DL has changed the flights on my itinerary several times. The big change being that they cancelled the PRG-ATL flight for the winter. So they rerouted me SOF-PRG-JFK-ATL-MLB. Now they have changed the JFK-ATL flight departure time so that I only have 1 hour and 20 minutes to clear immigration and customs (I am flying BE so I should be one of the first off the plane and to the immigration line). My itinerary indicates that I should call an agent about this issue. But before I do, I could use some expert advice.

They can rebook me on the next JFK-ATL flight, but that results in only a 30 minute connection to the last ATL-MLB flight of the day. I'm not sure what the legal connection time in JFK for an arriving international flight is and I think that the legal connection in ATL for domestic is 40 minutes.

So it looks like I'm in a situation where I can't get there from here in a single day. As a future DM, a current PM and MM with 156k MQMs for the current year, what is the best I can hope for here? Am I going to have to fork out some buckage for a hotel in ATL or will DL cover it? Will DL put me on another airline to get me to ATL so I can make a MLB flight on the 23rd? It is Christmas and I really needed to get home on the 23rd. The original itinerary was fine with suffcient layovers to cover any reasonable delays. Now the flight schedule changes have created a hug nightmare.

I'd like to know my options before I get on the phone with DL so what do you all have to say about this?

I guess I should have seen this coming but I doubt I could have made a pre-emptive move when the current flight schedules were not available at the time I booked this flight.

Thanks in advance.

How about SOF-CDG-ATL-MLB or SOF-FCO-ATL-MLB or SOF-MXP-ATL-MLB?

NHFL9 covered all possible connections. To do it all in one day, you can't triple connect. You can find all the possible ST options by searching the link below.

http://skyteam.com/go/flights.html

Well, I can look at that but I'll probably loose my BE upgrade.

SOF-CDG-ATL-MLB shows me arriving on 24 Dec. I'm not seeing those other flights. I am getting SOF-PRG-CDG-ATL-MLB in a single day 23 Dec), but again I will probably loose my upgrade. And I didn't pay big buckage for an M fare to loose my TATL upgrade.

Actually, I have found something on Kayak that did not show up on the DL website. It'll be the CRJ trip from hell. But I can go SOF-PRG-JFK-RIC-ATL-MLB.

Funny, Kayak is showing the exact itinerary that I have as legal.

Oh, I forgot about SkyTeam website. The last time I looked this flight-finding option was gone.

2 questions -

1. What do you mean by triple connect?
2. Original ticket was all DL coded flights even though the SOF-PRG is OK metal. Would they change me to none DL-coded flights in this situation (AF or AZ)?

Triple connect = 3 connections. Obviously the more connections, the less likely you'll make it.

I would call DL and try to get them to put you on one of the ST flights via CDG & ATLwhich would keep on DL metal for most the trip. A holiday travel day in the winter is a recipe for disaster at JFK (so I would avoid that). It may take some time to find an understanding agent, hopefully someone can help.

Have you considered alternate departure or arrival airports?

How about SOF-PRG-JFK-MCO.

I know it's an hour drive from MCO to Melbourne but it's not so tough... and gets you home in time.

You should probably be due a refund for the M fare difference from using MLB to MCO.

This should keep your upgrades on all flights.

You might look at connections to MCO (Orlando) or, less likely, DAB (Daytona). Neither is too far from MLB.

There are no alternate departure airports in Bulgaria. MCO is close to MLB but I have no ride from MCO to my home. I can get a one-way car rental (MCO-MLB), but then I have to pay for the rental car, plus I'd rather not drive from MCO to MLB after that super long day of travel so late at night.

I'll keep playing around to see what I can come up with. Sounds like even though DL created all these problems for me, it's up to me to find a solution. I'm not in a favorable position to play the keep calling DL until I get a understanding agent game because I am in Bulgaria.

Can't argue with you about avoiding JFK. It's been ages since I've been there and it wasn't pleasant. Not that ATL is my favorite place to be either. Gosh, what a mess!

Anyway, thanks for all the suggestions.

DL will help. It is just to your benefit to be armed with a variety of options to give the agents (instead of having them offer alternatives). Since DL cancelled your flight, DL will do almost anything to reaccomodate. You might want to use Skype.

I don't know what the legal minimum connect time is from int'l to domestic at JFK, but 1 hour and 20 minutes is probably legal. As much of a nightmare as JFK can be, the last 2 times I flew in from TXL, I BREEEEEEZED through!! The first time, we landed at a remote area, used a mobile lounge and from the time the door opened, off loaded pax, drove the mobile lounge to the terminal, went through immigration, my luggage was already on the belt, went through customs, rechecked my bag, went through TSA security, the total elapsed time was 18 minutes. I realize that this is really an extreme case of good luck, but I wouldn't really worry about it, to be honest. Maybe that's just how I am. I'm sure that some people are more worry warts than I am! My theory is - If you miss it, they'll get you there somehow.

I live in NY, and fly through JFK internationally a lot. Around xmas time, I would avoid it like the plague. If one snowflake falls anywhere between chicago, toronto and boston, everything is horribly delayed and you're pretty much screwed. Everything will be overbooked, they'll claim weather-related delays for everything and you'll be stuck till the 25th.

OTOH, NYC is a really fun place to be around xmas time, so if you get stranded, at least you can make the most of it!

I wasn't paying attention to the trip date being Xmas eve eve. To me it wouldn't matter, so I never think of other people having family stuff to do around the holidays.

A few years ago, I was walking thru Times Square around 1AM on Xmas eve. I just happened to be looking down at the ground as I was walking and I saw what looked like money. I really thought it was one of those fake $20 bills that you open up to find an auto body shop business card, or something. I scooped it up - stuck it in my pocket - and didn't really want to look at it in the street. I ducked into a doorway, and WOW - $770 CASH!!! I have no problem with NYC on Xmas eve!!

STB - how flexible is your departure date and time? have you thought about using the nearby OTP and IST? It would be a quick flight from SOF and you may be able to make a two-stop connection with a long TATL flight...

on the upside, at least you would not have to worry about the fog in sofia... with the fancy new airport

I've never found a routing through IST. Can't change dates. This is the return of a ticket so I have to work within DL and possibly ST.

I work in BG so this is my trip home for Christmas. That's why things are kind of inflexible.

I was told by a DL agent when I asked about being rerouted on a ST flight connecting to a DL flight (not a DL-code share flight connecting to a DL flight) that reticketing would be involved and costs would probably increase.

Anyway, I will call and see what they can do and beg and plead and cry if I have to.