http://www.delta.com/pdfs/contract_of_carriage.pdf

Enjoy. I actually have a printed copy of a couple sections ... just in case I need to prove to an uncooperative Red Coat of DL's responsibilities regarding me getting onto other metal. (No flames, please. I've said many times most DL GA's and Red Coat's are great. Better than great. But I fly a lot and have met Mr. Murphy and his laws more than once.)

Also note that OO (Skywest) operates under a different set of rules for certain sections/paragraphs. Yes, you have to read the fine-print in the fine-print.

The relevant section I saw reads:
3) Delta specifically prohibits the practices commonly known as:
A) Back to Back Ticketing - The issuance, purchase or usage of flight coupons from two or more tickets issued at round trip fares, or the combination of two or more round trip excursion fares end to end on the same ticket for the purpose of circumventing minimum stay requirements.

Now I never said cigarman was doing that last part. But not doing it and proving you're not doing to RPU investigators are two differnet things. Remember that in their eyes you're guilty until proven innocent.

I do the same thing 'cause I have to. DL's website won't often allow me ticket the way I need to fly. And I HAVE been told by SMS on more than one occasion when booking the ticket that creates a nest that I'm technically not supposed to do it. Those folks that look around at my exisitng itineraries are the ones that noticed. Most, thankfully, aren't that inquisitive.

I always have a good reason for doing it, too (And yes, on rare occasion I do it when I can save myself or a cstomer a substantial sum. If DL doesn't like that then they should make the fare system less idiotic.) I just want to avoid the confrontation with the RPU, et. al. because it will be ugly, very ugly, when I show up in Leo's office after RPU ever tries to freeze/reduce my miles, or otherwise penalize me.

As I said I agree with those that say where cigarman was wronged really was when DL promised to do something (note in his record) and did not. I've had a NW supervisor meet me at an arriving flight in DTW and whisk me to the departing flight in one of those carts ... without my even asking. Seems the folks at a connecting point actually CHECK the records of their pasengers. Hint, hint, DL - if they can, you ...

Now about getting compensated. Well, I look at it as taking an aggressive positon on certain rules with the IRS. If I think (ok, my accountant thinks) that a certain interpretaion of the rules is justified, I go with it. But I don't call and ask for a detailed audit either. Being in the right and _proving_ it to a guy whose trying to get a promotion are way too different for me. I like to "stay under the radar". My $0.03 (I put too much wind here for me to charge only $0.02 )

[This message has been edited by theDeltaFlyer (edited 03-20-2002).]