Apr 8, 2017, 1:28 pm
Last edit by: Renes Points
Great explanation about Crew Tracking & Scheduling and what went wrong: Post #590
[Feel free to edit / add to the timeline of DL events.]
First waver ATL only and only 5-7 and by 11th: https://web.archive.org/web/20170406...perations.html
Second waver "all" hubs and 5-9 and by 16th: https://web.archive.org/web/20170407...perations.html
April 6th COO Gil West apology and blames "unprecedented" ( 5 hour ) storm / weather: http://news.delta.com/chief-operatin...cedented-storm
April 7 & 8 Five things to know list: http://news.delta.com/5-things-custo...tions-saturday
April 7th In midst of service fail Delta devalues SkyMiles with partners: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...000-miles.html
April 8th updates on operations: http://news.delta.com/operational-re...ontinues-today
April 12th will be $DAL earnings live and should yield more info: http://ir.delta.com/news-and-events/...s/default.aspx
April 9, 11:40 PM (EDT): What appears to be the last cancellation of the meltdown was made for DL2682/10Apr BOS-LGA (717 aircraft)
April 11th - Delta begins to pay out compensation for impacted travelers: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta-air-lines-skymiles/1835970-early-april-operation-disruption-compensation.html
Other coverage of the event:
Pilots board relating to this epic fail: https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/d...-atl-irop.html
Factors compounding delays/cancellations:
Current delay statistics: Flightaware's live flight delay and cancellation statistics
News coverage:
BuzzFeedNews: Delta Has Canceled Thousands Of Flights And Everyone Is In Hell - No spring break is safe. (Posted on April 7, 2017, at 11:59 a.m.)
The Southampton Press: Cancelled Flight Dashes Disney Dream For Hampton Bays Marching Band (April 7, 2017 11:30 AM)
USA Today: Thousands of Delta flights canceled days after storms (Published 8:53 a.m. ET April 8, 2017)
CNN - Delta meltdown: Pilots are on hold, too (Updated 6:52 PM ET, Sat April 8, 2017)
The Wall Street Journal - Delta Struggles to Recover From Last Week’s Storms (April 9, 2017 12:23 p.m. ET)
AJC.com: Delta woes stretch into Sunday with more cancellations (11:57 a.m. Sunday, April 9, 2017)
AJC.com: Why one day of thunderstorms turned into a five-day Delta meltdown (12:01 p.m Sunday, April 9, 2017)
Detroit Free Press: Headaches continue for Delta fliers in Detroit (Published 2:26 p.m. ET April 9, 2017 Updated 5:54 p.m. ET April 9, 2017)
CNN - Delta tries to 'normalize' as flight cancellations continue (Updated 4:06 PM ET, Sun April 9, 2017)
New York Times: Storms, Though Over, Still Disrupt Delta Flights (APRIL 9, 2017)
NewsChannel5.com - Nashville Man's Body Stranded After Delta Flight Chaos (4:24 PM April 9, 2017)
CBS North Carolina: Raleigh parents upset after son’s body stranded during Delta flight chaos (April 9, 2017, 8:14 pm Updated: April 10, 2017, 5:35 am)
AJC.com: Delta reassures customers as delays continue through weekend (5:53 p.m Sunday, April 9, 2017)
AJC.com: Hundreds of stranded bags left at Hartsfield-Jackson in aftermath of Delta flight cancellations (9:29 a.m. Monday, April 10, 2017)
Bloomberg: Delta Delays Drag On, Testing Passengers' Patience (April 9, 2017, 4:10 PM EDT Updated On April 10, 2017, 10:13 AM EDT)
BuzzFeedNews: Delta Suffered "Failure of Crew Tracking Systems" During Cancelled Flight Fiasco - "I feel like we are lost in the system." (Originally posted on April 11, 2017, at 3:28 p.m. Updated on April 12, 2017, at 10:38 a.m. )
Reuters (posted on BusinessInsider): Delta's profit drops 36.3% (Apr. 12, 2017, 7:20 AM)
AJC.com - Accused child rapist caught at airport when flight is delayed (7:39 p.m Thursday, April 13, 2017)
[Feel free to edit / add to the timeline of DL events.]
