Last edit by: Zorak
Delta rolls out schedule changes pretty much every Saturday, though the scope/impact can vary. During this time, seat maps may be locked out, may show the wrong aircraft layout, etc. while changes are occurring. If you are not traveling immediately, FT conventional wisdom is to wait until Sunday (or even Monday in the case of major schedule adjustments where things take longer) for things to settle down, then take stock of your upcoming itineraries to see what changes have occurred and what changes/refunds you may be entitled to.
You are entitled to a full refund to original form of payment, even for a ticket that was purchased as a non-refundable ticket, if any of the following occur as a result of schedule change:
The airline would rather keep your money than refund it, so they will frequently accept any vaguely reasonable rerouting that you propose. This includes, by policy, changing origin and/or destination within 100 miles, rebooking +/- two days, and changing outbound/return date to keep the length of the trip the same post-rebooking.
If none of the above conditions for a refund is true, you may still be entitled to a free change -- in your trip summary there will be a notice about changes/refunds, and per the "conditions apply" popup link in that text:
If possible, you may wish to try modifying your flights online first -- there have been data points where the site allowed a free rebooking even though it did not technically fall into the above categories. NOTE however that self-rebooking online is known not to work if you have (1) any trip involving upgrade certificates (whether cleared or not), (2) if you have self-upgraded by picking an upgraded seat that said FREE (instead of waiting for the automated upgrade system sweep to reseat you in an upgraded seat), this seems to inhibit self-rebooking as well.
Otherwise, suggested best practice is to research your preferred alternative rebooking beforehand (whether DL flight search, Google Flights, ITA Matrix etc.) so that you can speak with an agent already knowing what you want, and ask for it; this will be much more efficient than having an agent find alternatives for you.
Other notes/FAQs:
You are entitled to a full refund to original form of payment, even for a ticket that was purchased as a non-refundable ticket, if any of the following occur as a result of schedule change:
- departure or arrival delay of 2hrs or more
- increase in the number of flight segments (non-stop to connecting, 1-stop to 2-stop, etc.)
- change resulting in a connection below the Minimum Connection Time for a given airport (do a Google search for "site:flyertalk.com minimum connecting time XXX" with the airport code to find the relevant thread if one exists)
- any change in operating carrier, i.e. operated by Delta mainline before the schedule change and Delta Connection after the change
- it is also a commonly-held belief that a change from Delta Connection to mainline, or from one Delta Connection carrier to a different Delta Connection carrier, also qualifies for a full refund -- if anyone has documentation of this, a link would be great...
The airline would rather keep your money than refund it, so they will frequently accept any vaguely reasonable rerouting that you propose. This includes, by policy, changing origin and/or destination within 100 miles, rebooking +/- two days, and changing outbound/return date to keep the length of the trip the same post-rebooking.
If none of the above conditions for a refund is true, you may still be entitled to a free change -- in your trip summary there will be a notice about changes/refunds, and per the "conditions apply" popup link in that text:
If a Delta schedule or routing change has delayed your departure or arrival by more than one hour, you may be eligible to select an alternate flight at no additional charge. Note that the below conditions may apply:
- Your origin, destination and travel date must remain the same
- Alternate flights must be available, and you can only modify once as subsequent changes may result in additional fees
- Voluntary changes to other flights not impacted by a Delta schedule change may result in additional fees
Otherwise, suggested best practice is to research your preferred alternative rebooking beforehand (whether DL flight search, Google Flights, ITA Matrix etc.) so that you can speak with an agent already knowing what you want, and ask for it; this will be much more efficient than having an agent find alternatives for you.
Other notes/FAQs:
- Even if you voluntarily choose a preferred rebooking, you have a high likelihood of success claiming Original Routing Credit since the original reason for the change was involuntary.
- If you booked through a travel agency, including online travel agencies (OTA) such as Expedia, Chase Ultimate Rewards, etc. you will have to contact them, not Delta, to request rerouting if the automatic rebooking is not satisfactory to you.
- There have been reports of an agency insisting that a change of 2 hours was required (per the "pro" site) for a free change, even though the popup on the DL site says 1 hour
- You can sometimes get Delta to take over a travel agency ticket; this is subject to a $50 fee to take over the ticket, although sometimes agents decline to collect it
Consolidated Delta Schedule Change Discussion Thread
#1771
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Programs: DL Platinum, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 139
Got an email on Sunday morning about this Saturday's changes to a one-way, one-leg trip in early June... which moved back the departure by 30 minutes.
Somehow, though, I didn't get an email about another schedule change in mid-June that puts me well under the minimum connection time at SEA.
This is just getting comical.
Somehow, though, I didn't get an email about another schedule change in mid-June that puts me well under the minimum connection time at SEA.
This is just getting comical.
