I have a Delta trip coming up in two weeks and I went to view the itinerary at Delta.com and could not find it. I have an itinerary number on my screen print complete with seat assignments. I called Delta reservations, gave them the itinerary number and told them I could not find the trip. The agent did some research and told me that I had put the res on "hold" but had never purchased it (money or miles). She then asked me if I needed a rental car or hotel room.
I told the agent that Delta has no online "hold" function that I know of. American has a "hold" function. She still insisted that I had "held" the reservation and never paid for it. The agent connected me to their web site technical staff; however, that person could not understand me. I made many attempts and he could not understand even my itinerary number.
I have just sent Delta an email to ask for an explanation. Ever happened to you? Does Delta have a "hold" function like American?

The consistency with which this is a problem when connected to the dl.com support line is baffling. And kind of funny ... in a baffling way.

OP, safe to assume you bought your ticket (instead of used miles)? Did you get an email receipt? Did it have a ticket number? I'd start there.

Did you make your original transaction on dl.com or through a TA? I think TA's still can hold reservations.

I had that happen to me once when I moved. I changed my address (and zip code - I think that's what they look at) with my credit card company but not on my Skymiles account. The transaction "seemed" to go thru OK and I received a PNR on the screen but no email receipt. Turned out my credit card was declined due to the incorrect zip code...

I'd call back and speak with someone else, keep calling til you get someone who can help you figure out what happened. Also how did you pay for it? check your credit card for the charge, which will also give you another transaction number to refer them to.

I just looked through my credit card transactions for the last six months and can't find where I was debited for this trip. I also looked at my SkyMiles account and didn't find any redemption of miles. I buy all of my Delta travel on Delta.com. I once used Travelocity but it didn't work well with Delta. With Travelocity I could never check in online or use the Delta kiosk. Travelocity still works well with the other airlines.
If no miles or money was deducted for this trip I can live without it. I am just glad it wasn't some special occasion involving lots of other people and nonrefundable ground arrangements. Something must have gone wrong after I clicked "purchase". It even let me choose my seats.
If there is a programming glitch I just hope they fix it even if they don't acknowledge it. It was scary for me that I went through all of the usual motions of arranging air travel and then two weeks before going - it isn't there.

Delta certainly does have a "hold" function for award tickets on delta.com. You can hold itineraries for two days. More specifically, until 11 PM ET two days after you place it on hold.

The held itinerary will expire unless you go back and redeem it.....

David

Thanks David for the update. I haven't purchased award travel on Delta.com in a couple of years so I didn't know I could hold a trip. I am sure I will be using award travel in the near future so I will look for that feature.

I just received an email response from Delta to my inquiry. They said my itinerary had timed out after I had placed it on hold and didn't pay for it (in miles) in the required amount of time.
I have never used a "hold" function at Delta in my life. The last time I used Delta award travel was a year ago to attend a family funeral. My need to travel was urgent. It all worked well.
Lesson learned: the next time I think I have purchased a ticket I should call Delta if I don't soon get a receipt with a ticket number. I'm lucky this was a leisure trip and that I didn't have nonrefundable ground arrangements.