First waver ATL only and only 5-7 and by 11th: https://web.archive.org/web/20170406...perations.html
Second waver "all" hubs and 5-9 and by 16th: https://web.archive.org/web/20170407...perations.html
April 6th COO Gil West apology and blames "unprecedented" ( 5 hour ) storm / weather: http://news.delta.com/chief-operatin...cedented-storm
April 7 & 8 Five things to know list: http://news.delta.com/5-things-custo...tions-saturday
April 7th In midst of service fail Delta devalues SkyMiles with partners: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...000-miles.html
April 8th updates on operations: http://news.delta.com/operational-re...ontinues-today
April 12th will be $DAL earnings live and should yield more info: http://ir.delta.com/news-and-events/...s/default.aspx
April 9, 11:40 PM (EDT): What appears to be the last cancellation of the meltdown was made for DL2682/10Apr BOS-LGA (717 aircraft)
April 11th - Delta begins to pay out compensation for impacted travelers: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta-air-lines-skymiles/1835970-early-april-operation-disruption-compensation.html
Other coverage of the event:
Pilots board relating to this epic fail: https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/d...-atl-irop.html
Factors compounding delays/cancellations:
- Weather in ATL April 5
- DL terminating interline with AA
- Delta's systems crashing/overloaded
- DL's crew scheduling system crashed [rumor?]
- Rumored short-term power outage in ATL A concourse caused by airport construction some time around Tuesday-Wednesday
Current delay statistics: Flightaware's live flight delay and cancellation statistics
News coverage:
BuzzFeedNews: Delta Has Canceled Thousands Of Flights And Everyone Is In Hell - No spring break is safe. (Posted on April 7, 2017, at 11:59 a.m.)
The Southampton Press: Cancelled Flight Dashes Disney Dream For Hampton Bays Marching Band (April 7, 2017 11:30 AM)
USA Today: Thousands of Delta flights canceled days after storms (Published 8:53 a.m. ET April 8, 2017)
CNN - Delta meltdown: Pilots are on hold, too (Updated 6:52 PM ET, Sat April 8, 2017)
The Wall Street Journal - Delta Struggles to Recover From Last Week’s Storms (April 9, 2017 12:23 p.m. ET)
AJC.com: Delta woes stretch into Sunday with more cancellations (11:57 a.m. Sunday, April 9, 2017)
AJC.com: Why one day of thunderstorms turned into a five-day Delta meltdown (12:01 p.m Sunday, April 9, 2017)
Detroit Free Press: Headaches continue for Delta fliers in Detroit (Published 2:26 p.m. ET April 9, 2017 Updated 5:54 p.m. ET April 9, 2017)
CNN - Delta tries to 'normalize' as flight cancellations continue (Updated 4:06 PM ET, Sun April 9, 2017)
New York Times: Storms, Though Over, Still Disrupt Delta Flights (APRIL 9, 2017)
NewsChannel5.com - Nashville Man's Body Stranded After Delta Flight Chaos (4:24 PM April 9, 2017)
CBS North Carolina: Raleigh parents upset after son’s body stranded during Delta flight chaos (April 9, 2017, 8:14 pm Updated: April 10, 2017, 5:35 am)
AJC.com: Delta reassures customers as delays continue through weekend (5:53 p.m Sunday, April 9, 2017)
AJC.com: Hundreds of stranded bags left at Hartsfield-Jackson in aftermath of Delta flight cancellations (9:29 a.m. Monday, April 10, 2017)
Bloomberg: Delta Delays Drag On, Testing Passengers' Patience (April 9, 2017, 4:10 PM EDT Updated On April 10, 2017, 10:13 AM EDT)
BuzzFeedNews: Delta Suffered "Failure of Crew Tracking Systems" During Cancelled Flight Fiasco - "I feel like we are lost in the system." (Originally posted on April 11, 2017, at 3:28 p.m. Updated on April 12, 2017, at 10:38 a.m. )
Reuters (posted on BusinessInsider): Delta's profit drops 36.3% (Apr. 12, 2017, 7:20 AM)
AJC.com - Accused child rapist caught at airport when flight is delayed (7:39 p.m Thursday, April 13, 2017)
April 5, 2017: Delta cancels 300 flights due to thunderstorm
Apr 12, 2017, 7:24 pm
#766
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
Thousands of us were not just "inconvenienced and frustrated". This makes it sound as if we were just delayed a little bit and got cranky, as if we were little kids who should be more mature. I had about a thousand dollars of actual expense with no alternative due to being stranded in DC for four days with no housing. I also had to go back and forth to two airports in taxis while they canceled the flights they had confirmed me on. I lost two days of work, which is real damages that I will not recover short of an actual lawsuit which is just not worth pursuing given that I would have to lose even more time from work. We will see if they actually provide any real compensation.
