Second Trip Added to Itinerary
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: MSP
Programs: Diamond Medallion, Titanium Elite, National Executive
Posts: 12
Second Trip Added to Itinerary
Flying SMF -> LAX -> MSP today and about an hour ago Delta added the red eye as a second trip to my itinerary for the LAX -> MSP leg. I’ve never seen anything like this before on a connection so I went up to the checkin counter and asked what happened. She said that they were “planning ahead” and added the second trip just in case I missed my 1h 34m connection at LAX but she then told me that the plane was slightly late leaving LAX to come here because of the storm out east but that I should be fine. I found her reassurances unconvincing so asked to be put on another flight through SLC but they were all sold out.
Has anyone seen this before or is this new? I’ve had plenty of really close connections with delayed inbound flights so it struck me as very strange especially because I didn’t get any communication from Delta about what happened.
Has anyone seen this before or is this new? I’ve had plenty of really close connections with delayed inbound flights so it struck me as very strange especially because I didn’t get any communication from Delta about what happened.
#5
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,868
Things are a bit messy at LAX today. Nevertheless, looks like your inbound is on final descent at SMF, a few mins ahead of schedule. You should be fine. Kudos to DL for having your back just in case. Welcome to FlyerTalk
#6
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,394
OP, I think the problem is that you viewed this as some sort of error, when in fact it was someone being incredibly thoughtful for you. If your flight and fully cancelled or been severely delayed, you may not have had that flight available for re-booking and it could have been overnight or longer until they can find space for you depending on the size of the system disruption
#8
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,195
How can one ever get 'protected' on a flight? Every time I've asked I've been flat out told that DL doesn't do "protect" and that if I want to change to the later flight due to a likely mis-connection that they first have to take the original flight completely out of the record, i.e. that a pax can't hold a reserved seat on two flights same day, same O&D, at the same time. It used to be done so until a few years ago I recall, and so I was told, but absolutely no more (again, that is what I've been told by several DM line phone res agents, and same at the airport).
#9
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
How can one ever get 'protected' on a flight? Every time I've asked I've been flat out told that DL doesn't do "protect" and that if I want to change to the later flight due to a likely mis-connection that they first have to take the original flight completely out of the record, i.e. that a pax can't hold a reserved seat on two flights same day, same O&D, at the same time. It used to be done so until a few years ago I recall, and so I was told, but absolutely no more (again, that is what I've been told by several DM line phone res agents, and same at the airport).
I have gotten the same answer from some agents, while others have proactively protected me without me even bringing it up. It's literally why the acronym HUCA exists.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
How can one ever get 'protected' on a flight? Every time I've asked I've been flat out told that DL doesn't do "protect" and that if I want to change to the later flight due to a likely mis-connection that they first have to take the original flight completely out of the record, i.e. that a pax can't hold a reserved seat on two flights same day, same O&D, at the same time. It used to be done so until a few years ago I recall, and so I was told, but absolutely no more (again, that is what I've been told by several DM line phone res agents, and same at the airport).
I don't think they are supposed to do it anymore - but some agents either know how to, have the authorization, or the willingness too.
I have gotten the same answer from some agents, while others have proactively protected me without me even bringing it up. It's literally why the acronym HUCA exists.
I have gotten the same answer from some agents, while others have proactively protected me without me even bringing it up. It's literally why the acronym HUCA exists.
IIRC, there have been times when I was "double protected."
#11
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,195
I don't think they are supposed to do it anymore - but some agents either know how to, have the authorization, or the willingness too.
I have gotten the same answer from some agents, while others have proactively protected me without me even bringing it up. It's literally why the acronym HUCA exists.
I have gotten the same answer from some agents, while others have proactively protected me without me even bringing it up. It's literally why the acronym HUCA exists.
#12
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,195
It's a small data sample, only like some three times I've asked for it the last two years, but it's been always a solid no.
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Northern Minnesota, US
Programs: DL Diamond, SPG/MR Plat, Kimpton IC, IHG Spire Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 659
I have been protected at least six time this year by SC agents, DM line agents, and the Twitter team. In fact a few weeks ago I also got my traveling companion Gold protected by a SC agent in DCA after a mechanical.
#14
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,943
I too have been protected all the time on alternate flights without any controversy. Make sure you’re asking for Delta-operated flights, of course, and that the alternatives are rational for your situation. You do typically need some sort of justification for why you want the protection, but legitimate delays are a perfectly good reason.
Oversale shouldn’t play into this - the amount DL is willing to oversell a flight is already baked into the availability in the GDS. If an alternate flight is Y0 and there are no seats, though, you won’t be able to get protected on it - and I don’t think there’s a “standby protection” process as it does require a confirmable seat.
Perhaps the problem you’re running into, RealHJ, is that you’re flying some cut rate budget airline called “Dullta”? I’ve never heard of them but I can’t imagine they operate flights with the same reliability and customer service as Delta *ducks*
Perhaps the problem you’re running into, RealHJ, is that you’re flying some cut rate budget airline called “Dullta”? I’ve never heard of them but I can’t imagine they operate flights with the same reliability and customer service as Delta *ducks*
#15
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,195
Oversale shouldn’t play into this - the amount DL is willing to oversell a flight is already baked into the availability in the GDS. If an alternate flight is Y0 and there are no seats, though, you won’t be able to get protected on it - and I don’t think there’s a “standby protection” process as it does require a confirmable seat.