Originally Posted by
Thomas Hudson
This has become a big issue with Delta lately. Delta used to back you up, but never take you off your flight unless it actually departed. Now, they are doing this "proactive" rebook even for Diamonds. It has happened to me 3 times last 4 weeks and in every case, my original equipment was still at the gate and each time my seat was "gone" and there was " nothing " they could do...
I promise you. I fly Delta damn near every week and have for many years. Something has changed as of late. Also, note that the rebooks have been the next day for me each time and this was done even though I was able to get on a later flight the same evening with plenty of open seats... Due to my own efforts...
Duke...there seems to be a big push to have a PNR "scan ready". That alleviates, for the most part, having a live person have to handle the record at the connection city. Alot of times it's a toss up whether or not to clean up the record while the passenger is enroute. An agent working the connections decides whether or not to cancel the original connection and reissue the eticket. Sometimes, as you've said, the original connection is also delayed causing trouble.
If the computer is doing the rebook...it will first attempt to book the later flights then go to the direct flights the next day. Alot of times a agent will have to look for OA flights/connections. Many, many times later flights "open up" and are bookable due to different factors. Cancelled crew bookings, cancelled inbound flights...etc.