Married segment question
 

I am looking at a pair of flights connecting via ATL that seem to be running into married segment issues. Each of the flights has plenty of availability in all fare classes, but when combined as a connection most of them zero out and the only fare option Delta is giving me is the full fare. I confirmed the availability issue via ExpertFlyer. I don't know why they don't want people to fly this routing but it is obvious they don't. But I do. I just don't want to pay the full fare, which is absurdly high.

Question for the experts here - am I going to run afoul of any rules or conditions of carriage or connection protection issues if I book it as separate tickets within the 4 hour connection window? Or should I make sure to book it as a stopover?


For the second flight there is only one per day, so missing it would be really bad. But it is also well into the afternoon so coming the day before seems silly, and I don't relish spending 5 hours at the airport.

Separate tickets are just fine. If you are worried about missing the second flight, make sure to have enough connection time.

And not that you referenced this but if you are planning to use any upgrade instruments you will need 1 per segment if it is multi city whereas if it were booked from point to point, as a one way with 1 layover, for example, you would only need and assuming availability, use 1.

Some routings may be allowed in fare rules, but may not be logical and may often have married segments limited. Hard to say more without knowing route. Don't understand the need for secrecy here.

Of course I would give myself several hours. But would I get the same misconnect protection in this instance in case of a severe issue as if it was a single ticket?

Also, would DL check bags all the way through?

Thanks, not planning on using any.

Sorry, not trying to be secretive. Must've been not thinking straight when I posted.

I am looking at BOS-ATL-ANC in D1 as that is the only way I found on any airline to have a lie flat seat for the long leg. Everything else has me in a narrow body regular F seat for basically 5-8 hours depending on the routing. I know - first world problems. :)

Yes and yes.

Re routing, without looking at flight times, etc, I can’t imagine D1 is worth going this far out of
your way to be in it.

Thanks. Total travel time (including connection) is only about 3 hours longer than the fastest option. I could go DL via MSP where I am on the plane 3:20 and 5:40, or via ORD on AA for 3:00 and 6:35 or via SEA on DL or AS for 6:30 and 3:30. Going via ATL makes it 2:47 and 7:35 but that long leg is in D1 on a widebody. Feels more spacious on the widebody and more room to get up and stretch your legs. That's why I am considering it. Honestly the cost is only marginally higher than regular F.

is this a routing to HNL through ATL?
edit: ah I see OP later revealed it's ANC. Honestly I'm not sure why people are so frequently mysterious about their routings, it usually helps figure out what's going on especially in cases like this where we know DL has been driving certain markets through certain hubs for trips to AK/HI

Yeah, but the ATL-ANC segment is on the 763. It's an absolutely terrible D1 seat. Is it better than a domestic F seat? Yeah, marginally. But not enough to fly to ATL. I'd take the SEA or MSP connection... the cost would have to be lower for me to take the extra time and fly on a 763.

You should be fine as DL is pretty generous here, but you will of course pay both fares which will be expensive, if potentially less than full fare on married inventory.

Is it really that bad that 7 hours is worse than 5 hours in regular F?

100% yes.

Issues with the seat (in comparison to a typical D1 seat):
-Very narrow
-You can't independently recline from the legs coming up
-Old... dated...
-IFE screen is small and the underlying software is ancient

You said "in comparison to a typical D1 seat" but here the comparison is with regular domestic F. As old and janky as the 763s D1 seats are, I'd still take one over domestic F (maybe not the 75S where that is in play)

- direct aisle access for window seat preferrers
- lieflat if you want a nap vs recliner
- ATL-ANC is marketed as D1 so for those who care about lounge access this gets you in without burning a credit card visit, guest passes if traveling with companions etc

But would you fly BOS-ATL-ANC and spend 3 extra hours in transit over BOS-MSP-ANC for the opportunity to pay more money and fly a 763? All other things being equal, I'd take a D1 763 over a standard domestic narrowbody F. However, this preference goes away pretty quickly once you add in bad flight times, long connections, increased price, etc.

Sure, everyone has to weigh which factors are important to them and decide how much they value them. I wouldn't do it at the original figure you floated before the edit :) but I'd pay maybe $100 extra even with longer travel times. After your edit I think we're mostly in agreement actually...

Going to ANC from the East Coast is going to kill a day anyway and for me personally there's not much I can do from the wifi at home that I can't do just as well from the wifi in a SC. But if it meant an extra meal with friends/family on either end or something like that, then the calculus changes.