Thanks, Delta; Flat Tire Rule
Sep 7, 16, 2:10 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,471
Thanks, Delta; Flat Tire Rule
I was supposed to fly home tonight from Maui on an award ticket in Y.
My rental car wouldn't start and left me stranded in a parking lot, and unable to get to the airport to make my flight.
Called the DM line and the supervisor allowed the agent to use the "flat tire rule" even though I wasn't physically at the airport.
Btw, for those of you that don't know, the "flat tire" rule is that if you show up within 60 minutes past your scheduled departure time the counter agents have the authority to rebook you for no charges or fees, according to the DM line agent who took care of me.
Thanks, DL. I truly mean it.
My rental car wouldn't start and left me stranded in a parking lot, and unable to get to the airport to make my flight.
Called the DM line and the supervisor allowed the agent to use the "flat tire rule" even though I wasn't physically at the airport.
Btw, for those of you that don't know, the "flat tire" rule is that if you show up within 60 minutes past your scheduled departure time the counter agents have the authority to rebook you for no charges or fees, according to the DM line agent who took care of me.
Thanks, DL. I truly mean it.
Sep 7, 16, 7:05 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Palm Coast, FL (DAB) USA
Posts: 242
I was supposed to fly home tonight from Maui on an award ticket in Y.
My rental car wouldn't start and left me stranded in a parking lot, and unable to get to the airport to make my flight.
Called the DM line and the supervisor allowed the agent to use the "flat tire rule" even though I wasn't physically at the airport.
Btw, for those of you that don't know, the "flat tire" rule is that if you show up within 60 minutes past your scheduled departure time the counter agents have the authority to rebook you for no charges or fees, according to the DM line agent who took care of me.
Thanks, DL. I truly mean it.
My rental car wouldn't start and left me stranded in a parking lot, and unable to get to the airport to make my flight.
Called the DM line and the supervisor allowed the agent to use the "flat tire rule" even though I wasn't physically at the airport.
Btw, for those of you that don't know, the "flat tire" rule is that if you show up within 60 minutes past your scheduled departure time the counter agents have the authority to rebook you for no charges or fees, according to the DM line agent who took care of me.
Thanks, DL. I truly mean it.
Sep 7, 16, 7:19 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
I am sure they want to track the use of this to keep gamers in line.
BTW, policy is to put the passenger on standby list with a "C" designation. This is a fairly-low priority standby passenger, clearing long after the HK's and definitely after the SDSC (same day standby) and B's (mishandled passengers).
Sep 7, 16, 8:31 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: DUS
Programs: DL PM (was DL DM for 3yrs), HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,067
Had a problem with a rental car in Europe last year and had to do the same, but I called in advance. Unfortunately when I arrived at the airport my ticket hadn't been reissued, so I had to call again... Thankfully it was the fastest I'd ever had an international ticket fixed!
Sep 7, 16, 11:32 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,419
Sep 7, 16, 12:21 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,800
They have applied the rule for me in CMH when I had to head to the office to pick up new documents for work before traveling to Canada..... I'm sure my limited status (GM) factored in, but was appreciated. I don't abuse it, and hope that if it happens again it would be the same outcome!
Being nice and honest is probably more important than status. I have seen enough of people yelling at or blaming the agent (as if it was the agent's fault they were late to the airport) to know that sort of behavior gets you charged a change fee + fare difference, regardless of status. I have never needed the flat tire rule and hopefully never will, but glad to know its there.
Sep 7, 16, 1:41 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,471
Sep 7, 16, 1:54 pm
#11
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
The OP was on:
An AWARD ticket!
If it had been a paid ticket, the ticket would have at least had some residual value - - but . . .
On award ticket - TECHNICALLY - once the OP passed the 72 hour prior mark - the ticket should have been completely UNCHANGEABLE! . . . (except for, maybe SDS)
So, whether it was the flat tire rule, or extra consideration due to status - the OP got a HUGE favor, and CLEARLY didn't "jump thru any hoops"!
Sep 7, 16, 2:02 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,881
Calling if you are going to be late = run through hoops?
I am sure they want to track the use of this to keep gamers in line.
BTW, policy is to put the passenger on standby list with a "C" designation. This is a fairly-low priority standby passenger, clearing long after the HK's and definitely after the SDSC (same day standby) and B's (mishandled passengers).
I am sure they want to track the use of this to keep gamers in line.
BTW, policy is to put the passenger on standby list with a "C" designation. This is a fairly-low priority standby passenger, clearing long after the HK's and definitely after the SDSC (same day standby) and B's (mishandled passengers).
Sep 7, 16, 2:32 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Williamsburg, VA
Programs: DL DM, Bonvoy LTT, HH Diam, UA Silver, USAF million miler ;)
Posts: 1,591
Instead of "Flat Tire" I recently got the benefit of the "Frigging Teenagers" rule when my son showed up at the gate 3 mins after the door closed...after not following very explicit instructions fom Dad on when to leave and what route to take...excuse was that TSA had him do extra screening. Mmmm, that's what the extra 30 mins that you blew off was for!
And when teenager daughter missed the last flight of the day because of a gate change in ATL and was put up for the night in the kid's bunk by DL. And for that time when Dad had his watch still on Central time in ATL...Oops.
So thanks from me as well, Delta!
And when teenager daughter missed the last flight of the day because of a gate change in ATL and was put up for the night in the kid's bunk by DL. And for that time when Dad had his watch still on Central time in ATL...Oops.
So thanks from me as well, Delta!
Sep 7, 16, 2:32 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Diamond, IC Amb
Posts: 5,471
My thoughts are . . . .
The OP was on:
An AWARD ticket!
If it had been a paid ticket, the ticket would have at least had some residual value - - but . . .
On award ticket - TECHNICALLY - once the OP passed the 72 hour prior mark - the ticket should have been completely UNCHANGEABLE! . . . (except for, maybe SDS)
So, whether it was the flat tire rule, or extra consideration due to status - the OP got a HUGE favor, and CLEARLY didn't "jump thru any hoops"!
The OP was on:
An AWARD ticket!
If it had been a paid ticket, the ticket would have at least had some residual value - - but . . .
On award ticket - TECHNICALLY - once the OP passed the 72 hour prior mark - the ticket should have been completely UNCHANGEABLE! . . . (except for, maybe SDS)
So, whether it was the flat tire rule, or extra consideration due to status - the OP got a HUGE favor, and CLEARLY didn't "jump thru any hoops"!
Shockingly I looked at simply booking a one-way flight home the next day and lo and behold there WAS availability through Skymiles for 20k Y AND ALSO 40k in F....and everyone knows that metal was on AS because they actually offer low awards all the time on their metal!
So, She originally told me there would be an additional 20k miles charged for the next day's flight on DL metal (same flight I had the night before that I missed and I paid 45k Skymiles RT for the ticket) but then she went to a supervisor to see about circumventing the 72-hr rule.
I'm glad it all worked out and that DL took care of me.
