Has anyone had Delta Air lines do this to them?

[disneyfan67]

I booked my air over two months ago for my July 26th to August 4th trip ORD to MCO. I got a great deal on the airfare, but the one drawback was that there is a lay over in Atlanta. OK, for the price I can deal with a hour and a 1/2 layover (each way). Here's what's strange to me. I got an email from Orbitz who I bought the fare from and they told me my first leg of my trip from Chicago to Atlanta has been changed to Sky West Airlines, then I transfer to Delta when I arrive in Atlanta. I never flew like this before and not with two different carriers on the same day. Who is Sky west and are they any good? Why would Delta put me on a different airline? Just doesn't make sense to me. Should I call Orbitz or Delta and see about getting this changed? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Sky West operates many United Express and Delta Connection flights. Not a bad operation, at all.

I booked my air over two months ago for my July 26th to August 4th trip ORD to MCO. I got a great deal on the airfare, but the one drawback was that there is a lay over in Atlanta. OK, for the price I can deal with a hour and a 1/2 layover (each way). Here's what's strange to me. I got an email from Orbitz who I bought the fare from and they told me my first leg of my trip from Chicago to Atlanta has been changed to Sky West Airlines, then I transfer to Delta when I arrive in Atlanta. I never flew like this before and not with two different carriers on the same day. Who is Sky west and are they any good? Why would Delta put me on a different airline? Just doesn't make sense to me. Should I call Orbitz or Delta and see about getting this changed? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[bicker]

Major airlines generally transport their passengers on low-volume or low-profit cities to their hubs on commuter airlines, like Sky West. It might seem unusual for that to include trasportation between two major cities, like Chicago and Atlanta, but actually it is pretty common, given that the business between those two cities is actually split between four airlines which use one of those cities as a hub.

 

[clkelley]

I have booked a lot of "Delta" flights, but rarely fly on Delta planes, it's usually, Freedom, ASA, ComAir, Chatauqua, Northwest Airlink, etc. With Codeshares, and regional partners, unless you are flying cross country, you probably won't be on the parent carriers planes.

 

[Terry's Angels]

I have a very similar experience for our upcoming May flight. We actually booked through Delta and we were switched to a regional/low cost carrier. The only thing I would suggest, is contacting Delta or the new carrier if seat assignments are important to you, otherwise, your seat is wherever they place you. HTH

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Why would Delta put me on a different airline? Just doesn't make sense to me. Should I call Orbitz or Delta and see about getting this changed? Any help would be appreciated.

When you fly on Delta Connection operated by SkyWest, your aircraft will be painted in Delta colors; you will check in and leave from the Delta terminal; and your overall experience won't be much different than flying a regular Delta flight.

The big difference is that your aircraft will be 70-seat Canadair CRJ-900 (CR9), not a 140-seat Boeing 737-800 or a 142-seat Boeing MD-88. The Canadair CRJ-900 has two seats on each side of a center aisle, and the overhead storage compartments are smaller than on larger aircraft. Seat width, seating comfort, and legroom are about the same.

I took a quick look at the Delta schedule between ORD and ATL. Only one flight per day is on on Delta Connection operated by SkyWest. The rest are on "regular" Delta aircraft.

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't bother to change anything (as long as there's enough time to connect in Atlanta).

If the thought of being on a 70-seat jet bothers you, then call Delta and ask them to reschedule you; explain that you bought your tickets with the understanding that your would be flying on mainline Delta aircraft. However, be aware that the this will mean having an earlier or later flight time.

I agree that you should call Delta to make sure you still have decent seat assignments.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I have a very similar experience for our upcoming May flight. We actually booked through Delta and we were switched to a regional/low cost carrier.

To which "regional/low cost carrier" were you switched?

It is not unusual to have a flight substituted from a mainline flight to a flight operated by a partner, but which is still branded with the same airline name.

But it would be unusual for an airline to switch you to a competitor on a route that the original airline continues to operate.

