Does DL ever oversell Business Class/ Delta One?
Jul 12, 2017, 10:46 am
#16
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It would be interesting to know how Delta has handled the recent spat of outbound Detroit-Asia delays and cancellations because of mechanical issues on the 747 fleet.
Jul 12, 2017, 3:30 pm
#18
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I was on a flight recently in paid F/J (with one-stop, first leg F, second leg J), and the first flight was oversold (due to last moment deadheading pilot, required to fly in F), and even after boarding, I decided to give up my seat for a non-stop flight on better metal (and a voucher)
Has happened to me once on LHR-JFK on the 5:30pm departure (can't remember if it was a Thursday or Friday but for sure a very popular flight with the business crowd). I was told they likely did it as a one-off for a major corporate customer, but myself and a colleague got phone calls the night before asking us if we were flexible.
Yes they certainly can and do oversell but nowhere to the extend that the main cabin does. DL has plenty of statistics for historical cancellations and last minute changes to support how much, if any, they can oversell the cabin. As others said this also can happen due to other irops in the system resulting in reroutes or equipment changes.
Jul 12, 2017, 9:34 pm
#19
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For $3000, I would have bought myself a very good meal in DTW to celebrate (or just waited for the meal on the rebooked later flight) and not pushed for the meal voucher.
Jul 12, 2017, 9:39 pm
#20
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Jul 12, 2017, 9:44 pm
#22
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True if you're taking a downgrade, but if you'll get a D1 dinner with some delay, my instinct would be to just snack minimally if necessary in the SC and wait for the nice meal on board. I also wouldn't be piggy or demanding if I were getting VDB comp in the amount of three thousand dollars for less than a several day delay. I realize that people in this situation would technically be entitled to the meal voucher, but personally I would just be grateful to the $3000 voucher as agreed and not push for a bit more.
Jul 12, 2017, 9:46 pm
#23
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True if you're taking a downgrade, but if you'll get a D1 dinner with some delay, my instinct would be to just snack minimally if necessary in the SC and wait for the nice meal on board. I also wouldn't be piggy or demanding if I were getting VDB comp in the amount of three thousand dollars for less than a several day delay. I realize that people in this situation would technically be entitled to the meal voucher, but personally I would just be grateful to the $3000 voucher as agreed and not push for a bit more.
Jul 12, 2017, 9:49 pm
#24
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IME parts of the meal are pretty good and it provides some "entertainment" on board. I rarely have enough time at the airport to enjoy a leasurely meal and I would have to be anxious about whether the food and check will arrive in time for my flight.
Jul 12, 2017, 9:52 pm
#25
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Moot on the meal voucher point since typically if you're in a volunteer situation, you are taking a later flight.
Jul 12, 2017, 10:04 pm
#26
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True if you're taking a downgrade, but if you'll get a D1 dinner with some delay, my instinct would be to just snack minimally if necessary in the SC and wait for the nice meal on board. I also wouldn't be piggy or demanding if I were getting VDB comp in the amount of three thousand dollars for less than a several day delay. I realize that people in this situation would technically be entitled to the meal voucher, but personally I would just be grateful to the $3000 voucher as agreed and not push for a bit more.
You're including a coupl'a meal vouchers, right?
Worst thing a GA or RC can do is say, no!
Jul 12, 2017, 10:06 pm
#27
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I'd ask in most "normal" VDB situations, but not if I'm getting $3000 for a reasonable rebooking. That's just me, but I wouldn't push for every possible thing when DL is already being extremely generous. I wouldn't refuse a meal voucher if there's a chance I would use it, but I wouldn't ask for an additional 1% or less on top of the $3000.
Jul 12, 2017, 10:30 pm
#28
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I guess what I meant was, I don't feel simply asking for a meal voucher is "pushing". If they say no, and you continually hound the gate agent, that would simply be wrong.
Jul 12, 2017, 10:55 pm
#29
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Interestingly, the red coat came on-board after they realized they were in a bind, and quietly (though I could hear) ask the pilot if he would sit in economy comfort. He politely declined.
After realizing the red coat was in trouble through overhearing this discussion, I offered to give up my seat, and initially too was offered the economy comfort seat as an option. I also declined, but said I would agree if I could get on the next non-stop flight to my destination which was on better metal (777), and happened to be slightly earlier than my original arrival time anyway. Oh, and also a voucher (actually gift card selection). I took the last J seat on the 777, and I'm sure some GUC waiting passenger who was #1 on the list was sad that day. Oh well. I may have been able to hold out for a little more, but it was good enough for me in that situation.