Originally Posted by
Mr. Tickets
This isn't completely correct. "Technically", the change must be 120 minutes or more. A flight number change is not a reason to allow a change. Many people will report that almost any time change allows for a free change. My guess is Delta has been a little lenient on this and the way things are going they will eventually close that loophole.
Schedule Change Guidelines (From Pro Delta)
When an advanced schedule change occurs, to advise the schedule change,
Delta sends an Advice of Schedule Change (ASC) message to the GDS. To qualify for a complimentary change due to a schedule change, the schedule change must meet at least one of the following guidelines:
- A delay of 120 minutes or more
- A change in the routing of a scheduled Delta flight which adds one or more stops to the original itinerary
- A change in equipment from Delta Mainline to Delta Connection carrier
- Any change that causes a misconnect
- If a flight cancels and no comparable or acceptable routing is available within 120 minutes
If the schedule change is not acceptable:- If the Schedule Change reaccommodation is not acceptable you may reaccommodate the customer as follows:
- The new flight may be rebook in the same O&D or alternates within a 100 Mile radius of the original flight
- The new flight may be rebooked in the same Cabin (Cabin to Cabin)
- Rebook the new flight in the same Class of Service if available
- For Main Cabin fares - If the same Class of Service is not available, rebook in the next available class of service, up to Y Class
- All other cabins – The new flight may be rebooked in the same Class of Service if available, or the next available class of service, same cabin
- The new flight may be rebooked two days before or two days after the original flight date (+/- 2 days)
- Reaccommodations must be on a DL-marketed and DL-operated flight or a DL-Connection flight
- If a DL-marketed and DL-operated flight or a DL-Connection flight is not available, contact Global Sales Support or Delta Reservations for assistance
- The ticket must be reissued as an even exchange and the customer must be contacted with the new flight information
I'm aware of what the rules for travel agents you've posted say. I am also aware of what the practice actually is, which diverges from the rule, which is why OP was directed to the other thread, which OP said they couldn't read. Which is why I gave an oversimplification - and called it that - as nothing anyone says seems like it will be helpful to OP. Relitigating in this tbread the millions of permutations and possibilities about what does and doesnt allow a schedule change and how that diverges from what you've copied and pasted here isnt helpful. (Especially the bolded parts about other carriers and global ticketing support, which are likely going to confuse the OP.)
In practice, a flight number change absolutely allows a free change.
If OP has questions about Delta's schedule change policy, OP needs to go to that thread.