 

[dudspizza]

To which "regional/low cost carrier" were you switched?

It is not unusual to have a flight substituted from a mainline flight to a flight operated by a partner, but which is still branded with the same airline name.

But it would be unusual for an airline to switch you to a competitor on a route that the original airline continues to operate.

I totally agree, Horace. For all intensive purposes, they are still flying Delta here. I was booked on Delta last year and one of my legs was on Atlantic Southeast Air (ASA), but the plane was Delta, the steward wore a Delta uniform. You are simply flying a subsidiary of Delta. No issues. This is a very common thing that most people don't even realize.

If I were the OP, I wouldn't even think twice about it. I am flying to LAX through St Louis this summer.... my first lest is on Chatauqua Airlines which is a American Airlines subsidiary... I am not concerned at all.....

Duds

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

As Duds wrote, some partner airlines are actually subsidiaries of (owned by) the larger airlines. For example, American Eagle is wholly owned by American Airlines; Comair is wholly owned by Delta.

In other cases, the partner airlines are independent companies with their own stockholders. Such companies often provide services for more than one major airline. For example, Chautauqua Airlines operates as Delta Connection for Delta Air Lines, AmericanConnection for American Airlines, Continental Express for Continental Airlines, United Express for United Airlines, and US Airways Express for US Airways!

From a passenger perspective, it doesn't matter who owns the airlines. For all practical purposes, Delta Connection is Delta Air Lines, and AmericanConnection is American Airlines.

I flew United Express last week. The seat pocket had a copy of SkyWest's magazine and United Airlines' magazine. The safety briefing card said SkyWest. But I checked in at United Airlines, had a United Airlines boarding pass, retrieved our luggage from United Airlines' baggage claim, and received United Airlines Mileage Plus points.

 

[salmoneous]

One thing to keep in mind with a smaller regional jet is that they have significantly less overhead space. And larger carry-on bag will have to be "gate checked." Gate checking isn't a big deal - you put your bag down just before getting on the plane and pick it up when right when getting off the plane. However, if there is something you want to have with you during the flight, be sure not to leave it in a larger carryon bag.

 

[disneyfan67]

Wow, thanks for the information. I've only flown six times in my life and I actually learned something here on this thread. It kind of wild to see the quote below and never knew this until now.

For all intensive purposes, they are still flying Delta here. I was booked on Delta last year and one of my legs was on Atlantic Southeast Air (ASA), but the plane was Delta, the steward wore a Delta uniform. You are simply flying a subsidiary of Delta. No issues. This is a very common thing that most people don't even realize.

I'm not too crazy about the thought of flying on smaller 70 seat aircraft, but if it gets me there on time and free of incident, then I guess I can't complain. I'm thinking of calling Delta and seeing what my options are. Thank you for all the info.

 

[dudspizza]

I'm not too crazy about the thought of flying on smaller 70 seat aircraft, but if it gets me there on time and free of incident, then I guess I can't complain. I'm thinking of calling Delta and seeing what my options are. Thank you for all the info.

I personally like the smaller planes. The get up in the air much faster and stop much quicker when you are on the ground. Some times it feels like forever to takeoff or stop in the big jets. The smaller jets offer everything the bigger jets do, minus some extra overhead space. I laughed last year when my dad had to gate check his carry on while I had a small carry on and a laptop case, both of which went on the plane with me....

Have a great trip! Duds

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

As Horace noted, Chautauqua Airlines is NOT owned by American Airlines. They are an independent carrier that operates feeder flights into and out of St Louis under the brand name American Connection, as well as several other brand name carriers. If you booked a flight with AA, your boarding passes for the hopper will read American Connection. It may or may not read, "Operated by Chatauqua Airlines."

In RJs, you can fit an 18 inch carry-on wheels in the overhead. Not 20 inches, not 22, and not fully stuffed or expanded. 18 inches. You read it here first.