DL Website Tickets Award Flight In Wrong Time Zone; Messes Up Risk Free Cancellation
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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They should either switch to exactly 24 hours to avoid any confusion, or prominently display cancellation language, i.e. "Risk Free Cancellation: Cancel without penalty until 11:59 PM Pacific Time on January 7, 2015."
#17
Join Date: Jan 2008
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It has been this way since the Risk-Free Cancellation policy was introduced, which was many years before the DOT 24-hour rule.
#18
Original Poster
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I don't think the OP was trying to game the system, it sounded like a pretty harmless mistake. I'd bet most people don't know tickets purchased online are booked using pacific time. OP booked a ticket on Jan 4 assuming he had until Jan 5 to cancel, where exactly do you get the impression he's gaming the system?
#19
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 24
I wish I read this thread before booking my Delta flight at 12:02 AM EST which was time stamped the previous day...... Hopefully I won't have to cancel this now as I really don't feel like a fight. Maybe I'll do a cancel and rebuy after 3am (assuming it is still the same award rate) just to be safe. When I called to ask ... happened (before reading this thread) the woman on the phone told me they are ticketed out of EST so I shouldn't have had a problem. Apparently she was incorrect.
#20
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Sorta old info. DL agents in last two years have become good at understanding that midnight can vary. They're flexible to go by midnight where you live, origin of first flight, or ES/ST. As long as you can tell them clearly which you assumed it went by they'll do it.
#21
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,190
My experience over the years is that Delta is very reasonable in ambiguous situations and certainly is not out to screw the customer with a ‘gotcha’. The schedule change rule, as an example, seems to be much more flexible than legally necessary.
#22
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Delta should put 24 hours in their written policy to prevent this type of situation.
They can keep the current system for their internal policy to be more flexible and for better CS.
In this case DL written policy is unclear and let the OP down (thankfully they made it right eventually). Yes they are way more flexible than the law requires but their written policy is dependent on things (like call center location) that the average person would not be on top of.
They can keep the current system for their internal policy to be more flexible and for better CS.
In this case DL written policy is unclear and let the OP down (thankfully they made it right eventually). Yes they are way more flexible than the law requires but their written policy is dependent on things (like call center location) that the average person would not be on top of.
#23
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Again, Delta's policy doesn't state a 24-hour cancellation window. Here is the actual policy: "Cancellation request must be made by midnight of the day after the eTicket is purchased or midnight of the departure date of the first flight, whichever comes first."
It has been this way since the Risk-Free Cancellation policy was introduced, which was many years before the DOT 24-hour rule.
It has been this way since the Risk-Free Cancellation policy was introduced, which was many years before the DOT 24-hour rule.
ATLANTA, July 27, 2005 – Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) is now offering customers who purchase their tickets at delta.com, flysong.com, or via other direct Delta ticketing locations, a Risk-free Cancellation policy to cancel certain tickets within 24 hours without penalty* if they find lower fares anywhere else or if their travel plans change.
“Delta is demonstrating to our customers that we are confident our fares are highly competitive, and we promise a customer will always find Delta’s lowest published fares at delta.com,” said Paul Matsen, Delta’s chief marketing officer. “We are also committed to giving customers more of what they want when they travel, including innovative, convenient, easy-to-use self-service tools which allow them to handle their own transactions online at delta.com and save valuable time during their travel experience.”
As Delta transforms to be more customer focused, it now gives customers the flexibility to search for Delta’s lowest published fares on delta.com and the ability to search for one-way fares and more complex itinerary requests such as stopovers, arriving in and departing from different cities and multiple-city itineraries. Other recent enhancements include:
Online ticket changes – Delta and Song customers using delta.com and flysong.com can quickly make changes to existing U.S. domestic reservations by adding or changing flights, choosing alternate dates, times or cities; and paying change fees with a credit card or electronic credit. Electronic credit, or e-credit, is value remaining from unused ticket(s).
SkyMiles mileage calculator – SkyMiles members can easily find the mileage required for an award ticket between their chosen origin and destination on delta.com. Detailed results include miles required, cabin, operating airline, award codes and rules/restrictions.
International Award Travel – SkyMiles members can now book award travel online on more Delta-operated flights to Europe, Central and South America and Asia.
Other airline check-in – In addition to checking in for Delta’s U.S. domestic flights, delta.com customers can now save time and check in for flight segments when their Delta flights connect to Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Northwest Airlines, and US Airways.
