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Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines • SkyMiles • Travel vouchers • Delta/AmEx promotions • European promotions • Reservations & itinerary changes • Lost/damaged luggage • Unaccompanied children • Puerto Rico USA • Miscellaneous --- News • Delta Reduces Capacity As Fuel Prices Rise • Delta Cuts Flights in Slowing Economy • Delta Alters Fees to Conform to Northwest's • Delta, Northwest Complete Merger • Delta Adding Wi-Fi to All Flights • Delta Raises Second Checked Bag Fee to $50 • Delta Passengers Stranded 7 Hours on Plane • Delta Sells Ads on Boarding Passes • Delta, Northwest Merger Faces Heavy Chop • US Airways Makes Bid for Delta • Delta Beefs Up Routes, Retrofits Its Jets • Delta Begins Passing On Airport Fees To Passengers • Delta Writes Coda to Song • Delta Files for Bankruptcy • Delta Sells Regional Carrier To Raise Cash • Delta Abandons $499 Fare Cap • Delta Warns of Bankruptcy • Delta Passengers To Brown Bag It • Delta Cuts Fares

Complaints about the major airlines are plentiful. What's a little unusual about Delta is how angry some of its best customers are -- those who've reached stratospheric in the SkyMiles program, for example. These are the 100,000-mile flyers that every airline swears it will do anything to retain. Delta certainly has an odd way of showing it.

We'd say the comments below pretty well sum it up.

Daniel Lapson of Skokie, IL December 26, 2008

Daniel of Skokie IL (12/26/08)
My latest travel experience could be summed up as Christmas vacation from hell. My friend and I were scheduled to fly DL5104 to Tel-Aviv via Atlanta on Dec.23, 2008 at 5:00 pm. In spite of bad weather there were no cancellations or even delay notices until we arrived to the airport 2 hours prior to the departure at 3:00 pm. By 3:25 the flight was cancelled, but we were not notified until 4:30. Delta rebooked us to fly the following day, this time through NY. We had to get a cab (35) and go back home.

Next day the weather was much better (cloudy, 35F, no snow), yet Delta flight to NY was cancelled abruptly, leaving us with an option to cancel our trip completely or to get to NY somehow. We opted to buy tickets on the next available flight to NY. We paid 150 for one-way ticket on United Airlines flight 658 and 40 for 2 bags to check-in (sine we no longer were international travelers on UAL and did not have 2 bags free privileges). It was supposed to leave OHare at 2:00 pm to LGA and arrive at 5:00pm, in plenty of time for us to take a shuttle to JFK (25 min ride) and be there for 10:00 pm departure to Tel-Aviv.

We called Delta, informed them that we are still planning to fly out from NY and went to board the plane. Up until boarding time 1:30, United Airlines did not report any delays; but then they started posting delays with the half-hour increments. This time it was not the weather. The reason for delays was the crew, THE ABSENCE OF THE CREW. The plane arrived to NY 2:30 hours late. A mad dash to JFK (another 35) put us in front of Delta check-in counter at JFK one hour and 15 minutes before scheduled departure to Tel-Aviv only to find out that Delta sold out our tickets.

At 9:00 pm on Christmas Eve my friend and I were alone in NY, with our vacation plans ruined and no place to go. We are 17, too young to stay at the hotel by ourselves. After another cab ride (35) we found ourselves sleeping on the floor in someones apartment, then back to the airport (35) and another 250 for one-way ticket back to Chicago and another 40 for two bags to check-in. That is 620 out of pocket for the trip that did not happen.

The ticket cost to Tel Aviv was 1400. I spent extra 620 and still did not get where I wanted/neededd to go. I missed my scheduled job interviews in Tel-Aviv, that can not be rescheduled, and forfeited a Hotel reservation another 200.

Dennis of Brooklyn, NY December 23, 2008

Dennis of Brooklyn NY (12/23/08)
Delta Airline self check-in kiosk was having some difficulties and referred me to Check_in counter. I mentioned to the Delta representative that we ( my self and 3 y.old son) have flight in about 1 hour. Regardless we have been pointed to line. At that moment Delta Airlines have THREE people working at Check_IN counter; two of them were serving First class and ONE coach class! We was standing online for an about 40-45 minutes when representative called us. She looked at the computer and said the following: Too late to check in. You have to TWO OPTIONS either pay 50 for each ticket and take later flight or GET OUT!!!!

My argument that Delta Airlines MUST provide sufficient amount of employees to serve all customers. Delta representative replied back that Delta Airline suggests to arrive THREE hours prior to departure! I pointed her that coach class representative get stuck with the customer and we are standing online for 40 minutes; more over I have 3 year old son and I INFORMED Delta Airline employees that our flight is less that 1 hour away! All was ignored! We spent at JFK from 12.30 pm until 7.15 p.m just because Delta Airline trying to save money on the employees.

Child very exhausted. Difficult arrival to Florida; sleepless night;

Amy Anderson of Ossining, NY December 12, 2008

Amy of Ossining NY (12/12/08)
Flight 26 was delayed approx 8 hours. Endless ridiculous time fanatasies as to when plane would take off-Literal lies. Finally get a plane ready to go- oh...sorry,1 minute over union work rule,pilots left. Your organzaton is a disgrace. You are WHY we are in such an economic mess. SHAME ON YOU and We will NEVER even begin to think of using you again. Still not resolved...Pathetic

Amy Yankoviak of Houston, TX December 12, 2008

Amy of Houston TX (12/12/08)
-booked e-ticket with Delta and paid 39 fuel surcharge -few days later, received marketing email from Delta claiming they no longer charged a fuel surcharge; called Delta and was told that because no portion of the ticket was used yet, the fuel surcharge would be refunded to credit card, and that a plan was in place to do this within 2 weeks time

-2 weeks later, no refund appeared through credit card, so called and was told that no such refund plan was ever in place and no refund would be made

-next day, wrote letter to Delta explaining extreme contradiction in info and asking for refund

-2 weeks later, received call from Delta very early in morning explaining that the 39 fuel surcharge could have been refunded before the ticket was used (too late, at that point), and then the ticket would've been re-issued...for a 100 re-issue fee!! (net loss to me, the customer = 61)

Delta really put the LIE in UNBELIEVABLE!!

George Dorney of Peabody, MA December 10, 2008

George of Peabody MA (12/10/08)
I used skymiles to purchase tickets and was charged a fuel surcharge. 3 days later Delta eliminated the fuel surcharge or 32 per ticket but refused to credit the amount back to my credit card. Since they have not even used the fuel charge, this seems like a great ripoff. Because of this, I will definitely use their competion iin the future.

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