Delta Charter Flight Nonsense
Dec 21, 2008, 12:08 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: Delta PM/CRC/AMEX
Posts: 133
Delta Charter Flight Nonsense
i've burned by this now twice in less than a month.
last month from ORD to ATL and today from MSP to ATL our original plane was replaced at the last minute by a delta plane that just arrived after serving as a private charter flight. today, we had the Atlanta Falcons plane after they were dropped off in MSP this afternoon for the game tomorrow. in both instances once we get on board a flight attendant says they are sorry they won't be able to serve food or drinks because the previous flight was a charter and they have nothing they can serve us.
if delta runs charter flights that earn them a bunch of money, they should be able to get it together to stock the plane for the return flight or not put passengers on it. if i paid for a first class ticket, i would certainly ask for a partial refund if this happened.
because of poor weather, the plane sat on the tarmac for several hours before we boarded. at no time did delta warn any of the passengers about this problem. a prior warning would have allowed people to purchase food/drinks before they boarded the plane.
when asked by a passenger why they couldn't stock up on food/drinks in msp, the lead flight attendant said because delta didn't have any operations in MSP this was impossible. they seemed to be unaware that delta recently purchased northwest and msp is a hub for them. i'm sure they could have procured some food and drinks with a little effort.
last month from ORD to ATL and today from MSP to ATL our original plane was replaced at the last minute by a delta plane that just arrived after serving as a private charter flight. today, we had the Atlanta Falcons plane after they were dropped off in MSP this afternoon for the game tomorrow. in both instances once we get on board a flight attendant says they are sorry they won't be able to serve food or drinks because the previous flight was a charter and they have nothing they can serve us.
if delta runs charter flights that earn them a bunch of money, they should be able to get it together to stock the plane for the return flight or not put passengers on it. if i paid for a first class ticket, i would certainly ask for a partial refund if this happened.
because of poor weather, the plane sat on the tarmac for several hours before we boarded. at no time did delta warn any of the passengers about this problem. a prior warning would have allowed people to purchase food/drinks before they boarded the plane.
when asked by a passenger why they couldn't stock up on food/drinks in msp, the lead flight attendant said because delta didn't have any operations in MSP this was impossible. they seemed to be unaware that delta recently purchased northwest and msp is a hub for them. i'm sure they could have procured some food and drinks with a little effort.
Dec 21, 2008, 12:53 am
#2
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: DL AA UA
Posts: 2,359
i've burned by this now twice in less than a month.
last month from ORD to ATL and today from MSP to ATL our original plane was replaced at the last minute by a delta plane that just arrived after serving as a private charter flight. today, we had the Atlanta Falcons plane after they were dropped off in MSP this afternoon for the game tomorrow. in both instances once we get on board a flight attendant says they are sorry they won't be able to serve food or drinks because the previous flight was a charter and they have nothing they can serve us.
if delta runs charter flights that earn them a bunch of money, they should be able to get it together to stock the plane for the return flight or not put passengers on it. if i paid for a first class ticket, i would certainly ask for a partial refund if this happened.
because of poor weather, the plane sat on the tarmac for several hours before we boarded. at no time did delta warn any of the passengers about this problem. a prior warning would have allowed people to purchase food/drinks before they boarded the plane.
when asked by a passenger why they couldn't stock up on food/drinks in msp, the lead flight attendant said because delta didn't have any operations in MSP this was impossible. they seemed to be unaware that delta recently purchased northwest and msp is a hub for them. i'm sure they could have procured some food and drinks with a little effort.
last month from ORD to ATL and today from MSP to ATL our original plane was replaced at the last minute by a delta plane that just arrived after serving as a private charter flight. today, we had the Atlanta Falcons plane after they were dropped off in MSP this afternoon for the game tomorrow. in both instances once we get on board a flight attendant says they are sorry they won't be able to serve food or drinks because the previous flight was a charter and they have nothing they can serve us.
if delta runs charter flights that earn them a bunch of money, they should be able to get it together to stock the plane for the return flight or not put passengers on it. if i paid for a first class ticket, i would certainly ask for a partial refund if this happened.
because of poor weather, the plane sat on the tarmac for several hours before we boarded. at no time did delta warn any of the passengers about this problem. a prior warning would have allowed people to purchase food/drinks before they boarded the plane.
when asked by a passenger why they couldn't stock up on food/drinks in msp, the lead flight attendant said because delta didn't have any operations in MSP this was impossible. they seemed to be unaware that delta recently purchased northwest and msp is a hub for them. i'm sure they could have procured some food and drinks with a little effort.
