Has Delta Made Any COVID-19 Exceptions to the Award Tickets 72 Hour No Change Rule?
Sep 7, 2020, 7:19 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: MHT/BOS <--> World
Programs: AA Plat 2.8MM
Posts: 4,629
Has Delta Made Any COVID-19 Exceptions to the Award Tickets 72 Hour No Change Rule?
Award Tickets Cannot Be Redeposited Or Changed Within 72 Hours Of Scheduled Flight Departure Time.
Like many countries, a negative COVID-19 test is required within 72 hours of departure.
If I redeem my Delta miles for them to travel on Air France and they are unable to travel at the last minute because:
a) One ore more of their party tests positive for COVID-19
or
b) More likely: The COVID-19 test results get delayed for reasons out of their control and they are unable to get results in time despite their best efforts
How likely is Delta to work with me to rebook them due to the special circumstances vs I forfeit all 240,000 mile redeemed?
Any experiences or insights would be appreciated.
Sep 7, 2020, 7:26 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,628
Not exactly your situation, but back in March when things were just starting I was able to switch an award ticket for the returning flight of a round-trip. Was scheduled to fly out on Sunday and was allowed to advance the ticket to the Wednesday before.
Your situation sounds like the kind of thing to talk to an agent about instead of booking online. I'm sure DL has to regularly deal with people who book and then can't travel because of COVID problems. And since paid tickets are now changeable, I'd guess that awards may be as well.
I've found DL agents reasonable and empowered to make such decisions.
Take care.
Your situation sounds like the kind of thing to talk to an agent about instead of booking online. I'm sure DL has to regularly deal with people who book and then can't travel because of COVID problems. And since paid tickets are now changeable, I'd guess that awards may be as well.
I've found DL agents reasonable and empowered to make such decisions.
Take care.
Sep 7, 2020, 7:27 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: DL Diamond, UA Premier Gold
Posts: 2,944
From the no change fees press release: "Other steps Delta has taken to deliver flexibility and a superior experience to customers include...Empowering our employees to use situational flexibility when customers need it most."
Sep 7, 2020, 7:29 am
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,422
Does the OP currently have status with DL? The information to the left of the post under the username suggests NO. We should be careful not to extrapolate from the experiences of top-tier elites.
Unless someone can find an explicit rule, this would fall into the category of a very reasonable ask for a waiver and favor and probably be at the discretion of the agent and supervisor.
Unless someone can find an explicit rule, this would fall into the category of a very reasonable ask for a waiver and favor and probably be at the discretion of the agent and supervisor.
Sep 7, 2020, 10:44 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,215
I have changed many BE tickets since March with zero pushback. I would be stunned if award tickets were treated differently than revenue tickets. A quarantine requirement/ negative covid test at your destination is the same for both revenue and award tickets.
Sep 7, 2020, 10:44 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,103
All cancellation/change policies due to CV19 cover award tickets. None of these restrict to T-72hr for awards.
Sep 8, 2020, 7:41 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,996
I am DM so I get the fee waiver - not sure how that is handled for non-PM/DMs.
Sep 8, 2020, 4:50 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: MSP
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, UA Silver, Hertz 5*
Posts: 913
I am about to book an international ticket using Skymiles for 95K one way on VS Upper Class from MSP-BOM (via JFK/BOS) where there is a 14 day institutional quarantine requirement if you show up without a RT-PCR test or home quarantine if you show up with a negative test done within 72 hours. If I get a positive test or the results do not show up on time, I want the ability to change or cancel my trip and get my miles back. They would be coming from a Diamond account (if that matters)
If the DM desk makes a fuss, would the trip insurance offered by Delta cover anything? I have never purchased trip insurance before but would in this case. Also would be booking using the US Bank Altitude Reserve which has some trip coverage built-in but not sure it would cover the value of 95K miles.
If the DM desk makes a fuss, would the trip insurance offered by Delta cover anything? I have never purchased trip insurance before but would in this case. Also would be booking using the US Bank Altitude Reserve which has some trip coverage built-in but not sure it would cover the value of 95K miles.
Sep 9, 2020, 2:11 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: MHT/BOS <--> World
Programs: AA Plat 2.8MM
Posts: 4,629
Many thanks for all the input!
I do not have any status with Delta right now.
I was thinking this would be a waiver and favor request but the below posts lead me to believe I have nothing to worry about.
Thank you for checking!
Great!
It sounds like the usually firm 72 hour rule isn't an issue right now.
Does the OP currently have status with DL? The information to the left of the post under the username suggests NO. We should be careful not to extrapolate from the experiences of top-tier elites.
Unless someone can find an explicit rule, this would fall into the category of a very reasonable ask for a waiver and favor and probably be at the discretion of the agent and supervisor.
Unless someone can find an explicit rule, this would fall into the category of a very reasonable ask for a waiver and favor and probably be at the discretion of the agent and supervisor.
I was thinking this would be a waiver and favor request but the below posts lead me to believe I have nothing to worry about.
I can vouch for this. Just for a test I went through and tried to cancel a flight T-25 hours before departure that I was planning on taking (an international award ticket) and I got all the way through to the final refund confirmation screen without issue. Admittedly I didn't press the button but it was very clear I could have.
It sounds like the usually firm 72 hour rule isn't an issue right now.