The airline soon will re-launch its delta.com web site that will feature a new, fresh look and provide better navigation for Delta’s online customers.
Delta’s new Risk-free Cancellation policy applies to tickets purchased at the time of booking directly from Delta for travel from the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada. Most tickets, no matter where purchased, now must be ticketed immediately.
Delta Air Lines is the world’s second-largest airline in terms of passengers carried and the leading U.S. carrier across the Atlantic, offering daily flights to 484 destinations in 87 countries on Delta, Song, Delta Shuttle, the Delta Connection carriers and its worldwide partners. Delta's marketing alliances allow customers to earn and redeem frequent flier miles on more than 14,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.
*Risk-free Cancellation Policy: Risk-free Cancellation gives customers the flexibility to cancel a ticket after purchasing if they find a lower fare elsewhere or if their travel plans change and receive a full refund with no cancellation fee. This policy applies to tickets valid for travel originating in the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada, regardless of where the ticket is purchased. Cancellation requests must be made by midnight of the day after the ticket is purchased or midnight of the departure date of the first flight, whichever comes first. After that, the fare rules for the ticket purchased will apply. Reservations over the telephone for payment with any paper currency, such as cash, check or a denied boarding voucher, will still be held with a telephone reservations without payment until midnight one day after the reservation is made and we will guarantee the fare if you ticket with Delta. Once purchased, these tickets will not be eligible for cancellation under the Risk-free Cancellation policy. Fares, offers and rules are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. ©2005 Delta Air Lines, Inc.
“Delta is demonstrating to our customers that we are confident our fares are highly competitive, and we promise a customer will always find Delta’s lowest published fares at delta.com,” said Paul Matsen, Delta’s chief marketing officer. “We are also committed to giving customers more of what they want when they travel, including innovative, convenient, easy-to-use self-service tools which allow them to handle their own transactions online at delta.com and save valuable time during their travel experience.”
As Delta transforms to be more customer focused, it now gives customers the flexibility to search for Delta’s lowest published fares on delta.com and the ability to search for one-way fares and more complex itinerary requests such as stopovers, arriving in and departing from different cities and multiple-city itineraries. Other recent enhancements include:
Online ticket changes – Delta and Song customers using delta.com and flysong.com can quickly make changes to existing U.S. domestic reservations by adding or changing flights, choosing alternate dates, times or cities; and paying change fees with a credit card or electronic credit. Electronic credit, or e-credit, is value remaining from unused ticket(s).
SkyMiles mileage calculator – SkyMiles members can easily find the mileage required for an award ticket between their chosen origin and destination on delta.com. Detailed results include miles required, cabin, operating airline, award codes and rules/restrictions.
International Award Travel – SkyMiles members can now book award travel online on more Delta-operated flights to Europe, Central and South America and Asia.
Other airline check-in – In addition to checking in for Delta’s U.S. domestic flights, delta.com customers can now save time and check in for flight segments when their Delta flights connect to Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Northwest Airlines, and US Airways.
The airline soon will re-launch its delta.com web site that will feature a new, fresh look and provide better navigation for Delta’s online customers.
Delta’s new Risk-free Cancellation policy applies to tickets purchased at the time of booking directly from Delta for travel from the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada. Most tickets, no matter where purchased, now must be ticketed immediately.
Delta Air Lines is the world’s second-largest airline in terms of passengers carried and the leading U.S. carrier across the Atlantic, offering daily flights to 484 destinations in 87 countries on Delta, Song, Delta Shuttle, the Delta Connection carriers and its worldwide partners. Delta's marketing alliances allow customers to earn and redeem frequent flier miles on more than 14,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.
*Risk-free Cancellation Policy: Risk-free Cancellation gives customers the flexibility to cancel a ticket after purchasing if they find a lower fare elsewhere or if their travel plans change and receive a full refund with no cancellation fee. This policy applies to tickets valid for travel originating in the U.S., U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada, regardless of where the ticket is purchased. Cancellation requests must be made by midnight of the day after the ticket is purchased or midnight of the departure date of the first flight, whichever comes first. After that, the fare rules for the ticket purchased will apply. Reservations over the telephone for payment with any paper currency, such as cash, check or a denied boarding voucher, will still be held with a telephone reservations without payment until midnight one day after the reservation is made and we will guarantee the fare if you ticket with Delta. Once purchased, these tickets will not be eligible for cancellation under the Risk-free Cancellation policy. Fares, offers and rules are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. ©2005 Delta Air Lines, Inc.