Dec 21, 2008, 10:13 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: DEN now - ATL and ILM in my heart
Programs: Not enough to count anymore
Posts: 451
Wow, Im glad that I didnt switch my ticket to that flight. I almost had NWA sign my ticket over as the 4pm i was confirmed on didnt leave to 730pm. I was pleasantly suprised to find a hot sandwich served in F on a CR9.
Dec 21, 2008, 10:43 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles, MR, HH, ICH/PC, Avis Pref., Hertz Gold
Posts: 2,897
Technically, DL and NWA are still separate entities operating under different OCs. If DL does not have any catering contracts in MSP, then they can't restock the galleys under NWAs agreement with the caterer.
As a cost saving move (and faster turns), many airlines only cater in their hubs and put on enough provisions for all legs of the trip until the A/C gets to another hub. I saw this first done by AirTran years ago and eventually DL adopted it.
...But yeah, it sucks that they did not alert the pax at the gate about the lack of catering prior to boarding.
As a cost saving move (and faster turns), many airlines only cater in their hubs and put on enough provisions for all legs of the trip until the A/C gets to another hub. I saw this first done by AirTran years ago and eventually DL adopted it.
...But yeah, it sucks that they did not alert the pax at the gate about the lack of catering prior to boarding.
Dec 21, 2008, 11:19 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nashville
Programs: DL DM 3 MM AA PLAT HH Lifetime Diamond Marriott Plat AMB lifetime titanium Hertz PC
Posts: 6,187
[QUOTE=keeton;10943537]Technically, DL and NWA are still separate entities operating under different OCs. If DL does not have any catering contracts in MSP, then they can't restock the galleys under NWAs agreement with the caterer.
As a cost saving move (and faster turns), many airlines only cater in their hubs and put on enough provisions for all legs of the trip until the A/C gets to another hub. I saw this first done by AirTran years ago and eventually DL adopted it.
QUOTE] but that contract with the catering should have been easy to get something added. I understand at non hubs, but would think they did the hubs first.
As a cost saving move (and faster turns), many airlines only cater in their hubs and put on enough provisions for all legs of the trip until the A/C gets to another hub. I saw this first done by AirTran years ago and eventually DL adopted it.
QUOTE] but that contract with the catering should have been easy to get something added. I understand at non hubs, but would think they did the hubs first.
Dec 21, 2008, 12:11 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
I am struck by the statement "in both instances once we get on board a flight attendant says they are sorry they won't be able to serve food or drinks because the previous flight was a charter and they have nothing they can serve us."
Did the FA mean that the charter flight had consumed every last morsel of food or drink?
Or that "charter" provisions were too good for normal customers?
Did the FA mean that the charter flight had consumed every last morsel of food or drink?
Or that "charter" provisions were too good for normal customers?
Dec 21, 2008, 1:02 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: Delta PM/CRC/AMEX
Posts: 133
on the first charter from ORD to ATL to the only food left from the first flight was some lemon cake- they actually did distribute some of this to the passengers.
on the second charter flight (atlanta falcons), they said the football team brought all their own food with them and took anything that remained with them- leaving nothing at all.
on the second charter flight (atlanta falcons), they said the football team brought all their own food with them and took anything that remained with them- leaving nothing at all.
Dec 21, 2008, 1:05 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
Dec 21, 2008, 2:40 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM/2MM, Flying Blue Gold, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 1,934
I kind of understand that they can't get catering from NWA just yet... but why couldn't they just stock the charter with enough provisions for the regular revenue flight back?
Dec 21, 2008, 5:04 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 39
Could be that all of the carts and galley space was used with the food/beverages for the charter. No excuse, I know, but that could be why they didn't provision it for the return.
