Worried about Delta!

[MistyD]

We are booked on Delta for our December trip. On the news tonight they were talking about Delta filing bankruptcy! Wouldn't they have to arrange for their passengers to fly another airline if they weren't in business? Anyone have any info on this? Thanks!

 

[rsschneck]

We just flew with Delta last week and have our December ressie with them as well.

Our friend works for Delta and we had lunch with him while we had a layover in Atlanta last week.

Delta is restructuring. They are not filing actual bankruptcy. There are different bankruptcy laws. Delta will be around for quite a while I am sure. He said they are looking at doing more overseas flights and employees are looking at pay cuts. Nothing has been set in stone though. Time will tell but I think your December flight is fine.

I just checked mine and 3 of our 6 flights had time changes and we had to get new seat assignments. Double check your reservation.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Delta is still struggling to avoid Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Delta may lose that struggle, but that doesn't mean the airline will shut down.

United is operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which allows court-supervised financial restructuring and protection from creditors. ATA is also facing the possibility of Chapter 11, as losses mount and cash reserves dwindle. American was on the brink of Chapter 11 a year or so ago, but was able to cut costs sufficiently to avoid Chapter 11 -- but they're not out of the woods yet.

US Airways has gone through a recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy, from which it emerged. Now, US Airways may have to file Chapter 11 again. Some analysts have said that it could lead to a shutdown and liquidation of that airline, rather than just financial reorganization.

I really wouldn't worry if I were holding Delta tickets for this December.

 

[Jillpie]

Pumpkinboy always has a great explanation for the Delta bankruptcy situation, where are you bud?

 

[232271]

delta is changing for us all right!!!
next summer they are deleting several non stop flights to MCO
from Dallas!

our nonstop flight just jumped from $210 to $640 and I am in tears, because what are we going to do???


We have a cruise already planned and I may have to cancel.

 

[Patty3]

For years, we always flew Delta from Dulles to MCO until this past summer. Our flights were always non stop, but this year we would have to have a layover in Atlanta. So, this year we flew non stop to MCO using TED. I always enjoyed flying Delta and was not happy that this change was made and our flights were always totally full.

 

[CarolA]

A few weeks ago I posted about what happens if an airline shuts down completly. Basically you have a few options. If your flight is soon the other airlines must allow you to fly on a standby basis and can only charge $25.

If your flight is several months away and you paid by Credit Card, file a claim with them and rebook!


However, DL is a long way from that.

For the poster flying from DFW. Step 1, write your senator and congressperson requesting they repeal the Wright Amendment which keeps SW from flying to Orlando from Love field.

Step 2 just keep watching. There is a lot of time left and a fare sale will probably happen. I would say that if you find a $200 airfare BOOK IT!

 

[Nebsky]

Airtran and American Fly Direct to MCO out of DFW.

Rates for AA are 193.00

Airtran is probably right around the same thing.

Regarding Southwest and Love Field, Southwest should move to DFW and take over the Delta Terminal and they should close down Love Field to commercial airlines.

Not only would the rates drop some in DFW, there would be a greater selection.

 

[rtjcbrown]

While I was also worried about Delta's financial well-being, I also took notice that they are EXPANDING their Song airline division by adding 12 planes and new routes. I have flown Song a couple of times, and I love them. Definitely my new favorite airline. This is good news for those of us who are now Song fans. I have a trip booked for 4/05 with Song, and was glad to hear that they have faith in Song.

 

[Dr. Quack]

I have several tickets on Delta for Nov. and not worried about them. Other airlines have gone into bankruptcy. It is only protection from creditors. It does not mean they are going to stop flying. Delta is a long way from shutting down operations.

 

[232271]

Last night on the news they announced that as of
Feb. 1, 2005, Delta will cancel 92% of it's flights out of DFW
airport!!

Great, now my spring break trip may be in trouble!!

 

[SB in KY]

Delta is closing its DFW HUB and moving those operations to Cincinnati and Salt Lake City. They are not stopping operations out of DFW...just means you would fly to one of the hubs and connect from there. No cause for alarm....worst case is it takes 2 or 3 hours longer to get where you are going....or just fly someone else....there will be someone that picks up a DFW - MCO non-stop...that is one you could put $$$ on.

 

[232271]

easy to you to say but in my case with little one's and flying Delta for non stop reasons, I am going to switch to flying American!! and we have two families on the flight, so that will affect us both.
Plus my inlaws wanted to come and this changes everything as they need to be in the air as little as possible.



