Schedule changes
 

The question: If Delta keeps changing my flight can I keep changing it for free?

The story: So my Nov 21st return from LAS to DTW keeps flipping back and forth. When I initially booked the flight I chose

Flt 1164 departing Vegas at 5 pm

A week later I got a notification that the flight was no longer and they put me on

Flt 1389 departing Vegas at 2:15 pm

So whatever I get it; I booked the flight 6 months in advance so I know I am at a higher risk of something like this happening. When they made the change and they put me on the 2:15 departure it was the last flight out to Detroit that day. I found that odd with my prior experience with flying this route so I kept watching the website. After a few weeks they put back a 5 pm departure from Vegas so I called Delta and they put me on that flight.

Fast forward to today and they put me back on the 2:15 departure and it is once again the last flight out that day. I have a hard time believing that this will end up being the last departure of the day. The website says you can only modify once as subsequent changes may result in fees. Does that mean I can only make one change for free or is one change allowed with each scheduling change? Any experience with a similar situation with no status?

I'm having similar issues, and I just wait. As it gets closer, you'll be able to pick whatever you want. It's tough to just wait, but just wait!

I have 5 flights coming up thru October and I have gotten 4 different schedule changes, one was really bad so I called and they did change it for me, the other 3 had longer layovers. Just got one yesterday

Yes you can keep changing or changing back to what was your original or close to original flights. Its not one change per major DL schedule update. If they make another change that moves your flight by a couple hours like that, then you can call and get a better flight again.

did a search, this was the most applicable thread i easily found.

i'm booked in discount F from SMF to JFK via SLC. schedule change blows up the reservation turning a 45 minute SLC connection into a negative 90 minute connection.

even though i could use this to get onto a LAX-JFK or SEA-JFK premium transcon, i would rather use it to fly into EWR which saves me a boatload of driving and $$ on tolls since final destination is western NJ.

what i'm wondering is if i request an itinerary into EWR that arrives at the same time as a possible JFK option, will they give me a hard time?

eg, request 06:50 depart SMF, 16:45 arrive EWR
however also available is 07:00 depart SMF, 17:10 arrive JFK

would this be permitted readily being that my current ticket is into JFK?

lots of experience on UA where this would be no problem/no hassle. not sure about Delta?

i'll be starting a PM challenge soon so if it matters i could wait to adjust this until i have access to the PM reservations line. currently zero status.

thanks in advance.

Since your connection is broken, it will probably be allowed. Just call and ask to be put on the flights you mentioned and see what happens.

There's no guarantee, but it's quite possible that DL will permit this in view of the schedule change. Several airlines have permitted me to change airports in the Washington DC area (from IAD and BWI to DCA) as a result of significant schedule changes or weather-related delays.

I have a flight from SEA-CLE next week. There have been 6 schedule changes on this itinerary since making it earlier in the year. I have been able to change some of the outbound times ( and even connection cities) without any hassle after each schedule change. The only time I was denied was when I asked on the return to add an overnight in DTW to eliminate a very tight connection. In hindsight, I think if I had called back I would have found a sympathetic CSR to make the change w/o any fee. Instead I opted to go through MSP on a longer layover....no change fee.

Delta is pretty generous this way.

thanks, i'll give it a go with the Twitter team or on the phone later on today. if it bombs, i can take solace in the fact that the only viable connections around the same time of day to JFK are on premium t-con product at least.

I've had them change my arrival/departure airport between AZO and GRR a number of times without a problem. I always had Medallion status at the time though and haven't tried it since I stopped traveling for work and no longer have status.

Normally I find they won't put you on the non-stop premium routes if you've bought a connection. I know they've even changed same day standby/confirmed to prohibit you from switching from a connecting route to the non-stop flights. I'm not saying the absolutely won't, but it's highly doubtful.

As for changing into EWR, it depends on the agent, what is available for flights into JFK, and if the fare allows EWR. I've never had a problem switching airports on a fare that didn't exclude EWR or wasn't restricted to JFK only.

Ok, here is a recent one........I change my ticket and pay the fee and the difference in fare.

The following day, there is a schedule change and my connection is busted.

I look to see what I want before I call and notice an A fare that is a really good deal; it is not my first choice of flights but when I look at what I have in the ticket it looks like I can do it for maybe $10-$20. Sounds good!

So I call, and even though I am not changing the return, it reprices the entire itinerary, raises the price on the return (that was only purchased the day before) and now I have to pay $200. So I say forget it and take the flights I want for an even swap. This makes no sense - I did not change the schedule, they did.

Schedule changes
 

You got a bad agent. Unless you were asking for something crazy you should get what you want in a schedule change for free.

since i am originating in SMF i have to take a connection regardless of the routing.

what i originally booked was:
SMF-SLC-JFK, departing 10:30am arriving 9:15pm -- very cheap UP fare

SMF-SLC flight at 10:30a was dropped leaving me only 6:25a or 1:30p departures as an option via SLC

the only thing remotely close to my original booking is SMF-LAX-JFK, departing 9:20am and arriving at 8:00pm

but what i want to request is SMF-MSP-EWR, departing 06:50am and arriving at 4:40pm which has wide open P availability

anyways i have not called yet but hope to find time later today. i'll first ask for the routing to EWR, if they say no, i'll request the similar timed routing to JFK, if they also say no to that i'll tell them to pound sand and refund my $$ and i'll go buy another ticket elsewhere.

I understand, but generally they're not going to put you on the LAX-JFK nonstops unless you bought a ticket that way. I agree you have to connect coming from SMF. However I find it doubtful they'll route you SMF-LAX-JFK. SMF-MSP/SLC/DTW/ATL/Any other city-JFK no problem.

DL charges a premium for the LAX-JFK flights, even if it's a connection from another flight, it'll be more then a connection SLC/MSP/DTW/ATL-JFK. Agents I know have been told that it should only be done as a last resort option if nothing else works.

Also remember since it's an UP fare, you need BOTH U/H/Whatever the base class is and P class availability. Having just P doesn't cut it.