Skipping connecting flight Q

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, we understand Delta says you must make all your connections.

But have you looked at Delta's flights to see if there's something that works better for you - whether it's timing, airports, something else, or some combination - and called Delta to be changed to your preferred Itinerary because their change is so dramatic?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Delta says I must make all my connections. Thanks everybody for your input! Looks like I'll be taking the family on a wild goose chase in the air on our way to WDW.

If you asked Delta the same question that you asked at the top of this thread -- whether you can just skip the first leg and get on the later flight at LAX -- then I'm not surprised that you received the same answer: If you keep your current itinerary, you must make all connections on that itinerary. You can NOT skip the first segment and begin your trip with the second segment.

You have three choices:

1. You can keep the modified itinerary -- which is NOT what you originally booked (through Expedia) -- if you've now determined that this itinerary works for you after all.
2. You can ask Delta to change your itinerary to an itinerary that meets your needs better. This means Delta would reissue your ticket. The schedule change was due to Delta, not due to anything you did, so there will be no change fee or fare difference. A supervisor can drop the SAN-LAX segment, per your wishes, if you politely explain that you bought a nonstop, you still want to be on a nonstop, and you are simply requesting to have your ticket reissued with the first segment eliminated. You may have to escalate up a chain of supervisors. It's a reasonable, if somewhat unusual, request.
3. You can request a full refund from Delta. The flight you originally booked was probably nonrefundable. But due to the major schedule change, Delta will refund what you paid in full (you may have to involve Expedia). You are then free to purchase replacement tickets on any airline. Of course, you only want to do this if the new price will not be significantly higher.

 

[JAG107]

If you asked Delta the same question that you asked at the top of this thread -- whether you can just skip the first leg and get on the later flight at LAX -- then I'm not surprised that you received the same answer: If you keep your current itinerary, you must make all connections on that itinerary. You can NOT skip the first segment and begin your trip with the second segment.

You have three choices:

1. You can keep the modified itinerary -- which is NOT what you originally booked (through Expedia) -- if you've now determined that this itinerary works for you after all.
2. You can ask Delta to change your itinerary to an itinerary that meets your needs better. This means Delta would reissue your ticket. The schedule change was due to Delta, not due to anything you did, so there will be no change fee or fare difference. A supervisor can drop the SAN-LAX segment, per your wishes, if you politely explain that you bought a nonstop, you still want to be on a nonstop, and you are simply requesting to have your ticket reissued with the first segment eliminated. You may have to escalate up a chain of supervisors. It's a reasonable, if somewhat unusual, request.
3. You can request a full refund from Delta. The flight you originally booked was probably nonrefundable. But due to the major schedule change, Delta will refund what you paid in full (you may have to involve Expedia). You are then free to purchase replacement tickets on any airline. Of course, you only want to do this if the new price will not be significantly higher.

I guess I will try calling Delta again. Cancelling the flight and re-booking would cost me at least $200 as fares have gone up a bit, as well as the non-stop flights are gone. Thanks for the tips!

 

[sam_gordon]

[*]You can ask Delta to change your itinerary to an itinerary that meets your needs better. This means Delta would reissue your ticket. The schedule change was due to Delta, not due to anything you did, so there will be no change fee or fare difference. A supervisor can drop the SAN-LAX segment, per your wishes, if you politely explain that you bought a nonstop, you still want to be on a nonstop, and you are simply requesting to have your ticket reissued with the first segment eliminated. You may have to escalate up a chain of supervisors. It's a reasonable, if somewhat unusual, request.
[*]You can request a full refund from Delta. The flight you originally booked was probably nonrefundable. But due to the major schedule change, Delta will refund what you paid in full (you may have to involve Expedia). You are then free to purchase replacement tickets on any airline. Of course, you only want to do this if the new price will not be significantly higher.
[/LIST]

I know Delta will change you to another flight of your choosing at no charge if they make a significant time change (either departing or arriving)... over an hour. I would also think they'd be willing to change since they added a connection. BUT, I don't know if they'll change the itinerary (leaving from LAX instead of SAN). I'm guessing you'll need to keep the same airports you have on your tickets. BUT, it is worth a call, and even trying to elevate to a supervisor. I just don't know that it's a "slam dunk".

 

[Greysword]

I guess I will try calling Delta again. Cancelling the flight and re-booking would cost me at least $200 as fares have gone up a bit, as well as the non-stop flights are gone. Thanks for the tips!

If you are a JAG, then you'll know how to use the actual legal text in the Contract of Carriage found here.

