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
#2806
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: 27,047
What? I have done it many times before. In fact, I received an ecredit when I rebooked for Y+ seats I had booked on one segment. (Just to be clear, when I type Y+, I am referring to economy comfort, not premium economy)
I could see this being the issue. While Y+ is wide open on the segment I was looking at, there are only two Y+ seats available on the first flights and I have 3 people on my reservation.
I could see this being the issue. While Y+ is wide open on the segment I was looking at, there are only two Y+ seats available on the first flights and I have 3 people on my reservation.
You must upgrade everyone or no one when on one reservation.
#2807
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,953
But I've done just that before, on the very flight I rebooked in fact. Initial flight was YYC-ATL-CVG. YYC-ATL on WS. ATL-CVG on DL. I had purchase Y+ on ATL-CVG only (not at initial booking, after ticketing). So was this allowed because of the WS flight (basically an "upgrade" on all DL metal)? Just trying to understand how this works on DL. Thanks.
#2808
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,946
These are true though. For reasons known only to DL RM there won't always be an upgrade offer even though there may be available seats in C+ (or F)
#2809
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,068
But I've done just that before, on the very flight I rebooked in fact. Initial flight was YYC-ATL-CVG. YYC-ATL on WS. ATL-CVG on DL. I had purchase Y+ on ATL-CVG only (not at initial booking, after ticketing). So was this allowed because of the WS flight (basically an "upgrade" on all DL metal)? Just trying to understand how this works on DL. Thanks.
Last edited by xliioper; Apr 25, 2023 at 10:26 am
#2811
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,878
If you require an agent, then generally no. But if the trip is quite short, and the 3 hour change prevents you from completing all your planned meetings, then you might have a case to move your outbound by a few hours to compensate
#2812
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,043
My July JFK-SEA-JNU trip booked at the start of the year went through a bunch of schedule changes; I think this last weekend's ones were the last and most impactful so I went ahead and accepted the changes. I was semi-hoping a flat bed option would reappear for JFK-SEA but it just went from 739 to 320neo.
#2813
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 45
Not normally a Delta flyer, but booked my wife on a flight SEA-SFO Z class for this summer. They changed the schedule putting her on a flight 101 minutes earlier. Normally this wouldn't be a big issue, but we're going to an event that afternoon so it really eats into the time she'd have at the party. They agents I've talked to are stonewalling me on getting a refund because it's less than the 120 minutes to be considered a "significant change." Am I stuck with the eCredit for this or should I keep trying?
#2814
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,878
Not normally a Delta flyer, but booked my wife on a flight SEA-SFO Z class for this summer. They changed the schedule putting her on a flight 101 minutes earlier. Normally this wouldn't be a big issue, but we're going to an event that afternoon so it really eats into the time she'd have at the party. They agents I've talked to are stonewalling me on getting a refund because it's less than the 120 minutes to be considered a "significant change." Am I stuck with the eCredit for this or should I keep trying?
#2815
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,068
Not normally a Delta flyer, but booked my wife on a flight SEA-SFO Z class for this summer. They changed the schedule putting her on a flight 101 minutes earlier. Normally this wouldn't be a big issue, but we're going to an event that afternoon so it really eats into the time she'd have at the party. They agents I've talked to are stonewalling me on getting a refund because it's less than the 120 minutes to be considered a "significant change." Am I stuck with the eCredit for this or should I keep trying?
#2816
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 45
Thanks for the suggestions. The problem with the later flight is that one arrives after the last BART train has left. If they don't ever bend the 120 minute rule, I think I'd rather cancel and put her on a better timed Alaska flight. Bummer about this 120 minute change on Delta's whim!
#2817
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,878
Thanks for the suggestions. The problem with the later flight is that one arrives after the last BART train has left. If they don't ever bend the 120 minute rule, I think I'd rather cancel and put her on a better timed Alaska flight. Bummer about this 120 minute change on Delta's whim!
#2819
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,878
#2820
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: 27,047
Call back. If they still give pushback, point out This wasn't just a simple flight time change. You actually had a flight canceled.