Worried about Delta

[Stitches12]

Hi all -

We're scheduled to leave for Disney on October 23rd. We're flying Delta airlines and with all the press lately about airlines filing for bankruptcy (and Delta is one of them) I'm worried.

We're scheduled to fly out of Syracuse, NY (which is cause for worry anyway because it's not exactly a hot hub for airlines). The flight down to Atlanta seems very full so I think that's probably not a problem, however, from Atlanta to Orlando were booked on flight 1736. I'm noticing it's not quite half full as of right now and it's a big plane.

My question is does anyone have any experience with Delta cancelling flights at the last minute because they're not full enough to fly ?? Does this happen ?? The last thing I want to do is arrive down there at midnight because of cancelled flights. Not that there's that much I can do about it, maybe I should just take a chill pill !!

Please relieve my anxiety

 

[bicker]

Major airlines generally don't cancel individual flights due to the fact they're not full. If the flight is consistent empty, though, they may cancel the flight (permanently), and you could be a casualty of that. However, all the major airlines will work with you to schedule you on another available flight, as close to the original flight's time as possible, subject to availability. Also, remember, even though your flight may not be full, that aircraft has to go somewhere after you get off, and that flight might be full, so they'll still need to get the aircraft to that airport -- they might as well take you along.

 

[CarolA]

Keep in mind that even if your flight is empty. The plane is needed in Orlando where the return trip may be fully booked. On scheduled carriers those planes need to get to the next stop or the whole schedule can start coming apart. That's why when it snows in Boston, I can be delayed on a flight from Atlanta.. My plane is stuck.

 

[Stitches12]

Thanks guys - I didn't think of that and you're making me feel a WHOLE lot better....

I'm dancin again

 

[joanb]

we're flying Delta 10/21 and 10/24 and I'm not worrried. Hummmm..maybe they would cancel that flight out of Orlando and we would have to stay a day longer...

 

[kda]

We're flying Delta Song, also, and I'm not going to worry about it.

It's always a good idea to check your flight very frequently --- that way you'll find out ASAP if there's any schedule change or it's cancelled (PS -- sometimes a flight disappears from the list because it's booked full and not available for ticketing).

 

[mrscoobs]

Keep in mind as well, even though they are filing bankruptcy doesn't mean they are suspending service anytime soon. United has been in Bankruptcy for years, but they are still are operating. The only thing that may happen with your flights is sometimes delta will change the departure or arrival time for flights going in and out of Atlanta (only by a few minutes). By traveling to Delta's major hub I think that you should have no worries. Have a wonderful vacation!

 

[NCRedding]

I am flying Delta in January. Just be sure to keep checking your flights, as my flight to MCO was cancelled. I emailed them, and they have rebooked me on an earlier flight to MCO.

 

[disneyxo]

We are flying Delta at the end of this month, its my husband's job to check the flights daily to make sure nothing has changed!

 

[ccw]

My flight on Nov 6 from Orlando back to Raleigh was full as of a couple of weeks ago. Last week, Delta canceled it and re-booked everyone on smaller planes at different times. My re-booked time was earlier so I called them to shift to a later time. Had no problem and the rep could not have been nicer about it. So, the flights that were NOT full were left alone, and the flight that WAS full got canceled. Go figure. Must be to conserve fuel?

 

[Letsbgoofy]

We flew out of SYR at the end of August. Our connecting flight in ATL was also very empty. It was a huge plane, I'm surprised they didn't change to a smaller plane. Don't worry, they won't cancel your flight.

 

[Lori-n-NY]

I have two trips booked on Delta out of SYR and I'm not worried. One is Nov 30-Dec 4 and they have changed the times a bit but I called and got things worked out no problems. The other flight is over spring break next April and if for some reason they cancel this I will be very upset. I booked it when the price was right and now every airlines prices are reflecting that its spring break week going into Easter. The rates are more then double for my flight I have booked. I'm about 5 minuted from the airport and would love it if Southwest would come here. Or even if Jetblue would lower their fares a little. Its so sad that we can drive 90-120 miles either way on the thruway and find better prices. Its not like SYR is so tiny, even the newspaper last week or so was saying how much air travel is up in the area. They are biulding a new parking garage.
Back to the original concern....I don't think you'll have any problems.

Lori

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Lori,

Even sadder (to me anyway) is that you can drive 60 minutes south and pay twice as much for a ticket as you do in Syracuse. (BGM) We used to be able to fly to Orlando for around $200, now the rates start at $392. I hate having to drive to Syracuse when we live 10 minutes from our airport.