Originally I was on a red-eye Wed 11/17, PDX-ATL-zzz. I got a notification about 2 weeks ago that this was changed, still a red-eye, but now PDX-DTW-zzz, getting in about an hour later - fine.

Today I got an email that I've been rescheduled to Thu 11/18 PDX-SLC-zzz, and don't get in til 2 pm - meaning I'm getting in many hours later and I get substantially fewer miles.

I did a search but there doesn't seem to be a red-eye coming up in the results.

Did all the PDX-DTW and PDX-ATL red-eyes get dropped? How do I find out if there is a red-eye to choose from? I know I will have to call SMS but was hoping to know my options first.

Delta seems to be cutting the PDX-ATL red-eyes on certain off-peak days later on this fall, so unfortunately it sounds like you've fallen victim to that schedule "optimization." The DTW service is typically seasonal and the schedule now reflects that service ending on October 31, so your second change makes you victim of one of DL's favorite games lately - listing seasonal service as year-round until they get around to deleting the off-season flights.

As for your problem, the only option for remaining on a red-eye would be to leave earlier in the evening from PDX on AS/QX and connect through a larger DL station on the west coast. DL doesn't codeshare on PDX-SEA service (which shouldn't stop you from getting them to re-route you there if desired), but you can get DL codes on PDX-SFO/SJC/SMF/LAS/PHX/ONT/LAX. Depending on the time you're able to leave PDX, there are red-eyes to ATL from all those cities, not to mention DTW and MSP.

If you want the shortest possible detour out of PDX, I would recommend QX 2056 or QX 2174 on PDX-SEA, then connecting to the appropriate MSP, DTW, ATL, or JFK red-eye that would allow you to connect to your final destination. However, if you want to take advantage of their schedule change to maximize mileage, you could specifically request to route through LAX - just be sure your connection allows time for that.

Since you haven't identified destination zzz, and aren't ready to believe the current schedule, there isn't much that one can do for you.

Because they changed your flights so drastically, you would be elgible to change to something that suits your schedule better. Call them and they will work with you

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8310/4.5.0.182 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

+1

this is extremely helpful - thank you. I will give it a try when I call them. Have to look at my schedule and theirs to see if I can do the 3 segment trip.

I have been aware of the seasonal to DTW but historically (at least with NW) they did not sell seats they were not planning to fly. Sometimes NW would bring back the PDX-DTW non-stop and/or red-eye around the holidays including Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I thought that by selling this ticket DL intended to fly it. Silly me. It seems they intended to cancel it all along, just weren't sure of the exact date. The PDX-ATL cutback seems to be new, as I thought that definitely was a daily, year-round occurrence - but I don't study the timetables.

3Cforme - do you really not have anything better to do? :P

NW had schedule changes as well. DL may have more, but NW certainly whacked flights like most airlines do.

NW always worked with me when there was one, though. Same goes for DL, we always find a workable solution.

One strategy in these situations is to try to go for a more peak or more full flight that may have been more expensive earlier or you may be able to VDB on now.

Good luck.

IME, DL will 'work with you' in the sense that they will find the easiest alternative. Sometimes I am looking for something different.

For example, I had a flt Wed to SBA via SLC. That flt was canceled and the only way to get to SBA on Wed through DL now is an AA codeshare via LAX. Making it more complicated, I need to get to RDU first.

DL really didn't want to deal with this so I did what I always do: When there is a schedule change, I look for alternative flts myself. That is way beyond anything DL will do.

Tomorrow is a loser day for me because of this schedule change so I made the best of it. Proposed flying to RDU via MSP. Quite a bit out of the way -- and req sup override -- but if I have this downtime, might as well max the MQM's. Point here, I had to find this alternative and suggest it to DL. There is no way they would have offered this to me.

They might Not offer it to you, but they would allow you to make the change for no charge. I've beaver had issues with this if they changed the schedule.