Delta Airlines News

Hogpatrol · May 16, 2020

Tucketed said:
I think it’s funny how many on the board here hate Delta. Have you ever looked at the ratings of the top 10 US Airlines? I fly predominantly Delta with many long haul flights and a at least a couple hundred thousand miles per year, until this year. I shutter every time I book an American or United flight. Sure there are let downs and issues but such is life got to flow with it as lots of things in life. Look at the Wall Street graphic attached, I think you would be amazed at the large difference. https://graphics.wsj.com/dynamic-in...les/3c928058-b857-43d3-87db-6c7bd82ecc1e.json

Apples & oranges, i.e. frequent vs infrequent flyers. You get top billing. The rest of us get treated like cattle and for us, Delta sucks.

Edster · May 16, 2020

larrich said:
I am booked in Delta the last at the end of July to fly to Johannesburg so I can then go onto Zimbabwe.

Of course that’s not happening.

I am waiting for Delta to cancel my flight.

Has anyone had experience with Delta cancelling their flights and refunding their money?

Flights for April 6 return on the 17th cancelled in March. Delta refunded $$$. Flights on AirLink cancelled as well. All offices in SA closed so was told had to wait till they opened back up to see what they were going to do. I filed with CC company last week to see if I could get money back.

sierraone · May 16, 2020

Hogpatrol said:
Apples & oranges, i.e. frequent vs infrequent flyers. You get top billing. The rest of us get treated like cattle and for us, Delta sucks.

I fall somewhere in between frequent and infrequent. So I have always done very good with Delta. They are always my first choice as long as they go where I want to go. Having the right Delta/Amex CC helps alot also.

But if I am flying anywhere in Texas during the show season, it is always on United or American. Delta has to fly me to ATL first. 600 miles the wrong direction.

CAustin · May 16, 2020

Tucketed said:
I think it’s funny how many on the board here hate Delta. Have you ever looked at the ratings of the top 10 US Airlines? I fly predominantly Delta with many long haul flights and a at least a couple hundred thousand miles per year, until this year. I shutter every time I book an American or United flight. Sure there are let downs and issues but such is life got to flow with it as lots of things in life. Look at the Wall Street graphic attached, I think you would be amazed at the large difference. https://graphics.wsj.com/dynamic-in...les/3c928058-b857-43d3-87db-6c7bd82ecc1e.json

After my sky mikes refund For this years ticket I am sitting on 1.9 million Delta miles. Like you I rarely have issues with Delta. When I do they fix the issues. Two years ago my Guns didn’t make the flight. I texted my wife in The states and she got the Diamond desk on the tracking. I got my Guns and I got miles and $$$$ from Delta for my inconvenience. They went over the top to correct the issue. They aren’t perfect but they are pretty good. I realize they have an inflight service deficit when compared to Emirates or Qatar but I still will fly Delta when possible.
Next year may well be a different story. Would like to try Emirates or Qatar!

Philip Glass · May 18, 2020

Hogpatrol said:
Last week, I priced Qatar's Philly, PA to JNB flight and it was less than $700 round trip. My May 2020 trip they cancelled was $713. It's a few more hours of flying but with only a five hour layover in Doha, I'll take the over $1300 savings and put it towards more days and/or animals. Anecdotal reports have people now flying coming down with the virus. Unless there's a proven, 100% guaranteed test for all passengers AND crew, I don't see international airline travel picking up anytime soon.

There is never nor will ever be anything 100% when it comes to viruses. It is a risk we have always had and will just have to live with. Hoping for better days soon.

Philip Glass · May 18, 2020

Ridge Runner said:
Unfortunately for all of us with airline tickets on canceled flights we will be told to rebook, rather than receive any refund.

For no other reason than the airline companies are retaining our money to pay their wages and bills.

That's why years ago airline companies changed from refundable to nonrefundable tickets.

Nonrefundable tickets boosted travel insurance; Again we gave travel insurance companies our money, expecting/hoping to never need it; Suddenly more policy holders were filing claims and the free money these travel insurance companies were receiving started leaving their pockets; Thus the often hidden legal loophole phrases insurance companies put in their policies to avoid paying policy holder claims. Policy holders MUST INSURE the policy of their travel insurance reads "for any reason", and not rely what the agent said!

Especially as hunters, full costs trip travelers insurance, with "for any reason" clause policy should be a necessity, may cost a bit more, but in situations like the one we are now in, it pays. (eventually and maybe with a little grief on the policy holder's part). But recouping a little of our hard earned money is better than losing it all.

I have heard how several people had not purchased any trip/travel insurance, or found out the hard way their "cheaper" policy was money wasted.

Take it as my 2 cents.

I have full trip costs policy that included "for any reason", that allows me to recoup my SAA ticket costs (Johannesburg to PE and return). My outfitter is carrying over my fully prepaid hunt to 2021 (hopefully this miss will be over by May of next year).

What insurance co?

Philip Glass · May 18, 2020

This is so strange to hear of the 777 going away. I’ve been filling for the last two years the news on the refurbishments and the new Delta One and PE cabin. Now I wont get to fly on this plane. What is shocking is that the 777 is the big wide workhorse that can carry lots of cargo In addition to passengers which is a very important part of the international business.
I see this as a panic reaction but one maybe that they have to do, they may have modeling showing a slow road to getting passengers back to international travel. As the article states the 777 is the best plane for this route so we may be seeing the end of DL200/201. How sad would that be?
Regards,
Philip

Philip Glass · May 18, 2020

If they are able to use the A350-900 for the DL200/201 route it appears to have more seats. Seat Guru has Delta with 288 seats on the current 777 and 306 on the current A350-900. With more seats and a 21% better fuel economy it seems like it would be a good substitute but what we don’t know is the cargo situation.
Please post any more news that comes up. We are all interested!
Philip

Hogpatrol · May 18, 2020

Philip Glass said:
If they are able to use the A350-900 for the DL200/201 route it appears to have more seats. Seat Guru has Delta with 288 seats on the current 777 and 306 on the current A350-900. With more seats and a 21% better fuel economy it seems like it would be a good substitute but what we don’t know is the cargo situation.
Please post any more news that comes up. We are all interested!
Philip

Maybe they will buy SAA's A350-900s?

