WWYD? Schedule change for June

[sam_gordon]

Delta actually notified me they've changed our flight times for a trip in June. That's the good news.

The bad news is they cut our layover time in Atlanta from an hour, 20 minutes to 36 minutes. Now, if it was just me or maybe me and DW, I'd just suck it up and know I need to hustle.

However, we're going to have our three kids (16, 10, 8) with us. I'm not confident we'd make that (the odds are VERY good we'd be switching concourses).

So, I'm going to call Delta and say that time change won't work because we won't make the connection. I have a couple optional flights picked out already. Here's my question for the Dis...

1) Do I call today? I'm sure they're swamped with all the winter storm related travel interruptions and we're not travelling until June.
2) Has anyone had luck with getting Delta to switch arrival airports? We're scheduled to fly into Melbourne, FL, but we can go to MCO (we're cruising from Port Carnaval). I'm going to ask, figuring the worst they can say is "no".

Thoughts?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would wait a day or two. You are right they are swamped today and tomorrow. I have done this before. I actually wanted a different flight time but it was more expensive so I chose the cheaper one.. well low and behold the time changed on my cheaper flight and I called and they asked me what time I would like to fly and they changed it with no issues. Ask about switching airports like you said all they can say is
no.

 

[Gracefulskinny]

If it were me I'd call asap and just have a bit more patience with whom ever you speak with.

Being from Atlanta I can say a few things... We've pretty much recovered from the storm so I wouldn't expect the call center to still be swarmed with calls from the storm last week.

Secondly if you are changing concourses you don't have a prayer to make it in 36 minutes. Especially not with a whole family in tow. I would definitely fight for a change.

 

[sam_gordon]

If it were me I'd call asap and just have a bit more patience with whom ever you speak with.

Being from Atlanta I can say a few things... We've pretty much recovered from the storm so I wouldn't expect the call center to still be swarmed with calls from the storm last week.

Secondly if you are changing concourses you don't have a prayer to make it in 36 minutes. Especially not with a whole family in tow. I would definitely fight for a change.

It's the storm hitting the NE (or just hit) I was referring to.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Your flight is not till June so you can wait two or 3 days. Why waste time sitting on hold for an hour or more.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Why not call and see what the wait time is? If it's too long, try later. Definitely switch times; that connection is too tight traveling with kids. Go ahead and ask about the airport switch; they might do it.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

If it were me I'd call asap and just have a bit more patience with whom ever you speak with.

Being from Atlanta I can say a few things... We've pretty much recovered from the storm so I wouldn't expect the call center to still be swarmed with calls from the storm last week.

Secondly if you are changing concourses you don't have a prayer to make it in 36 minutes. Especially not with a whole family in tow. I would definitely fight for a change.

Obviously you missed the news...
THERE IS A HUGE STORM...midwest, east coast, etc
Lots of snow and ice

OP I'd honestly wait a few days....
Even if call centers aren't swamped at the time you call or if you decide to call and stay on hold for XXX minutes think of the CSR...
They have dealt with rude, nasty, tired people for days and probably wouldn't be to 'friendly' right now.
I'd wait if you want opinions....

 

[seashoreCM]

Wait until at least 3 days after the storm as passed.

Hand pick alternate flights you would like, then telephone and ask to be changed. Don't get into a long story, just quickly say that Delta changed your original flights and the connection time is uncomfortably short.

They should make the change for free, provided it's not sold out. (Don't say the following sentence until after they say the word "legal" ) A "legal" connection time is for the benefit of (usually business) travelers who like to live on the edge but not something that an airline can impose a change fee or fare increase for someone wanting more time.

I would not ask about changing airports unless there were no workable flights from the same airport within a few hours of your original flights.

 

[supersnoop]

36 minutes should be plenty of time to get through Atlanta, unless you really enjoy waiting around in airports. Walking normally, even with a terminal change, you should be able to get gate-to-gate in 15-20 minutes. They build in so much time for planes arriving in Atlanta that you'll probably be there 20 minutes early and show up for your next flight before they even start boarding.

But, if you aren't comfortable with that, they should be willing to change your tickets. If they schedule changed more than two hours, you can probably even get a refund. Personally, I'd check when the next connecting flight departs. If you miss your flight, they should be able to get you on the next one.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I would be uncomfortable with a 36-minute connection in Atlanta (and anywhere else for that matter). Boarding of the second segment will begin 30 minutes before scheduled departure, which would be just 6 minutes after the scheduled arrival of the first segment. Around 15 minutes before departure time, unoccupied seats are released to standby passengers. And, even if you do get on before they close the doors, the overhead bins are likely to be full.

Flight delays are common. It's always possible to miss the second segment of a connecting itinerary if the first segment is delayed. But this is far more likely to happen with a 36-minute connection than with a 90-minute connection. If the connecting time is just 36 minutes, even a modest delay of the first segment can mean missing the second segment.

Yes, it's true that the airlines add a "fudge factor" to their scheduled arrival times. It allows flights to arrive "on time" even if there's was a delay of up to 20 minutes or so due to a delayed departure, weather conditions, or FAA air traffic routing. The "fudge factor" is there because delays are common, and there's no guarantee that the delay won't exceed the length of the "fudge factor."

I agree with the advice to pick a new itinerary on the same airline. The airline reservationist needs to understand you're only asking for this because of the airline's schedule change. All you want is something similar to what you originally booked and paid for. Airlines are usually very good about accommodating passengers under these circumstances.

As far as when to call, do what's convenient for you. Your hold time is likely to be longer if you call during a time of weather cancellations, but the airline is likely to have agents working overtime.