Delta SkyMiles Booking Changes
Mar 18, 2008, 6:30 am
#31
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: BNA
Programs: DL PM/MM, Hilton Diamond, *wood plat, UA 1kc
Posts: 921
As for this particular enhancement; I guess I wouldn't care so much if the online tool actually worked all the time. It would also be nice if the promised ability to search AF/KLM and other partners would be delivered. However, I really just want DL to concentrate on having the existing website capability functional and reliable. From my perspective, it is neither and I am being asked to either pay for this neglect in booking fees or be connected to the insufferable Indian IT support desk...
Mar 18, 2008, 7:25 am
#32
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,388
Mar 18, 2008, 8:00 am
#33
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Mar 18, 2008, 8:05 am
#34
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Mar 19, 2008, 8:55 am
#35
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: DL MM, Marriott LT Titanium, AA EXP, Avis Chairmans
Posts: 1,399
Last night I called SMS to clean up some schedule changes. One award PNR had me waitlisted on an international segment. I asked the agent if she knew about the award booking policy and no waistlist policy. She indicated, as we know, they can no longer hold award tickets. BUT, she said that waitlisting award segments is still perfectly acceptable.
I'm not sure if she's confused, or the no-waistlist rule was just a rumor that didn't pan out?
I'm not sure if she's confused, or the no-waistlist rule was just a rumor that didn't pan out?
Mar 19, 2008, 9:29 am
#36
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: DL MM/FC/FO; UA PS; AA GLD
Posts: 2,063
You are right, unfortunately, and that's too bad. Just when DL begins to look like the DL I used to know, they bring in top-level management from outside like they did with Mullin. One of the things that made DL such a fine airline before Mullin was they promoted from within. I don't think there were employees more loyal to their company DL employees back in the day.
Mar 19, 2008, 2:16 pm
#37
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SEA - DL DM/2MM, *A Gold, SPG Lifetime Plat, some other car and hotel stuff
Posts: 5,649
Last night I called SMS to clean up some schedule changes. One award PNR had me waitlisted on an international segment. I asked the agent if she knew about the award booking policy and no waistlist policy. She indicated, as we know, they can no longer hold award tickets. BUT, she said that waitlisting award segments is still perfectly acceptable.
I'm not sure if she's confused, or the no-waistlist rule was just a rumor that didn't pan out?
I'm not sure if she's confused, or the no-waistlist rule was just a rumor that didn't pan out?
Mar 19, 2008, 2:31 pm
#38
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: TUL
Programs: AA Plat, DL FO/1MM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, National Exec Elite
Posts: 2,102
"Makes you wonder what's next" (E-mail from DL)
Wow... I just got this e-mail from Delta. Nothing earth shattering, but I just had to laugh at a couple sentences:
MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT'S NEXT
You just want to get there. We know. That's why we're on a mission to make Award Travel shopping on delta.com easier than ever.
So what's next? We've made it possible to shop for Award Travel on Continental Airlines®, Northwest Airlines®, Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines using our SkyMiles® Award Calendar at delta.com. Search for Award seats by what matters most to you—lowest mileage amount or convenient schedule.
Click don't call, as our Reservation agents no longer hold Award Tickets. But if you're not 100% sure of your travel plans, you can hold an Award Ticket for up to 48 hours at delta.com. Plus, you can cancel unused Award Tickets for past and future travel.*
And remember, you'll avoid direct ticketing fees and potential long wait times when you book at delta.com. With the same access to availability as our Reservation agents, you'll always catch the best Award seats.
Who knows what we'll think of next?
You're the reason we fly,
J. W. Robertson
Managing Director, SkyMiles
Like I said, nothing new here, but I laughed out loud... especially on that last one!
What WILL you think up next, Jeff? Some more "givebacks?"
MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT'S NEXT
You just want to get there. We know. That's why we're on a mission to make Award Travel shopping on delta.com easier than ever.
So what's next? We've made it possible to shop for Award Travel on Continental Airlines®, Northwest Airlines®, Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines using our SkyMiles® Award Calendar at delta.com. Search for Award seats by what matters most to you—lowest mileage amount or convenient schedule.