Dee S · May 18, 2020

Latest news on Delta, sounds good

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/air-planes-delta-to-resume-flying-major-routes-in-june

Ridge Runner · May 19, 2020

Philip Glass said:
What insurance co?

Philip, your asking a simple and yet a complex question to which the short answer is: the insurance or underwriting insurance company.

Who is the insurance or underwriting insurance company depends on the insurance company and the type of insurance policy that is purchased, and the 2nd and/or 3rd party(ies) offering the insurance policy.

When I said, "insurance companies", my intent is to use a very broad stroke to cover all the variables associated with the purchase of various types of travel insurance policies. Whether purchased through an airline, travel agent or directly through an insurance agent/company.

Philip Glass · May 19, 2020

Ridge Runner said:
Philip, your asking a simple and yet a complex question to which the short answer is: the insurance or underwriting insurance company.

Who is the insurance or underwriting insurance company depends on the insurance company and the type of insurance policy that is purchased, and the 2nd and/or 3rd party(ies) offering the insurance policy.

When I said, "insurance companies", my intent is to use a very broad stroke to cover all the variables associated with the purchase of various types of travel insurance policies. Whether purchased through an airline, travel agent or directly through an insurance agent/company.

My questions was what insurance is paying during this time and which ones are folks having trouble with. Something like a pandemic may not be covered in the fine print. What are people’s experiences?
I’ve had AA trips cancelled but they were on points and I got my points back of course. I’ve had a southwest trip cancelled and have to use the money by September 2022 but no refund. So I’ve not had to deal with a travel insurance claim.
Philip

jacinda · May 19, 2020

Dee S said:
I'm not worried about that middle seat, life needs to move on. Let's get back to living, we can't hide from a bug for ever. There will always be a 'bug' causing a pandemic.

agree

Ridge Runner · May 21, 2020

Philip Glass,

I use the travel insurance provided through USAA. It took 2 or 3 phone calls and about 2 weeks to get an email saying I was approved and detailing what I need to send directly to the insurance company for reimbursement of SAA tickets.

SafariA · May 24, 2020

Hopefully this is true and will be give most a breather !

https://liveandletsfly.com/delta-triangle-route/

Hogpatrol · May 24, 2020

SafariA said:
Hopefully this is true and will be give most a breather !

https://liveandletsfly.com/delta-triangle-route/

On Delta, this means if you want to fly only to Capetown, you have to go to Joburg first and then backtrack another two hours flight time plus the layover versus United's direct flight from the U.S. I have my doubts this is competition for a direct flight with United.

SafariA · May 24, 2020

Yes sure but most people have to go to Johannesburg ....very few hunters fly to Cape Town . All connections to Zim , Mozambiquex , Zambia , Tanzania etc is also from JNB not Cape Town.

Hope United might also expand their flights to JNB with the collapse of SAA .

Philip Glass · May 28, 2020

I suppose I can look on the bright side. Maybe my wife will go with me in a couple years and we will hunt the EC then finally spend a few days in Cape Town together before heading home.
I wonder how many hours the flight JNB-CPT-ATL will be? Any ideas? Will the A350 be a longer flight on the way going?

I just can’t bring myself to consider Qatar with 23.5 hours in the air and 9 hour layover (DFW-JNB). But who knows when we see the actual flight times and cost of Delta and this new route things can change. I do have to consider cost more than before as I am taking a group on safari with me whereas in the past I’ve been solo.
Regards,
Philip

Dee S · May 28, 2020

For us guys on a budget, cheaper/longer means more animals I can afford. I've flown both Qatar and Delta. My two future trips will probably both be on Qatar due to cost as I'm paying for two. Before the shutdown, depending on time of year, you could book round trip on Qatar, from Houston to JNB for as low as $636. From Houston to Windhoek on Qatar was around $800 I believe? Delta, for one was usually around $1200 from Houston to JNB. Having said that, if I had the money and $600 wasn't a big deal, I'd fly Delta, but flying Qatar wasn't a bad ride or experience. When I have to pay for two, that's somewhere around $1200 I could put towards some more animals or other expenses.
Who knows what the future will look like as far as routes and airfare?

SafariA · May 28, 2020

Phillip my guess will be about a 45 mins to hour less from Cape Town but you have to add the roughly 2 hour flight to CPT ....

So total 1 hour longer in air than JNB to ATL . You also have to include groundtime in CPT . I am going to guess about an hour to 1.5 hour max on ground . Will still be better option. You could also I guess book flight into JNB and out from Cape Town as I am sure they will take on Passengers there.

To me it was also a bit of a surprise because CPT is much futher South . But it is also quite a bit west ... Guess that and flight path justifies that move with a different plane. All airlines will have to look at changes for survival

Philip Glass said:
I suppose I can look on the bright side. Maybe my wife will go with me in a couple years and we will hunt the EC then finally spend a few days in Cape Town together before heading home.
I wonder how many hours the flight JNB-CPT-ATL will be? Any ideas? Will the A350 be a longer flight on the way going?

I just can’t bring myself to consider Qatar with 23.5 hours in the air and 9 hour layover (DFW-JNB). But who knows when we see the actual flight times and cost of Delta and this new route things can change. I do have to consider cost more than before as I am taking a group on safari with me whereas in the past I’ve been solo.
Regards,
Philip

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