Same day changes intercontinental flights - advice, please
 

Hi, newbie questions regarding intercontinental flights here. Thanks for any help!

I'm scheduled to fly MSN-DTW-AMS-CPH on DL138 and DL 9612. Is there any chance to get onto an earlier flight the same day without that costing me an arm and a leg? Goal is to end up in CPH as early as possible.

For example: If I go to the airport early, I assume I could try to get onto DL1509. What about the connecting flights, do I need to hope at every connecting airport that they pull me onto an earlier flight, or can they arrange all of it in MSN/DTW? The last leg is operated by KLM, btw.

Also: Should I call the hotline, and if so at what time (same date, or up to 24 hours in advance), or is that pointless?

SDC rules say no changes until all international legs have been flown ... that said, though, on the day of travel DL **might** let you take an earlier MSN-DTW flight (or perhaps allow you to re-route over MSP to get to AMS) if your connection in DTW looks problematic (e.g., issues with weather, late equipment, etc)

I'd say there'za 50/50 chance you'll make it to DTW. AMS, maybe 10% chance - - 30% if there's potential IROPS that day, weather, etc. On KLM? FUGGEDABOUDIT!

I'm assuming you're on some type of standard, restricted ticket.

SDC does not include int'l, and certainly not KLM.

Good luck! :)

KLM final segment: It is not possible.

Trying to get into DTW or AMS earlier is only helpful if OP is expecting delays to affect his/her ticketed flights.

You need M fare or higher for the KLM legs or starting or starting 2 May flex for your KLM flights:
http://acn.klmsys.net/downloads/bijl...%2019apr16.pdf

I've been denied earlier KLM intraEU flights at AMS on M fares.

You won't be able to change your flights unless there is some delay that could cause you to miss a connection, or weather waiver in place. As others mentioned, there is no same day change for international unless you reprice the entire ticket.

Flight may have been full or you showed a Delta BP?
Otherwise it's no problem and if you show up early enough KLM agents check and ask if you would like to take a earlier flight even up until like 30 minutes before the flight.
2nd options is just do it yourself or let show an agent the 'tariefvoorwaarden' when you pull up your KLM PNR and trip:
Wijzigen na vertrek: Wijzigen na vertrek van de vlucht is kosteloos toegestaan.

That's what I was gonna say!

;) :D ;)

In more than twenty-five years of connecting through AMS regularly on M class tickets, I have never been offered the option to take an earlier flight. Only once did I manage to changes, and that was after IROPs where my rebooking onto the exAMS connecting flight was somehow done inconsistently.

However, I always have tickets issued by PMNW and now DL, so could that be the difference? Sometimes the KLM operated flights are NW/DL codeshares and sometimes not.

As late as 14 april they offered to put me on a earlier & direct flight from ZRH to AMS instead of a later ZRH-CDG-AMS one. The earlier direct flight was a HV flight so i refused. This one was on a DL/006 issued ticket. However when booking i always ask the Delta agent for the AF/KLM PNR and depending on the operating carrier i use the native KLM and/or AF apps and websites once outside Delta territory.

To get one's point across when needed speaking dutch @AMS or german @ZRH certainly doesn't hurt either.

I always get the AF/KLM PNR but don't use their website(s) except for OLCI (and checking flight status, etc. without signing in).

I speak French and German, but not fluently. I use these local languages in restaurants and hotels but not at airports. Maybe I should change that SOP, although of course neither language would help in AMS, which is where I would be trying to change the intraEU flights.

Thanks everyone for their answers. Haven't made up my mind if it's worth trying ... For what it's worth it is an M fare, but we'll see what happens. Thanks again!

Reporting back. Since it's one flight number all the way through from MSN via DTW to AMS any change requires a repricing - no chance even with goodwill at the airport.