And I missed an entire days work which when you are a photographer working on contract it's expensive. Then my bag is lost. Goes to a different airport. Delivers at 230am.
It was a huge cluster.
Apr 12, 2017, 7:47 pm
#767
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA
Programs: Delta DM / 1M, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC, Emerald Club Exec
Posts: 500
I debated writing in. Yesterday, I decided that I would. Even if no compensation is received, I wanted to provide a summary of my experience. I also wanted to compliment the many employees who did their best last week.
We'll see what happens.
We'll see what happens.
Apr 12, 2017, 7:57 pm
#768
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,079
My prediction is that there will be one or more class action lawsuits which, based on the information that is already in the public domain, will lead to depositions of Delta employees. Delta will then settle, it will cost them only a million or two. The lawyers will get most of it, and we will receive some vouchers with restrictions and time limits. The stock price will be unaffected, the executives will not suffer a bit, and life will go on in the corporate kleptocracy in which we live.
Apr 13, 2017, 11:39 am
#769
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSN
Programs: Delta DM, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,987
OK, I forgive DL for being 4 hours late on Tuesday and getting stuck 22 hours in ATL Fri/Sat last week. Several weeks ago, I booked a 2PM MKE>ATL>JAN in A for this Sunday, forgetting that it is Easter and I am scheduled to host my family. My mother was going to kill me. I DM'd the Twitter rep and said due to my hassles on prior itinerary (gave them that conf #), can you change the 2PM to a 6:30 PM? And they said yes. The fare difference was $500+ and the change fee would have been $200. All done for $0 and within 10 minutes of my request.
So consider me a lemming if you will, but Delta just gave me something valued at like $700 for free so at this point I'm fine and I won't even submit my hotel/rental receipts. I know they could have claimed weather if they wanted to, but we all know that wasn't the case. I'm happy now and my mother isn't going to kill me.
So consider me a lemming if you will, but Delta just gave me something valued at like $700 for free so at this point I'm fine and I won't even submit my hotel/rental receipts. I know they could have claimed weather if they wanted to, but we all know that wasn't the case. I'm happy now and my mother isn't going to kill me.
Apr 13, 2017, 6:41 pm
#770
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL Lost Luggage
Programs: Kettle with Kryptonium Medallion Tags
Posts: 10,316
A positive aspect of the meltdown:
Link to full story: AJC.com - Accused child rapist caught at airport when flight is delayed (7:39 p.m Thursday, April 13, 2017)
A 19-year-old man accused of raping a minor in Maryland on April 4 was arrested the next day when his plane landed in Atlanta, officials said.
Sergio Morales Soto was trying to get to Guatemala on April 5 before being arrested on six felony charges aboard a flight at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Channel 2 Action News reported.
But severe storms caused flight delays and gave authorities time to catch up to Soto, the news station reported.
Sergio Morales Soto was trying to get to Guatemala on April 5 before being arrested on six felony charges aboard a flight at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Channel 2 Action News reported.
But severe storms caused flight delays and gave authorities time to catch up to Soto, the news station reported.
Apr 13, 2017, 8:15 pm
#771
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, National EE, AS MVP Gold 75K, AC 75K
Posts: 1,000
I received this email today. Still trying to get compensated for my cancelled flight even though it was not weather related and 20,000 is worth....$2 these days? LOL
WE MISSED THE MARK
20,000 MILES TO SAY WE'RE SORRY.
