Magic words to use to SDC 3-legs to 2?
Dec 7, 2019, 9:01 am
#1
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Magic words to use to SDC 3-legs to 2?
PM on award booking with my daughter on the same PNR (she has no status). Flying next week MCO - ATL - DTW - LHR. Did that to get a great deal on the miles. There is a Delta flight leaving at the same time as our MCO - ATL flight going MCO - DTW with plenty of availability. I do understand Delta generally does not allow SDC on an international itinerary (except after all international legs completed). There is a tight, but legal connection in DTW, but it seems it'd be in Delta's best interest to get me to DTW earlier. I called in and it's 100,000 miles to change the ticket, so that's out. I've been hoping for a schedule change, to no avail. I don't feel Delta has any obligation to make this change for us.
What can I say when I get to the airport to affect this change? To fly MCO-DTW-LHR instead? Any magic words I can use? :-) Thanks for your help.
What can I say when I get to the airport to affect this change? To fly MCO-DTW-LHR instead? Any magic words I can use? :-) Thanks for your help.
Dec 7, 2019, 9:05 am
#2
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Nope. Agents over phone simply wont do it. Heck SDC can be hard when you're operating within the rules. You might have luck at the airport,, but not over phone.
Dec 7, 2019, 9:08 am
#4
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Watch for any weather problems or other posted delays, including potential delays for arrival of the inbound aircraft she'll be using, If there's a weather waiver posted by DL, you can call in advance to change the ticket for free and routings that don't use DTW would also be allowed (for free) if seats are available.
Dec 7, 2019, 12:20 pm
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Dec 7, 2019, 1:57 pm
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even though you intend to keep the same TATL flight, if you’re checking bags you should probably speak with a redcoat at the counter rather than waiting until you get to the gate
Dec 7, 2019, 7:55 pm
#10
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Unless flight is next Saturday, it looks like worst case connection next week for ATL-DTW-LHR is 1hr 13m. I wouldn't call that tight for a mainline-mainline connection at DTW where everything will be in the main concourse. Also, if you are on the 6:23PM flight, there is a second DTW-LHR flight at 10:30PM.
Dec 7, 2019, 11:19 pm
#13
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Depending on how tight your connection is, I've had success sharing my anxiety about the connection time and how I'm certain I'll miss the next flight if it's even just 5 minutes behind schedule. If you're looking for something in advance, that's the route I'd go... (Sounds like this would be a HUCA situation for you.) Good luck!
Dec 8, 2019, 6:06 am
#14
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Depending on how tight your connection is, I've had success sharing my anxiety about the connection time and how I'm certain I'll miss the next flight if it's even just 5 minutes behind schedule. If you're looking for something in advance, that's the route I'd go... (Sounds like this would be a HUCA situation for you.) Good luck!
BTW, even if someone were to permit such a SDC, it should cost $75 for the daughter with no DL status. This involves reissuing the ticket, which is at least partly the reason for the rule that SDC is permitted only after all international legs have been flown; international ticket reissues can be complicated and time consuming, with most agents being unable to do this themselves.
Dec 8, 2019, 8:53 am
#15
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The problem with this is that there apparently wasn't a schedule change and OP selected the flights (presumably because the tight extra connection was cheaper). There's no valid reason to violate the rules regarding doing a SDC on an international ticket.
BTW, even if someone were to permit such a SDC, it should cost $75 for the daughter with no DL status. This involves reissuing the ticket, which is at least partly the reason for the rule that SDC is permitted only after all international legs have been flown; international ticket reissues can be complicated and time consuming, with most agents being unable to do this themselves.
BTW, even if someone were to permit such a SDC, it should cost $75 for the daughter with no DL status. This involves reissuing the ticket, which is at least partly the reason for the rule that SDC is permitted only after all international legs have been flown; international ticket reissues can be complicated and time consuming, with most agents being unable to do this themselves.
I guess my point is that it's worth a shot. Worst thing that can happen is they say no. But again, didn't mean to try this day of for a SDC.