Dec 21, 2008, 7:17 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: National ES
Posts: 176
Having worked several 757 football charters, there simply is not room in the galleys for all the food for the players and food and drinks for a revenue flight. That being said, if they knew the routing of this aircraft in advance then there is no reason DL could not have contracted catering for a flight with a vendor at MSP.
Unless they weighed the cost of catering vs. dealing with complaints on the back end.
Unless they weighed the cost of catering vs. dealing with complaints on the back end.
Dec 21, 2008, 9:46 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: DL/GM, HH/no mo status, SPG/PLAT
Posts: 183
Having worked several 757 football charters, there simply is not room in the galleys for all the food for the players and food and drinks for a revenue flight. That being said, if they knew the routing of this aircraft in advance then there is no reason DL could not have contracted catering for a flight with a vendor at MSP.
Unless they weighed the cost of catering vs. dealing with complaints on the back end.
Unless they weighed the cost of catering vs. dealing with complaints on the back end.
X = Cost to get catering in MSP
Y = Number of passengers on flight
Z = Total dollar amount per passenger that is awarded after the fact based on lack of catering
Delta will never do this because of the following equation
X > Y*Z
The reason that I can say that is b/c Z=0. Good luck getting anything
It's the same reason why most of the CR9s don't ever have alcohol. Very few people buy drinks on those planes, so why would they want to give them away for free to the people in F. No one complains enough, so it works for Delta to do it.
If they can't get alcohol onto a CR9 in CVG when it has been on the ground for 3 hours, when can they?
Dec 21, 2008, 10:31 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: ATL
Posts: 406
i've burned by this now twice in less than a month.
last month from ORD to ATL and today from MSP to ATL our original plane was replaced at the last minute by a delta plane that just arrived after serving as a private charter flight. today, we had the Atlanta Falcons plane after they were dropped off in MSP this afternoon for the game tomorrow. in both instances once we get on board a flight attendant says they are sorry they won't be able to serve food or drinks because the previous flight was a charter and they have nothing they can serve us.
if delta runs charter flights that earn them a bunch of money, they should be able to get it together to stock the plane for the return flight or not put passengers on it. if i paid for a first class ticket, i would certainly ask for a partial refund if this happened.
because of poor weather, the plane sat on the tarmac for several hours before we boarded. at no time did delta warn any of the passengers about this problem. a prior warning would have allowed people to purchase food/drinks before they boarded the plane.
when asked by a passenger why they couldn't stock up on food/drinks in msp, the lead flight attendant said because delta didn't have any operations in MSP this was impossible. they seemed to be unaware that delta recently purchased northwest and msp is a hub for them. i'm sure they could have procured some food and drinks with a little effort.
last month from ORD to ATL and today from MSP to ATL our original plane was replaced at the last minute by a delta plane that just arrived after serving as a private charter flight. today, we had the Atlanta Falcons plane after they were dropped off in MSP this afternoon for the game tomorrow. in both instances once we get on board a flight attendant says they are sorry they won't be able to serve food or drinks because the previous flight was a charter and they have nothing they can serve us.
if delta runs charter flights that earn them a bunch of money, they should be able to get it together to stock the plane for the return flight or not put passengers on it. if i paid for a first class ticket, i would certainly ask for a partial refund if this happened.
because of poor weather, the plane sat on the tarmac for several hours before we boarded. at no time did delta warn any of the passengers about this problem. a prior warning would have allowed people to purchase food/drinks before they boarded the plane.
when asked by a passenger why they couldn't stock up on food/drinks in msp, the lead flight attendant said because delta didn't have any operations in MSP this was impossible. they seemed to be unaware that delta recently purchased northwest and msp is a hub for them. i'm sure they could have procured some food and drinks with a little effort.
The inbound flight from ATL was canceled, rather than canceling the MSP-ATL flight they decided to use a 767-300. The 767-300 was supposed to be ferried back but why ferry it back when there are displaced customers trying to get out of MSP?
Hopefully, the entertainment worked on the 767. Better than an MD-88 ride.
