Delta Air Lines Inc Consider The Cold Heart Of Delta Airlines! Do We Want To Fly? the business that doesn't give a dam Atlanta Georgia

I am sorry you feel that $100.00 is unreasonable. This FEE amount is pretty standard with most ALL Major Airlines. As far as having to fly to SALT LAKE & then SEATTLE is probably due to SCHEDULE CHANGES, they probably are no longer offering DIRECT service after a certain date. Since you are no longer able to fly when they are offering direct service, you will have to fly a connecting flight. It seems they offered to convert your Ticket for travel at a later date with NO FARE INCREASE. If you read the FARE RULES associated with most tickets, changes are $100.00 plus any additional Fare Costs. Airlines wont waive Change Fees and Fare Rules anymore due to SECURITY CHANGES and other economic issues. You may feel that your situation is special, but I know that there are hundreds of people with the same type of issues and others that may seem legitimite. But unfortunately airlines cant verify every one and also decide which are more justified than others. Therefore they have a STANDARD POLICY of charging EVERYONE who makes a change a $100.00 fee. GET OVER IT !!! It is FAIR>

There is only one remedy for these cut throat Companies and that is to never spend one red cent on them ever again no matter what. If there would come a day which I believe won't be all that long and we all unite together as strong Americans and stop letting our society con and fool us that we need their services and fight them by never spending a penny ever again, like I said above, this crap would come to a halt real fast. They all have answers for their lowlife greedy ways. People we must stick together or they win. Don't fly no more no matter what. I will never give one bloody penny to any airlines again to prove my point. It has to start with one person than the next in a chain. I don't care who's dying. Dam it this has to stop. There is no way in Hell we will win until the American public is so fed up with it, we tell them all to take a flying leap. We did not always have airfair and out forfathers did just fine without it. They lived and they dealt with losses that they could not travel to see their loved ones before death. i know this all sounds crazy as hell what I am saying. but there is not other way to stop this garbage until we stop flying all together. Just imagine if everyone took just one month out of their lifes and said soorry we are not flying for this month. Do you know what that would do to the Airlines. It would knock them down into the depths of Hell where their greedy butts belong. I am fed up and will not contribute to any more greed on this planet. Be wise follow me and we will win. If not keep going the way you are, but their is no sence in complaining, because it won't work. Stop them all now, don't buy their services. I wish all would do this no matter what, we would be triumphant. You all have a wonderful day, and to you Airline Companies with your rebuttals, it won't make any difference to me, I have had it with your crap.

come on!!!

If you paid for a plane ticket which you can't transfer to another date, that's called a cheap rate ticket.

If you want a ticket that you can transfer the travel dates, you pay a little more.

Simple as that.

It's business, not a charity! Like it or lump it, that's how it is. You get what you pay for, and I like getting what I pay for.

Delta airlines did what is justified under the law - if you don't like it, then ask to change the law - don't blame in on the airline.

ps: If you do want to take advantage, however, assuming a relativly young couple, then mention to the ticket office that you are on your honeymoon (i.e. lie). If there are free business or first class upgrades avalaible, you will be the first on the list :)

James.

Well for the person announcing "Piss down their backs..." All I can say is BYE BYE !!!! Airlines dont need your money & dont need you. One of airlines biggest problems right now is TOTALLY LOW-END CHEAP TICKET PASSENGERS.

People like you buy the cheapest fare on PRICELINE or some other CHEAP TICKET site and then think you are entitled to everything, FREE UPGRADES, CHANGE YOUR ITINERARY cauuse you got stuck with something stupid cause of PRICELINE not telling you before you purchased.

You want to preboard so you can get all the pillows & blankets for yourself. You want this, you want that. Then when you get BUMPED cause you are flying on the cheapest seat on the plane you want to YELL & SCREAM about discrimination. Yeah, we do discriminate against CHEAP TICKETS !!!!

