exwannabe

If it comes to pass that a schedule change does give you the option for a refund, it will also give you carte-blanche to change. No rule on this I know of, but any business will prefer to offer a substitute than give the money back.

The advantage of changing over a refund is if prices have risen while you wait it could be expensive to cancel and rebook.

JakeRobertson212

How would DL handle this situation since OP booked the original itinerary with a KE ICN-SIN flight on the outbound. Wouldn't this raise some eyebrows if OP now tries to request a refund because they changed them to KE on the return (barring any long connection > 90 mins)?

BenA

GagaPilot

Thanks again to everyone for their replies. My husband and I discussed it at length last night, and again this morning. If the DL schedule change does occur eliminating DL168 SIN-NRT on Sep 18, we will push for a refund and rebook with SQ.

While there are a myriad of options involving KE, the flights all require substantial connection time in ICN and will get us back to ANC much later than originally planned. Moving the trip back a day will still have the same issue. We could move the return forward, but moving the outbound forward as well would be difficult for work reasons. And, if DL is shuffling planes around for a MX rotation or just simply adjusting for loads, my confidence decreases that this scenario wouldn't repeat itself closer to departure thus limiting our options even more.

The itinerary on SQ is ideal. ANC-SEA-SIN-SEA-ANC. Obviously the ANC segments are on AS, the SIN segments are on the new nonstop SQ out of SEA. Factoring in the DL refund the ticket prices are (currently) reasonable. The times are much better too. Arriving SIN at 5:30 PM vs midnight on DL, and departing and 9:30 AM vs 5:45 AM on DL. Only one connection instead of two, etc.

I've always been loyal to DL and hate not earning MQMs for this, but I can credit to my AS account (not much in there as it is).

I even sent DL Twitter a DM this morning inquiring about DL168 on 18SEP and they replied that they show the flight as operating, but completely sold out with no availability. Very strange for 2 months out, so definitely sounds like a change is in the works. At this point we can't do anything but wait for the change to officially occur. Hopefully it does not drag out too long and cause the SQ flights to fall out of our price range.

flyerCO

Nope, doesn't matter. Just because you book a carrier on one flight doesn't mean you wanted to. Im booked SIN-ICN-SEA in two weeks. I didn't want KE (hate their hot cabins). However, I couldn't make the DL SIN-NRT flight.

Regardless DOT rules say they must offer a refund.

GagaPilot

I thought about that issue too. But, the DL flight leaves at 5:45 AM. The KE options are 1:10 AM or 10:30 PM on the date of travel. Both are definitely greater than 90 minutes.

The reason for booking KE on the outbound was, at the time of booking, the DL NRT flight was not listed as an option that day. Believe me, I would pay a fair amount more to avoid KE if the option had been there at time of booking.

BenA

flyerCO

Just went into EF. The flight isnt cancelled and is still scheduled as DL says. Im a bit confused, you said it wasnt showing anymore. Zeroing out inventory suggests something is happening. However this can be change in particular 767 type, etc...

GagaPilot

Good strategy to know! It has been a long time since I have had to request a refund from DL that did not fall within the 24 hour cancel period. How long does it typically take, and any annoying hoops to jump through?

I'm not worried about waiting for the refund to post to book the SQ itinerary, just want to know it is in the works obviously before I do.

GagaPilot

I am seeing it on both EF and DL under timetables and flight schedules. All looks well.

However if you search Flight Availability on EF for the flight, no such luck. Same with attempting a dummy booking on DL. No seats available SIN-NRT on SEP18.

So basically the flight is there, but inventory is zeroed out as you said. Perhaps it just truly is a change to another 767 variant, but if it isn't I want to be prepared for the worst.

jwhuffman

Good Day All,

I checked on travelnet and the flight is still there, it is sold out in D1 and Y but still see C+ available......this may be undergoing the swap with an updated aircraft, so keep an eye on it.

GagaPilot

Good to know there is hope! Thanks! I am in D1 for the flight and my husband is in C+

moondog

What about nh at 610a?

Culvetr

flyerCO

[QUOTE=Culvetr;31307065]DL will rebook you via ICN/PVG. As you've already cleared into J, they'll keep you in J for those segments. I'd then ask to go from ICN/PVG to DTW/ATL in that case.