Both "situations" occurred in Frankfurt, Germany. They were both award tickets. I don't remember exactly what happened, but both were concerning canceled flights due to mechanical problems and re-routing to get to an emergency at home. The AA supervisor listened to the details and even though it was an award ticket she tried to acomodate me. The Delta supervisor stated the "award ticket" issue....and wouldn't help at all, believing that the award ticket was a lesser version of a "real" ticket. This was not a situation getting the initial ticket...that problem is about the same with Delta and AA....at least it was the last I used Delta. This was after the ticket was issued....on a problem getting from point A to B....where people with "regular" tickets were being helped.....and Delta singled out my "award"...like it was some sort of non-revenue ticket and that I had no rights at all....at least not more than their employees flying for free. That is my point. Otay?

yup, I gotcha.
but what I am asking is... in case one were to be planning on flying an award ticket on DELTA and wanted to BE SURE this would not ever happen, then do you suppose one could contact the airline BEFORE hand and get something in writing stating it is valid, so that if one is ever in that situation you were in, they could whip out said letter and say,
no, airline idiot employee... I have something here that validates my ticket!"

I wonder if that's doable. I mean, you'd think the ticket itself is good enough, but cases such as yours prove otherwise--until ultimately someone helped you and you had not blown up first.

One would think that even the contract employees that we sometimes think work for the airline directly (but actually work for a company like Swissport/ "Swissport International Ltd., which is owned by Ferrovial, a leading European infrastructure and service corporation based in Spain, provides ground services for over 70 million passengers and 3.2 million tonnes of cargo a year on behalf of some 650 client companies. With its workforce of around 30 000 personnel, Swissport is active at 187 airports in 43 countries on five continents, and generated consolidated operating revenue of CHF 1.9 billion (EUR 1 266 million or USD 1 583 million) last year...... for example)....would be aware of what a FF award ticket is and the weight of the ticket. But they are not. I have had some really strange stuff happen with award tickets....but I have used a lot of them and sometimes everything is very smooth. I even had an AA FF award on CX in LAX and they refused boarding with the comment "ticket no good"......."flight full".......? This was a bad one as the flight was oversold and they were not only making me the first one denied boarding....but going with a "ticket no good" explanation. This time I called the AA desk and they did have the airport manager from AA come physically down to the CX terminal area. After a brief discussion I was given a boarding pass. I guess the supervisor explained that an award ticket is a real ticket.......I was not privy to the conversation. There are a lot of personnel out there that believe an award is some type of non-rev with last boarding rights when problems occur....it's not only on Delta....but actual Delta employess (working directly for Delta and not contract employees) have looked at FF tix....and felt it was a lesser form of reality.

As to your specific question, I would say there is no letter that you can obtain because at the administrative level where the ticket is issued, they know it is a real ticket for the class and seat awarded. As many people who do not get into these situations are the ones you are talking to...they would believe the concern to be moot.

I don't know why you guys are bothering. The OP did a post and run and really doesn't seem to care that you guys are giving feedback on his/her issue. It was probably the OP's screw up from the start, but if he/she doesn't care about what any of you say, why bother posting on this???

...more in reference to this post and a few by Marathon Man...than the original OP.....who did a runner for sure!!

Why?

...so I could try to muscle my way in and take over the thread by babbling endlessly about stuff that probably hasnt happened to most people in here and try to act like I know what I'm talking about cuz I probably don't in my non-online life?

:D:D:D:D:D:D

Either that or it's just an interesting subject and I'd like to be prepared when I fly on awards.

Or both :D:D:D

OP did not post and run
 

I am the original poster and returned yesterday from my trip. I did not feel like spending my time away responding to posts on this forum and did not look at it until the day after my return. I had no idea there would be such a strong response to what I wrote and that it would appear that I had merely posted and ran. Of course, I am delighted to hear all the responses, especially from those who see my point. What more would anyone want me to say, though? It sounds like people got the drift and feel as I do that the airlines need us to let them know of our dissatisfaction. To be treated as a freeloader when using FF tickets is not right. If difficulties arise, even if the airlines claim it is not their fault, if they can resolve the difficulties by using empty seats which would otherwise go unused, as in my case, and they should do it without a fuss.

P.S. .. The gate agent who had dealt with me was a prince of a guy. He worked the boarding process and multi-tasked quite easily and did so with professional cool. He tried his best to get me what I wanted in rebooking, but did not have the power to do more. I wrote Delta a letter complimenting him and I wrote them a separate letter letting them know of my dissatisfaction. The responses I got were typical generic ones.

On my return trip, I had more trouble, but it had nothing to do with FF miles. The agent switched my exit row seat at the last minute after misunderstanding a request to be moved made by someone with my same last name. I only found this out right before boarding, even though my boarding pass had the correct seat. I had to fight - yes, yell and argue adamantly with supervisors for 15 minutes - to get what I rightly deserved. They were telling me that exit rows have no more leg room and bulkhead seats are better (with walls in front of your toes . . . sure.) Ultimately, they had to ask the passenger to whom they had just mistakenly given my seat to vacate it. I learned later that he had fought hard to retain it until someone else volunteered to move. My flight was excellent after that, other than having been made late for refueling stop due to Delta's unwillingness to fix a hydraulic light problem in a foreign city. They are truly tight for money and the result is delays.

you failed to tell us you were goiongto travel! shame on you :D:D:D

Anyway, yeah, seems as though DL is strapped for cash. Very United of them.
I am bumming because I use NWA to fly overseas and now they will be engrossed into this new quagmire for sure.

Oh whoa is me.
:D

glad to have you back. I hope the DL problem in your orginal post never happens to you or anyone again. And as for the seat mistake the airline made, I am glad you fought for it but didnt get in trouble. It is sad that they must make life so hard for people. Take note of this experience the next time someone in FT says all this flying crap is easy.

Miles are not BS,
 

While I agree with you Zephyrus to some extent, award tickets are not always top priority with airlines, you are missing a lot here. Granted, the travel industry is hurting and airlines are trying to squeeze money no matter what, I still believe that loyalty has its benefits. Hear me out and then consider what I say. My wife and I are currently in the process of re-qualifying for PLT level in AA for the 2nd year and here are our main reasons. A higher tier loyalty level will allow you to go through security on a separate and shorter line on certain airports, usually the one reserved for first class, most airlines have a designated lines only for higher tier members, this line could actually be shorter than regular lines, and it doesn't matter that you bought a cheaper fare ticket. You can be one of the first to board a plane, and you can have better seat selections, even though you bought a cheaper fare ^. You can also be on the top of the list for standby. Other things to consider are that with a higher tier loyalty level you can accumulate more miles maybe 1.5x or 2x than regular level, you also accumulate points that can be used for upgrades, or be given upgrades automatically if the airlines need to bump you to first class to accomodate other passengers. While airlines are limiting the amount of award travels, with time and patience you might be able to find a good route to use them, or you can even use your miles to pay for your membership to the airlines lounge club at the airport. We belong to the AAdmirals club, and its wonderful. Better seating, restroom facility, shower facility, free internet, wifi, free snacks, bar area, but the most important thing, if you need help with your reservation, there are several customer service reps in the lounge area that are more helpful than the ones one "main" part of the airport. With all this, I still say that loyalty has its benefits.