You are the first that will get BUMPED cause it is in your FARE RULES. You know those things you never read cause you dont think they apply to you.

Well better start reading them cause Airlines are going to start ENFORCING them on everything, including STANDBY & CHANGE FEES. Dont like it, well go GREYHOUND !!!! We will see you at your destination in a couple of days instead of a few hours. The old adage is "You get what you Pay for."

Sorry to hear about your situation. As a professional in the travel industry (travel agency, not airline employee), I can relate to your situation. We deal with these situations on a daily basis and Delta is the least willing out of all of the major US carriers to accommodate someone in a medical situation. To be honest, it is not likely that they would even refund her unused ticket in the event that she not make it through her illness- even if a copy of the death certificate is provided!

An FYI on other new airline policies-- nearly all major US carriers have adapted a 'use it or lose it' policy. Translation: If you do not show up for your flight and fail to cancel the reservation, you forfeit all of the value of your ticket and cannot exchange it for another ticket at a later date.

That's because President Bush and Congress
already gave them taxpayers money to the tune of
2 billion!!! It's disgusting to see that with
all that bail out money from us, that they have
decided to be so cold hearted to their customers.

Anthony

Cherry Hill

New Jersey

President Bush & Congress didnt give the Airlines any FREE MONEY. What they did was compensate them for losses for the 3 or 4 days that the AIR TRAFFIC SYSTEM was shut down in the USA.

Remember right after 9-11-01 when NO PLANES were flying. Well, they gave the Airlines a partial payment on what they would have earned during those days. NO FREEBIES. Just compensation for suddenly turning the aviation world upside down. If you are so ANTI-AIRLINE I welcome you to go Greyhound the next time you wish to travel & see how you enjoy the expereience.

I have been involved in many aspects of Transportation for several years. I have a Class A CDL with all endorsements. I have driven Charter Buses and other Commercial vehicles.

I also hold a FAA AIRCRAFT DISPATCHER License and have worked for several airlines in operations as well as a MAJOR Airline support company.

The USA has one of the BEST TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM around and one of the lowest cost to the consumer. However WHINERS like you will always complain about it cause you didnt get it for FREE or something. SO JUST REMEMBER, "YOU GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR !!!!!"

Let me make one thing clear, if people got what
they paid for, do think there would be over 27,000
complaints on this site alone?

Anthony

Cherry Hill

New Jersey

Well let me start bursting your bubble somewhat.

This REBUTTAL was redacted because the individual did not provide a bona fide e-mail address

In these sensitive times all industries in our economy are struggling most of all the airline industry. When you purchase a low priced ticket you are explained all of the advantages and disadvantages to that low fare.

One big disadvantage is that you must travel on that specific date and time without any changes or you will incure a penalty fee. The airline depends on you being in that seat at that time in order to fill the aircraft and when a person shows up when they want to it puts the airline in a position where they need to provide a seat where one may not be after a seat went empty at the saved time that the ticket was purchased for.

You can't use an expired coupon at a store either!! You can't buy steak and demand that you get it for the price of the hamburger. Oh well, Life comes with many contingencies and rules. It's best to know all the rules prior to buying anything including airline tickets.

If you do have a specific reason for not traveling on that date and time I'm sure that if you were to write a letter to the customer relations department at the airline and express your situation to them maybe they will come up with a solution otherwise just pay up when you don't show up !!!!!

Cheryl
Miami, Florida

Hey Mark...I'm so sick of you and your "I hold an FAA Aircraft Dispatcher License" like it makes you an aviation know-it-all guru. Puke Puke.

I remember you from all the inaccuracies you spouted off in reference to a US Airways complaint. I pretty much put you in your place, but you never did respond back. Go figure. If you have this wonderful license, why aren't you currently employed in that capacity like I am.

