Programs: FF account on all airlines, DM. All hotel accounts, Hilton Diamond.
Posts: 140
Did DL Policy change?
So, I am traveling DFW-ERI today (through DTW). I arrive in DTW and told my 8:05pm has been delayed 1 hour. Then I get a call from Diamond desk that I'm delayed even more.... DL had delayed my 8:05pm flight until 5:30AM!!!!! I had never seen that before. Apparently this was due to weather.
The Skyclub agent helping me proceeded to set me up on the first flight out AM. But he refused to comp me a hotel room, saying Delta does not offer hotels for weather cancellations. Politely, I asked "Since when?" Ever since I was a Platinum I had been given hotels on weather cancellations. This has been one of the only reasons I've not switched to United (despite being given status match with UA, I cannot get an answer if they give rooms for weather cancels).
So, 2 questions: Has anyone ever seen an overnight delay (8pm-5:30am) before and did the policy change towards rooms for Plat/Dia on wx?
1) Overnight (and long) delays happen. Weather can cause these sorts or delays, as can mechanical.
2) DL has never covered (nor should they) covered weather related delays. They would go bankrupt. Weather is something they cannot control. If you want a hotel, pull out the personal credit card.
Even as a DM, they don't cover a hotel/food in this circumstance, though, depending on related circumstances, your paid fare class, your overall worth to DL and of course the agent, you may get lucky. But policy or right to entitlement of this, definitely not.
1) Overnight (and long) delays happen. Weather can cause these sorts or delays, as can mechanical.
2) DL has never covered (nor should they) covered weather related delays. They would go bankrupt. Weather is something they cannot control. If you want a hotel, pull out the personal credit card.
Even as a DM, they don't cover a hotel/food in this circumstance, though, depending on related circumstances, your paid fare class, your overall worth to DL and of course the agent, you may get lucky. But policy or right to entitlement of this, definitely not.
false!!!
DL has always covered my accomodation & meals during weather delays, etc. As recent as July & September of this year. Last year i stayed at the Westin ATL like 3times on DL's dime.
OP - its never a good idea to deal with the SC agents for such compensation. The GA or agents at the rebooking desk are best people to discuss such with. Next time walk to your gate and chat with the GA 1on1.
1) Overnight (and long) delays happen. Weather can cause these sorts or delays, as can mechanical.
2) DL has never covered (nor should they) covered weather related delays. They would go bankrupt. Weather is something they cannot control. If you want a hotel, pull out the personal credit card.
Even as a DM, they don't cover a hotel/food in this circumstance, though, depending on related circumstances, your paid fare class, your overall worth to DL and of course the agent, you may get lucky. But policy or right to entitlement of this, definitely not.
Of course DL has covered rooms for weather delays. I've had it happen a couple of times while plat, and with NW before that.
Whenever they have canceled a flight out of ATL and I had to be re-booked in the morning, they always put me up at a hotel for free. They drove us out to it in a hotel shuttle and it was not very close. It used to be they would use some places near the airport that were like crack motels some years ago.
Programs: DL PM, UA 1K, AF PE, BA Gold, HH Gold, MR Gold, some Amex
Posts: 14,940
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeltaFFATL
1) Overnight (and long) delays happen. Weather can cause these sorts or delays, as can mechanical.
2) DL has never covered (nor should they) covered weather related delays. They would go bankrupt. Weather is something they cannot control. If you want a hotel, pull out the personal credit card.
Even as a DM, they don't cover a hotel/food in this circumstance, though, depending on related circumstances, your paid fare class, your overall worth to DL and of course the agent, you may get lucky. But policy or right to entitlement of this, definitely not.
what are you dreaming about? DL Has always covered weather-related overnights for PMs and DMs. There are many unpublished perks and this is one of them.
Programs: FF account on all airlines, DM. All hotel accounts, Hilton Diamond.
Posts: 140
The SC agent made a phone call to his supervisor when I questioned when this policy "changed". Obviously I could only hear one side of the conversation but he was covering his tracks, based off what I heard. He came back to me and said the supervisor "over-rode the system" and gave me the hotel voucher.
