18 replies to this topic

[Rinzler]

Here is the situation:
I work night shift in Dallas Texas. I get off of work at 6:30am (I'm about a 40 minute drive to DFW airport)

I got my vacation approved by my boss for Dec 4th - Dec 16th

I have some money in my pocket and although my vacation isn't for about another 4 months, I get nervous about airfare prices and I bought my ticket with Delta. Delta advertised the price as $956, but after taxes and fees are included, the price jumped up to a little more than $1500.
That is still an OK price, so I entered my credit card info and bought the ticket.

Since I bought my ticket, I have repeatedly checked the website to see if the price for that flight has gone up or down. The price has stayed up since I bought my ticket... until today.

I just checked the price of my flight.... and it isn't listed anymore.

Delta has rescheduled their flights. The flight that I booked and paid changed. They rescheduled flights to leave later so that I would only have about 20 minutes to make a connecting flight.

The website says I may be able to change my flight for no extra money, but this is a real hassle. I really only had two convenient flights to choose from. The one that just got rescheduled or a flight with Korean Air.

I hope I can resolve this soon. I wouldn't want to be stuck somewhere because Delta couldn't properly schedule flights.

[Bax]

Rinzler, that sucks!

I've heard too many horror stories with Delta airlines.. I always stay clear!


curious.. does United Air fly out of Dallas..? I always use them and have never had a problem.


Anyway, Good luck with your dilemma.. I hope it goes your way.

I'll let the girls know you might be running a little late..


bax

[Rinzler]

Yeah, just about everyone flies out of DFW, but Delta and Korean are the only ones that fly right after I get off of work and arrive in Thailand late night. Any other carrier will have huge layovers and won't arrive in BKK until the next day. This is a problem because I already paid for my hotel too (no refunds) and I paid for that first night. If I don't get there until the next day, thats a huge waste.

And here I thought I was so clever for booking my flight so early.

[Rinzler]

I guess I got nervous, so I called Delta.
They were very courteous and understanding.
They said they do this sort of thing all of the time and it's nothing to get worried about.
They said they will probably change it back to its original schedule, but if not, Delta will do everything in its power to make me satisfied.
I guess Delta and Korean are partners, so if worse comes to worse, Delta can get me on the convenient Korean flight for no extra charge.

Basically, I was told to wait until about 30 before the flight. If I am still concerned, call Delta back and they will make the arrangements.

[Tony Soprano]

Rinzler, on 13 August 2011 - 11:47 PM, said:

Delta has rescheduled their flights. The flight that I booked and paid changed. They rescheduled flights to leave later so that I would only have about 20 minutes to make a connecting flight.

Korean Airlines wasn't cheaper than that? Delta reschedules flights all the time. I use them domestically, but would never use them to go all the way to BKK. And since they bought out Northwest they've gotten worse. Everytime fly with them there's delays, they never take off close to when they're supposed to, there's little legroom and they always have excuses. I have a flight to Boston from Atlanta with them before I go to LOS. I got the flight back in March and they've rescheduled 3 times already. Not bug time changes but changes. And the last one they tried to give me middle seats. I went right to the website and changed them. I used to like Delta at one time.

[Rinzler]

TSteve C, on 14 August 2011 - 01:28 AM, said:

Korean Airlines wasn't cheaper than that?

No. Korean wants more than $200 more than Delta.
As I mentioned, Delta and Korean are really my best options. I've never flown Korean before, so I just went with a trusted name.
If the Delta flight wont work out, they will book me on the Korean flight. And that might be a good thing. Korean arrives in BKK at 9:30 rather than Deltas 11:30 arrival.

[Tony Soprano]

Rinzler, on 14 August 2011 - 01:33 AM, said:

No. Korean wants more than $200 more than Delta.
As I mentioned, Delta and Korean are really my best options. I've never flown Korean before, so I just went with a trusted name.
If the Delta flight wont work out, they will book me on the Korean flight. And that might be a good thing. Korean arrives in BKK at 9:30 rather than Deltas 11:30 arrival.

Korean is always the cheapest from Atlanta. Their code share partners so they should be able to do it.

[eldiablo]

I wish i read this a few days ago b4 i booked on Delta early Sept>>>>DOE! They offer some sort of seat upgrade for a price per leg. Let u know how it works out i guess. Although time is of relative unimportance to me, who the hell wants 2 sit any longer than 22 hours i already have to?

[Rinzler]

eldiablo, on 14 August 2011 - 02:38 AM, said:

I wish i read this a few days ago b4 i booked on Delta early Sept>>>>DOE! They offer some sort of seat upgrade for a price per leg. Let u know how it works out i guess. Although time is of relative unimportance to me, who the hell wants 2 sit any longer than 22 hours i already have to?

Yeah, Delta offers that on my flight too. From MSP to NRT $120. From NRT to BKK $80 and the same on the return flights. I don't think a few extra inches of leg room is worth another $400. I'll put up with the discomfort and save that money for something more important... like beer.

[icebergjr.]

I've said it before and so has Tsteve KoreanAir is the best I've ever flown so I'm crossing my fingers for you that they book you with KA as I know you'll enjoy it better,and the "eye candy"(read young,hot,asian flight attendants)is so much worth it and also the earlier arrival time gives you more time to play in NEP or Patts .

Good luck Rinzler and here's hoping you get upgraded to KA,

Iceberg

BTW-This reminds me I'll be happily flying on KA on Sept. 23 Roll on September!

