Help with Delta and downgrade?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 18
Help with Delta and downgrade?
Hello I need some feedback on this issue with Delta please. I have a booked flight on Delta from RDU to ALT to HNL and back in June. I am flying FC on a “P” class ticket and looked the other day, and come to find that the same flight, same days of travel and same destination has been reduced by $410.00. This downgrade is from a First class P class to a First class A. Is this not a downgrade? I got a reply saying that they are now declining my request?
So what are my choices and what do you think I should do and whom do I contact?
Here is the first email reply:
Thank you for your email to Delta Air Lines.
We acknowledge your concernregarding changes in a fare that was previously purchased. Since airfares are subject to change without notice, our customers are encouraged to purchase their tickets when reservations are confirmed.
Iffares decrease, ticketed passengers may downgrade to the lower fare prior to departure of the originating flight as long as all restrictions of the new reduced fare are met. This includes advance ticketing, and nochanges are allowed to the flight, date, or origin.
The downgrade will require that your ticket be reissued. Anytime we reissue a ticket, an administrative service charge will apply. A nonrefundable Delta Travel Voucher will be issued for any difference beyond the associated administrative service charge.
When your ticket involves International travel, the administrative service charge assessed will be the same amount of the change fee associated with the fare being downgraded. We appreciate your business and trust your future flights will be enjoyable. We hope you will continue to make Delta your airline of choice. Sincerely,
So what are my choices and what do you think I should do and whom do I contact?
Here is the first email reply:
Thank you for your email to Delta Air Lines.
We acknowledge your concernregarding changes in a fare that was previously purchased. Since airfares are subject to change without notice, our customers are encouraged to purchase their tickets when reservations are confirmed.
Iffares decrease, ticketed passengers may downgrade to the lower fare prior to departure of the originating flight as long as all restrictions of the new reduced fare are met. This includes advance ticketing, and nochanges are allowed to the flight, date, or origin.
The downgrade will require that your ticket be reissued. Anytime we reissue a ticket, an administrative service charge will apply. A nonrefundable Delta Travel Voucher will be issued for any difference beyond the associated administrative service charge.
When your ticket involves International travel, the administrative service charge assessed will be the same amount of the change fee associated with the fare being downgraded. We appreciate your business and trust your future flights will be enjoyable. We hope you will continue to make Delta your airline of choice. Sincerely,
#2
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: New York City
Programs: Delta gm Spg gold hilton gold hyatt platinum hertz presidents avis presidential
Posts: 773
Ask them to re-ticket it, they'll deduct $150, and the rest they'll put back on your cc, or give you a voucher, whichever you prefer
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 18
Right that is what they should do in my understanding of a downgrade. Here is reply email #2.
Thank you for your e-mail to Delta Air Lines regarding your reservation.
While we would like to offer special consideration in cases such as yours, we are unable to honor the many similar requests that we receive from others in equally deserving situations. We follow a consistent policy to ensure that we are fair to everyone who travels with us. Accordingly, we must respectfully decline your request. We appreciate your interest in Delta Air Lines.
What consideration it says that I can downgrade but now they say I can't??
Why?
Thank you for your e-mail to Delta Air Lines regarding your reservation.
While we would like to offer special consideration in cases such as yours, we are unable to honor the many similar requests that we receive from others in equally deserving situations. We follow a consistent policy to ensure that we are fair to everyone who travels with us. Accordingly, we must respectfully decline your request. We appreciate your interest in Delta Air Lines.
What consideration it says that I can downgrade but now they say I can't??
Why?
#4
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, 1MM
Posts: 3,774
This does not sound like they are totally declining your request. They are willing to give you a credit for the difference minus the fee, which is probably $150. So you will still get a credit of $260 for future travel.
There are dozens of threads about this. It is a reality of airline travel that, unless you buy an expensive, fully refundable ticket, you are betting on the ticket price remaining the same or going up. Unfortunately this time you lost that gamble. Tickets prices several months in advance of travel tend to be high, then drop 60-90 days before the travel date.
Edit: I just read the second email. It sounds like you should call Delta. They should adhere to the first email.
There are dozens of threads about this. It is a reality of airline travel that, unless you buy an expensive, fully refundable ticket, you are betting on the ticket price remaining the same or going up. Unfortunately this time you lost that gamble. Tickets prices several months in advance of travel tend to be high, then drop 60-90 days before the travel date.
