Len and I booked our tickets to South Africa on Delta using Continental OnePass awards. I've been occasionally checking Delta's website to make sure our seat assignments stay as-is.

Well, today I logged in and we now have completely different flights on the way down! We had selected the flight that goes from JFK to Dakar and then connecting to the flight going from Dakar to Johannesburg.

Now, they've got us leaving JFK VERY early in the morning to go to Atlanta to sit around and wait for the ATL-DKR-JNB route.

I'm going to call to complain about this change but since we've never done an award ticket on a Delta flight (and have no status with them), maybe this is just the way it is?

Any insight fellow ROARers?

Andrea

Andrea did you check to see if your original flights changed in some kind of drastic way? I've never heard of something like that happening unless there was a major change. We've done a ton of award tickets with Delta, but never had any kind of status except for one year (just expired, sob) I was Silver.

I can't speak for Delta, but on American they do this when there's a schedule change. Perhaps your flight from JFK to Dakar was changed. It looks like it's only flying 4x per week. Normally they would contact you and work out a new schedule when there are major changes, but perhaps Continental didn't pass along good contact info for you when they booked the flight. I would call Delta directly. If there's that much of a schedule change, they should work with you to find better connections. Good luck!

Hi Pam and John,

You were right: a schedule change. I checked our original flight and Delta is no longer flying JFK to Dakar on Saturdays. I'm going to call Delta and see what we can work out.

I'll post back when I discuss the options with Delta. Thanks!

Andrea

The joys of flying!! We had change with Turkish airways and at first we accepted a new schedule that had us leaving at 6.oo am in the morning and changing airports in New York.

I called yesterday and I am so much happier with the new schedule that was NOT available at the time we booked. Now via London (not my favorite but with the new terminal it might be better) but with much better times.

Sometimes when there is a change they can be accommodating and things work out. I hope that happens for you Andrea.

Normally Delta will switch your flights around to accomodate you due to this type of schedule change. If the first agent refuses to do it, hang up and call back. They could potentially refer you back to Continental since it was a Continental issued reservation/ticket. With you having to deal with both JFK & ATL potential messes, I'd allow at least a 3 hour connection in ATL though, otherwise you could be at a huge risk for misconnection.

We have been flying Delta award tickets since 2001. Never had any major changes. But, they will change the times of departure several times before we actually go. I know it is because we book so far ahead. We are flying through Atlanta. Booked to arrive there at 9 p.m. and stay at an airport hotel before leaving the next day for Africa. It will knock 5 hours off our flight time (or rather, break it up) Don't leave until 4 p.m. the next day. Hope to have dinner with friends. just paid off our AMEX for ROAR 2. Probably shouldn't be spending that kind of money with the economy so bad. John may go back to work the end of this month. Wouldn't that be nice? 5 months off on disability. judy

Judy - glad to hear John continues to mend. It would be great if he's able to go back to work at the end of the month.

Agree with Peter re: connection time in Atlanta. Getting out of customs is the quick part. Going through security again to get to your connecting flight is a long, slow process.

We've bought tickets on Delta (I fares) lately for overseas travel months before we leave. Haven't had too much trouble with the flights changing times.

Cheers, Anne

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all your advice on how to handle our Delta ticket situation. I called Delta this morning and actually spoke with the friendliest rep! He couldn't help, since the tickets were ticketed by Continental but he assured me that it wouldn't be a problem to change the tickets and he gave me the name of a Delta supervisor in case I encountered a problem.

I then called Continental and spoke with a supervisor there. He had no problem adjusting the flights for us and it worked out in our favor.

We're going to leave a day earlier and fly from JFK to DKR to CPT. We won't have to connect in JNB so we just saved a few bucks since we won't to buy those one way JNB-CPT tickets. And, for some reason the taxes went down so we got a small refund.

My Continental account is already reflecting the changed itinerary. As soon as my Delta account shows the change, we'll select seats and then we should be good to go.

Phew! That was a LOT easier than I thought it would be!!

Judy: I'm so glad John is finally feeling better. I know what a tough recovery that can be. And, you're so smart to stay over in Atlanta the night before. I think it will make the flights to Africa a bit easier.

Thanks everyone!

Andrea

Andrea, So glad everything worked out for you. John's feet are better and walking the 3 Bichons is good for all of them. Of course we have a new situation to deal with. Have you heard on the national news broadcasts about the Endoscopy Center in Las Vegas? They reused syringes for the anesthesia when pts had colononcopy end endo procedures since 2004! 40,000 pt's have to be tested for HIV, Hepatitis B & C. And guess who had a procedure done there 1 year ago. Right, it is John! Had went for testing yesterday. No results yet. Received a letter from the health dept yesterday to get tested. We NEED to get to South Africa for some R & R!!!! Judy

Just noticed Delta changed our return flight. We now have only 45 mins to change planes in Dakar to get home. That could be a problem - stranded in dakar

Gil, they will wait for you. The last thing Delta needs is to leave someone behind in Dakar. Half the plane probably is making the same connection as you.

Sure wish we were joining you.

Judy, I'd heard about that. I'm so sorry that John was among the people that need to be tested. What idiots they were!