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
#797
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: AZO, SRQ
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 311
I got an odd one today. I purchased F, round-trip, GRR-ATL-SRQ-ATL-GRR in March of 2019. Receipt says F and until today itinerary showed "First Class (F)" Schedule changes today aren't flight times or equipment changes, but now the fare class listed on all segments is J. Still in first class, it's now First Class (J)". I thought J was international D1. Is it something I need to worry about?
#798
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: 27,121
I got an odd one today. I purchased F, round-trip, GRR-ATL-SRQ-ATL-GRR in March of 2019. Receipt says F and until today itinerary showed "First Class (F)" Schedule changes today aren't flight times or equipment changes, but now the fare class listed on all segments is J. Still in first class, it's now First Class (J)". I thought J was international D1. Is it something I need to worry about?
#799
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: AZO, SRQ
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 311
Thanks!
#800
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,883
How do you figure?? I can think of very few business cabins that resemble domestic first. It's actually a premium economy cabin. It's almost identical to many airline's premium economy products.
#801
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: 27,121
Just look at how AA calls the cabin when flying to say Panama. Even though it's a standard single aisle, with domestic F service, it's gets called Business.
#802
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,883
You should re-read my comment. I agree with you that First is not an appropriate name for that cabin. But you argued that Business IS the right name. I'm saying that's ridiculous. Domestic F does not resemble a typical business class cabin. If you want to give it an appropriate name, then it's a premium economy cabin. Many premium economy cabins around the world are very similar to our domestic F.
#803
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: 27,121
You should re-read my comment. I agree with you that First is not an appropriate name for that cabin. But you argued that Business IS the right name. I'm saying that's ridiculous. Domestic F does not resemble a typical business class cabin. If you want to give it an appropriate name, then it's a premium economy cabin. Many premium economy cabins around the world are very similar to our domestic F.
#804
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,883
You're getting more and more nonsensical each time you double down on this. Where is the commandment that says in a 2-cabin plane, thou shall call one of those cabins Business? Fact is, on either side of the Atlantic ocean, the domestic premium cabin looks an awful lot like Premium Economy. Not business. Not even close
#805
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Grrrrr schedule change Saturday strikes again.
My BTV - DTW - RDU flights got all screwed up since they seem to have canceled the afternoon BTV - DTW / ATL / LGA flights which means we now have a 545am departure from BTV - DTW and then our DTW - RDU flights leaves at 8pm from DTW and literally zero options after 645am that can get you down to RDU which is a non-starter since I can't leave until late afternoon
I'm conflicted on what to do -- this ticket was a ridiculously good deal (it's over Memorial Day weekend and cost like $85 for BE on regional jets where seating is 2-2 so BE is less of an issue) so I'd almost rather keep it and see if schedule changes between now and May put some other BTV - XYZ - RDU option back on the table (at the moment the only afternoon flight is BTV - JFK and it lands 30 minutes before JFK - RDU so that routing isn't permitted).
On the other hand, if nothing changes and I wait to book BTV - RDU, prices will only go up because it's a holiday weekend.
My BTV - DTW - RDU flights got all screwed up since they seem to have canceled the afternoon BTV - DTW / ATL / LGA flights which means we now have a 545am departure from BTV - DTW and then our DTW - RDU flights leaves at 8pm from DTW and literally zero options after 645am that can get you down to RDU which is a non-starter since I can't leave until late afternoon
I'm conflicted on what to do -- this ticket was a ridiculously good deal (it's over Memorial Day weekend and cost like $85 for BE on regional jets where seating is 2-2 so BE is less of an issue) so I'd almost rather keep it and see if schedule changes between now and May put some other BTV - XYZ - RDU option back on the table (at the moment the only afternoon flight is BTV - JFK and it lands 30 minutes before JFK - RDU so that routing isn't permitted).
On the other hand, if nothing changes and I wait to book BTV - RDU, prices will only go up because it's a holiday weekend.
#806
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: LAN
Programs: DL Skymiles, AF/KL Flying Blue
Posts: 304
Grrrrr schedule change Saturday strikes again.