#1772
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
#1773
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA PPro/DL PLT, PPass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,631
A new one for me this past Saturday. Was booked in a E175, seated in row 4. Equipment was downgraded to an E170, initially I saw the reservation and the seats still showed correct along with First Class (Z) and the magenta color. But when I checked the seat map, I was in C+ since First only has 3 rows. I could select new seats in F but they wouldn't stick until later in the day. Good thing FC was empty.
I don't think I'll select row 4 on a C900 or E175 anymore.
I don't think I'll select row 4 on a C900 or E175 anymore.
#1774
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Georgetown, KY
Posts: 55
A new one for me this past Saturday. Was booked in a E175, seated in row 4. Equipment was downgraded to an E170, initially I saw the reservation and the seats still showed correct along with First Class (Z) and the magenta color. But when I checked the seat map, I was in C+ since First only has 3 rows. I could select new seats in F but they wouldn't stick until later in the day. Good thing FC was empty.
I don't think I'll select row 4 on a C900 or E175 anymore.
I don't think I'll select row 4 on a C900 or E175 anymore.
#1775
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: BNA
Programs: DL GM, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,027
DL continues to be a ....-show for schedule changes. I'm trying to fly to Burlington in early June. I've gone through 3 schedule changes so far, and we have 2 ppl flying on separate PNRs (because we're each using credits from previous flights), so they put us on different flights for the schedule change.
I'm lucky when I can get a call back in 1 hour as a DM. I'm quickly losing confidence in DL as a reliable travel provider. They're doing a good job of making AA and UA look competent.
I'm lucky when I can get a call back in 1 hour as a DM. I'm quickly losing confidence in DL as a reliable travel provider. They're doing a good job of making AA and UA look competent.
The emails don't always come at the same time and sometimes not at all. I even got a notification that one PNR couldn't be rebooked due to missing a connection but then it got a better connecting time than the other PNR.
The emails with all the crossed out lines with the previous times and flights never make any sense. Sometimes they crossed out the original booking sometimes one of the more recent times that are no longer valid but not in logical order. Sometimes it shows all the flights, sometimes just one leg. It is impossible to follow what is happening. I just wait a few days and usually it settles down on the app. If not then I call.
Total chaos, to the point where it will be hilarious as long as the trip happens.
#1776
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Tri-state Indiana
Programs: SkyMiles Member, WFBF
Posts: 20
I've been bitten by the schedule change bug for a trip I have in July. Would someone be willing to check on flight 5010 for July 24 DTW-EVV. I'm just curious if this flight looks like it's going to cancel. Seat map on the app appears to be zeroed out, but the seats remaining page shows I'm the only passenger so far. There's an attractive fare on AA that I may jump on if this flight looks like it may not happen. Thanks.
#1777
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: Delta Platinum/1MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 652
I've been bitten by the schedule change bug for a trip I have in July. Would someone be willing to check on flight 5010 for July 24 DTW-EVV. I'm just curious if this flight looks like it's going to cancel. Seat map on the app appears to be zeroed out, but the seats remaining page shows I'm the only passenger so far. There's an attractive fare on AA that I may jump on if this flight looks like it may not happen. Thanks.
#1778
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Tri-state Indiana
Programs: SkyMiles Member, WFBF
Posts: 20
#1779
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 201
Yup, you were right. JFK-CDG down to only 1 DL flight. Interestingly enough, the remaining flights changed from an A333 to A339. I fortunately changed to C+ just before the flight switch, which saved me about $300 since Delta seems to be charging a premium to this plane.
#1780
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: West LA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 957
Not schedule change, but didn't know anywhere else to ask this. AMS-SEA is currently on an A339, until July 8th when it changes to an A333. I'm currently booked on this flight end of July in J. Is there any chance the schedule hasn't been updated and my flight will indeed be on the A339, or should I just expect the A333?
#1781
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,626
Not schedule change, but didn't know anywhere else to ask this. AMS-SEA is currently on an A339, until July 8th when it changes to an A333. I'm currently booked on this flight end of July in J. Is there any chance the schedule hasn't been updated and my flight will indeed be on the A339, or should I just expect the A333?
#1782
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,070
Not schedule change, but didn't know anywhere else to ask this. AMS-SEA is currently on an A339, until July 8th when it changes to an A333. I'm currently booked on this flight end of July in J. Is there any chance the schedule hasn't been updated and my flight will indeed be on the A339, or should I just expect the A333?
#1783
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,878
Not schedule change, but didn't know anywhere else to ask this. AMS-SEA is currently on an A339, until July 8th when it changes to an A333. I'm currently booked on this flight end of July in J. Is there any chance the schedule hasn't been updated and my flight will indeed be on the A339, or should I just expect the A333?
#1784
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
#1785
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: West LA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 957