Delta ruined my Christmas, and then FOX added insult to injury

[InvisibleBallots]

Delta are a bunch of Liars. Because of the storms in Ohio (where I had a layover) the flights were all cancelled two days ago. All the other airlines had their flights working by yesterday - except for Delta. They cancelled my flight, but didn't bother to have the computer call and say so. So I show up at the airport to find the flight has been cancelled.

No big deal - they said they could get me on a flight today, at an airport 100 miles away. At least I'd be there Christmas night.

Nope - cancelled again - this time, I didn't even have to fly through any areas with bad weather. Their new excuse? Well the first one was that they had run out of de-icer. The second excuse was a computer failure. Again, no call, they wait until I had spent $30 (for the second time) and spend 3 hours on transport to get to the airport.

They wouldn't refund my ticket - I have to go through price line - they wouldn't put me up at a hotel, they wouldn't even put me on a van back to the train station - they wouldn't even give me a measly 2 bucks to take the bus.

So I completely missed Christmas with my family, about the only time I get to see them.

There were TV cameras interviewing people - I was interviewed by NYC1 and I let it rip on Delta. Then, I was interviewed by FOX News - Wow, what an experience. While the NYC1 people just asked me a few questions, the FOX bimbo actually ARGUED with me, and defending Delta! When I complained about Delta, she acted angry, and continued to argue with me - on camera - as if I was being unforgiving of these people's utter incompetence and lack of respect for the people they were screwing over. So this is FOX's job I guess - defenders of management.

It was my own fault - Delta is anti-Union, and I went ahead and took their flight because it was "cheap" - and now it's cost me an extra $100 in expenses. I of all people should know better.

Give me two days and the whole story will be online at http://www.DeltaRuinedChristmas.com

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I thought news reporters were supposed to be objectivve when they

interviewed people. But then, Pox isn't actually a news channel.

[InvisibleBallots]

9. She acted like a Delta PR rep, seriously

She actually had quotes from the CEO ready to go - memorized, she said "Head Honcho what's his name made this statement today ..." from memory, so it was obvious that she was WELL coached. This wasn't even a pretense of an "interview" about my opinion, this was basically a Delta damage control PR program.

I didn't think I could get more cynical, but just damn. Even I didn't think it was this bad. Fuck Delta and fuck FOX.

[gizmo1979]

2. give them hell

I thought they had to provide lodging and food? I guess it's been along time since I flew.sue them!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Here's a link to Delta's Contract of Carriage.

http://www.delta.com/home/notices/carriage/index.jsp

Most airlines will give you meal or hotel vouchers if flights are delayed for more than a certain period of time, depending on the cause. Check to see what the Contract of Carriage says, since that's what would obligate them.

[Bouncy Ball]

4. I would not have spoken to the Fox reporter, on principal

except to tell her what I thought of Fox and that they could kiss my ass.

(Sorry about your Christmas. Hugs.)

[InvisibleBallots]

10. I tried to hedge my bets, I didn't mention the anti-union angle

In fact, I tried to not sound like a leftist, in the vain attempt to increase my slim chances of getting on the air. She kept asking if I was a "New Yorker" as well - so I countered that I was going to visit my family in South Carolina :) I purposefully avoided any language that was political, kept strictly to "incompetence" etc., and put in a plug for good union airlines like United and Continental - incidently, I have NOT ONCE had any problem with a pro-union airline, and in the last 5 years, I've flown countless times.

[nostamj]

5. how awful. (at least * keeps the trains running.....

my trip to CT on Metro-North was, as usual, uneventful.

hope you can re-schedule your trip home soon.

[InvisibleBallots]

11. I should have took the train, much more pleasant

I'm complaining, but I really should have known better. "Saving a few bucks" actually cost me more money, not to mention RUINED MY CHRISTMAS and I couldn't even celebrate Christmas with my family. :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[Liberty Belle]

6. Complain to Delta's corporate office and to the FAA.

I'm sorry your holiday was ruined by bad weather and atrocious airline "service." At least you're safe, though, which is better than if the airline had tried to take off in icy weather and had a crash, though I know that's small comfort.

Odds are good you'll get at least a discount coupon for future travel. The airport personnel probably weren't authorized to do anything, but the customer relations, PR, or president's office might do better. Also complain to Price Line. Tell them you're going to give them terrible ratings at all the consumer sites unless they do something for you. Price Line does sometimes pay out even when they say tix are nonrefundable.

[InvisibleBallots]

14. It wasn't the weather - it was Delta Management who screwed

people - I fully understand that the employees were just doing their job - the Delta representatives were polite and businesslike - I was not rude to them - they just had to say what they were told to.

What happened I suspect was Delta management decided to bump Coach passengers to make up for their First Class passengers who got cancelled because of the storm.

The storm was an Act of God and it's no fault of Delta's, the airports were closed, and they did the right thing. When everything was clear, and ALL the other airlines went online - Delta couldn't, I suspect because their management was greedy and had taken extra profits and cut service. Only by paying their employees less can they still compete in the airline market, which is of course super-competitve with thin margins. Honestly I don't know how the Delta workers manage. As I said they were making the best of a bad situation.

It wasn't the weather that caused problems on the 24th and 25th - it was Delta Management incompetence and greed - and their utter lies about "running out of de-icer for their South Carolina flights (lol!)" and "computer glitches".

If Clinton was President I would complain to the FAA - with Bushista I don't see the point in bothering. I suppose that makes Delta management happy.