As an airline employ, I understand that we need rules and fees so people just don't keep changing their flying plans all the time, but in these trying times, the airlines could be a bit more accomodating to the flying public under special circumstances. And contrary to what you said about the airlines not needing people's money, that's a load of crap. All the airlines are hurting financially, so that would lead me to believe the airlines need all the paying passengers they can get.

In reference to the bail out money, I think it's a bunch of crap that the airlines got all that money off the backs of tax payers, then turned around and laid off thousands of those tax payers who still haven't been brought back to work. For someone supposedly so "connected" to the industry, you are sure out of touch. Next time get some facts straight before you start flapping your lips.

I understand your complaint and feel bad for your situation with your grandma. I work for Delta and under the new managment we now have, am not suprised by the responses you have been given. Last year Delta the all american airlines sub-contracted the majority of our reservation to India, the executives decided to guarentee their retirements (so no one would leave for a better job), all while they stole my retirement and paid theirselves big fat bonuses. since that time three executives have already left and now the head jerk (loe-lorenzo-mullins) has announced his retirement in May. Im sorry for your treatment and can assure you under the old management it would have been rectified quickly. Unfortunatly with our new CEO, the attitude for today is "to bad so sad". If it make you feel any better they stole $100 from you, but they stole well over $100,000 from me.

This is what has happened to the Airline Industry~

We lowered fares in order to fill otherwise empty seats. We also started selling bulk tickets to Priceline instead of travel agencies. The result? We LOSE money because the "Greyhounders" totally piss off the FULL FARE REVENUE FREQUENT FLIERS (which keep our industry afloat and who's high ticket prices allow Ma and Pa Kettle to fly on the cheap) with their pissing and moaning and complaining and wanting something for nothing - yah yah yah.

As an employee of Alaska Airlines which controls the ANC/SEA market, my advice to you is to STAY with Delta, We sure as hell dont want you on OUR aircraft. $350 R/T from SEA/ANC is BELOW COST for us, Alaska is a very expensive state to operate out of due to weather and the heavy abuse our airplanes take. But you couldnt/wouldnt understand that. If Granny is SO sick, you could have sent a request to DL and they would most likely have honored your refund request - even though it violated the fare rules you KNEW about when you bought the ticket. DL outsoursed their Reservation to a bunch of Dot-Heads so they can save money, tossing people out of work here in the USA just so YOU - HILLBILLY - can get an even CHEAPER seat! Go to Albertsons - buy a gallon of milk - then two weeks later take it back and say - I was sick and couldnt drink it and it expired so I want you to give me a free gallon today - They would tell you to get back in your pick-up truck and go home to your trailer park.

I for one can't WAIT until we get RID of these super cheap BELOW COST fares - These low class people we attract arent worth it. Thats why there's Southwest.

PS - Our dispatchers are pretty sharp - Maybe thats why this Mark the Dispatcher is unemployed - He is a MORON - Hell - ANYONE can get a dispatcher license - Even my CAT! But VERY few have what it takes to do the Job at a real airline!

I too was rooked by delta . only a crook would take your money and give absolutly nothing in return . In my case , delta sold the seat I relinquished for more money . They have the ethics of organized crime .

I have dealt with Airlines for years. NorthWest, United, US Airways and Delta were our big clients. Delta is by FAR the most customer oriented airline there is. So if you don't like Delta I'm sorry to say it won't get better.

I work for a hotel and while your request for a refund for your ailing mother seems reasonable, and in my opinion it is, we get hundreds of requests from people trying to cancel rooms per week. They all have to due with illness. Even if all were legitimate we cannot afford to take losses due to illness. Remember your mother isn't the only sick one.

In the future don't buy cheap tickets or make cheap reservations thru priceline and the like. They are not refundable. Pay a little more and get a refundable plan. Priceline even offers insurance so if your plans don't work out you can get some money back.

Wendy Lauber, the customer service manager in NWAirlines MSP said to me "It doesn't matter how we treat people if they live in Minneapolis they HAVE to fly Northwest. Oh they may switch for one or two flights but they ALWAYS come back."

