Jul 10, 2016, 5:48 pm
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
Jul 25, 2021, 5:32 am
#2041
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,067
Apparently, at 284 seats, NW felt the DC-10-40 was more capacity than was needed domestically and was content with replacing it with the 224 seat 757-300. The DC-10-40s were retired as the 757-300s were brought online, just as the A330s replaced the international DC-10-30s.
Last edited by xliioper; Jul 25, 2021 at 12:46 pm
Jul 25, 2021, 9:51 am
#2043
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: EDI/GLA
Programs: DL 2 MM Unobtainum | UA 1.1MM Gold | MR Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 2,272
So I had a flight JFK-SEA canceled today... except the flight still existed. Rebooked the original at 3,500 more SkyMiles.
Then Delta canceled the SEA-JFK.. except the flight still exists. Can't rebook the original without paying 13,000 more SkyMiles.
It's weeks away, but I'm already dreading the phone calls.
Also, why are these phantom cancels happening?
Then Delta canceled the SEA-JFK.. except the flight still exists. Can't rebook the original without paying 13,000 more SkyMiles.
It's weeks away, but I'm already dreading the phone calls.
Also, why are these phantom cancels happening?
Jul 25, 2021, 10:21 am
#2044
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Had an SLC-EWR redeye that would work perfectly for getting our daughter to college in New Haven next month. Canceled and now have the SLC-ATL-EWR routing now that arrives 4 hours later. No SLC-NYC redeyes that night anymore. There is an SLC-BOS redeye that would cost a bit more miles to rebook. Just wondering: any chance Delta might comp a change to the SLC-BOS routing with the existing tickets? Asking if anyone had a similar experience before investing my time in the waiting-for-an-agent Conga. Thank you!
Congrats on the daughter's college.
For New Haven, I strongly prefer to fly into Hartford BDL and rent a car there. IIRC the distance is about sixty miles and It's never taken much over an hour. In fact, it's a pretty drive on the interstate the whole way and I prefer to take the exit just before downtown New Haven so as to be only a few blocks from campus, even if I'm going directly to the Omni Hotel downtown. You really don't want to drive to New Haven from EWR. [For international travel, many Yale people use a car service to JFK, but that involves more traffic and the time needed can be highly variable.]
Last edited by MSPeconomist; Jul 25, 2021 at 10:30 am
Jul 25, 2021, 11:04 am
#2046
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Salt Lake City
Programs: Delta DM and 2 MM, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 598
@Uncle Lars
Congrats on the daughter's college.
For New Haven, I strongly prefer to fly into Hartford BDL and rent a car there. IIRC the distance is about sixty miles and It's never taken much over an hour. In fact, it's a pretty drive on the interstate the whole way and I prefer to take the exit just before downtown New Haven so as to be only a few blocks from campus, even if I'm going directly to the Omni Hotel downtown. You really don't want to drive to New Haven from EWR. [For international travel, many Yale people use a car service to JFK, but that involves more traffic and the time needed can be highly variable.]
Congrats on the daughter's college.
For New Haven, I strongly prefer to fly into Hartford BDL and rent a car there. IIRC the distance is about sixty miles and It's never taken much over an hour. In fact, it's a pretty drive on the interstate the whole way and I prefer to take the exit just before downtown New Haven so as to be only a few blocks from campus, even if I'm going directly to the Omni Hotel downtown. You really don't want to drive to New Haven from EWR. [For international travel, many Yale people use a car service to JFK, but that involves more traffic and the time needed can be highly variable.]
A danger is the limited number of flights for those connecting - on our first trip to Yale our originating BDL flight was severely delayed and I frantically called Delta (would not be possible in current environment) rerouting to an LGA origination, which led to a long stressful Uber to La Guardia, dropoff at the wrong terminal, and associated adventures, finally the sweaty just-in-time arrival at the gate!
Jul 25, 2021, 1:14 pm
#2047
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BOS, BWI, DCA, IAD
Programs: American, Delta, JetBlue, United
Posts: 2,051
They did it for us! Once you get through to them, Delta can be topnotch.
We are avoiding the current status of rental cars and doing the Amtrak thing with lots of luggage to get to Yale; EWR with the Airtrain connection and BOS with the Silver Line transfer to South Station are the best options. I think I was lucky they did not have a JFK redeye available that night!
We are avoiding the current status of rental cars and doing the Amtrak thing with lots of luggage to get to Yale; EWR with the Airtrain connection and BOS with the Silver Line transfer to South Station are the best options. I think I was lucky they did not have a JFK redeye available that night!
Jul 25, 2021, 1:32 pm
#2048
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Idaho
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 352
If someone already posted and I missed it…
Anyone getting repeated “Flight Schedule Changes for Your Upcoming Trip” emails even though there’s no changes?
We’re going BOI-OGG around Labor Day. We’ve had several schedule changes since we booked (including losing our lie flat seats), but no changes since early June. Yet every week or two I still get the standard email advising of a schedule change. I can’t detect any changes.
Do I need to accept the change or something? Usually I don’t respond and leave the itinerary as is if I’m ok with the change (or there’s no better alternative).
Anyone getting repeated “Flight Schedule Changes for Your Upcoming Trip” emails even though there’s no changes?
We’re going BOI-OGG around Labor Day. We’ve had several schedule changes since we booked (including losing our lie flat seats), but no changes since early June. Yet every week or two I still get the standard email advising of a schedule change. I can’t detect any changes.
Do I need to accept the change or something? Usually I don’t respond and leave the itinerary as is if I’m ok with the change (or there’s no better alternative).
