.

Bottom line, if you're saving a lot of money, go ahead and do it. It's worth it to save.

 

[bicker]

Do be aware, though, that most, if not all, travel insurance providers are currently refusing to provide insurance for Delta airline flights.

 

[steve_rob]

Used them to go to Orlando just a month ago, also via Atlanta. Not a lot of leg room, but at the same time, I've had less. Food was good and we had seat back TV's on the way there, but not the way back.

Atlanta airport is easy to transfer in. All international flights land in Terminal E - once through customs, you'll take a train probably to A or B for the next leg of your flight. Only takes about 5 minutes.

 

[Cochise]

Do be aware, though, that most, if not all, travel insurance providers are currently refusing to provide insurance for Delta airline flights.

Is this due to their poor financial position?

 

[Miffy2003]

Do be aware, though, that most, if not all, travel insurance providers are currently refusing to provide insurance for Delta airline flights.

Is this the case for UK as well?????

 

[happytraveller]

Hi, thanks so much for the replies.Yes i'm coming from the U.K changing at Atlanta then going on to LAX.Their price is £1564.00 including airline failure protection.Virgin/BA want over a thousand more! Needless to save if they are not dreadful in the main, this may well be the one!We flew Zoom to Toronto this year and were very pleasantly surprised, so i'm really to give anything within reason ago, lol.Thanks again.

 

[happytraveller]

Is this the case for UK as well?????

Hi, included in my quote was airline failure insurance, so i doubt it's the case for the u.k ,as it clearly states you get your money back, if the airline goes bust.

 

[kristieuk]

We recently flew via Atlanta to Tampa with Delta. I actually quite like the Delta flights - the staff are laid back, and it is very relaxed.

We had a couple of issues with not being able to check in online or the day before for a 9am flight, and they have changed their luggage requirements to no single piece can weight more than 50lb (it was an issue because they gave us the wrong information beforehand and we ended up repacking at check in ). Also, coming home, our Tampa - Atlanta leg was cancelled and we hadn't been booked onto a replacement flight, meaning we had a delay whilst they tried to sort it out, and eventually rebooked us onto a Cincinnati flight - it worked out in the end, but we are still in some dispute as to whether it was a Delta mistake (more likely), or whether Airline Newtork who we booked the flights through were responsible. It was the kind of hassle your don't need at the end of a holiday.

I have to say, despite these troubles, I would fly them again. They were significantly cheaper for us, they seem to discount child fares more, and they don't charge a lot more for flying on weekends. The flight itself was very pleasant - seat back tv, decent food. Just be aware that like most American airlines these days, it's $5 per alcoholic drink.

 

[Cochise]

Dont you pay a levy in the ticket price that covers you for the failure of an airline?

 

[happytraveller]

Hi, yes their is airline protection insurance.I agree with kirstie in that they are quite cheap, but i'm not sure if it will all be more hassle than it's worth.Going with them means my family and my friends can go in the summer easily.To go with virgin would be off peak-but perhaps less hassle.We both just want to get it booed now, but trying to wiegh up the pros and cons -as well as price.

 

[carolfoy]

I must admit I haven't heard of any insurance company refusing to insure over Delta, most major travel companies that use them, Jetlife, Jetsave, Travelscope, Key to America etc are still using them and include airline failure insurance in their quotes.

 

[bicker]

Sorry to all, I assumed that the phenom spread over the ocean, and it clearly does not. There isn't a single travel insurance provider in the US that is offering insurance for flights with Delta right now. I didn't think that that would be different in the UK. 100 apologies.

 

[ford family]

Another thumbs up for Delta.
We have flown with them four times this year, once to MCO and three times to TPA. We like them a great deal, good service, reasonable legroom and well timed flights. The extra time for the flight change at Atlanta or Cincinnatti is not wasted as you go through Immigration (quicker than at Tampa!) so your final destination is a walk off. On the return the luggage goes right through to Gatwick.

ford family

 

[patsy13]

Hi we have flown to LAX with Delta quite a few times and the flights have been great from Manchester to Atlanta you have seat back tv's which are great and there is plenty of leg room once in Atlanta the transfer is simple we have never had any problems hope you get sorted.

Pat

 

[martina857]

As Delta are in Bankruptcy protection and US companies are not offering any Insurance to travel with them, this would flag up a warning for me. Airline failure insurance only means you get your money back, its not like ATOL where you get another flight or get repatriated... Is it ? Also if the Airline goes bust before you go who has to pay for everything else like the Villa/Hotel or car hire ? I would be worried and would not book direct with the Airline but through an ATOL holder.
M

 

[ford family]

Quite agree, and the difference is negligible. If you price up flights on Delta's own website and then compare with, say, Expedia, there is an extra £5 per person on the latter. Paying by credit card increases the safety net.

ford family

 

[bicker]

An update on Delta's situation: Though they're still in bankruptcy, the threatened strike that would have killed the airline has apparently been averted.

 

[carolfoy]

Actually ATOL don't necessarily repatriate you or get you an alternative flight either, there are many instances when a tour op has gone under and the client is left waiting for months for their money back and no alternative flight.
Also many American airlines are in bankruptcy and have been for years, not an issue for any insurance company as far as I'm aware. They merely need to know where you're going and for how long, your age etc not who are you travelling with.

 

[Scottish-Helen]

US airlines have been going in and out of Chapter 11 as longer than I have been working in travel (15 years)

I have just booked my own flights for next October with Delta and had absolutley no hesitation in doing so. The Chapter 11 bankruptcy means they don't have to pay their creditors while they restructure their finances. It doesn't mean they are going to go under.