My BTV - DTW - RDU flights got all screwed up since they seem to have canceled the afternoon BTV - DTW / ATL / LGA flights which means we now have a 545am departure from BTV - DTW and then our DTW - RDU flights leaves at 8pm from DTW and literally zero options after 645am that can get you down to RDU which is a non-starter since I can't leave until late afternoon
I'm conflicted on what to do -- this ticket was a ridiculously good deal (it's over Memorial Day weekend and cost like $85 for BE on regional jets where seating is 2-2 so BE is less of an issue) so I'd almost rather keep it and see if schedule changes between now and May put some other BTV - XYZ - RDU option back on the table (at the moment the only afternoon flight is BTV - JFK and it lands 30 minutes before JFK - RDU so that routing isn't permitted).
On the other hand, if nothing changes and I wait to book BTV - RDU, prices will only go up because it's a holiday weekend.
My BTV - DTW - RDU flights got all screwed up since they seem to have canceled the afternoon BTV - DTW / ATL / LGA flights which means we now have a 545am departure from BTV - DTW and then our DTW - RDU flights leaves at 8pm from DTW and literally zero options after 645am that can get you down to RDU which is a non-starter since I can't leave until late afternoon
I'm conflicted on what to do -- this ticket was a ridiculously good deal (it's over Memorial Day weekend and cost like $85 for BE on regional jets where seating is 2-2 so BE is less of an issue) so I'd almost rather keep it and see if schedule changes between now and May put some other BTV - XYZ - RDU option back on the table (at the moment the only afternoon flight is BTV - JFK and it lands 30 minutes before JFK - RDU so that routing isn't permitted).
On the other hand, if nothing changes and I wait to book BTV - RDU, prices will only go up because it's a holiday weekend.
#807
Join Date: May 2013
Location: RMS
Programs: DL Plat, UA Gold, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Credit Card Diamond
Posts: 8,803
Usually these schedule changes sort themselves out by Sunday morning, but I have a SAT-JFK flight that is still showing:
Aircraft:
Flight Time: NOT AVAILABLE
On Time % : N/A
Miles Flown: N/A
The flight number changed, but the arrival and departure times didn't. Hopefully it will correct by this evening.
Aircraft:
Flight Time: NOT AVAILABLE
On Time % : N/A
Miles Flown: N/A
The flight number changed, but the arrival and departure times didn't. Hopefully it will correct by this evening.
#808
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Boston
Programs: Delta-DM, Marriott Titanium, IHG Spire, Hertz Presidents Circle, Avis Whatever
Posts: 12
Schedule change Saturday has struck for my trip in August. Due to a change of almost two hours, could I get Delta to change from a layover in CVG to a direct BOS->CDG flight? This is an award ticket. Thanks!
Thu, August 1 from Original: DL 5438 BOS (1:45PM->4:13PM) to CVG (6:04PM) to CDG.
Now: DL 5267 BOS (11:50AM->2:15PM) to CVG (6:04PM) to CDG
Thu, August 1 from Original: DL 5438 BOS (1:45PM->4:13PM) to CVG (6:04PM) to CDG.
Now: DL 5267 BOS (11:50AM->2:15PM) to CVG (6:04PM) to CDG
#809
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,883
Schedule change Saturday has struck for my trip in August. Due to a change of almost two hours, could I get Delta to change from a layover in CVG to a direct BOS->CDG flight? This is an award ticket. Thanks!
Thu, August 1 from Original: DL 5438 BOS (1:45PM->4:13PM) to CVG (6:04PM) to CDG.
Now: DL 5267 BOS (11:50AM->2:15PM) to CVG (6:04PM) to CDG
Thu, August 1 from Original: DL 5438 BOS (1:45PM->4:13PM) to CVG (6:04PM) to CDG.
Now: DL 5267 BOS (11:50AM->2:15PM) to CVG (6:04PM) to CDG
#810
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Boston
Programs: Delta-DM, Marriott Titanium, IHG Spire, Hertz Presidents Circle, Avis Whatever
Posts: 12
I called in and after talking with the CSR, he changed my flight to BOS->CDG direct! I had to remind him about the schedule change or else he wanted 90k more miles. I'm excited!