There is simply not enuff competition for good service to be foreced.

Also I work for Hotels we suffered greatly after 9-11 and unlike the airlines we were not given ANYTHING for the 3 days the airports were closed. That WAS a handout in effect to the airlines.

It's terrible to hear that your family member was unable to travel due to illness. While Delta Air Lines, like other air carriers, wants to be as customer service oriented as possible, they also need to treat all customers fairly and consistently.

The ticket your family member held required that a fee of $100.00 be paid for any voluntary changes. Yes, she didn't WANT to make the change, but "voluntary" in this case would mean "anything not caused by Delta Air Lines." While she didn't ask to get sick, Delta didn't ask for it either - and frankly, since it costs them money to change out her ticket, it's unreasonable to expect Delta to absorb the costs associated with the change.

Another thing to keep in mind is that while your family member's cancellation opened up a seat that Delta could now make use of, since it was so close to that flight's scheduled departure (and since fares rise dramatically when you're closer to departure as opposed to booking weeks or months ahead), it's highly unlikely that Delta would have been able to sell that seat to someone else. This means that Delta would have held that seat for your family member all that time, only to have the seat go out empty.

Given the "anti-customer" attitude of the "dirty half-dozen"--American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United & US Airways--non-refundable tickets are, essentially, "lottery tickets" where it's ok for the airline, never the customer, to change the rules of the game AFTER the ticket has been purchased.

Even if you keep your end of the bargain (i.e: no changes to the ticket after purchase, show-up and check-in at the gate 30 minutes prior to departure--regardless whether you have previously checked-in at the main terminal ticket counter) any one of the scoundrels named above may STILL screw you. Bad weather, mechanical problems, labor disputes are all situations where you may kiss your ticket good bye. If you're "lucky," and flying with a US airline NOT mentioned above, you may be offered a flight 15 hours away. All you need do is spend the night on a hard airport chair and "dine" from vending machines!

For those traveling to or from any European Union ("EU") country, visit the EU's website and check the regulations relating to required services for passengers denied boarding. It appears the EU is prepared to "explain" to US airlines, operating in their territory, what decent customer treatment is.

Based on my experiences with my late father any relative/caregiver of a person who is seriously ill, and there is even a remote question of survival, should ALWAYS buy fully refundable tickets. In addition to avoiding losing a few hundred dollars, additional emotional stress, resulting from lost funds, is not added to what you are already going through. One modest "perk" to doing this is that some airlines, such as Northwest, will upgrade you to first class at no additional charge. In first class you'll have a table cloth to cry your eyes out into and, depending on the flight, you may get your own personal sociopathic flight attendant who will threaten you with arrest if you ask for a can of soda! In coach you'd have to "share" this nut-case with 100 others.

Buy the way--to the writer who, indirectly, put-down Southwest Air: I live near Philadelphia International ("PHL"). For years customers of this airport have had to suffer the endless abuses of US Airways. Southwest began service to PHL last month. Southwest has returned, to Philadelphia, what air travelers value most--on-time departures and reliable transportation from point "A" to point "B."

No first class, no meals (bring your own,) but lots of decency and civility. Lastly if Southwest is so bad, please answer the following: (1) Why is there such a disparity, favoring Southwest, with respect to customer complaint records compared to the "dirty half dozen?" (2) Why, for the past 10 years (even through the "9-11" period,) has Southwest managed to make a profit when the "dirty half dozen" members couldn't make a nickle if their life depended on it?

From reading the email responses it is easy to see the most people did not read your email correctly and jumped to the wrong conclusion that you had a cheap ticket instead of a discounted ticket (cheap ticket no change allowed, discounted ticket you have to pay for a change), nor did they had any compassion for a 73 old lady having surgery. Kind of makes me feel good since I am a Republican and have been told that I am heartless only to see that I am not as heartless as most of the responders.

