Reading bad things on Delta getting nervous opinions Please

[Lostgirlz]

I have been reading bad things on delta lately. We are using Delta we have our tickets already for our Honeymoon in Feb. We got these on our own as we wanted a very early arrival time. Now I am getting nervous hearing about delays being extreme, and cancelations. I know it happens on any flight, but is this a all the time thing with them? They are the only ones getting into MCO at a early time and I don't usually use them so not sure on it. I am nervous they will cancel, or bump us now. Opinions please?

 

[MariDisney]

I'm nervous too. We have had our flights book for September for about 2 months now. They have cancelled and changed things on us several times already. I love to fly home very late and had an 8:50 ish flight out of MCO. Now,they've cancelled that and the last one is at 6:20 or something. Unfortunately, there's not an earlier connecting flight home, so our layover in Atlanta will be a couple hours longer than we planned. I'm hoping there aren't any more changes in the next couple of weeks. It stresses me out.

Good luck!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Do a search for Delta - there are many threads already about them and you will get all the information you need.

They have been consolidating with Song, which has caused a lot of flight changes. Keep in mind that every airline has flight changes/delays/cancellations.

Delta's delays are no worse than any other airline's. For 2006 (through June), Delta has had flight delays 19.79% of the time.

Other airlines have been similar or worse for the same time period; Southwest 19.35% delayed, American, 22.28% delayed, JetBlue, 24.31% delayed, United, 24.61% delayed:

http://www.transtats.bts.gov/HomeDrillChart_Month.asp?URL_SelectMonth=6&URL_SelectYear=2006

So you can see that your fears about Delta are unfounded. They are far from the worst airline for flight delays, at least so far in 2006.

 

[msr709]

I've used Delta for the past 10 years and they are no better or worse than the other airlines. The one draw back of booking early is that there will be changes. My next trip has been scheduled since last year and it has changed about 4 or 5 times. I just keep calling to make sure I get the seat assignment I want (I have a bad knee and I have to sit in an aisle seat on the left). I usually check online to see what is available and then call. If they changed your flight you have the right to request a different flight if they can accomodate you they will (and they usually do). Just keep checking the website periodically and every time they change it make sure you call and get your seat assignment or a flight that is more convenient. I've never gotten a hard time from them since they did the change to begin with. HTH

 

[MariDisney]

I've used Delta for the past 10 years and they are no better or worse than the other airlines. The one draw back of booking early is that there will be changes. My next trip has been scheduled since last year and it has changed about 4 or 5 times. I just keep calling to make sure I get the seat assignment I want (I have a bad knee and I have to sit in an aisle seat on the left). I usually check online to see what is available and then call. If they changed your flight you have the right to request a different flight if they can accomodate you they will (and they usually do). Just keep checking the website periodically and every time they change it make sure you call and get your seat assignment or a flight that is more convenient. I've never gotten a hard time from them since they did the change to begin with. HTH

I am glad to know you've had positive experiences with them. Personally, I've not had other airlines make the number of changes Delta has, but I guess it's just the luck of the draw. I should say that when I did call they were happy to accomodate me on available flights I wanted. The problem was they completely cancelled the time frame I prefer. I have been checking my seat assignements on line and changing as needed. Maybe I should call when the time is closer and confirm that by phone.

 

[Lostgirlz]

I just checked mine online and they have changed our departure time from home, not by a great amount, and the arrival time for our connecting flight. The arrival time for MCO is still the same, and our seats are still listed as together. Now I am concerned do I let ME know now by calling them about the change in arrival flight numbers? Our arrival flight number has changed since I booked my trip when the Disney CM asked ofr our air info, or do I wait till closer to departure day to call them as it seems it can change again? Sorry I just really don't want a late arrival into MCO which is why we got air on our own, but delta changing so much like I have heard it's a bit stressing.

 

[Harambe]

I think all air lines are trying their best to consolidate and not fly with empty planes.

I NEVER fly any other airline. ONLY Delta. Sort of a superstition thing with me, I guess - should have been a baseball player! LOL! And I've always felt safe and confident that I'll get where I'm going!

 

[BNC]

It drives me nuts knowing that the general public lets airlines get away with changing passengers flights, i.e. "Oh that's just how airlines are making it these days just make sure I get the seat I wanted" "it doesn’t matter that I'm going to get there 12 hours later or have a 5 hour layover” So unless you are getting a substantial deal in this like free flights or flights that are only going to cost you two bucks, it’s not really worth the headache. There are plenty of other airlines out there that don’t give a vacationer that kind of trouble.