Jul 25, 2021, 1:56 pm
#2049
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: Marriott, IHG, Delta, United
Posts: 576
What is the best way to know if a flight is actually happening or not?
I was booked on SLC-OGG for this Thursday. With the weekend schedule change, I was swapped to SEA-OGG with a connection in SEA. Being this close in, the seat options were not good on the SEA-OGG flight. My suspicion is the SLC-OGG flight is being dropped, as there is tons of availability on it now in all classes (a week ago C+ and F were nearly 80% full).
The SLC-OGG flight is preferable for a number of reasons, including being able to sit together. But I don’t want to asked to be swapped back to a ghost flight, only to find out a day or two later the flight doesn’t exist and we have no other routing options.
As mentioned, the original SLC-OGG is still bookable on DL.com, but is there any insider way to know if that flight is in the process of being dropped? Waiting it out really isn’t an option, with the flight just five days away.
I was booked on SLC-OGG for this Thursday. With the weekend schedule change, I was swapped to SEA-OGG with a connection in SEA. Being this close in, the seat options were not good on the SEA-OGG flight. My suspicion is the SLC-OGG flight is being dropped, as there is tons of availability on it now in all classes (a week ago C+ and F were nearly 80% full).
The SLC-OGG flight is preferable for a number of reasons, including being able to sit together. But I don’t want to asked to be swapped back to a ghost flight, only to find out a day or two later the flight doesn’t exist and we have no other routing options.
As mentioned, the original SLC-OGG is still bookable on DL.com, but is there any insider way to know if that flight is in the process of being dropped? Waiting it out really isn’t an option, with the flight just five days away.
Jul 25, 2021, 2:01 pm
#2050
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,878
What is the best way to know if a flight is actually happening or not?
I was booked on SLC-OGG for this Thursday. With the weekend schedule change, I was swapped to SEA-OGG with a connection in SEA. Being this close in, the seat options were not good on the SEA-OGG flight. My suspicion is the SLC-OGG flight is being dropped, as there is tons of availability on it now in all classes (a week ago C+ and F were nearly 80% full).
The SLC-OGG flight is preferable for a number of reasons, including being able to sit together. But I don’t want to asked to be swapped back to a ghost flight, only to find out a day or two later the flight doesn’t exist and we have no other routing options.
As mentioned, the original SLC-OGG is still bookable on DL.com, but is there any insider way to know if that flight is in the process of being dropped? Waiting it out really isn’t an option, with the flight just five days away.
I was booked on SLC-OGG for this Thursday. With the weekend schedule change, I was swapped to SEA-OGG with a connection in SEA. Being this close in, the seat options were not good on the SEA-OGG flight. My suspicion is the SLC-OGG flight is being dropped, as there is tons of availability on it now in all classes (a week ago C+ and F were nearly 80% full).
The SLC-OGG flight is preferable for a number of reasons, including being able to sit together. But I don’t want to asked to be swapped back to a ghost flight, only to find out a day or two later the flight doesn’t exist and we have no other routing options.
As mentioned, the original SLC-OGG is still bookable on DL.com, but is there any insider way to know if that flight is in the process of being dropped? Waiting it out really isn’t an option, with the flight just five days away.
2) Flights are virtually never cancelled just 5 days before
3) Cancellations happen on Saturday and there are no Saturdays left for you
Bottom line, you're good to go.
Jul 25, 2021, 3:40 pm
#2052
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: PHX
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HHonrs Diamond
Posts: 1,336
All involved the widebody ATL-PHX flight but the inventory was not zeroed out. The flight was cleared of most seat assignments but still existed and was bookable.
Also noticed that on some connections that involved widebodies, the SLC-ATL or DTW-ATL leg also looked like people were moved off the flight but the seats and flight remained for booking.
Perhaps someone was trying to free up some widebodies to redeploy to international duty but applied the purge to way too many routes, or over way too long of a time frame?
When I called DL this morning, supervisor said they were told if the flight if bookable but empty, it is good and to move anyone back to the original flight if they wanted it.
This schedule change Saturday mess is likely to clog up phone lines for a while.
Jul 25, 2021, 5:35 pm
#2053
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: NYC/LAX
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 391
It seems like there was some sort of a reset involving all (domestic) flights on the A339. My JFK-SEA got switched to JFK-LAX-SEA even though my original flight was never canceled or changed. I had to call to get it switched back (couldn't change on website), and when I saw the seatmap it looks like they booted everyone out. Every seat was open and it was bookable at the lowest fare class (X). I saw another seatmap of SEA-ATL on a 339 and it was the same - most seats were empty.
Jul 25, 2021, 5:40 pm
#2054
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,067
It seems like there was some sort of a reset involving all (domestic) flights on the A339. My JFK-SEA got switched to JFK-LAX-SEA even though my original flight was never canceled or changed. I had to call to get it switched back (couldn't change on website), and when I saw the seatmap it looks like they booted everyone out. Every seat was open and it was bookable at the lowest fare class (X). I saw another seatmap of SEA-ATL on a 339 and it was the same - most seats were empty.
Jul 25, 2021, 6:23 pm
#2055
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: Marriott, IHG, Delta, United
Posts: 576
That being said, if that A330 does fly from SLC-OGG, it will be so empty that a FO and their companion would probably both clear an upgrade to F. If it were just me, I might be adventurous. But with family and young kids in tow, I have conceded to a 757 (blah) from SEA-OGG, because at this point I just can’t risk it.
So unsure what is going on, but it seems a lot of folks got booted from potential ghost A330 domestic flights this weekend, and I my case, just 5 days before take off.