ASA issues
 

Delta/ASA cancelled my flight from BMI to ATL on 06/17/2011 due to "weather." Meanwhile Airtran from BMI to ATL at the same time had no issues. Delta flew me out the next morning on a 6am flight.

Was supposed to fly back on 06/19/2011 and had flight cancelled due to a mechanical issue. Can't get home until tomorrow morning. Gate agents rude and unhelpful.

I used to fly Delta all the time and never had a travel experience like this. Anyone seen issues like this with ASA lately?

The real question is who hasn't had issues with ASA?

ASA stands for America's Sorriest Airline. What you experienced is par for the course. Now the weather issue may be legit since they are flying commuter planes which have different rules then AirTran jets.

However,rude and unhelpful is the ASA standard.

ASA mechanics have been stolen
 

Yes, I fly ASA every week (unfortunately). I found out the skinny on this. Delta hired away most of ASA's good mechanics to work on their planes (paid up a bit). So that left ASA with poor staffing to take care of planes.... ergo, delayed / canceled ASA flights (at least anything going in and out of ATL). As I Diamond, I wrote several emails, and have had some response. Over the past month it's been "less horrible". I hope the improvement trend continues.

Looking back since the first of the year, I cannot remember one of my ASA flights that actually left on time. Comair and Pinnacle are bad too, but less so IMHO. If I have a trip that requires ASA, I try to make sure I have a longer connection time than normal.

Just because there's blue skies outside your window and some other flight is leaving on time between your origin and destination doesn't mean your flight can't be delayed due to weather. The inbound aircraft could be coming from anywhere.

And yes, ASA seems to have lots of delays.

ASA operated DL flight numbers mean a min 2 hour connect....just in case. Murphy always flies on an ASA flight. :D

I always thought ASA was Air Schitt Airlines.

ASA
 

Flying to and from ATL from where I live, I have no choice much of the time but ASA, the reason I avoid ATL as much as possible, except for the occasional internatinal flight. I have never liked ASA. I assume the pilots are OK, but the GAs and FAs seem to be untrained and unprofessional for the most part. Most of the time they fly out of that subpar Terminal D at ATL.

Cannot recall if ASA is entirely owned by DL or not, but DL needs to review its relationship with ASA, as having ASA as a partner is hurting DL.

It was sold to SkyWest a year or more ago. Supposedly DL was going to assume the ground ops for ASA a few yrs ago but crew is ASA hires. After they got sold, I don't know who does the ground ops for ASA. But I know you can get a DL redcoat for help if you need it. :)

And SkyWest has been trying to clean up the mess that Delta left ever since they bought it. They've gotten better, but there are still things to work on.

Unfortunately, this is my ASA experience as well. I always choose the longer connection time, which makes for very long flights. I also try to avoid the last flight of the day from ATL to my home airport, ECP. If that one gets canceled, it means an overnight in ATL.

Yes.

But when the arrival of the inbound aircraft has been delayed due to weather situations earlier in the day, my flight is now delayed because of operational issues (e.g. the lack of spare aircraft to operate the schedule in a timely fashion).

Been there, done that. But didn't buy the t-shirt. :D

ASA has systemic maintenance issues - period.

I started booking away from them as much as possible a few months back and this has made my life much easier.

I am still forced to fly them but as the other poster said, you must book long layovers in ATL when flying ASA. It is not if they are going to be late, it is how long.....

If I can leave an hour earlier on a different connection carrier, I do, then sit (or stand) in the SC. After all, you just can't eat too much hummus.

At times this does cost more but at least you make it. Sad.

Ditto... when booking my travel and I see "Delta operated by ASA" I begin looking for another option. I have had three ASA in the last two years and all have had mechanical issues, the most recent of which resulted in a missed connection and a night stay in Detroit. All airlines have issues, but ASA seems to beat the average. My suggestion, avoid ASA and avoid the almost certain frustation and headache.