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
#1921
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DTW
Programs: Alaska, Delta, Southwest
Posts: 1,663
Had a VPS-ATL August flight that originally left at 9:30am, was hit with a schedule change so it left at 7:45am, and I dealt with it by saying I'd deal with it later. So today's e-mail saying it was moved back to 9:15am counts as successfully dealing with it by neglect.
#1922
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,318
Curious if anyone has thoughts.
Was scheduled on NCE-JFK in September on a day the flight was canceled. Last Sunday, the app showed I was rebooked onto NCE-CDG-JFK, with NCE-CDG DL marketed, AF-operated, and CDG-JFK a DL/DL flight. I'm fine with that option. But if I go onto Delta.com, it says I am not confirmed on the NCE-CDG leg, the "acknowledge" button appears and no matter how many times I click it, it reloads still there, and AF's website has my reservation as NCE-JFK, CDG-JFK.
I got through to a Delta rep yesterday, and she insisted that the system wont allow her to confirm me on any of the NCE-CDG flights because "Air France is doing a schedule change." That seems unlikely, and it seems unlikely this situation would persist for days. I'm thinking something is screwy with the codeshare? Should I just sit tight and try again next week?
Was scheduled on NCE-JFK in September on a day the flight was canceled. Last Sunday, the app showed I was rebooked onto NCE-CDG-JFK, with NCE-CDG DL marketed, AF-operated, and CDG-JFK a DL/DL flight. I'm fine with that option. But if I go onto Delta.com, it says I am not confirmed on the NCE-CDG leg, the "acknowledge" button appears and no matter how many times I click it, it reloads still there, and AF's website has my reservation as NCE-JFK, CDG-JFK.
I got through to a Delta rep yesterday, and she insisted that the system wont allow her to confirm me on any of the NCE-CDG flights because "Air France is doing a schedule change." That seems unlikely, and it seems unlikely this situation would persist for days. I'm thinking something is screwy with the codeshare? Should I just sit tight and try again next week?
#1923
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,042
Curious if anyone has thoughts.
Was scheduled on NCE-JFK in September on a day the flight was canceled. Last Sunday, the app showed I was rebooked onto NCE-CDG-JFK, with NCE-CDG DL marketed, AF-operated, and CDG-JFK a DL/DL flight. I'm fine with that option. But if I go onto Delta.com, it says I am not confirmed on the NCE-CDG leg, the "acknowledge" button appears and no matter how many times I click it, it reloads still there, and AF's website has my reservation as NCE-JFK, CDG-JFK.
I got through to a Delta rep yesterday, and she insisted that the system wont allow her to confirm me on any of the NCE-CDG flights because "Air France is doing a schedule change." That seems unlikely, and it seems unlikely this situation would persist for days. I'm thinking something is screwy with the codeshare? Should I just sit tight and try again next week?
Was scheduled on NCE-JFK in September on a day the flight was canceled. Last Sunday, the app showed I was rebooked onto NCE-CDG-JFK, with NCE-CDG DL marketed, AF-operated, and CDG-JFK a DL/DL flight. I'm fine with that option. But if I go onto Delta.com, it says I am not confirmed on the NCE-CDG leg, the "acknowledge" button appears and no matter how many times I click it, it reloads still there, and AF's website has my reservation as NCE-JFK, CDG-JFK.
I got through to a Delta rep yesterday, and she insisted that the system wont allow her to confirm me on any of the NCE-CDG flights because "Air France is doing a schedule change." That seems unlikely, and it seems unlikely this situation would persist for days. I'm thinking something is screwy with the codeshare? Should I just sit tight and try again next week?
I'd call AF and give them flight number DL says you're on. They can see if you're on it but with different PNR.
#1925
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,318
#1927
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,884
This morning's schedule changes included cancellation of my flight on July 13. 3 and 1/2 weeks out is the worst I have ever seen for such a major change. My itinerary has not been updated yet, but it will be interesting to see what is given to me. The closest alternative flight is currently pricing at full Y, so I am hoping its because we are all getting moved to that flight and not because that one is getting hosed too.
#1928
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LAX/BUR, RDU
Programs: DL SM, AAdvantage, SPG
Posts: 1,360
I hate myself for being a little jealous that my late September flights had no changes
From what it seems, I don't think the major changes after September 7 have been done yet... soon...
From what it seems, I don't think the major changes after September 7 have been done yet... soon...
#1929
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,043
Also, RDU-BDL/BWI/CVG/BNA/JAX non-stop flights look to have gotten their restarts pushed back from Sep 8th to Oct 1st.
Last edited by xliioper; Jun 19, 2021 at 9:02 pm
#1931
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,877
Clicking acknowledge often causes them to update. And, contrary to some beliefs, it doesn't forfeit the rights you have from the schedule change.
#1933
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
#1934
Join Date: May 2008
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM; UA 1K; AA 1MM
Posts: 4,513
Time change of several hours on a TATL leg caused the auto rebooking engine to move me from Delta One on a 333 to Delta One on a 359. I didn't even have to call to make it happen! Now that's magic.
#1935
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: RDU
Programs: Hhonors Gold, DL PM
Posts: 359
Just had a few international schedule changes taken care of, but noticed the agent didn't actually reissue the tickets. Given there was a date change and flight change, I'm guessing this should have been done and need to call back. The agent said the changes were 'saved.' I know things can be put in a queue to be reissued, but not sure if those are the same thing. Would appreciate if folks have experience with this.