Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > Delta Air Lines | SkyMiles
Reload this Page >

April 5, 2017: Delta cancels 300 flights due to thunderstorm

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
Old Apr 8, 2017, 1:28 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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:
  • 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)
Print Wikipost

April 5, 2017: Delta cancels 300 flights due to thunderstorm

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 6, 2017, 6:17 am
  #121  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 127
Helping Friend - Delta flight to Hawaii through MSP canceled. Next flight they offered was Sunday? What can she do? Seems crazy there isn't anther way out that way.

I'm wondering if she should rebook with another airline. But would DL give her a refund?
nonstopski is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 6:22 am
  #122  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: MSP
Programs: DL DM, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 610
In ATL now, and its an absolute zoo. My connection was cancelled, but only going to be a few hours late. Can't complain after seeing these other posts. Stay patient my friends!
bretthexum is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 6:23 am
  #123  
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
Originally Posted by nonstopski
Helping Friend - Delta flight to Hawaii through MSP canceled. Next flight they offered was Sunday? What can she do? Seems crazy there isn't anther way out that way.

I'm wondering if she should rebook with another airline. But would DL give her a refund?
Yes she will get a full refund for a trip in vain.

I'd rebook elsewhere if the costs were reasonable.

Last edited by apodo77; Apr 6, 2017 at 6:41 am
apodo77 is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 6:25 am
  #124  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,264
Originally Posted by nonstopski
Helping Friend - Delta flight to Hawaii through MSP canceled. Next flight they offered was Sunday? What can she do? Seems crazy there isn't anther way out that way.

I'm wondering if she should rebook with another airline. But would DL give her a refund?
Yes, DL will provide a refund if her flight was cancelled. But a new last minute flight would be at her expense, and may be quite pricey.
javabytes is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 6:26 am
  #125  
 
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
Originally Posted by bretthexum
In ATL now, and its an absolute zoo. My connection was cancelled, but only going to be a few hours late. Can't complain after seeing these other posts. Stay patient my friends!
Very much so. Main lines were a nightmare. I'd guess 2+ hour wait. Sky priority was 100-200 people deep. It wrapped around into the baggage kiosk area.

Security was really bad but CLEAR I went right in. Then my camera bag was flagged and they literally pulled every single lens and camera and swabbed them. Never had that happen before.


I agree. E/F a decision should be made to be open. They know a lot of people would be sleeeping in the airport. Potentially for more than one day. And it does seem like they really aren't doing anything special or out of ordinary. 4-5 hour callback on the PM/DM line is crazy.

It basically is as bad, if not worse, than the IT meltdown.
dinanm3atl is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 6:26 am
  #126  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,264
Originally Posted by tmf
When is the last time anyone tried the Singapore customer service line in the event of meltdown. It saved me a few years ago. Still a working option?
Still works. Not a full blown meltdown, but last week the hold times were 60+ minutes and Singapore went right through.
javabytes is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 6:28 am
  #127  
 
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
My new flight should start boarding in 30 minutes. Wish me luck!

I'm now on hour #42 (international return). I need some luck people!
nichelle is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 6:29 am
  #128  
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
Originally Posted by DiverDave
How often does anybody say this?
Not sure I will ever type the words "thankfully connecting in LGA" again.
apodo77 is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 6:29 am
  #129  
 
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
Originally Posted by nichelle
My new flight should start boarding in 30 minutes. Wish me luck!

I'm now on hour #42 (international return). I need some luck people!
Are you on one of the MRs from the other threads? And got caught up in this mess?
dinanm3atl is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 6:31 am
  #130  
 
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
Originally Posted by dinanm3atl
Are you on one of the MRs from the other threads? And got caught up in this mess?
Not this time. This was a regular old trip.... and then I got caught up in this mess. The longest portion has been the overnight at ATL.
nichelle is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 6:32 am
  #131  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL Lost Luggage
Programs: Kettle with Kryptonium Medallion Tags
Posts: 10,279
Originally Posted by DTWflyer
Just to re-cap today Wed April 5th:
- ATL experiences heavy thunderstorm activity for most of the day resulting in multi-hour ground stops, closing the ramp due to storms/lightning, cancelling 300+ flights, diverting dozens of other flights from the West Coast, Carribean, Int'l to DFW/MEM/CLT/SAV, and for what was averaging between 4-6 hour+ delays for what domestic mainline flights were flown
FWIW, below is a screenshot of the National Weather Service Observations at KATL The airport received 4.27 inches of rain in 18-hours, and seven of the hourly observations were of thunderstorms.

RatherBeOnATrain is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 6:33 am
  #132  
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
DCA Terminal B
Attached Images  
KDCAflyer is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 6:38 am
  #133  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ATL Lost Luggage
Programs: Kettle with Kryptonium Medallion Tags
Posts: 10,279
Originally Posted by dinanm3atl
Head out to check-in area. Sarcastic agent won't let myself and a few diamonds into the sky priority lane for help. Told it's closed. All the agents are going to the main line. Told to go stand in a line that is easily 1000 people.
and
Originally Posted by dinanm3atl
-Agent closing sky priority at 930 is absurd. At least leave one agent to service the 8-10 people waiting. Telling all people with status to go to regular line is ridiculous.
I have to disagree -- letting "elites" jump a 1000-person line would be a great way to start a riot.
RatherBeOnATrain is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 6:40 am
  #134  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,264
Originally Posted by RatherBeOnATrain
andI have to disagree -- letting "elites" jump a 1000-person line would be a great way to start a riot.
What's the point of having a benefit if you can only use it when it's not truly necessary?
javabytes is offline  
Old Apr 6, 2017, 6:41 am
  #135  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 50
Got stuck at DCA yesterday. Fortunately able to get home to ATL tomorrow evening as a PM. Even if half the people on the cancelled flights out of here yesterday are still traveling, it will be awhile before everyone gets to where they need to go. 7 or 8 cancelled flights yesterday/this morning.
tutkija80 is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.