Edit: I just read the second email. It sounds like you should call Delta. They should adhere to the first email.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
If you want to re-ticket, pick up the phone. The fee/refund terms of your ticket apply; one buys a new ticket with its own fare terms.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 22,928
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,247
This. You should be calling a reservations agent for this, not emailing them. You can probably "downgrade" for a change fee of $150 per ticket, so you'd get $260 back in the form of an eCredit.
#8
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Programs: DL DM 1.929MM, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, IHG Platinum, Avis CHM, Marriott Titanium (lifetime gold)
Posts: 7,850
Color me puzzled. I thought P was always cheaper than A. If so, there has really been a good fare drop/sale on this route. OP had better act fast before the fares go back up.
David
David
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 2MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 15,139
Yeah, just call and have the agent confirm the pricing and change to the lower A fare... or if you want to avoid the phone call ticketing charge (not sure since I don't know if you're an elite or not) then cancel the ticket and rebook on your own using the ecredit voucher.
A fares are lower than P.
A fares are lower than P.
#10
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: now ZRH, previously DTW
Programs: DL-Diamond & 1MM; HH-Diamond; Marriott-Gold
Posts: 159
another good perks one from the old NW days... $150 "fee" when ticket price drops is just a lot - well, with this $150, there's basically no "guarantee" or "special protection" for passengers in case of a price drop (the $150 is just your normal reissue/change fee). Whereas in the good old NW days, we use to be semi-protected on price drops
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 18
I did call Delta on Monday 03/05/12 and was told to email the contact person from the emails I got. So did call and Delta passed me back to the email and now I come here looking for help!
#12
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: AA Plat 2MM/UA G MM/DL MM DM 2015/BA Silver/Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 3,103
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
OP - No need to reference the emails. Just call DL, tell them what you want to do and proceed. I am presuming that you purchased your ticket from DL, not through a TA.
#14
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Posts: 100,327
IMO A is usually cheaper. In fact, I have seen some fully refundable P fares recently.
#15
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Join Date: Sep 2009
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Posts: 100,327
Hello I need some feedback on this issue with Delta please. I have a booked flight on Delta from RDU to ALT to HNL and back in June. I am flying FC on a “P” class ticket and looked the other day, and come to find that the same flight, same days of travel and same destination has been reduced by $410.00. This downgrade is from a First class P class to a First class A. Is this not a downgrade? I got a reply saying that they are now declining my request?
So what are my choices and what do you think I should do and whom do I contact?
Here is the first email reply:
Thank you for your email to Delta Air Lines.
We acknowledge your concernregarding changes in a fare that was previously purchased. Since airfares are subject to change without notice, our customers are encouraged to purchase their tickets when reservations are confirmed.
Iffares decrease, ticketed passengers may downgrade to the lower fare prior to departure of the originating flight as long as all restrictions of the new reduced fare are met. This includes advance ticketing, and nochanges are allowed to the flight, date, or origin.
The downgrade will require that your ticket be reissued. Anytime we reissue a ticket, an administrative service charge will apply. A nonrefundable Delta Travel Voucher will be issued for any difference beyond the associated administrative service charge.
When your ticket involves International travel, the administrative service charge assessed will be the same amount of the change fee associated with the fare being downgraded. We appreciate your business and trust your future flights will be enjoyable. We hope you will continue to make Delta your airline of choice. Sincerely,
So what are my choices and what do you think I should do and whom do I contact?
Here is the first email reply:
Thank you for your email to Delta Air Lines.
We acknowledge your concernregarding changes in a fare that was previously purchased. Since airfares are subject to change without notice, our customers are encouraged to purchase their tickets when reservations are confirmed.
Iffares decrease, ticketed passengers may downgrade to the lower fare prior to departure of the originating flight as long as all restrictions of the new reduced fare are met. This includes advance ticketing, and nochanges are allowed to the flight, date, or origin.
The downgrade will require that your ticket be reissued. Anytime we reissue a ticket, an administrative service charge will apply. A nonrefundable Delta Travel Voucher will be issued for any difference beyond the associated administrative service charge.
When your ticket involves International travel, the administrative service charge assessed will be the same amount of the change fee associated with the fare being downgraded. We appreciate your business and trust your future flights will be enjoyable. We hope you will continue to make Delta your airline of choice. Sincerely,