On page 40, the CoC discusses your rights and Delta's liabilities in the event of a change greater than 90 minutes (in which your case qualifies). The provisions state:

Rule 240: B. Delta’s Liability in the Event of Schedule Changes, Delays and Flight Cancellations

In the event of flight cancellation, diversion, delays of greater than 90 minutes, or delays that will cause a passenger to miss connections, Delta will (at passenger’s request) cancel the remaining ticket and refund the unused portion of the ticket and unused ancillary fees in the original form of payment in accordance with Rule 260 of these conditions of carriage. If the passenger does not request a refund and cancellation of the ticket, Delta will transport the passenger to the destination on Delta’s next flight on which seats are available in the class of service originally purchased. At Delta’s sole discretion and if acceptable to the passenger, Delta may arrange for the passenger to travel on another carrier or via ground transportation. If acceptable to the passenger, Delta will provide transportation in a lower class of service, in which case the passenger may be entitled to a partial refund. If space on the next available flight is available only in a higher class of service than purchased, Delta will transport the passenger on the flight, although Delta reserves the right to upgrade other passengers on the flight according to its upgrade priority policy to make space in the class of service originally purchased. [/B]

Go into the discussion armed with the rules, so you don't take the CSR's word for it.

As for catching the plane at LAX, if you drive there from San Diego, how were you going to get home if the return is direct to SAN? In addition, how long were you going to leave the other car at LAX acquiring parking fees?

I recommend researching available flights, regardless of price, before you call. Use the ITAMatrix or Hipmunk to view available options. Find an acceptable alternate itinerary for both Delta (DL) and Alaska (AS).

Then armed with your specific choice and the rules, call delta customer service, inform them your outbound flight has changed greater than 90 minutes, and you'd like to change your itinerary. they will understand this and respond accordingly (likely by asking the flights you want). Give them the flight numbers, dates, and times of the desired flight for the outbound and return. If you want to drive to LA, then you'll likely want to return there to get your vehicle.

Also go on Virgin America's site and Southwest airlines' site to see if they have acceptable options in the price point, in case you desire a refund.

Good luck, and feel free to ask as many questions (in as much detail as possible) as you need to understand before you call. You have our attention, and we are willing and able to help, since many that have responded are frequent travelers or studied airline travel. Oh, and let us know your decision and final outcome.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

BUT, I don't know if they'll change the itinerary (leaving from LAX instead of SAN). I'm guessing you'll need to keep the same airports you have on your tickets. BUT, it is worth a call, and even trying to elevate to a supervisor. I just don't know that it's a "slam dunk".

In a way, Delta has already changed the itinerary to an LAX departure -- except that it's the second leg of two legs (originally a nonstop from SAN).

I agree that it's not a "slam dunk," which is why I wrote, "It's a reasonable, if somewhat unusual, request." The key is that it's a reasonable request. It serves the OP better than the itinerary that Delta switched the OP to. And it uses a flight that the OP is already booked on. In fact, it allows Delta to sell the SAN-LAX leg to someone else.

In post #26, Greysword provided a lot of excellent advice.

I assume the OP lives in Southern Orange County or somewhere else between SAN and LAX. Considering that it's acceptable to the OP to depart from LAX or SAN, I assume the OP intends to get a ride to the airport from a friend or to use a transportation service such as Super Shuttle. Under these circumstances, it makes no sense to depart from SAN just to fly to LAX and to wait there for a connection (with the risk of missing the connection, which is always a risk with a connection).

My guess is that a supervisor with good common sense will agree -- but only after someone else at Delta says "no."

 

[JAG107]

Greysword: thanks for that helpful legal info! I am quite far from being a real "JAG", lol. But that will give me some ammo. Also, we will have a family member drop us off/ pick up upon return, so we're not worried about the car being left in long term parking. We live about 80 miles ESE of lax, and 70 miles North of san.

Horace you are absolutely right, delta could sell 3 one way fares in place of our seats, and at the very least have a slightly lighter load and one less baggage transfer to deal with.

 

[JAG107]

I just got off the phone with Expedia after Delta making the THIRD change to our itinerary. I asked them about what I could do to skip the SAN-LAX leg altogether. They volunteered to call Delta and find out, and lo and behold, they took off that leg free of charge! So I got exactly what I wanted--no wasting 3 hours on a pointless puddle jumper flight pre-red eye, and Delta gets to resell those 3 seats to someone else. 2 thumbs up to Expedia for their excellent customer service!