Only Passenger on flight tomorrow... what will happen?
Mar 17, 2020, 3:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Somewhere
Programs: Delta Plat
Posts: 3,363
Only Passenger on flight tomorrow... what will happen?
I am flying tomorrow RDU to JFK returning to my home away from home before I head home on the 28th (hopefully).
I just checked into my flight and it looks like I am the only one on board, do you suspect DELTA will try to re-route me or cancel the flight?
Im on DL 5216
I just checked into my flight and it looks like I am the only one on board, do you suspect DELTA will try to re-route me or cancel the flight?
Im on DL 5216
Mar 17, 2020, 3:34 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 2,400
How do you know you are the only one on board? I am showing 16 seats blocked out.
Mar 17, 2020, 3:38 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Somewhere
Programs: Delta Plat
Posts: 3,363
All seats are available when I look at the seat map except for mine. Shows 60 seats in Coach available (Plane only has 40 coach seats maybe it ads the 20 from c+) with 20 in Comfort+ which is more seats then the plane even has.
Noone on either standby or upgrade list.
Noone on either standby or upgrade list.
Mar 17, 2020, 3:52 pm
#4
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There may be some people without seat assignments such as those on a basic econ ticket or standby. Unlikely that you'll be only one, even with the coronavirus issues.
I just looked and I see 1 in F, 1 in C+, and maybe a dozen seats assigned in Y.
Sounds like good chances for an upgrade
I just looked and I see 1 in F, 1 in C+, and maybe a dozen seats assigned in Y.
Sounds like good chances for an upgrade
Mar 17, 2020, 3:54 pm
#5
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Mar 18, 2020, 6:11 am
#12
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Flights rarely are cancelled due to low loads except during severe weather events etc. because usually the aircraft is needed elsewhere. However, with DL cutting so many flights, this may no longer be a consideration.
Mar 18, 2020, 9:00 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Contrary to popular belief, airlines don't cancel flights within 24 hours solely because they're empty*. Those crews and airplanes still have to get to their downline destinations. I don't know the specifics of DLC' contracts, but in most of the regional contracts I've seen, the operating carrier doesn't get paid if the flight doesn't operate so they have no incentive to cancel even if it has zero pax**. Now if an IROP event occurs (plane goes MX, weather goes down in JFK), flights that are lightly booked are higher on the chopping block for pax convenience.
*Those cancellations happen further out (like we see airlines announcing over the last few days). It's very disruptive to the schedule to put them in day of.
**There are exceptions to this. When I worked for UA, we could request UAX to cancel flights and then they would still get paid like 80% of the regular rate (we used this occasionally on really bad WX/ATC days). We'd cancel some UAX flights and then substitute UA flights in their place (known as "cancel/sub").
*Those cancellations happen further out (like we see airlines announcing over the last few days). It's very disruptive to the schedule to put them in day of.
**There are exceptions to this. When I worked for UA, we could request UAX to cancel flights and then they would still get paid like 80% of the regular rate (we used this occasionally on really bad WX/ATC days). We'd cancel some UAX flights and then substitute UA flights in their place (known as "cancel/sub").
Mar 18, 2020, 11:38 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Minutes from ATL
Programs: DL
Posts: 436
Contrary to popular belief, airlines don't cancel flights within 24 hours solely because they're empty*. Those crews and airplanes still have to get to their downline destinations. I don't know the specifics of DLC' contracts, but in most of the regional contracts I've seen, the operating carrier doesn't get paid if the flight doesn't operate so they have no incentive to cancel even if it has zero pax**. Now if an IROP event occurs (plane goes MX, weather goes down in JFK), flights that are lightly booked are higher on the chopping block for pax convenience.
*Those cancellations happen further out (like we see airlines announcing over the last few days). It's very disruptive to the schedule to put them in day of.
**There are exceptions to this. When I worked for UA, we could request UAX to cancel flights and then they would still get paid like 80% of the regular rate (we used this occasionally on really bad WX/ATC days). We'd cancel some UAX flights and then substitute UA flights in their place (known as "cancel/sub").
*Those cancellations happen further out (like we see airlines announcing over the last few days). It's very disruptive to the schedule to put them in day of.
**There are exceptions to this. When I worked for UA, we could request UAX to cancel flights and then they would still get paid like 80% of the regular rate (we used this occasionally on really bad WX/ATC days). We'd cancel some UAX flights and then substitute UA flights in their place (known as "cancel/sub").