Don't get me wrong though all airlines today are struggling to make it, but there are just some common sense things that some airlines just aren't getting. Like you're going to tell me that it's cheaper for an airline to let planes sit around on a the ground making no money what so ever, pissing passengers off for having to waiting for enough passengers to ride on it, rather than to just lower the price to get enough passengers on the flight so that it turns a profit? Sounds to me like they should plan their flights better before announcing them to the public! So I'm sorry but any airline that is changing your flight to fit their schedule isn't an airline I'd want to fly for my vacation! After all my vacation starts the moment I arrive at the airport.

Oh and by the way that report that was given earlier about delays and canceled flights only contains information about flights that were filed with the FAA, which is only done 12-24 hours before a flight is scheduled to take off. SO that doesn't mean every flight that Delta sells is included in the report... You see if the airline hasn't filed a flight plan for your flight and cancels it or changes the departure time, it wouldn't show up in the report! That report can be very misleading, as you can see since you've already experienced one change and probably more to follow!

 

[Lostgirlz]

Yes I am not real pleased with the fact there has been a change even though very slight. I dont go till start of feb so I am afraid of what they will pull from now till then. I seriously am considering calling them and asking them what the chances are of my flight getting bumped, canceled. I know they will probably say they have no way of telling me this, but I don't want to have issues with this especially since we have booked one of the wdw evening parties for our first night which is why I planned the arrival to MCO for early that morning. If this starts looking to be a big problem I may call and fuss about it. I booked early to assure me and him seats on the flight cause the time it arrived was exactly perfect. I assume me paying the high rates should be enough for them to get me to my destination at the time they stated when I booked. I know this can't and wont always be the case due to things that cannot be helped as in weather and such, but to already start changing people it's just disturbing.

 

[CarolA]

Yes I am not real pleased with the fact there has been a change even though very slight. I dont go till start of feb so I am afraid of what they will pull from now till then. I seriously am considering calling them and asking them what the chances are of my flight getting bumped, canceled. I know they will probably say they have no way of telling me this, but I don't want to have issues with this especially since we have booked one of the wdw evening parties for our first night which is why I planned the arrival to MCO for early that morning. If this starts looking to be a big problem I may call and fuss about it. I booked early to assure me and him seats on the flight cause the time it arrived was exactly perfect. I assume me paying the high rates should be enough for them to get me to my destination at the time they stated when I booked. I know this can't and wont always be the case due to things that cannot be helped as in weather and such, but to already start changing people it's just disturbing.

This is a risk you take when you book very early in advance. Don't bother calling those folks on the phone have not a clue.

(What exactly were those "high rates"?)

Anyway, ALL of the major "legacy" airlines do this. You tend to hear more about DL on this board because they fly MORE into MCO then lots of other airlines.

The only airline I can think of that flys pretty much exactly what they sell and schedule is SW. The downside is late release of schedules, but when they release they plan to actually fly it.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

So I'm sorry but any airline that is changing your flight to fit their schedule isn't an airline I'd want to fly for my vacation!

I guess you take other forms of transportation, because ALL airlines do this.

Do you honestly think that an airline is going to arrange their schedule to accomodate you?

There are plenty of other airlines out there that don’t give a vacationer that kind of trouble.

Really? Please let us know of an airline which never changes a flight schedule, or has flight delays or cancellations. You may have some trouble with this one, because such an airline doesn't exist.

Oh and by the way that report that was given earlier about delays and canceled flights only contains information about flights that were filed with the FAA, which is only done 12-24 hours before a flight is scheduled to take off. SO that doesn't mean every flight that Delta sells is included in the report

So? It at least gives you something to measure and still is a good example that Delta is FAR from the worst airline when it comes to flight delays for the time period measured. Every airline I mentioned, except SWA, had more delays in the first 6 months of 2006.

I'm not really a Delta airline fan, just being realistic.

 

[BNC]

This is a risk you take when you book very early in advance. Don't bother calling those folks on the phone have not a clue.

(What exactly were those "high rates"?)

Anyway, ALL of the major "legacy" airlines do this. You tend to hear more about DL on this board because they fly MORE into MCO then lots of other airlines.

The only airline I can think of that flys pretty much exactly what they sell and schedule is SW. The downside is late release of schedules, but when they release they plan to actually fly it.

AMEN! I don't think SW is the only airline but I do believe they fly what they schedule because they don't schedule that far in advance. (considering you can plan for disney up to and beyond a year in advance)

 

[mygyky]

Just flew Delta earlier this month and they delayed my flight out to Atlanta over 4 hours and the return flight was delayed over a 1/2 hour. Good luck.