[MrMercury]

Rinzler, on 14 August 2011 - 02:42 AM, said:

I'll put up with the discomfort and save that money for something more important... like beer.

Surely you mean Ladyboys????

MM.

[Rinzler]

MrMercury, on 14 August 2011 - 10:28 AM, said:

Surely you mean Ladyboys????

MM.

Don't call me Shirley!

[MrMercury]

Rinzler, on 14 August 2011 - 05:39 PM, said:

Don't call me Shirley!

MM.

[Rinzler]

Here it is a week later.

Delta has lowered some fares, but the original flight that I booked is not available due to the rescheduled short layover times.

I keep checking Deltas website everyday. They still have not rescheduled my flight times. There is one flight out 2 hours earlier, but I cannot make that flight because I will still be at work. I booked my flight as close to quitting time as possible so I can fly out immediately after work and sleep the whole way there.

All other Delta flights to BKK have a layover time of, at least, 13 hours.
If Delta does not reschedule the flight times of my already booked flight, I sincerely hope they will put me on another carrier to get me to BKK as soon as possible.

If they put me on a flight with a 13 hour layover and a trip duration of 36 hours, be assured that Delta would lose me as a customer... forever.

[Rinzler]

Now I'm getting a little concerned.

I was so excited about purchasing my ticket that I did it way too early.

After my ticket has been purchased, Delta rescheduled my flights so that my layovers are way too short. (23 min).

I called Delta and I was told to wait until November. Reason being is that Delta may change the flight back and I am only allowed a single change without any extra payment.
Delta has one flight from DFW to BKK that does not have such a short layover, but I cannot catch that flight because I will still be at work. All other Delta flights from DFW to BKK include huge layovers that make the flight duration between 36 and 40 hours. I don't want to sit in an airport for 16 hours waiting on my next flight.
While I was on the phone with Delta, the friendly person said "Please don't worry, we'll get you there."

I just checked the Delta website again. I see they offer a "chat". I thought I would just ask if I can be re-booked on another carrier.
The friendly person I chatted with said "Please don't worry, we'll get you there."
I'm not worried about getting there. I'm worried about getting there 16 hours after I SHOULD get there.

After a few exchanges, the chat offered me no hope nor any new info. He couldn't tell me anything.

All I can do is wait.

[luv u long time]

Im sure if you were to write a letter to someone to explain your predicament to arrive in time for an important function in Bangkok, that these times will mean you miss it. It won't get you there any quicker but they may be offering some sort of upgrade / free domestic flight to say sorry ??? I wouldn't lay it on too thick though as they could just offer you a refund !

[Rinzler]

An update on my Delta flight.

They rescheduled so now I can make my connections. Thank you Delta.
I didn't have to change any flights either and I still arrive when I was supposed to.
I now have a 1 hour layover in Minneapolis
and a 45 minute layover in Tokyo.

That Tokya stop will be a little tight. Get off the plane, go through NRT security. *take a dump* and board the next flight within 45 minutes.

Ok, I'll admit this. I have difficulty using the shitter on an airplane. Something about it that just don't seem right. Everytime I am in NRT, it is a perfect time to relieve myself. Now I gotta pinch one out in a hurry. ha ha

* Edit - I just checked with expedia. If I choose the same flight and hotel that I have already booked and paid for, Expedia wants almost $7000 USD. I have no idea why its so expensive. I guess I'm glad I bought early (despite the scheduling problem)
I didn't even pay a third of that.

Just a side note, last month I zipped up to Chicago to visit some friends. I am trying to build up my miles, so I flew with Delta again. This trip, my knees never touched the seat in front of me. I assume Delta must have stretched out their seats. I hope they did the same with the international flights.
Maybe Delta is seriously trying to become a better airline. As of now, I am very happy with them.

Edited by Rinzler, 10 October 2011 - 07:12 AM.

[robw]

It's good that it worked out in the end,but it's still a fuck up IMO.

[deepthroat]

Rinzler, on 10 October 2011 - 06:54 AM, said:

Maybe Delta is seriously trying to become a better airline.

Doubtful, although I'm hoping you're right (for your sake).

Have you ever read any of the posts I've made about the topic of using a Frequent Flyer credit card for ALL your purchases all year long and then using the miles (and purchasing whatever extra is needed) to fly business class to LOS using one of their asian partner airlines, like Cathay Pacific? I've done this three years in a row, and the most I've paid in cash was something like $1,500 for first class seats in domestic and business class seats on Cathay to and from Bangkok back to Seattle or Spokane. The trick is to use your credit card like a debit and write EVERY transaction down in your check register, deducting the payment immediately and NEVER spending money you cannot afford. This ensures you never have to carry a credit balance as you are paying your account in full every month, and earning miles for every dollar spent. If you cannot find the discipline to pay off the balance in full every month this strategy is stupid, as the interest on the account would make the cost of the miles ridiculously high and negate any benefit this strategy would offer.

My first post in my thread about my 2nd trip talks about this strategy at length, including the math and costs of purchasing extra miles to get the Business Class R/T seats to Asian destinations. Some of the plans offer extra miles at a discount, which makes purchasing the flight using FF miles very affordable, especially for business class seats that usually cost $4-5,000 or more. Here's a link:

http://www.ladyboysp...rt-janfeb-2010/