twiggers

I don't have experience flying Delta, but am almost ready to book.

9/1: 2902 MIA -> DTW and then 234 DTW -> AMS

The MIA -> DTW portion is so-so full, but the overseas flight is quite empty.

The overseas portion is the 2nd to last flight of the day; so I can't imagine they would cancel two overseas flights (unless there was a freak blizzard or the volcano starts blowing again).

Is there a website to check and see what has historically happened with that flight 234 (or even just that route in general)??

I can route myself through Memphis or JFK, but I'm concerned with Memphis not having enough overseas routes for me to get out of there if something was cancelled.

JFK might be better, but so bad for delays, etc.

Any advice? Am I just way overthinking this? This is where I really miss not living near a better hub (MIA is great if you're traveling to S. America, but not much else).

J62

Yes, you are just way overthinking this.

Airlines don't just cancel flights on a whim if it isn't full.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Airlines can't and don't simply cancel flights if loads are light. The aircraft has to be in place at the destination airport to transport passengers and crew from there. They also may have contracted to transport cargo.

Don't worry about it.

andrews98682

Be glad the overseas flight isn't packed. You might have room to stretch out a bit.

twiggers

Thanks all!!! It's DH's first trip to Europe and I just want it to go seamlessly for him (so that he'll hopefully go back again)!

jubilada

Twiggers: It will probably not go seamlessly! But I am sure it will be wonderful. Relax, enjoy, be flexible, and all will be well.

DMBTraveler

twiggers,

You will be fine. Flying Delta to Amsterdam is a great choice. Now merged with former Northwest Airlines which had one of the first transatlantic alliance with KLM. Delta has excellent service and route structure to and from Amsterdam.

With only one flight a day from MEM, you are correct to avoid that option. I also think avoiding the East Coast (JFK) is always a good idea when you have other options available.

DTW is a good connection airport although in my opinion the amenities in the airport are lacking.

I can guarantee you that in September your DTW-AMS flight will not be as empty as it is today.

For info that may be helpful with your air travel plans, check out:

www.dmbflyingcoach.blogspot

janisj

"<i>I just want it to go seamlessly for him </i>"

No trip - almost EVER - goes seamlessly. Don't try to make everything 'perfect'. That will just set unrealistic expectations. Plan on a fun, probably awesome, trip. Don't plan/expect perfect.

Just sayin' . . . . .

twiggers

Janis: I know, I know! Seamless & perfect makes for a boring vacation...I'm just going to try my best!

otto

agree with janis, but i would never fly delta transatlantic again after flying to amsterdam with them last year. inexcusable service and amenities, they are not competitive at all with transatlantic carriers.
airlines can double up on flights if capacity is low, (usually giving another excuse) but reprotect you on the later flight.

dutyfree

Sometimes the cargo in the hold is more important than a plane full of passengers-it goes no matter what the loads are.
Flowers;aspargus;car parts-you get the idea! Don't worry.

dutyfree

Otto-I believe you actually flew Northwest last year as I had heard that Delta had not merged their flight attendants yet due to union vs non union issues with each others members.The plane may have said Delta with the flight number but Detroit is a Northwest stronghold. FYI-

usernameistaken

I sometimes check airline ratings at the skytrax website at www. airlinequality.com to see if the particular flight I want to take has been reviewed by someone. It's a crapshoot but if you have a few hours to kill, it's not a bad way to see how an airline is viewed.

Here is the Delta page
http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/delta.htm

twiggers

THanks so much everyone!!! I've only flown BA and UA overseas, so we'll see how this goes.

DMBTraveler

Otto,

It is unfortunate that you had a bad Air Travel Jeopardy experience.

An airline flight cancellation is done as a last resort. Airlines know days before departure the capacity to which flights are booked. However, a low booking on one flight does not mean the airplane will be removed off a route since it may be needed to fly a full load of passengers down line.

For example Delta flies AMS-BOM (India)which is usually a full high revenue flight. Therefore, twiggers low capacity booked flight might still be needed on this or another route with high bookings.

I beg to differ that Delta is not competitive on trans-atlantic routes. Apparently twiggers got a good deal! Sometimes you just have to be a savvy traveler to have a pleasant airline experience.

DMBTraveler

dutyfree,

Your comment about airline cargo is a simple one of economics.

Airlines are in business to make money. They they have the opportunity to do so with passengers and cargo. It may surprise you but there are many times that tons of cargo is left behind. What is never left behind is a full plane of passengers.

In all my years in the business,I have never seen a regularly scheduled passenger airplane arrive at the gate full of cargo with no passengers. Maybe you have experienced a first time event!

Airlines strive to optimize every flight from a passenger, cargo and economic stand point. Yes, there are times when some passengers are inconvenience by this but I would be an amazing exception if it as a full load of them.

In the end if you owned Pleasant Air Flight 123. Who or what do you think should have priority to be on your airplane. The $1000 cargo shipment or the passenger who saved $35 on his or her $250 ticket?

twiggers

The Delta prices are pretty good right now. I usually fly AA or UA, but their prices and itineraries aren't as good.

Prices right now are fluctuating about $20 a day....seeing as how the planes are relatively empty I'm gambling that prices might come down in an attempt to move seats.

A friend recently flew Tel Aviv to the US on Delta and didn't have ANY movies (seat back or the big screens). I was shocked! I thought all transatlantic flights had that basic amenity.

LT

If I were you, I might actually be wishing they do cancel the DTW - AMS flight. That's because you could ask to be rebooked on AF out of MIA & connect in CDG instead of DTW. That way, if something happens, you'd at least be on the continent & could take a train, rent a car, etc. to get to AMS. And, AF is a nicer airline.

Good luck!

DMBTraveler

twiggers,

Don't gamble with airline ticket prices!! Most airlines will refund you the difference in the form of a travel voucher if the price goes down. I think even Orbitz or Priceline advertises to also do this. September is still a long time a way and usually customers that price tickets at least 3 weeks in advance get better prices. Ticket prices are not only based on seats left to be sold but on demand which can be calculated by time. The closer to your departure date without a ticket the more demand you create have for your seat. Therefore, increase demand can mean higher ticket prices.

If you gamble you may end up paying more!

twiggers

Thanks LT! I was looking at AF, but they have a 13 hour layover on the way back, and I want to avoid that!

DMB: Hmmmm....I thought you basically had to rebook and pay the change fee to get the lower price? And then it would need to be more than the $100-125 change fee.