How to handle Delta changing return flight without permission?
 

Hi All:

Need some help here. Coming from UA, I'm blind when it comes to getting help from Delta reservations...

I booked 3 reservations for family on DL stock, and all 3 had the same VS return flight from LHR to BOS (VS11) and my original email confirmations show that.

They are flying tomorrow, 7/24, and only one of the reservations is now changed to DL59 instead of VS11.

Reservations was clueless when I called and was unable to help. Do I have any recourse at this point?

Thanks! :cool:

Are they on the same PNR?

No. I wish, but I had to book them with different cards.

The PNRs were identical otherwise, though.

Yes a change of carriers requires them to rebook you. However if the flight is now full there's not much they can do.

The person will be entitled to EU261 compensation though since it was changed so close to departure. The amount depends on how much earlier the new flight leaves or much later it gets in.

Is this just a codeshare change? or did the actual flight times change?

Virgin is still selling the flight (Y.PE and Upper bookable. Only PE says "4 seats left"), so I do not see why DL can not switch you back.

Sounds like this is a HUACA issue.

Clearly OP is entitled to have the flight switched back for free if seats are available.

Imseanbrown, the DL flight leaves about 3 hours earlier.

They're different flights. One at 0930 the original at 1230.

I think he was suggesting the original flight time of the VS flight may have changed due to a schedule change at some point after purchase and the system may have auto rebooked on the earlier DL flight (particularly if the VS flight had been booked with a DL flight number on a DL ticket).

OP - I suspect that if you call back and escalate if necessary, you can get the family member moved back to the original flight if you want.

But, consider that with a chance of greater than one-hour earlier this close in, the family member will be entitled to EC 261/2004 compensation of EUR 300 (approx. $329) in cash or equivalent, not DL funny money, if the family member would prefer to leave things where they are.

Thank you all for the replies

This was indeed a game of HUCA
I ended up having to escalate this, mentioned EU comp since the change was not authorized, and now all 3 PNRs are equal again.

Few hours on hold total, but it all worked out.
Incidentally, no reason was given for the abrupt change in one of the reservations

It's amazing how having to pay out compensation all of a sudden changes a situation from "There's nothing that can be done" to "Here you go, all fixed and sorry for the problems this caused."