I work overseas and fly international flights every 28 days so I have had many dealings with Delta's customer service. Point of advice- go to Delta.com and make a complaint. You will get a form letter telling you how the rule is in their favor. Copy the email and sent it back to the person asking for it to be forwarded to their supervisor. Keep doing this which will take about three times before you reach a supervisor that is customer oriented (which is the reason he/she is the supervisor) and they will waive fees or make other adjustments.

You have to realize that most of the customer reps you get on your emails are McDonald drop-outs that you are interfering with their watching the football game or doing their nails and do not have time to be bothered with you. Prime example, a few months ago I was traveling to Budapest via through Rome since Delta does not have a direct flight from Atlanta to Budapest. Due to mechanical problems my flight into Atlanta was late so I missed my connection to Rome. Customer service apologized for their screw-up and informed me that I could fly to Paris (767) or London (777) then to Rome then to Budapest.

Since I hate 767's I picked London. I then asked why I would have to go to Rome which is like going backwards to get to Budapest. I was going there because it was on my ticket. Go figure that one out. I could change dates and times but not places because that would be a voluntary change. I tried to explain that I would be tying up a seat that someone else could buy to Rome. After an hour of arguing, I submitted to going to London.

When I arrived in London I went straight to the ticket agent and asked them why I was going to Rome instead of straight to Budapest and after looking at my ticket, she said “because you got a stupid American representative sending you there”. (not happy about the American comment but understood the stupid comment) A few clicks on her keyboard and she had me going to Budapest with no problem. Actually while transferring from Gatwick to Heathrow, I discovered my bags where in Paris which did not make me happy. The agent said your ticket is to Rome, your bags are in Paris and you are here in London.

This is funny and reminds me of a joke. I told her that I knew the joke and assured her that on this side of the counter it was not funny in the least bit. Needless to say I was taken well care of after that. (for that flight) As to all the comments to you buying a cheap ticket, all I can say is that these people do not fly or look on the wrong web site for their tickets. In searching for an itinerary for my company to purchase my ticket, I go to AA.com or vipfares.com because they show you flight all over the world which Delta.com does not. My company does not use the site because they purchase directly from Delta, KLM, AF, NWA or others that we have a contract with and I do not know if you can even buy business class tickets on this site, but I did notice that vipfare.com has some cheap prices.

1. Just to see if you had a cheap ticket I typed round trip for a 73 year old lady to Seattle from Anchorage leaving September 1 and returning on September 8 would cost $207 flying United. If you were to fly October 1 and returning October 8 it would cost you 170.57 R/T. That is flying Continental and United. For the guy saying that he does not want your $350 that is probably true because Alaska Airways would rather you gave them $262. And for the people saying you got it cheap I say you overpaid. Delta has the flight for $198.

2. As to the people complaining that the hotels did not get money and the airlines were given money. Last I heard the United States forced the airlines not to fly for the 3 days and they lost all revenue but were still having to pay bills but the US did not shut down the hotels. In fact the hotels probably made more money by gouging the airlines that had to put people in the hotels or for the people that did not make their flights and had to pay for a hotel room. That is what I love about the US. We always compare apples to oranges instead of apples to apple.

Anyway I hope your Grandmother gets better and Delta works something out.
Tom

McDonald drop outs?? LOL. Actually alot of the reps you are calling over the reservation line are college students or have a college degree (such as business or even nursing). But, people stay for the benefits. I suspect in the future some of us (younger ones anyway) will branch back into the job market we were educated for (myself including). I just thought you "McDonald" comment was humorous! :)

