Best & Worse Airlines (Surprise about Delta)
#1
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Best & Worse Airlines (Surprise about Delta)
DL ranked the worst out of the big 3 US carriers with the following quote the most interesting to me. (article below)
While I have never had to "go to court to get them to pay" the auto fill responses, slow speed to respond, and generally ignoring complaints etc does not surprise me where they landed on the list.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...rports-of-2018
While I have never had to "go to court to get them to pay" the auto fill responses, slow speed to respond, and generally ignoring complaints etc does not surprise me where they landed on the list.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...rports-of-2018
#2
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this year’s 2018 AirHelp Score report from AirHelp, a company that advocates on behalf of air travelers for compensation in cases of delays or cancelations. Its sixth annual survey uses data from the first quarter of the year to rank the 72 international airlines for which the company had statistically significant data.
It sounds like this is focused on EC261 claims, which is a small fraction of passengers (and passenger experience).
It sounds like this is focused on EC261 claims, which is a small fraction of passengers (and passenger experience).
#3
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,880
You can argue about whether it's right for Delta to do this, but it sounds like a smart business decision. They're going to take care of their customers with any significant status, but for the rest, I'm sure they save a lot of money because people are not motivated enough to follow through with claims in court.
#4
Join Date: May 2009
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this year’s 2018 AirHelp Score report from AirHelp, a company that advocates on behalf of air travelers for compensation in cases of delays or cancelations. Its sixth annual survey uses data from the first quarter of the year to rank the 72 international airlines for which the company had statistically significant data.
It sounds like this is focused on EC261 claims, which is a small fraction of passengers (and passenger experience).
It sounds like this is focused on EC261 claims, which is a small fraction of passengers (and passenger experience).
#5
Join Date: Feb 2017
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I can confirm Delta is very reluctant to pay EC261 claims, even if valid. I had to involve the Spanish regulator before they paid a valid claim I had for a flight ex-BCN. Smart business decision - few customers would bother to go through the hassle I did for 600-800€, and this stinginess probably saves them a ton of money. Imho, it’s a flaw in the regulation; if the airline denies your claim and it is later confirmed valid, you should be entitled to treble damages to discourage this sort of behavior.
#6
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I can confirm Delta is very reluctant to pay EC261 claims, even if valid. I had to involve the Spanish regulator before they paid a valid claim I had for a flight ex-BCN. Smart business decision - few customers would bother to go through the hassle I did for 600-800€, and this stinginess probably saves them a ton of money. Imho, it’s a flaw in the regulation; if the airline denies your claim and it is later confirmed valid, you should be entitled to treble damages to discourage this sort of behavior.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,885
I can confirm Delta is very reluctant to pay EC261 claims, even if valid. I had to involve the Spanish regulator before they paid a valid claim I had for a flight ex-BCN. Smart business decision - few customers would bother to go through the hassle I did for 600-800€, and this stinginess probably saves them a ton of money. Imho, it’s a flaw in the regulation; if the airline denies your claim and it is later confirmed valid, you should be entitled to treble damages to discourage this sort of behavior.
#8
Join Date: May 2009
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Really?? I have had two with DL and they have been fantastic about handling them, albeit a bit slow. First one, I wrote in and received a nice letter about a month later (not your typical form letter) and a check 600 euros. Second time, I wrote in and received a phone call about a month later, and not only did I receive a check for 600 euros, but DL also gave me a $400 voucher for the inconvenience. Needless to say, I think that is fantastic handling.
#9
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,885
Not the first time I have heard that. A lot of people think I get better service because of the amount of travel and spend relative to my young age - they are investing in me as a long term customer. I don't spend as much or fly as much as a lot of people, but I have a lot of time ahead of me to spend a lot of money as my travel increases over time. Personally, I don't think that has anything to do with it - I just be nice and ask the right questions and say the right things.
#10
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Not the first time I have heard that. A lot of people think I get better service because of the amount of travel and spend relative to my young age - they are investing in me as a long term customer. I don't spend as much or fly as much as a lot of people, but I have a lot of time ahead of me to spend a lot of money as my travel increases over time. Personally, I don't think that has anything to do with it - I just be nice and ask the right questions and say the right things.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2016
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Not the first time I have heard that. A lot of people think I get better service because of the amount of travel and spend relative to my young age - they are investing in me as a long term customer. I don't spend as much or fly as much as a lot of people, but I have a lot of time ahead of me to spend a lot of money as my travel increases over time. Personally, I don't think that has anything to do with it - I just be nice and ask the right questions and say the right things.
If you treat people warmly and with respect, regardless of how angry you might be at the time, they’re almost always willing to jump through hoops for you — in fact, they genuinely feel bad if they can’t help. When I call in and the rep sounds harried or frazzled, I know he/she is either at the end of a long shift, just got off a bad call, or both. I try to lift them up a little instead of pile on. When I hang up, I want them to say “I wish all my calls were like that!”
It’s not a universal cure-all, but I’d rather suffer the fall-out from being too nice than the aftermath of being a dick.
That said, I’ve become a Grand Master at quickly discerning when to HUCA. Sometimes it has everything to do with lucking into the right agent.
#12
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Tahoe
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Complete opposite of my experience with DL the other night. Not EC261 related, but my evening flight from SLC to YYC turned into a 12-hour overnight delay due to a mechanical issue. They put me up in a hotel of course, and before I even went to bed that night I had received an email saying they'll deposit 12,500 SkyMiles into my account. Shortly after this, a customer service rep called me to check in and let me know that they'll be sending me a $100 check for the inconvenience and to cover my incidentals from the overnight. All thing considered, it was handled so smoothly that I had no reason to complain or demand compensation, but the fact that they we're so proactive about taking care of me certainly helps build my loyalty. I have no idea if everyone on the plane got similar compensation but I heard at least one kettle at the gate next morning mentioning it.