I am very dissapointed by this as we picked our flights to have
ample time at Disney and this will signifigantly change this!

If I had a say it, fine! But I dont.
and that makes me upset.

 

[Dr. Quack]

Fortunately for everyone, Delta is not the only airline that flies into/out of Dallas. Since this remains a huge international airport, there are a number of other choices. And there should be plenty of takes for the open Delta slots.

 

[232271]

true, I just have lots of FF miles that will be hard to use
when the flights are so LONG, due to lay overs.

 

[arminnie]

Continental has been through at least one bankruptcy (maybe two) and they seem to be doing better than ever.

I may come out better in this Delta re-org as I just heard they are adding an Orlando flight to Little Rock - previously I had to transfer. Often the cheapest fare entailed flying WEST to Dallas (300+ miles) to connect and then going on to Orlando.

I moved to Arkansas after living in CA for many years and doing a LOT of international and domestic travel primarily on United. United dropped their service here, and then they dropped their agreement with Delta. I'm not sure what I'm going to be able to do with all of those miles.

 

[Chicago526]

I haven't read the thread so I'm sure I'm repeating stuff already posted, but here goes!

Bankruptcy is very differant from an airline going out of business. Bankruptcy means that the airline is protected from having to pay their creditors until they get the company back on track.

Going out of business means they cease operation, meaning they actually stop flying and have a "going out of business sale" on office furniture!

What you are worried about is them actually going out of business. If that happened (and it most likely won't) here is what will probably go down:

The other airlines (United, American, USAirways, etc.) will honor your Delta ticket, at little or no cost, for any of their seats that are still empty. So if United has a half full flight, they'll be happy to take your ticket on Delta and get you down to Florida. But, if United has no seats, then you're out of luck, since of course they won't bump their own passengers to accomadate you. At this point, since Delta is belly-up, they won't help you OR refund your money. You'd have to sue them for it, and you'll be behind jet fuel companies and jet leasing companies to get your money, they get first dibs! Best you can hope for is that your credit card company reverses the charge.

Anyway, you don't have anything to worry about. United has been in bankruptcy for ages, and they're still flying! Don't worry about it and enjoy your trip!

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by Jillpie
Pumpkinboy always has a great explanation for the Delta bankruptcy situation, where are you bud?

Thx for the vote of confidence Jillpie! I think by now tho our colleagues have done a good job explaining things. This move by Delta is a strategic restructuring, not an impending shutdown, the way it might be for USAir. With an election looming, there is no way the aviation board would allow a major legacy carrier to cease operations leaving thousands stranded; it's just not gonna happen.

But this does look like bad news for our friends in the DFW area, tho they continue to have lots of competition serving the area still. And for folks like our friend 232271 who holds both Delta tickets and lots of FF miles, this is gonna be real painful.

This is good news for those of us who enjoy flying Song, as they are increasing their current 36 plane fleet by another 12 planes (for 48, or a 33% increase!). My family hold 3 different Song itineraries at the moment (Nov, Jan & Apr), so I was relieved to see that the Song service was being increased. I love Song, with comfortable seats, individual seat-back in-flight entertainment consoles, direct flights, good in-flight food (for a price) and rational pricing regime.

Even more good news for those in the Cincinnatti/ Northern Kentucky area, as Delta is finally going to stop screwing them. It is apparently rationalizing the fare structures out of CVG, hoping ot recruit more locals to fly out of CVG rather than going to Dayton, Columbus or Louisville... Delta has so many direct flights out of CVG, since it is a primary hub, that they might actually attract some locals for once, rather than relying on transit passengers from elsewhere.

Finally, they promise to rationalize and simplify their SkyMiles program, so maybe we can get a few more direct flights at less than 330 days. That'll mean I have to learn the new system, but I'm willing to try it out, especially since they are adding a whole bunch of new direct flights out of Boston.

So I am just not worried at all about my three itineraries (times four family members, six for our April trip), at a total cost of a couple thousand $$$ and 75,000 Skymiles points. I hope they can finally extract some concessions from their very difficult Pilot's union. And since for once management are taking pay cuts too (about time), they might have some credibility.

but at this point I am just rambling. Short answer, don't worry, unless you are in the Dallas area (and our condolences there).

 

[232271]

well, good news for American Airlines, I just booked my
summer trip with them.

So long Delta-- for now. (I live in DFW area)
I will be back only to use my FF miles, someday.

 

[rsschneck]

Hey, I will take those Delta FF miles off of your hands!