Hello J from Atlanta,
You will have to pardon that McDonald's comment, this was not a good comment and hope McDonald's will over look it. Some (note I said some) of the reps would not have the common sense to make it at McDonald's. In May and June I flew to from Amsterdam to Mexico and back on a KLM flight. These nice people put my miles to Delta which I did not want since I am not for sure that the miles for delta will be good in another year. Right now I am in a major fight with Northwest Airlines because on July 7, I flew from Amsterdam to Bangkok on KLM and August 1 I flew back to Amsterdam on KLM. I noticed that this time they did not put my miles on Delta, heck they did not put my miles on any program. Over 20,000 and I have to fight to get them. Sent KLM my ticket number, flight number, etc…. and they forwarded the message to Northwest since they have adjoining links on the web. Now Northwest wanted copies of my dates, boarding passes, tickets, and a urine sample (may be wrong on the last part.) to give me my miles, when all they had to do was check with KLM to find out if I flew to Bangkok or not and if I had been awarded my miles. No that would have been too easy for them and they hoped that I would be like 95% of the population and say it was to much trouble and drop it. They were wrong because I sent them the information and now I am waiting for my credit. I cannot wait until next week, I am flying to Mexico City and back to Amsterdam and told KLM to put my miles to Air France since Northwest is so hard to get my miles credited to. Actually I do not really want my miles going to Air France because I can use my Delta miles on Air France flights but I figured if I told them to put the miles on Air France that they would screw up like they normally do and put them on Northwest. They do make my life entertaining though. I hope the people do not stay to long for the benefits because it cannot be worth it. I hope you return to the job that you went to school for and dump these nice people that do not have a clue about the real world. As to some having business degrees I can understand that from the way they conduct business but the nursing degree comment will now keep me up at night.

Have a great day,
Tom

Mark,
I do hope that your FAA AIRCRAFT DISPATCHER License keeps you from customer service, sales or management. Because you make absolutely no sense, except for contempt for the people using your companies service.

There is no way that an airline is going to be filling all seats at regular fares. It is a compromise, take some money to fill the seats or let the go empty. They know that some is better than nothing.

Companies do this all the time. They can sell so many widgets at regular price or they can discount the price and sell more. A lower profit margin but still it increases their bottom line. No one makes them do this.

If I am standing in line to buy an appliance I don't expect the store employee to come and move me to the back of the line because my item has a coupon on it while the other people in line don't.

Instead of looking at those people with such vile contempt, you should see each one as paying money for a seat that otherwise would have been empty... forcing the airlines to cut flights which would mean lower demand for jobs in the industry/airports. How much senority do you have?

Lastly, the money available due to 9-11, which I was personally glad to see given. Transportation is important for America and its economy. Keeping it going after such an attempt to destroy it is important and valuable to all.

From what I remember, none of the airlines made a profit (minus subsidies) until at least the late 1990's.

You might be interested in the below quote.

"Even after deregulation in the 1970s, airlines continued to enjoy a seat at the federal trough during rough times. According the Congressional Research Service, between 1918 and 1998 the feds spent about $155 billion on commercial airline subsidies—guaranteed loans, airport subsidies, direct hand-outs, you name it. And the trend isn't slowing. By some estimates, they've tacked on another $15 billion just since September 11, 2001." (Source: http://the-idea-shop.com/index.php?id=41)

If you don't like this one then with a bit of searching you can find others.

A license for parking aircraft or driving a bus does give you the right to abuse customers that purchase your airlines services. If you are an example of the "thought" of the people working with you then maybe you are proving more than you want to about why there are complaints.

Thanks,

I have had a bad experience with Delta Airlines too. I had a flight from NC to Ohio with a layover in Atlanta. The plane arrived late to Atlanta which made me late for my flight to Ohio. I was p***e passengers on my plane had already boarded and was preparing for take off. I had someone call the flight terminal for me and it was confirmed. I complained at the airport and they didn't seem to care. I had to sit and wait for an empty seat in coach. Thank GOD it was only for 3 extra hours. My family had already left home,they didn't know what was going on and were worried about me. When I got home,I called Delta and gave them a piece of my mind!

You must have got the ccd on a bad day. I did not have a problem with getting them to refund it for my father when he went into the hospital.