I can't believe I booked on Delta

[deedeetoo]

I really dislike Delta. After a particularly miserable experience a few years ago I said never again. We switched to JetBlue and have been very happy.

But we just priced out tickets for our trip over July 4th week. Delta was $239 pp (all in), SW was $408, Jet Blue was $439. These were all Saturday to Saturday non stop from Boston except SW which was out of Providence. I just can't justify that extra money for a family of 4. I was willing to pay more to go JetBlue but I can't stomach an extra $200 pp. I guess they have found the break point for my family. Now I start praying that things don't get too screwed up with Delta.

 

[skelooch]

I feel exactly the same way, I have been a loyal JB fan for the last 4-5 years, but I too had to bite the bullet and book with Delta for our Aug trip, BDL/MCO because of a difference of $120/pp (currently $155/pp). So we will just have to hope they don't mess around with the flights between now and then.

Good Luck

 

[Anjelica]

I fly delta sparsely these days - not because I dislike them per se its just depending on the destination/deal Delta rarely wins. With that being said Delta is an airline I don't put into the "I really hate them" category. Hopefully you will have a good experience this time around.

 

[DebbieB]

I just got back from a trip out to Disneyland on Delta. All 4 flights were ontime (had to connect in Atlanta), checked luggage, no issues. They served drinks & snacks 3 times on the ATL-SNA portions, that plane also had the TV's.

 

[crashbb]

And this is why many of us say that there is no incentive for US based carriers to focus on service. Most people on this forum vote based on the cost of the ticket - even those who profess to hate an airline will fly with them if they are cheaper. Offering good service costs an airline money, leading to higher ticket prices. Clearly, an increase that customers are not willing to pay.

 

[pr surfer]

And this is why many of us say that there is no incentive for US based carriers to focus on service. Most people on this forum vote based on the cost of the ticket - even those who profess to hate an airline will fly with them if they are cheaper. Offering good service costs an airline money, leading to higher ticket prices. Clearly, an increase that customers are not willing to pay.

I guess I'm the exception. I refuse to fly on Spirit and US Airways, even for free.

 

[robinb]

You have my sympathy. I am NOT a Delta fan and was recently bit in the butt by the fine print that I should have read but didn't. All my fault, but that doesn't change the bad taste in my mouth. I keep on hoping that they will change my flight times enough so I can cancel and get our money back .

 

[crashbb]

I guess I'm the exception. I refuse to fly on Spirit and US Airways, even for free.

Hence "most people"

Absolutely there are exceptions (there are airlines I won't fly even for free and airlines I'll pay more to fly).

 

[Tara]

And this is why many of us say that there is no incentive for US based carriers to focus on service. Most people on this forum vote based on the cost of the ticket - even those who profess to hate an airline will fly with them if they are cheaper. Offering good service costs an airline money, leading to higher ticket prices. Clearly, an increase that customers are not willing to pay.

You beat me to it, crashbb. Most people complain with their mouths, but they vote with their pocketbooks.

 

[francie57]

Skelooch - we fly Delta out of BDL every trip in Aug. and have never had a problem with them. We take the first non-stop in the morning and return on the last non-stop at night. We have always been on time, if not early. The times of the flight have only changed by about 15 min. at the most. Just keep checking your itinerary every week or so to make sure they don't change the type of plane for your flights since the computer will then reassign all seats and you might end up where you don't want to be. We will flying on Delta again in Aug. and don't really worry at all. They were much cheaper than all the rest - even much cheaper than last years flights.

 

[McFlea]

OP, I'm in the same boat as you. I much prefer Jet Blue, but could not believe the difference in price going from BOS to MCO this February. Delta was $200 pp lower. Let's both cross our fingers and hope for the best - the extra $1000 for my family of 5 was just too much to swallow, no matter how much I like JB.

 

[skelooch]

Skelooch - we fly Delta out of BDL every trip in Aug. and have never had a problem with them. We take the first non-stop in the morning and return on the last non-stop at night. We have always been on time, if not early. The times of the flight have only changed by about 15 min. at the most. Just keep checking your itinerary every week or so to make sure they don't change the type of plane for your flights since the computer will then reassign all seats and you might end up where you don't want to be. We will flying on Delta again in Aug. and don't really worry at all. They were much cheaper than all the rest - even much cheaper than last years flights.

Thanks for the input Francie57,
I'm very familiar with Delta out of BDL, I used to fly them or Song out of there all the time. As a matter of fact I just flew them out of BDL in Sept, but only because I had to use up some Skymiles. It is just that I prefer Jetblue, and use White Plains which is much more convenient for me.
Sounds like I have the same flights booked as you, first out in the morning and last one back in the evening. I try and take advantage of every minute I can at WDW

 

[Maxwell]

We too prefer JB but they are consistenly more expensive lately and for a family of 5 it adds up quickly.

 

[Anjelica]

And this is why many of us say that there is no incentive for US based carriers to focus on service. Most people on this forum vote based on the cost of the ticket - even those who profess to hate an airline will fly with them if they are cheaper. Offering good service costs an airline money, leading to higher ticket prices. Clearly, an increase that customers are not willing to pay.

I would say this is partially true in my case. If we are traveling with the kids I generally go for convienence before cost (unless it is EXTREMELY high). For example, while I enjoy SW alot for stateside travel, at the time of booking for our May/June trip to the Northwest with the kids I decided to go with Alaska Airlines because they offered a non-stop direct flight at a time that was very convienent for us while traveling as a family.

If we aren't traveling with the kids I generally tend to lean more towards cheaper flights than not rather than based on convienence.

 

[sam_gordon]

You beat me to it, crashbb. Most people complain with their mouths, but they vote with their pocketbooks.

People will put up with a lot to save hundreds of dollars (to say nothing of a thousand-- $200/pp * 5 travelers). I'm guessing if the cost is within $50pp, most would go for better service. It's all a trade off.

 

[DVC-Don]

Your flight times will change several times between now and July.

 

[Karlzmom]

FWIW, I just had to fly Delta in Nov as it was the only way to get from A to B on my schedule and was dreading the whole experience. Honestly, when it was all said and done I was really pleased with the experience. I found the crew friendly, the inseat entertainment was great [sadly, was only on one of the 3 planes -but what can you do ]. I'm still happier with Jetblue, but with the funky schedule change so you can't go Long Beach to Mco via Austin, only come back that way [what's up with that?], I may consider Delta in the future...

 

[deedeetoo]

People will put up with a lot to save hundreds of dollars (to say nothing of a thousand-- $200/pp * 5 travelers). I'm guessing if the cost is within $50pp, most would go for better service. It's all a trade off.

This is exactly what we are thinking. We decided that we would have been willing to go to $300 pp for JetBlue which is a $60pp premium over what Delta was charging. But good customer service is not worth $200 pp to us. They are just charging too much.

 

[blt2010]

We booked thru travelocity for aug 2011. We also paid ~ 1000 ( 4 tickets + insurance).
However, if delta changes the flight times by more than an hour entire money is refunded by travelocity. Is this true? Anybody has experience.