Schedule Change Advice
 

Hello all...I enjoy using DL's schedule changes to my advantage as much as anyone, but I got one today that stinks pretty bad - looking for some advice on what to do from the wise folks here.

As I detailed in the RUC thread a while back, I booked myself DCA-JFK-SFO on a Saturday morning in October, and I was able to confirm the D1 upgrade on JFK-SFO.

The DCA flight left at 9a, arriving in JFK at 10:18, leaving me plenty of time to make my 11:50a JFK-SFO.

Due to a schedule change, DCA-JFK now leaves at 9:45, arriving in New York at 11:13, cutting my connection to less than 40 minutes.

I realize that this is enough time assuming everything goes right, and that on a Saturday morning, it should - more or less.

The problem is the D1 JFK-SFO seat is very important to me, and I do not want to miss this flight and be bumped from sitting up front. I chose this routing specifically because I wanted to use my RUC on this product.

As I see it I have a couple of options. Both DCA and IAD have similar schedules for this Saturday as of now...a 6a flight and a 945a flight. I live relatively equidistant to DCA and IAD, so it doesn't matter to me which airport I depart from. All things being equal for an early morning flight, I typically would lean to DCA because you can go from curb to gate in 2-4 minutes, (with precheck) while IAD takes more like 15.

I could switch to either flight leaving at 6a and leave myself a 4+ hour layover in JFK, but that isn't appealing because a.) it means leaving at 4-4:30a to begin what is going to be a full day on the west coast (meaning 1:30a pacific time) b.) a 4 hour layover in JFK, or I stick it out with the tight connection and hope it all works out for the best.

What say you?

Have you looked at the next JFK-SFO flight? Would that work for you? If so, assuming that there are still a farir number of D1 seat a available, you could ask to be moved to that one with the RUC upgrade transferred/forced if there's currently no upgrade inventory.

I'd stick with DCA over IAD because neither option solves your connection time issue at JFK. Unless arriving later at SFO is not doable for scheduling reasons, I would move to the later xJFK now (as D1 may well not be available at the time of a misconnect) or consider flying up the night before and overnighting at a JFK hotel as you've arranged this itinerary for the D1 experience, not convenience.

To be clear - I booked this flight because I needed to be in San Francisco that day, mid-afternoon if possible.

I am FO now, dropped down from Plat due to a job change and substantial reduction in flying and have RUC to burn. so I chose to fly (slightly) out of the way to JFK instead of stopping somewhere "on the way" (MSP, DTW, SLC) because the flight times worked nicely and I could use an RUC for the 6+ hour D1 experience. It all came together nicely.

I definitely consider the idea of going up the night before, but the added cost of a hotel just doesn't make sense.

The next JFK-SFO isn't until 3:55p, arriving at 7:30p, which doesn't really work as a.) I'd miss my event that begins at 7p b.) I'd still have a 4-hour layover, it would just be in the afternoon instead of the evening.

If that's the case, I might as well switch to the 6a flight and just suck it up.

It's a tough call...go with the miserable early AM flight for a day on the west coast, or roll the dice with a now very doable, but, tight connection.

I'd personally take the as$ crack of dawn flight. I don't enjoy doing it, but tight(ish) connections - esp before a flight I really MUST be on - stress me out so much I can't sleep anyway, so....

Some thoughts. None is particularly appetizing or comforting, but what the heck.

-- have you been watching the DCA-JFK flights to see if they typically land early?

-- have you considered DCA-LGA/JFK-SFO? (I know, Van Wyck traffic during rush hour is not idea. Just raising it).

-- Can you do WAS-NYC the night before to avoid the early am flight?

If nothing else, these other options should make the 6am flight more appealing!

Thanks for the thoughts!

1.) I have, and yes, they usually do. In fact, I've taken DCA-JFK 10+ times and I think they've landed early nearly every time. But of course, it's not the "routine" that has me worried. It's the issue that I have 0 buffer for any sort of issue.
2.) I did - the problem with that, is that to make an 11:30a from JFK, I'd need to take the 6a to LGA...at that point, i'd might as well take the 6a to JFK
3.) I suppose I could, but I'd rather not.

Ahhhhh sucks. Sounds like 6a is gonna be the way to go!

Roll out of bed. Fly DCA-JFK. Shower in the JFK T4 SkyClub. Hope for good weather and enjoy the SkyDeck.

I also has a sked change into JFK. Only around 40 minutes but gets me in closer to midnight into JFK versus just after 11pm. This late at night, it does make a difference and now I'd rather just do the red-eye.

DL used to be pretty flexible on sked changes but now they seem to be tightening up and I was told absolutely no waiver of change fees (I have a P class fare so there is a change fee) unless the sked change is 91 minutes or more.

Not sure if I just got unlucky with the two agents I spoke to but both said absolutely no ability to change flights with repricing and paying change fees unless sked change is 91+ minutes.

This. Keep in mind with 6+ hours on that flight you'll get plenty of time for some z's. You've got a pretty good seat since you burned the RUC so take advantage of it and get some rest.

FWIW, I just DM'd @delta on twitter and they took care of it for me in about 2 minutes.

I went with the 6a option, agree with most of you that the best move is to suck it up and just get up early.

I agree with the opinion to take the 6am early flight and utilize the JFK T4 skyclub since you get access with the D1 JFK-SFO ticket. Shower there and relax or try to get some rest in one of the couch seats.

Definitely take the earlier flight - especially if there is a chance the DC flight will land at T2 and you have to get over to T4 for the SFO flight (40 minutes would be tricky). Both Sky Clubs are decent and included with D1 (the DCA or IAD one is likely also included).

Having already moved to the 6am from DCA, did you consider the earlier JFK-SFO flight?

You are probably on the noonish flight from JFK so you have a couple of additional earlier options. You could thus take the one leaving at around 9:30am and still have a 2hr+ layover in JFK.

Or go back to the adrenaline rush and try to get on the ~8:15am one from JFK ;)

THIS. You'll have a nice visit in JFK T4 sky club (free with your D1 ticket). Have breakfast & lunch along with a nice shower to freshen up before your flight. And then enjoy the D1 experience.