Delta is currently making massive changes to flight itineraties so if you are flying on them in the next year, please double check.

In my case they have changed flight times and once relaxed commections are now a 25 minute sprint (legal but hairy). Others have reported that seat assignments are being shuffled, with new seats being stuffed into the back of the plane.

Prudence would suggest you check if you may be affected.

Yes- good advice. I checked my itinerary yesterday for my Nov. flight and found they made a schedule change that increased my LAX layover by an hour. I've also noticed that when they make schedule changes on confirmed flights the seat assignments get dropped on the flight segments that had a schedule change. You should check on your itinerary often. I made my reservation 9 months in advance and there have been atleast 6 schedule changes and each time I've had to call Delta to reassign seats that were dropped.

Just to keep this post up on the list and to make the observation that yes, there is indeed something to worry about if you are a ticketed passenger on an airline that declares bankruptcy.

I checked our itinerary for our trip to Hawaii. We have a "sprint" built into the new schedule now. Not much I can do about it except hope that my waitlist is satisfied and I get to eliminate ATL altogether.

I just found out today that when I arrive in Atlanta from Rome on my Delta flight in November, I will have the added expense of staying overnight in Atlanta. My evening connection to my hometown has been cancelled and I will have to fly out the next morning.

soccr,

Since there are several major airlines in bankruptcy in the United States, I think your comment about Delta specifically is a bit out of line.

jlillberto: Not.

The point is that if you are ticketed on <i>any airline</i> in bankruptcy, you are ticketed by a company that can change its structure and operations with little or no notice -- remember that the other name for this stage of non-liquidation bankruptcy is &quot;reorganization.&quot;

Nothing out of line at all in warning people to check their itinerary, because there is absolutely the chance of cancellations, re-numbering, new or different assignments of equipment, new or different times and routings. Have seen it myself with having been booked non-stop on Delta and now being routed through Atlanta (something I was trying to avoid) -- and the flight numbers have been changed twice. If they let you know, great, but you definitely can't count on it.

I was responding to the kind of put-down posts that claim there's absolutely nothing to worry about if you're ticketed on an airline that's just declared bankruptcy. They're often right in saying that you probably won't lose your fare and ticket IF it's just a matter of reorganization and not yet liquidation. <i> However, </i> that trip/itinerary that you're ticketed on can still be changed drastically, in ways that could affect your ability to take the trip.

I am ticketed on Delta ATL to CDG (Paris) in November. There are three nonstops in each direction and that seems like a lot for an airline in their fragile condition. But, I guess for Delta, Paris is a major hub in Europe? They have not dropped any of the flights even though at this time each is only half full. I have been nervously watching. Anyone know when it is safe to figure my flight won't be canceled? I think I know the dreadful answer to my last question.

One more question came to mind! Let's say you are making a reservation on a route where there are several flights. In the Paris-ATL route there are three nonstops within a 4 hour period. Anyone know which aircraft would be a better bet? The largest 777 or the smaller 767? In a case where there are two 777s and one 767, I took the large 777 not only for comfort, but figured maybe if one was canceled it would be the 767 and they would filter those passengers into the two larger aircraft. But, perhaps I am wrong and they would cancel the larger to save even more fuel? Okay, is there any better choice/choices when reserving your flight?

The usual contract of carriage rule is that when one purchases an itinerary, if the airline does not get you to your destination within a specified period of time and it due to something under their control (e.g., mechanical or staffing problem, not weather or an ATC hold or the passenger checking in late) the passenger is entitled to some form of compensation. Does anyone know (not just think it should be so, but actually know) if this is true in the situations described above? For example, if an airline changes it schedule (after I have purchased and am ticketed) resulting in a delay that requries I stay overnight somewhere, am I entitled to reimbursemenet for the hotel?

Looks like the answer to my question is in another post which cites a NY Times article in which an FAA spokesperson is quoted as saying that bankruptcy does not change the terms of the contract of carriage nor the airline's obligation to abide by those terms. The article is at http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/travel/16prac.html

soccr,
I would take your statement even further and say that the advice to check your itineraries applies to any airline regardless of whether the carrier is in bankruptcy. American is a another carrier that recently announced both temporary and permanent flight suspension/cancellation on certain routes and they're not in bankruptcy.

Let me answer Grace's question that revived this thread. No, DL doesn't have to put you up in a hotel in ATL, but you can also get a 100% refund. If you can find a fare/itinerary on a different airline that fits you better, then refund your DL ticket and go elsewhere.

A different airline to where I live? LOL. I'm lucky that we have an airport.

wtggirl,
Delta doesn't operate 3 flights a day from ATL to CDG in November. One of those flights you're looking at must be a codeshare operated by Air France (the latter would be a 4 digit flight number starting with an 8). Which airline are you on?

Air France operates one daily flight between ATL-CDG in the winter, so it would be very unlikely that they would cancel this flight.

This reminds me that I once had AF cancel a LAX-CDG flight on me. Another example of a cancellation on a not in bankruptcy airline. I found out when I went on the AF website and saw that my flight no longer appeared on their schedule.

Seamus,
I believe that compensation only applies on the day of travel. Prior to that, you're entitled to a refund.

I am on the earliest of the two nonstop DL flights. YOu are right, the other one is AF codeshare. I did just see two nonstops going ATL-CDG with AF though. Maybe that is only until December when they cut back to one? Anyway, the flights are far from full, so I am checking often to see if they change.

I am flying on Delta in December back east, via a Northwest WorldPerks FF ticket (Delta and Northwest being partners). My original connection in SLC allowed for only a 43-minute layover in one direction, which I thought was tight but still possible, so I went for it.

This morning I got a message from Northwest that my schedule had been updated. The first flight into SLC was now arriving 17 minutes later, making the 43 minute layover now only 26 minutes! This sounded impossible and I was about to call Northwest when I happened to check Delta's flight schedule. It showed that my 2nd flight had also been moved back, even more than the first, so my layover actually got longer, not shorter - NW just didn't have all the update info.

Still, it's a good idea to double-check your itinerary shortly before your flight to make sure all is well!

Andrew

wtggirl,
There are 2 AF flights between ATL-CDG in November but only one of them operates daily. When you mentioned 777, I assumed you were either on the earlier of the 2 Delta flights or the AF daily flight.

Excellent timing.....again! I rechecked and the Delta schedule for our award seats was IMPOSSIBLE. I could not be on the plane from CVG to HNL while I was landing in ATL. Because it was such a dramatic change, I was able to get the routing that I would have chosen if I actually bought a ticket! BDL to CVG to HNL. A reminder is always good thing. I am sure it will change again and again but I don't think I will be as impacted with fewer legs and an earlier departure.