jamfly

Bought tickets on Delta flight - 6 AM in order to connect to Air Jamaica flight at 8:50. Delta has canceled the flight (flight was to be in November).<BR>Can get another Delta flight at airport 90 miles away which will allow me to make my connection. <BR>But will Delta charge me for changes to Non-refundable tix, even though they caused the change?<BR>I'm going to call, but if someone has this experience, it will help me make the case that they should not charge (the flight from the other airport will cost me more, and I'm ready to pay that, but I don't wanto get stuck with the change fee).

AA

If Delta cancelled the flight, you're entitled to a full refund with no penalties.

jamfly

Thanx AA.<BR>I left out one thing that I hope doesn't change your answer. Delta has a 7:30 AM flight, but I can't make my connection from it. I booked the Delta ticket separate from the AirJam ticket (AirJam package with hotel), so Delta doesn't feel any remorse about me not making the connection. BUT, since they can still fly me to Atlanta, and I could take a later AirJam flight (which would cost me change fees to AirJam), is your answer still the same? (I hope, I hope)

AA

You should still get a full refund. They will try to switch you over, but they can't refuse a full refund, if you insist.

ex airline employee

Next time I would book the Delta connection as part of your package. Delta and Air Jamaica code share that flight. It is also usually, but not always cheaper that way.<BR>Since the flights were not booked together, Delta has fulfilled their obligation of booking you on a flight within 2 hours. Unfortunately, you are not entitled to a refund, but they should waive the change fee.<BR>Ask them to put you on a flight the night before and book a cheap hotel near the Atlanta Airport.

COresBoy

Ex is correct. You aren't enitiled to a full refund. They would most likely wave the change fee and add/collect for the difference in fare, but that's about it. Read your ticket.

Patty

jamfly,<BR>I answered your similar post on the Caribbean board. However, I didn't realize that you had booked the Delta and Air Jamaica flights separately. In that case, I think the above posters are right - I don't think there's enough of a time difference for you to qualify for a refund. Maybe you'll luck out and find a more sympathetic agent when you call back. It's a very good reason to book all of your flights thru one airline.

AA

Sorry folks, but you are all wrong. The ticket was purchased in good faith. The airline cancelled the flight months ahead. It is not mechanical, act of God, etc...etc.... They can't expect the customer to adjust all their plans because of some accountant making a revenue decision. They "promised" by selling the ticket to get the customer to a certain destination at certain time. They "changed" their mind. They have no choice but to give a full refund if that's what the customer wants. The 2 hour rule does not kick in, unless it's on the day of the flight.

COresBoy

Well I don't know about Delta's policy, but where I come from a non refundable ticket is a non refundable ticket good towards the purchase of another flight. If our refunds department does issue refunds for such an occasion, I am not aware of it since that is another department. Point is, you wouldn't be able to ask the reservations agent for a refund and expect to get it.

jamfly

I like AA's answer best, but knowing the way things work, I have the feeling I won't get that result from the airline.<BR>COresBoy, since I would be using the money from the cancelled flight ticket on another Delta flight at exactly the same time to exactly the same place (just coming from a different airport) do you think that would qualify under the "good towards the purchase of another flight"? If I can get that result, I wouldn't ask for a refund, just the reticket.

frank

what a dreadful way to operate! I sympathise jamfly. People who have chosen to fly at such an early hour(6am) instead of the 7.30 have obviously done so because they have specific plans. If you can't fulfil your side of the bargain you should be refunding the customer. Surely it can be challenged. Imagine the chaos if other businesses got off with that. You turn up for your wedding and you are told it is now 2 hours later. Your taxi turns up 2 hours later; the subway closes 2 hours early.

ex airline employee

Sorry AA and others. Read the ticket contract. Your contract with the airline is to get you from Point A to Point B. It does not specify when or even how. It is perfectly legitimate for an airline to put you on a bus if it is incapable of flying.<BR>When we had paper tickets, a travel agent had to attact his notice to on every ticket.<BR>Schedule changes are allowed as are flight delays. If the airline refunds it is as a courtesy.

To jamfly

If the airline changes their schedule and you don't like it, you CAN get a full refund. Just take your ticket to the airport and demand a refund there. Today would be a good day to do that, the airports will be busy and they won't have time to even question you.

DallasTA

...AA is right, in the event of service cancellation a full refund is in order. CoresBoy needs to go back for more training, I did have a flight cancelled by CO using a non-refundable ticket and yes they DID refund it do to their action. After 18 years in this business I know what I'm talking about when it comes to major delays and service cancellations and what protection my clients have......

COresBoy

I never professed to be in the refunds or service recovery department. After talking to associates in service recovery, I did find out that you can get a refund.<BR>I am properly trained for my function, thank you sir.<BR>Cheers.

AA

Thanks Dallas,<BR>I don't work for any airlines, but I do sit in the AA seat for about 75000M a year. I do know the rules in most cases. If I'm wrong I will be the first to admit. If it makes the COres boy feel any better, I don't know ALL the rules, although I've being doing this for about 7 years. Sometimes I know the stuff, sometimes the res people do. It's not a big deal, as long as we could all help each other. So everybody, just chill!! The airlines change the freaking rules all the time. You would have to be a freaking genius to keep up with all the changes.<BR>Happy flying!!!!!

COresBoy

Yeah right?<BR>I was fairly certain that what I had posted was true. Then I had second thoughts, asked about it and found out that I was wrong and posted it on here. Now I have someone telling me that I am misleading people. What do I have to do here?

jamfly

To AA, COresBoy, Patty, Ex Airline, and Frank,<BR><BR>Thanks so much for your help. I now feel comfortable in making my request to Delta. I really appreciate that you all took time to answer my request.<BR><BR>And COresBoy, I want to thank you for having the courage to go out and research then come back and admit one of your answers was wrong. Not many people would do that. You can't see it, but I'm tipping my hat to you.<BR><BR>I'll let you know how this works out. <BR><BR>

jamfly

OK, it's done. Delta reticketed me from the other airport for only the difference in ticket price. Waived the change penalty.<BR>Happy (more or less, I mean, I'd still rather be going from my local airport, but as the Stones say, You Can't Always Get What You Want)ending.<BR>Thanks again to everyone who helped with advice and counsel on this.

ex airline employee

Thanks for the update jamfly.<BR>Have a great trip. EIRE MON.