Chris Elliott double smackdown on DL today
 

Ok, so elliott.org is rather lame as the traveler can do no wrong and the evil airline can do no right. Somehow I end up visiting the site anyway, like a moth drawn to a flame. :)

So today Chris posts two smackdowns on the widget.

First up, the case of two travelers who wanted to switch to an earlier flight instead of the flight they paid for. One was allowed to switch for $50, the other was refused even with empty seats. I expect number two had an infamous E fare, which for better or worse, I believe Delta discloses all the limitations when you buy one of those.

I think the GA did the right thing in standing his/her ground. Who knows, maybe Delta RM is watching to make sure that E fare rules are followed to the letter.

http://elliott.org/thats-ridiculous-...lta-air-lines/

Case number two: Man buys tickets for family including daughter's fiance. Daughter and fiance break up, and fiance won't pay for ticket. Delta will only allow credit for fiance as that ticket is in his name.

Evil :cool: Delta will not refund ticket cost to father, even though it sounds like the lost money is well spent in ridding daughter of said fiance:

http://elliott.org/case-dismissed-2/...-sorry-for-me/

So anyway, that's the morning dose of :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: .

Enjoy!

David

Wow - so the first guy bought (most likely) a basic economy ticket where you have to acknowledge twice that it's not changeable, and then is upset that DL wouldn't change it.
Didn't CE call BE fares "customer shaming" not too long ago due to the huge disclaimers you have to acknowledge? So which way does he want it?


The second guy wanted a refund because his daughters ex is a sleaze. A: not DL's problem, and not really verifiable. Sure it sucks to be out money, but it's not like the caterer's give you a refund of your deposit.

I'm waiting for the CE story about how DL denied boarding and called the airport cops on a drunk guy shouting racial slurs just because they didn't want to pay IDB...for shame DL! Or how DL shamefully wouldn't accept someone's emotional support hippo. Or how DL shamefully charged someone an overweight bag fee to check a baby grand piano.

CE the airlines have rules, and on many occasions bend them for customers, not breaking the rules they have clearly established is not grounds for crucifixion. Save your ranting for when airlines actually do the wrong thing and your words will carry a lot more weight.

More garbage from people who think that steel tubes at 30K should be socialist utopias where all are equal.

:rolleyes:

Years ago - (It might've been on NW) - I bought 2 tix from PIT/TXL (I think) for myself and an acquaintance. (Notice that I didn't say, myself and a friend) My acquaintance kept himm hah-ing around about, supposedly, how long it was taking to get a passport processed. Yada. Yada.

He never did come through with the passport, or the money. I called and asked if I could use the funds, since it was charged to my credit card. NO DICE, of course.

Fortunately, it was the good old days, and, the ticket was only around $300! Lesson learned! :D

And of course the moderator on the site refuses to approve my critical comment about the article.

Basically what I said was that the terms of an E fare are clearly outlined, and if he wanted more flexibility, he should have purchased a more expensive fare. Another misleading website with an agenda, it seems.

Exactly. I agree with all the above comments, Chris Elliott runs a site where the customer can do no wrong.

Sometimes the people genuinely should be helped, but mostly not.

I just posted the links for the entertainment value. Surely our pal bubba will weigh in shortly. :)

David

^ Yep - a really horrible site.

I have to ask: Why did you bother to create this thread and cite his story when you think the content (specifically these two instances) is garbage?

I'm relatively sure the only thing that will make CE happy is if all airlines started selling fully flexible business class tickets for any O/D for $10 each.

And then he'd still be up in arms for people being denied tickets on a sold out flight, and for someone having a bad day having to board fifth in line and not getting to sit in the cockpit to cheer them up.

Oh, fercrisakes.

Somewhat OT, but neither of these links works for me. I get a page saying FORBIDDEN. You don't have permission to access....on this server. I'm using wifi at a hotel.

Could it be the case that CE has so offended a hotel chain recently that they have blocked his website? I'm sure I've gone to the CE website from the same hotel in the past, although probably not during the last couple months.

No just click in the address bar where the link address appears after clicking on the link and click go or hit enter it will load. Its a matter of how the website is setup.

I thought that some folks here might derive some entertainment from the two "woeful" tales.

Admittedly it is not a substantive topic, but it is Delta related.

And I do actually learn some things from Mr. Elliott's sites, particularly in respect to rental car companies and the VRBO/Homeaway type services. :)

Cheers,

David

I got in by just opening the elliott.org website and finding the two DL articles on the first page. Still, it seems strange that a hotel website would try the block anything that isn't clearly extremely offensive. Maybe I should experiment with some other websites and see whether they try to block other stuff too.

Yep. Only use credit cards to book home rentals, and always take photos of your rental car/refuse a car with any damage. Funny how so many complaints seem to come back to the same issues.....