After a few months of work in Angola and the Republic of the Congo--Brazzaville, it was time to return home... however, it was not that easy.

First, because I was leaving from Luanda, Angola with a connection in Nairobi, I could only be checked-in for that flight. To me, this was no problem as Nairobi is an easy airport to get around. But, upon arrival into Nairobi, I went to the Delta Check-in desk, only to be made aware that my PNR is not valid. As they were confused, I handed them the Delta e>ticket itinerary and receipt to which they replied that no such itinerary or record existed. Anyhow, this banter continued, even after I showed the agent my American Express statement (it is a good thing that I have a satellite modem), and that's when they realized that they should call the "helpdesk." But, by this time, the flight to Amsterdam had already closed and I was out of luck. Once the G/A got off the phone, she informed me that I could not check in as the flight had closed and I would have to pay a repriced ticket O/W NBO-AMS-DTW-DCA, in F, as Y was sold out. Add to that, the next available flight with open seats would be two days from now.

Due to this, I quickly got online and purchased tickets on AF/KL NBO-AMS-CDG-IAD, the funny thing was that I was able to get on to tomorrows KL flight to AMS.

What I am most upset about is that the T/A at NBO failed to not only check me in, but provide me with an alternative itinerary at no cost--as it was neither my fault nor the weather, and especially considering that I purchased the original tickets in full-fare J. Am I entitled to anything from DL as I more or less threw out $3,500 on the return that I was scheduled to fly on?

That's where American Express comes in. Write a letter to DL and reverse charges on your card.

Let us know how it turns out.

you definitely should have been rebooked at no expense to you. You missed the plane because of them.

Wouldn't a full fare J be refundable anyway?

You should still be compensated for any difference in fare between half the ticket you had and the one you had to purchase...

What Delta ticket desk? Delta doesn't fly to NBO. Sounds like your beef is with KLM (or the contractors that manage their NBO ground operation). Or are you saying you had a ticket on the indefinitely-postponed NBO/DKR/ATL route that they failed to notify you no longer exists?

What is the airport code?

JFK

^

Good to know DL is flying back from hell. After I die I now have a way to come back and haunt this place.

There you go, injecting messy facts into the drama.

Still, DL is responsible for communicating ticket records to KL. As to matters of compensation for being denied boarding, that's an issue for the operating carrier.

Another example of why it doesn't hurt to call and re-confirm the day before to ensure your PNR exists in the system and that the eticket is valid. This is especially true in chaotic western Africa on a codeshare flight.

I thought everything was fine considering that my LAD-NBO was on my itinerary, and telecom service is less than standard (and the minutes wasted while on hold with DL on the sat phone made calling less than ideal).

Also, when I referenced the DL counter at NBO, I meant that they were using the old-DL counter, with DL logos--except for the fact that it was KL.


However, when I made to AMS, the Transfer Desk attendants informed me that I should contact DL as the itinerary was not ticketed through KL, but DL (I should have known something was up when my original receipt only showed the 006xxxxxx instead of the KL e-ticket number).

As of right now, I am currently holding with DL customer service (now on minute 15)...