 

[SnoopyDancer]

I just got back from MCO Monday flying Delta. I left before the new TSA regs went into effect. Flying from Nashville was a pain because they did not have enought people working at the gate to check us in or take our bags. Flying back from Disney was a breeze, even with the new TSA regs, because we were able to get our boarding pass and check our luggage at the hotel. I think our flights were actually operated by Song. Good luck!

 

[CarolA]

I just got back from MCO Monday flying Delta. I left before the new TSA regs went into effect. Flying from Nashville was a pain because they did not have enought people working at the gate to check us in or take our bags. Flying back from Disney was a breeze, even with the new TSA regs, because we were able to get our boarding pass and check our luggage at the hotel. I think our flights were actually operated by Song. Good luck!

(Nashville, home of the incompetent and rude TSA agents... that's where I saw the TSA agent YELLING at a Grandmother becasue she was making his life hard by being in a wheelchair.... And where the guy checking my ID suggested I have my hair cut to match my 10 Year Old DL. I guess I need to get a face lift too... LOL!)

 

[pppiglet]

I had never flown and read lots of bad things about Delta, but I booked with them anyway. I realized more people fly them, so there are bound to be more complaints and also I have heard their customer service is better than most airlines in accomodating and helping you if your flight is changed or delayed. This is just based on reading things on this board and polls I have taken throughout the last year. I will not be extremely dissapointed if they change things on my flights since I know other airlines to this too. I will be prepared though and know what my other options might be for that day.

 

[kstinw19]

We are flying them to MCO in September and I am worried. They have already changed our flight time home...originally scheduled for 2 p.m. and is now at 6 p.m. It doesn't seem like a big deal but the kids have school the next day and I wanted to get home at a decent hour.

I paid more for these tickets than I would have on another airline precisely for their flight times. Now that is a moot point. If they change our outgoing flight, I will be raising quite a stink!!

 

[BNC]

I'm sorry Lost*in*Cyberspace, I didn't mean to offend you.

You are right; all airlines have delays and canceled flights! I do have to say though that what I meant about an airline changing their flight times is rather just that! If an airline publishes a flight then anyone or I should expect for that flight to take place! Not for them to realize a week or two before the flights that they just don’t have enough passengers to pay for the cost of the flight so they change your flight. So you see it's not that I want an airline to arrange their schedule to fit what I want but rather keep the schedule they published. After all I believe when you book a flight they ask you what flights you would like, based on the times given do you make your decision? Or I suppose you could be one of those people who says "hey I want a flight on the 19th” I suppose you might not care when you got to your destination as long as you got there on the 19th! I hope that you can see my point on this, if not that’s ok! We all are entitled to our own opinions.

Anyways I do fly, but this really isn't the right forum to begin a discussion about airlines, how they work and their business models. I should have left well enough alone, we are after all talking about going to the happiest place on earth, and I chimed in with a negative thought (bad me). The OP will after all get to Disney and hopefully forget if there were any bad troubles on her way there! Although if you'd like to talk more about aviation please let me know.
{magical hugs}

 

[Lostgirlz]

Sorry if the post has stirred up any conflicts. I am just concerned never crossed my mind flights would get changed since I have not had this problem before it was new. I have been delayed 30-1 hour before but never extreme or canceled. We paid a bit over 700 pp. We just planned things the first night like one of the parties cause we figured the flight would not be an issue. Honestly guess I should have thought all of the what if's out ahead, but the party was a surprise and we had tickets on the flight long before he booked the party. Sorry again.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Don't worry about it, Lostgirlz. This topic comes up pretty often.

Even back in the 1990s when I flew on a weekly basis for business, the airlines changed their schedules every three months or so. I rarely got hit with a last minute change because my flights would be booked 3 weeks prior.

This is typical. Business travellers will book flights closer to the actual flight time and have fewer changes, but vacationers will book flights months in advance and will be more subject to changes. No airline is going to know in January exactly how business is going to be in October.

Plus, not all flight changes may be for the convenience of the airline. Let's say Delta has a flight from Atlanta to Orlando that's overbooked and a flight from Cincinnati to Dallas that's underbooked. The DFW flight is on a 767 and the MCO flight is on a 757, so a week before Delta changes the equipment since the 767 can hold more people than the 757. The equipment change may lead to flight crew changes and time changes because of gate availability, boarding time, etc. One change that seems simple can have a ripple effect.