No courtesy compensation?
Jul 6, 2019, 12:34 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: AC, BA, DL, AA, JL
Posts: 436
No courtesy compensation?
At the gate in Canada before staring a recent trip, I was called by name to the podium. Upon arrival at the gate, Alaska inquired if I'd like to go directly to MSP on Delta as opposed to Y__-SEA-MSP. Presuming that they needed the seat because they were oversold, I said that I might be interested and inquired whether there would be any additional consideration/compensation. I was told that there would be no additional consideration/compensation. It seemed like an odd answer to me, but I agreed to the change and took the direct flight, which saw me get into MSP roughly five hours ahead of my originally scheduled arrival.
Presuming that this was some kind of mistake by the airport staff in Canada, I called Alaska customer service directly, and they, in turn, called the Alaska manager at the Canadian departure airport. The Canada-based manager said as I arrived earlier than would otherwise have been the case, there would be no goodwill compensation of any sort. This, despite me almost certainly having helped out AS with an oversold situation. And I couldn't claim SkyMiles mileage/flight credit on the Delta leg despite it booking into what appeared to be a Z fare bucket. All in all, the whole thing was odd.
I helped out Delta similarly last October, and Delta gave me a $1000 pre-paid credit card as thanks. Helping out Alaska wins you a smile and nothing else if you get in earlier. Is that it? Raw deal if you ask me.
Presuming that this was some kind of mistake by the airport staff in Canada, I called Alaska customer service directly, and they, in turn, called the Alaska manager at the Canadian departure airport. The Canada-based manager said as I arrived earlier than would otherwise have been the case, there would be no goodwill compensation of any sort. This, despite me almost certainly having helped out AS with an oversold situation. And I couldn't claim SkyMiles mileage/flight credit on the Delta leg despite it booking into what appeared to be a Z fare bucket. All in all, the whole thing was odd.
I helped out Delta similarly last October, and Delta gave me a $1000 pre-paid credit card as thanks. Helping out Alaska wins you a smile and nothing else if you get in earlier. Is that it? Raw deal if you ask me.
Jul 6, 2019, 12:59 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,073
Compensation for arriving earlier? Nope.
Jul 6, 2019, 1:08 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAS, ZQN
Programs: UA PP (2MM), BA gold
Posts: 2,195
Ask AS for ORC? Apply the DL flight to DL Sky Pesos.
Jul 6, 2019, 1:10 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SFO, mostly
Posts: 2,203
Most passengers would prefer a nonstop that gets them there 5 hours earlier, so I think asking for monetary compensation on top of that is a bit rich. But I do think original routing credit is in order.
Last edited by sltlyamusd; Jul 6, 2019 at 1:18 pm
Jul 6, 2019, 1:25 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold, AS MVPG100K, OW Emerald, HH Lifetime Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,488
Agreed. As a retired leisure traveler with time on my hands, I would have asked about the points for the original routing before accepting the offer. Any compensation would be a bonus, but it would hurt to fly SEA-MSP and earn no points.
Jul 6, 2019, 1:29 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SAN
Programs: AS MVPG100K, UA Gold, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, National Exec
Posts: 320
You were given an opportunity to avoid a connection and arrive at your destination five hours early... and you asked for compensation?
I would just ask for original routing credit, as someone has already suggested, and be done with it. Would be greedy to expect anything else, imo.
I would just ask for original routing credit, as someone has already suggested, and be done with it. Would be greedy to expect anything else, imo.
Jul 6, 2019, 1:31 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Portland, Or USA
Posts: 1,800
I don't know of many people who base their choice of airline on the compensation they may get for what amounts to a VDB, particularly with a great reaccommodation. . If you were unhappy with their compensation why did you accept the offer?
Jul 6, 2019, 1:51 pm
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,991
For most people, especially business travelers, getting in 5 hours earlier than expected is a pretty nice gift. It's cool that DL likes throwing out travel certs as well, but I dare say that the vast majority of us would be happy with the 5 hours saved alone.
Jul 6, 2019, 2:05 pm
#11
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: SFO
Posts: 487
You accepted the reroute with no compensation, and now you want it? Lol
Jul 6, 2019, 2:07 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,123
Compensation for getring what 99% of travelers would consider a far better product than what you purchased???? I am sure you will be granted the miles for the for your purchased itenary if you clearly ask for that instead of compensation.
I will wager that the compensation DL paid was for a different scenario. Did they announce the need for volunteers? Or did you respond to a name your price offer at check in? In those cases of course you would get compensation, and you would on AS too. I guess you could criticize AS for proactively finding passengers that would not be inconvenienced by a reroute, but you could have refused and then volunteered if they asked for volunteers and they offered you enough to make up for getting you to your destination five hours early.
Why the secrecy?
I will wager that the compensation DL paid was for a different scenario. Did they announce the need for volunteers? Or did you respond to a name your price offer at check in? In those cases of course you would get compensation, and you would on AS too. I guess you could criticize AS for proactively finding passengers that would not be inconvenienced by a reroute, but you could have refused and then volunteered if they asked for volunteers and they offered you enough to make up for getting you to your destination five hours early.
Why the secrecy?
Jul 6, 2019, 2:15 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
So you agreed to something and now you want something different than you agreed to? If you didn't like it you should have said no.
Jul 6, 2019, 3:27 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 702
If Delta were putting you on another Delta flight, nonstop, and getting you to your destination at the same time or earlier, I'd doubt they'd offer you anything other than a thank you and a smile as well since they're actually improving your experience, not negatively impacting it. That's what compensation is generally for - apologizing when your experience has been degraded.