Last week, severe weather and tornadic activity at our Atlanta hub caused a major disruption in our flight operations and your travel plans. Our response in the days following was out of character, and I am sorry for what you experienced. It was an accumulation of events that began with unprecedented severe weather in Atlanta on April 5th, when seven storm cells, including tornadic activity, passed over the airport and shut down our operation for much of the day. Our recovery was hampered by a lack of available seats resulting from heightened spring break travel volume, as well as an inability of our crew-tracking systems and processes to adequately position our people to do their jobs.
I have heard from many of you who feel like we let you down. In acknowledgment of what you endured, 20,000 bonus miles will be added to your SkyMiles account in the next 48 hours.
Thank you for your patience and your loyalty. We will continue to review all aspects of this disruption and develop a plan to avoid a similar situation in the future, ensuring we deliver on the reliability and service you expect and deserve from Delta.
Sincerely,
Ed Bastian
20,000 MILES TO SAY WE'RE SORRY.
Last week, severe weather and tornadic activity at our Atlanta hub caused a major disruption in our flight operations and your travel plans. Our response in the days following was out of character, and I am sorry for what you experienced. It was an accumulation of events that began with unprecedented severe weather in Atlanta on April 5th, when seven storm cells, including tornadic activity, passed over the airport and shut down our operation for much of the day. Our recovery was hampered by a lack of available seats resulting from heightened spring break travel volume, as well as an inability of our crew-tracking systems and processes to adequately position our people to do their jobs.
I have heard from many of you who feel like we let you down. In acknowledgment of what you endured, 20,000 bonus miles will be added to your SkyMiles account in the next 48 hours.
Thank you for your patience and your loyalty. We will continue to review all aspects of this disruption and develop a plan to avoid a similar situation in the future, ensuring we deliver on the reliability and service you expect and deserve from Delta.
Sincerely,
Ed Bastian
Apr 13, 2017, 10:24 pm
#772
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
I received that email as well. Amazingly, it came about 30 minutes after I got off the phone with an agent to book another flight. I mentioned to her that I was frustrated at not hearing about any compensation yet and she gave me and my companion $200 ecredits each. So we each got $200 vouchers + 20K miles for our 10+ hours spent at SFO.
Apr 13, 2017, 11:26 pm
#773
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,238
There's a separate compensation thread here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...pensation.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...pensation.html
Apr 14, 2017, 11:35 pm
#774
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: dl dm, *g
Posts: 98
(2) Lack of urgency by much of the DL staff. The RDU staff made no effort to turn a 2.5 hour late plane for the pax that had connections. 1.5 hours to turn a plane in RDU is bad by any standard. to add insult to injury the GA had no experience, couldn't drive the jet bridge for the incoming aircraft and then was overwhelmed with scanning tickets.
.
.
Apr 14, 2017, 11:42 pm
#775
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: LAS HNL
Programs: DL DM, 5.7 MM, UA 3.1 MM, MARRIOTT PLATINUM, AVIS FIRST, Amex Black Card
Posts: 4,479
Apr 21, 2017, 10:06 am
#777
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: West Chester, OH
Programs: Delta SM, Hilton Honors Diamond, Marriott Silver
Posts: 254
OK, I forgive DL for being 4 hours late on Tuesday and getting stuck 22 hours in ATL Fri/Sat last week. Several weeks ago, I booked a 2PM MKE>ATL>JAN in A for this Sunday, forgetting that it is Easter and I am scheduled to host my family. My mother was going to kill me. I DM'd the Twitter rep and said due to my hassles on prior itinerary (gave them that conf #), can you change the 2PM to a 6:30 PM? And they said yes. The fare difference was $500+ and the change fee would have been $200. All done for $0 and within 10 minutes of my request.
So consider me a lemming if you will, but Delta just gave me something valued at like $700 for free so at this point I'm fine and I won't even submit my hotel/rental receipts. I know they could have claimed weather if they wanted to, but we all know that wasn't the case. I'm happy now and my mother isn't going to kill me.
So consider me a lemming if you will, but Delta just gave me something valued at like $700 for free so at this point I'm fine and I won't even submit my hotel/rental receipts. I know they could have claimed weather if they wanted to, but we all know that wasn't the case. I'm happy now and my mother isn't going to kill me.