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
#751
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
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Posts: 10,348
Have there been any changes on SIN-NRT-DTW-IAH? One option you could look at is getting rerouted SIN-NRT-ATL-IAH and then just terminating in ATL (if you have all carryon luggage, or if you're willing to chance that you'd be able to exit E Concourse with checked bags).
#752
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: DL DM, AS MVP 100K, Amtrak peon, Colbert Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 4,534
Award ticket (R/O classes) MSP-DTW-MEX changed from a 95-minute cnx to a 3-hour cnx.
MSP-AUS-MEX - which is near-perfect overflight distance - has award space open on each segment, as do the other logical routings on AM through Texas (DFW/IAH/SAT). But DL.dumb won't sell those as connecting points, and the phone agent confirmed that all he could see was governed by married-segment logic. The only alternatives are a few all-DL itins through ATL or JFK. He offered date flexibility, but my dates are fixed. Any ideas on how I might be able to score a more efficient routing that also allows me to try AM? (Otherwise I'd gladly go through JFK on the 787-9 frequency, but no space there currently.)
MSP-AUS-MEX - which is near-perfect overflight distance - has award space open on each segment, as do the other logical routings on AM through Texas (DFW/IAH/SAT). But DL.dumb won't sell those as connecting points, and the phone agent confirmed that all he could see was governed by married-segment logic. The only alternatives are a few all-DL itins through ATL or JFK. He offered date flexibility, but my dates are fixed. Any ideas on how I might be able to score a more efficient routing that also allows me to try AM? (Otherwise I'd gladly go through JFK on the 787-9 frequency, but no space there currently.)
#753
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
Award ticket (R/O classes) MSP-DTW-MEX changed from a 95-minute cnx to a 3-hour cnx.
MSP-AUS-MEX - which is near-perfect overflight distance - has award space open on each segment, as do the other logical routings on AM through Texas (DFW/IAH/SAT). But DL.dumb won't sell those as connecting points, and the phone agent confirmed that all he could see was governed by married-segment logic. The only alternatives are a few all-DL itins through ATL or JFK. He offered date flexibility, but my dates are fixed. Any ideas on how I might be able to score a more efficient routing that also allows me to try AM? (Otherwise I'd gladly go through JFK on the 787-9 frequency, but no space there currently.)
MSP-AUS-MEX - which is near-perfect overflight distance - has award space open on each segment, as do the other logical routings on AM through Texas (DFW/IAH/SAT). But DL.dumb won't sell those as connecting points, and the phone agent confirmed that all he could see was governed by married-segment logic. The only alternatives are a few all-DL itins through ATL or JFK. He offered date flexibility, but my dates are fixed. Any ideas on how I might be able to score a more efficient routing that also allows me to try AM? (Otherwise I'd gladly go through JFK on the 787-9 frequency, but no space there currently.)
#754
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
Yeah, this sounds like the best possibility. Or SDC from DTW-IAH to DTW-ATL-IAH after arrival in DTW.
#755
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 890
Especially for a change of only 40 minutes. Even day of at check-in I haven't had success in this regard when I have two tickets in the situation like OP (getting them to just re-route me to the destination of the second ticket from my first origin). They've told me I would have to refare the ticket and pay the change fee (I'm not "complaining" about that - just stating the experience for the OP). The one thing I have had them do is for back-to-back tickets, is I have been able to use a schedule change on one to get them to shift the other itinerary to earlier or later flights so I can still make the "connection" or make it more smoothly.
Have there been any changes on SIN-NRT-DTW-IAH? One option you could look at is getting rerouted SIN-NRT-ATL-IAH and then just terminating in ATL (if you have all carryon luggage, or if you're willing to chance that you'd be able to exit E Concourse with checked bags).
Have there been any changes on SIN-NRT-DTW-IAH? One option you could look at is getting rerouted SIN-NRT-ATL-IAH and then just terminating in ATL (if you have all carryon luggage, or if you're willing to chance that you'd be able to exit E Concourse with checked bags).
#756
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
Then try PVNs suggestion. Upon arrival at DTW, ask to SDC to DTW-ATL-IAH from DTW-IAH. If they ask just say you want to get with someone on the flight. I doubt they'll care enough to ask. With no luggage, no need to worry about bags being tagged all the way to IAH.
#757
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 890
Yep, that's likely the strategy I'l employ. Thanks!
#758
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: DL DM, AS MVP 100K, Amtrak peon, Colbert Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 4,534
Thanks, HUCA worked. There was proper availability on all segments and the rep was able to offer an even exchange.
#759
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 9
I used a RUC for my flight DEN -> DTW -> BDL but got hit with the Saturday schedule change to a -14 minute connection. Obviously that wasn't going to work so I was auto rebooked onto a valid connection through MSP. It put me in coach so I just called to get that taken care of but was told that they couldn't re-apply the updates on those flights. Is this just a case of HUCA? The upgrades were already confirmed long before the schedule change so it seems like they should be able to just put me back.
#760
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,348
I used a RUC for my flight DEN -> DTW -> BDL but got hit with the Saturday schedule change to a -14 minute connection. Obviously that wasn't going to work so I was auto rebooked onto a valid connection through MSP. It put me in coach so I just called to get that taken care of but was told that they couldn't re-apply the updates on those flights. Is this just a case of HUCA? The upgrades were already confirmed long before the schedule change so it seems like they should be able to just put me back.
#761
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: LAN
Programs: DL Skymiles, AF/KL Flying Blue
Posts: 304
Had changes to both LAN-DTW and DTW-LAN in late November/early December. Times are exactly the same, still a CRJ-200, still operated by SkyWest. Only the flight numbers changed from 4210 to 3849 LAN-DTW and from 4274 to 3684 DTW-LAN. And here I thought this would be exciting.
#764
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
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#765
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
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