Delta Airlines ripoff Simplifares instead of bereavement fares Atlanta Georgia
I recently had to fly from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Dallas, Texas as my father was on his death bed. Naturally I had to book my flight for the same day. I attempted to do so online. Everytime I clicked purchase it wouldn't go through and would give me a new, higher price for the fare.
I ended up calling to book the flight. The call center in India (yes, it was that obvious) said that Delta didn't offer bereivement fares. I was desperate, so I booked the flight at a cost of over $1000.
After the funeral, when I returned to Harrisburg, I again asked about bereivement fares, this time at the ticket counter in the Harrisburg airport. The ticket agents said that they did offer bereivement fares, but that it wasn't worth it since it wasn't 50% off. In my opinion, at a ticket price of over $1000 a 5% discount would be worth it.
When I filed a complaint with Delta's customer service, I didn't get a reply for three weeks. I was then told that I should have bought my ticket online with their Simplifares. The Delta website has no mention of Simplifares on the home page. I don't know how I was supposed to book something that is not mentioned on the website, and when I tried to book a regular fare on the website it wouldn't go through.
What compounds my disgust with Delta is the fact that my late father was an airline pilot. He received the Order of Dedalian Award for Civilian Air Safety in 1973 for his successful landing of an airplane that was crippled by blown hydrolic line that ripped a whole in a wing of the plane.
Lark
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Thomas
Anderson,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
Finding the most favorabll-priced flight does not take days
#7Consumer Comment
Fri, August 11, 2006
The bereavement airfare allows you to buy a low-priced ticket on short notice (like 1 or 2 days prior to flight) to attend a funeral. You could normally purchase the same ticket for a very similar price 3 weeks in advance of your departure. We obtained bereavement airfares in 2004 and I recall that those fares were at least "50% off" the full price fare.
HOWEVER! You must provide the pnone number to the funeral home where you *immediate relative* is lying in state or will soon be lying in state. Then the airline will call that funeral home's director for confirmation.
Note that "bereavement" means that someone has actually died! Their being alive, no matter how ill, does not count. You have to draw a line somewhere, and that is where the airlines have drawn the line.
Hugh
Paducah,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
You can't have it both ways.....
#7Consumer Suggestion
Fri, August 11, 2006
If you aren't willing to shop even a little, then don't complain about the price. Peter wasn't suggesting you spend hours on the web, but a quick trip to Orbitz would have given you half a dozen fare choices instantly.
Hugh
Paducah,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
You can't have it both ways.....
#7Consumer Suggestion
Fri, August 11, 2006
If you aren't willing to shop even a little, then don't complain about the price. Peter wasn't suggesting you spend hours on the web, but a quick trip to Orbitz would have given you half a dozen fare choices instantly.
Hugh
Paducah,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
You can't have it both ways.....
#7Consumer Suggestion
Fri, August 11, 2006
If you aren't willing to shop even a little, then don't complain about the price. Peter wasn't suggesting you spend hours on the web, but a quick trip to Orbitz would have given you half a dozen fare choices instantly.
Lark
Harrisburg,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
You can't shop around when you need to get there before someone dies
#7Author of original report
Fri, August 11, 2006
I am supposed to shop around for the best dates for travel when I'm told that my father is about to die? Sorry, but death will not wait for me to get a better deal by flying our tomorrow instead of today.
Peter
Pony,Alabama,
U.S.A.
Confused ...
#7Consumer Comment
Fri, August 04, 2006
I took a wee look at the Delta website and found the Simplifares with no problem whatsoever. I have no idea why you supposedly could not see them, unless perhaps no such fares were available on your travel dates.
Most airlines do NOT offer bereavement fares these days. Why? Because too many people take advantage of such things. When the special fares were offered, suddenly everyone seemed to be traveling for a funeral. I personally had to take a flight to the other coast for a family funeral situation, and I paid full price. I did not expect preferential treatment because of my family's situation. I did, however, call several airlines and find the best price available. I ended up paying $300 each way, versus $1,600 that another airline quoted me.