Click don't call, as our Reservation agents no longer hold Award Tickets. But if you're not 100% sure of your travel plans, you can hold an Award Ticket for up to 48 hours at delta.com. Plus, you can cancel unused Award Tickets for past and future travel.*
And remember, you'll avoid direct ticketing fees and potential long wait times when you book at delta.com. With the same access to availability as our Reservation agents, you'll always catch the best Award seats.
Who knows what we'll think of next?
You're the reason we fly,
J. W. Robertson
Managing Director, SkyMiles
Like I said, nothing new here, but I laughed out loud... especially on that last one!
What WILL you think up next, Jeff? Some more "givebacks?"
Mar 19, 2008, 2:35 pm
#39
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NJ
Posts: 3,335
Maybe we wouldn't have to call if, when the award calendar shows SkySaver award availability, we could actually click on one of those dates and it would show us a SkySaver flight available.
Has happened more times than I can count. And lo and behold, when I call the agent, the agent can get me a SkySaver seat (as shown on the calendar), but the online function won't give it to me.
Has happened more times than I can count. And lo and behold, when I call the agent, the agent can get me a SkySaver seat (as shown on the calendar), but the online function won't give it to me.
Mar 19, 2008, 2:40 pm
#40
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
I don't want to know what's next. It won't be good for me, so I'd rather not find out 
Mar 19, 2008, 2:41 pm
#41
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: JFK
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 458
Because they are planning on reducing staff and this way they can free up call center employees from dealing with award tickets, or am I off base?
Mar 19, 2008, 2:46 pm
#42
Moderator: GLBT Travelers & Hyatt Gold Passport
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: CVG
Posts: 15,300
this is the text of the e-mail that i just received:
You just want to get there. We know. That's why we're on a mission to make Award Travel shopping on delta.com easier than ever.
So what's next? We've made it possible to shop for Award Travel on Continental Airlines®, Northwest Airlines®, Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines using our SkyMiles® Award Calendar at delta.com. Search for Award seats by what matters most to you—lowest mileage amount or convenient schedule.
Click don't call, as our Reservation agents no longer hold Award Tickets. But if you're not 100% sure of your travel plans, you can hold an Award Ticket for up to 48 hours at delta.com. Plus, you can cancel unused Award Tickets for past and future travel.*
And remember, you'll avoid direct ticketing fees and potential long wait times when you book at delta.com. With the same access to availability as our Reservation agents, you'll always catch the best Award seats.
Who knows what we'll think of next?
You're the reason we fly,
J. W. Robertson
Managing Director, SkyMiles
You just want to get there. We know. That's why we're on a mission to make Award Travel shopping on delta.com easier than ever.
So what's next? We've made it possible to shop for Award Travel on Continental Airlines®, Northwest Airlines®, Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines using our SkyMiles® Award Calendar at delta.com. Search for Award seats by what matters most to you—lowest mileage amount or convenient schedule.
Click don't call, as our Reservation agents no longer hold Award Tickets. But if you're not 100% sure of your travel plans, you can hold an Award Ticket for up to 48 hours at delta.com. Plus, you can cancel unused Award Tickets for past and future travel.*
And remember, you'll avoid direct ticketing fees and potential long wait times when you book at delta.com. With the same access to availability as our Reservation agents, you'll always catch the best Award seats.
Who knows what we'll think of next?
You're the reason we fly,
J. W. Robertson
Managing Director, SkyMiles
Mar 19, 2008, 2:49 pm
#43
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: RDU, Delta GM/1MM, Hilton Diamond (for now), Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 3,443
Lucky for me I can still cancel since I'm a PM. So it's just as good as a hold, provided they refund the booking fee. Anyone know if they do this? 
Mar 19, 2008, 2:53 pm
#44
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: New York/Moscow
Programs: Aeroflot Gold, DL Silver, Marriott Gold, Global Entry, NEXUS
Posts: 243
Marc David Miller
[email protected]
Mar 19, 2008, 2:54 pm
#45
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SEA - DL DM/2MM, *A Gold, SPG Lifetime Plat, some other car and hotel stuff
Posts: 5,649
The booking fee is not refunded when a PM does a free cancel and redeposit.