[Bronco69]

7. If you want more Delta stories to put on your website, here's one

My partner and I flew Delta to Orlando a couple of years ago. We usually use his frequent flier miles on American when we travel, but this time I got the tickets for around $200 each from Delta. On our way back they asked if we would like to give up our seats and take the next flight. In return they would give us each a $200 voucher. We agreed and took the next flight. A few months later we wanted to go on another trip and I found the tickets on Priceline for about $200. I don't remember the exact amount but it was about that much. I called Delta and asked them if I could use the vouchers to pay for the tickets on Priceline and they said no. They told me the only way I could use the vouchers was to make a telephone reservation. I couldn't even use the vouchers if I booked the flight from their website. So I asked how much the tickets were if I booked them through a telephone reservation. She said they were $650 each! Hell, even if I would have used the vouchers I still would have had to pay $450 for each ticket. I explained to her that I could book the same flight through Priceline for about $200 and she told me that I should probably go ahead and do that. I asked her if I could use the vouchers for an upgrade instead. She told me that the vouchers could only be used against the price of the ticket.

So the moral of the story is this: Don't EVER give up your seat in exchange for a voucher. If they offer you cash that's fine, but if you take a voucher you're going to get screwed!

[high density]

8. I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience

It's not terribly surprising that the airlines are being stingy about hotel vouchers given the financial shape they're all in. Plus if it's a weather problem (or something else they claim is out of their control), I think the typical policy of all airlines is to give no compensation.

If you write to them and complain, they might give you a $100 travel voucher. I know that's not anywhere near the price of your lost Christmas, but it's better than nothing if you're somehow willing to fly Delta again.

[rfkrfk]

12. commercial jet fuel, virtually untaxed

Tax on jet fuel for domestic flight, four cents a gallon,
not fourty, four {not a typo, four cents]
.
Tax on jet fuel for international flight, zero,
not one f-in penny, zero.
.
Should I have some sympathy for these whores?,
or their clients?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Actually, airlines are one of the most heavily taxed industries.

According to the Air Transport Association, here are the tax schedules for 2005, which go into the cost of each ticket. On average, about $20 of each $100 ticket has to go back to the government to cover these taxes. And even though 4.3 cents/gallon doesn't sound like much, airlines use millions of gallons of fuel per year, so the total tax is quite considerable.

Federal Ticket Tax 7.5% Domestic Airfare
Federal Flight Segment Tax $3.20 Domestic Enplanement
Federal Security Surcharge $2.50 Enplanement at U.S. Airport
Airport Passenger Facility Charge Up to $4.50 Enplanement at Eligible U.S. Airport
International Departure Tax $14.10 International Passenger Departure
International Arrival $14.10 International Passenger Arrival
INS User Fee $7.00 International Passenger Arrival
Customs User Fee $5.00 International Passenger Arrival
APHIS Passenger Fee $4.95 International Passenger Arrival
SHIPPERS
Cargo Waybill Tax 6.25% Waybill for Domestic Freight
SALES/OPERATIONS
Frequent Flyer Tax 7.5% Sale of Frequent Flyer Miles
APHIS Aircraft Fee $70.00 International Aircraft Arrival
Jet Fuel Tax 4.3¢ Domestic Gallon
LUST Fuel Tax (underground storage) 0.1¢ Domestic Gallon
Air Carrier Security Fee Carrier-Confidential CY2000 Screening Costs

[Must_B_Free]

15. Allanta had about 1000 people sleeping on the floor

all over the place. It was creepy to see all the formerly jet set people so quickly reduced to pathetic heaps on the ground. It's like - "here - be a homeless person for a day or two."

We were all waiting for the pilots from your flights that never made it... One lady had been moved to nine different gates over three different flights that were cancelled. Everyone was getting chummy.

The people who slept on the floor said they didn't sleep well or much. They had the TVs on and those routine periodic announcements. All of the chairs had arms so you couldnt lay down.

So I stayed awake for the most part, because I didn't want to fool myself with the whole thing and wake up on the floor of an airport.

[InvisibleBallots]

18. if they have such disrespect for their workers, imagine their customers

you just cannot trust anti-Union management - and Delta is one of the most anti-Union airlines from what I can tell.

[propagandafreegal]

16. I know someone who is a delta employee.. I sent her this link, LOL. nm

[FM Arouet666]

17. All the airlines suck, but Delta takes the cake

They have to be the worst. I flew to NYC recently and got to the airport early. I inquired about changing my flight to one which was 2 hours earlier, sure for fifty bucks. Paid the blood money, and got to the gate to find out that the flight was delayed for over an hour. They ended up canceling the flight, changed me over to my original flight, took my fifty bucks, and then delayed my original flight by another hour. The reason, well we don't have a flight crew ready at this time. What about the crew on the first damn flight that was canceled!!!!!!

Never again, I feel your pain.....

[Zomby Woof]

19. Delta is an acronym for:

Doesn't Ever Leave The Airport.

Swore off them back in 1989 because of a delay at Sea-Tac that lasted for 6 hours, literally all night.

Your story is a good example of why I won't travel at xmas.

Stay safe.

[nostamj]

20. "I was interviewed by NYC1"

I JUST saw that segment. which one were you? the one who self-censored this opinion of Delta, or the other guy?

[InvisibleBallots]

21. I think the one that "self-censored"

possibly the one that self-censored. I got the attention of the NYC1 camera guy after I had made a not-quite-suitable-for-broadcast comment about Delta - not quite under my breath :) and I think I made a reference to that.