DeltaFFATL said the airline never (and shouldn't) cover hotels for weather. I maintain that whether it was Northwest or now Delta, I have always got my room covered on weather from the time I was Platinum to Diamond. This is not a DYKWIA situation.. I am legitimately asking if the policy changed. Now I'm more confused than ever because I thought it was policy to cover rooms for Plat/Dia fliers and others are telling me it's never been policy. Was I just lucky all the other times I've had rooms covered on weather cancellations?
BTW, I've still have never heard of a flight delayed from 8pm to 5:30AM. I've seen 8am flights delayed to 5:30PM but never overnight where people will have to camp in airport.
Programs: DL PM, UA 1K, AF PE, BA Gold, HH Gold, MR Gold, some Amex
Posts: 14,940
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hillhouse
The SC agent made a phone call to his supervisor when I questioned when this policy "changed". Obviously I could only hear one side of the conversation but he was covering his tracks, based off what I heard. He came back to me and said the supervisor "over-rode the system" and gave me the hotel voucher.
DeltaFFATL said the airline never (and shouldn't) cover hotels for weather. I maintain that whether it was Northwest or now Delta, I have always got my room covered on weather from the time I was Platinum to Diamond. This is not a DYKWIA situation.. I am legitimately asking if the policy changed. Now I'm more confused than ever because I thought it was policy to cover rooms for Plat/Dia fliers and others are telling me it's never been policy. Was I just lucky all the other times I've had rooms covered on weather cancellations?
BTW, I've still have never heard of a flight delayed from 8pm to 5:30AM. I've seen 8am flights delayed to 5:30PM but never overnight where people will have to camp in airport.
the 8 p.m. to morning happens if they need the A/C at the other airport. It's not a published benefit, but you usually get the hotel voucher; with NW I have seen them hand it out to golds as well. Sometimes the airport kiosk prints you the voucher, sometimes you have to ask, but almost always will you get the voucher for the hotel. Honestly, this costs the airline $30-40 and it makes the customer very happy. Chances are you remember this for a long time and will stay loyal to Delta. I certainly remember when Delta took good care of me and contrast this to other airlines.
2) DL has never covered (nor should they) covered weather related delays.
I have had a dozen or so hotel stays in recent years that were paid for by DL because of weather-related delays. The majority at DTW. This was standard for me as a NW Gold or Plat and also as a DL Plat at DTW.
__________________
Like TSA, DL SkyMiles management treats airline customers as if they are the enemy or sheep to be fleeced and it shows.
Programs: DL KM, HH Diamond, IC RA, Hyatt Diamond, NA EE
Posts: 13,892
Wx based delays are NOT supposed to be comped by airline under ANY circumstance, but NW/DL commonly has done this for top elites (PE/PM PMNW/PMDL, and PM/DM under current DL). Does not mean they owe it to you.
Programs: DL PM Kryptonium Ham Sandwich GAMER, CO Plat, UA 1P, US, PC Plat, SPG Gold, HH Silver, Nat'l Exec
Posts: 7,746
Quote:
Originally Posted by mnredfox
Wx based delays are NOT supposed to be comped by airline under ANY circumstance, but NW/DL commonly has done this for top elites (PE/PM PMNW/PMDL, and PM/DM under current DL). Does not mean they owe it to you.
+1... if you get it, consider it a favor.
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. <--- Grain of salt. Take with post as necessary.
I know its not policy, but I also look at it as an unpublished benefit for high elites and certainly appreciate it. As PM (before DM existed) and DM, they've always put me up at a hotel if I am stuck due to WX. My (un)lucky weather related overnights have occurred at MSP and ATL.
Could just be that most agents will extend the courtesy, but you got one that either didn't know or didn't want to make an exception.
I have had a dozen or so hotel stays in recent years that were paid for by DL because of weather-related delays. The majority at DTW. 
This was standard for me as a NW Gold or Plat and also as a DL Plat at DTW.
