Delta Blew It! Big Time!

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

Problems started 9/27/02 when I learned that Flight #54 2/28/02 (HNL-ATL) was scratched 7/3/02. I then tell your Customer Service Dept that no one every phoned us about the flight change or mailed us a new E-Ticket. I was told we'd learn about it at the gate on 2/14. We had to purchase interisland air 7/31/02 thru Hawaiian Air which was arriving at 4:30PM 2/28. It took me 13 phone calls to get someone knowledgeable to make the flight change for us since that was you fault, not ours and that new Hawaiian Air flight would arrive at 9:30AM. So we sit for 4 hours waiting for a gate at HNL. A great lady named Gloria set us up with the Crown Club as a place to relax until our flight. We really appreciated that.

2/28/02 we fly CLE-ATL on #1419 getting in a few minutes late. We transfer to flight #1565 ATL-OGG with a top at LAX. The movie player broke in air, so the flight attendants are refunding the $5 charge for headphones and apologizing that they have a bad machine. Then we learn that no meals will be served other than a bag of pretzels. We land at LAX and all have to depart (told it is due to change of pilots & security sweep). So we get off & sit at gate. We then notice departure time is 2 hours. Then another 20 minutes for the sold out flight to fill up. I see pilots walking outside & feel good that they are looking for any problems. Then they arrive & we overhear the grey headed man stating he is on his last flight & retirement sure will feel good. 15 minutes later we hear an announcement that we will not be departing due to a "blub burned out & it must be repaired by FAA standards". 3 hours we sit watching guys with walkie-talkies walking up & down the aisles but never entering the cockpit. Many asking for a beverage & were turned down. We can't even stretch, attendants stating that we may have to change planes, etc.

Our arrival in Maui was almost 8PM, and another hour wait for luggage to arrive & now I have to drive 45 mins to Embassy in the dark, which I find hard to do & book this early flight to be in Maui by 5:30PM.

After a wonderful visit to friends over the 2 weeks there in Maui, we are headed home 2/28 getting to HNL at 9:30AM for flight #196. Crown Club was a nice quiet place, great ladies manning the front desk, and we learn that LAX was evacuated due to security problems (a machine that wasn't plugged in) so our flight was just leaving. All the Crown has is little bags of granola, pretzels, & beverages, no food at all. A gentleman from Macy's asked if meal vouchers were being given out & was told no since it was a 2.5 hour wait which turned into 3.25, so we got our own meal. So we finally board & again no movie, tho they sold headsets again. The screen just flashes a rainbow effect & they announce that it broke. We know this was flight #1565 from 2 weeks ago that still hasn't been fixed. So again they refund $5 per person.

Husband & I we sound asleep when we landed at LA & were rudely awakened & told we have to deplane and change flights. Our flight goes to ATL and as we deplane we notice the board states ATL in 2.25 hours. Nothing at LAX to eat or get a beverage at 1AM. If folks are asleep they should be left alone, you know we are going to ATL. Then everyone reboards & we are told that mechanics are boarding to repair the movie machine which got a loud yell from half the plane. It was on the ground for 2.5 hours & no repairs were done? Then we all learn that no meal will be served during the 4.5 hour flight to ATL.

As we arrive in ATL, the gate folks tell is that we have to go 3 terminals away for our flight to CLE. We run, ride the tram & run to the gate to find it left 10 minutes ago. We asked what gate we go to for the reassigned flight. We are told that we missed our flight & must pay $150 each for a new flight. That was the end! So we stand in a very long line at the Delta counter & a gentleman tells us the next flight is in 5 hours. I ask about Rule 240 & that we should be reassigned to another airline & he finds a CO flight leaving in the hour which did get us home. Finally someone who knew their job.

Today I phone Customer Service & am told how irate I am. That was an insult since I am informing an airline of their lack of professionalism that unfortunately you don't care to listen to. Now you get this to read & hopefully be a professional to take care of this.

I thank you!

Submitted By: Anonymous

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

A. Things with moving parts break down.

B. Flights from Hawaii to Atlanta always land on the left coast, ideally for connections. Would you rather sit seatbelted in your tiny seat on the plane or get a chance to stretch and walk in the terminal?

C. That gray haired pilot close to retirement was most likely a VERY experienced pilot, and I personally would feel very confident with him in the cockpit.

D. How do you know that bulb was in the cockpit? Everything must be working according to FAA standards or the plane doesn't take off. Those guys with walkie talkies were just making sure everything else was working.

4. Bring a snack if you don't want to pay the airport rates for food. And flights shorter than 6 hours usually don't have meals other than snacks.

5. Bring a book. Bring several. Buy one at the terminal newsstand. Or buy a newspaper or magazine. You are going to wait in terminals. Be prepared for it.

6. Missed connections happen. It isn't the fault of the counter agent or gate agent. If you ask them to they will get you reaccommodated. That agent who said you had to pay $150 was misinformed, but may have been a rookie who didn't know the procedure.

Submitted By: Anonymous

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

nothing to eat at lax and it is delta's problem. You and your husband expect to sleep on the delta plane one the ground?

Submitted By: Anonymous

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

We all have only our experiences to draw from..so this limits us. But I must say that Delta has gone from being a truly fine airline to ...well, the pitts. I make a rule to never fly them, but on the few occassions that i have to there is always a problem.

I am an easy passanger. I don't require them to be perfect...but it has been so long since I have had a nice flight that I can't remember it.

But my biggest problem with Delta is their pricing matrix. If the "own" a market, such as many of the medium sized towns in Montana or Idaho, etc...the pricing is AWFUL. I recently bought a ticket from Butte to Columbia. It would have been cheaper to go to Europe or Latin America. But..they own both markets.

I pity those in business in those morkets...how can they compete!

I live in Columbia SC...thank goodness for Charlotte, and US Air!

Submitted By: Anonymous

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

Delta's always done right by me.

Submitted By: Anonymous

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

Most of what you are complaining about is simply whining, no fault of an airline. An earlier reply said much. Crown Rooms are not resteraunts, they are lounges. You were adults, you could care for yourself! Pack snacks, books etc. Don't you ever get stuck in a traffic jam? Other cars broken down? Road construction? Weather? Grow up!

Submitted By: Anonymous

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

Delta used to be number 1 about 30 years ago. Now they contract out work and screw their employees. I'll fly em again when they go union.

Submitted By: Anonymous

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

next time rent a harley

Submitted By: Anonymous

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

If you are a crown member you need to shut the hell up. You should be glad the mechanics fixed your plane.

Submitted By: Anonymous

Converted · Site Admin Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 5602

when they go union, they will become 8 million percent worse! You think contractors are lazy bastards now, wait until you see unions with contracts that guarantee pay without performance. Fortunately, I think Delta will fold before then. I give them 12-14 months (posted in October 2002).

Submitted By: Anonymous