Karl
Clovis,#2Consumer Suggestion
Wed, February 15, 2012
Airlines have minimum connecting times at all airports and when they ticket passengers the connecting times have to meet the minimum connecting time. Problem is that in many cases the minimum connecting time is not possible especially when gates change. Next time that you make a reservation make sure that you allow at least two hours between flights at major airports - DFW, Atlanta, Houston, Newark etc etc. For international flights schedule at least 3 hours between flights at Heathrow, Paris , etc.
Charles
Cumming,#3Consumer Comment
Tue, February 07, 2012
First of all, the time between your arrival and the connecting flight were too close together and it should never have been scheduled that way in the first place, the person scheduling your flights messed up there. Next, in the Atlanta airport at all of Delta's gates there is an overhead monitor that displays connection information for the passengers arriving at that particular gate only. One of the jobs of the gate agent when welcoming you to Atlanta is to also mention to the arriving passengers to check the overhead monitor for connection information. You were probably in too big of a hurry to stop and double check. Gates change all the time. Next, domestic flights start boarding 35 minutes prior to departure and the agent closes out the flight and shuts the doors 10 minutes prior to departure. If you arrived after the doors have closed chances are your seat/s were given away to stand-by passengers so you were just too late for anything but rebooking. Consider yourself lucky for the vouchers because Delta only gives hotels and food vouchers if you missed your flight due to something they CAN control. Example: Mechanical issues, crew delays and crew issues. Delta does not compensate for things out of their control. Example: Weather delays, air or ground traffic delays runway construction, etc.
Delta, nor any other airline I know of will hold a flight for you or anyone else because that causes a ripple effect. If your flight waited an extra 10 minutes for you, that flight leaves 10 minutes late which causes it to arrive at its destination late and causes passengers from your plane to miss their connections. Those aircraft must leave at a certain time as their are other aircraft waiting to park at that gate with passengers who would be late for their connections due to Delta holding the flight for you.
Your gripe is with the person scheduling your flights.
SKYGuy
USA#4General Comment
Sun, August 14, 2011
Keep this fact in mind too the next time you fly: Even if your departure gate is called, that doesn't mean the flight will be held. Many factors go into effect when decisions to hold flights are made; Is the gate space needed immediately? Will holding the flight make the crew "time out", possibly resulting in the flight being canceled? Are there air traffic constraints?, etc. Those are just examples. It's not just a "because we didn't want to hold your flight" thing.
Dmc21487
Columbus,#5UPDATE Employee
Thu, October 09, 2008
The gate number printed on your boarding pass was accurate at the time it was printed. You said that you checked the screens after arrival, if the screen says that the gate is different, than it is! There are telephones at the gate that allow agents to communicate with each other, but a departing flight will NOT be held for three people who showed up to the wrong departure gate, weather it will get you loyalty with the airline or not, it's just upsetting 100+ other people who have to wait on you. Five minutes late or not, any late departures are reported to the DOT. They tried to rectify the situation. They gave you food and travel vouchers, confirmed seats on the next available flight and the opportunity to fly standby on earlier flights. I'm just curious as to what more you're expecting. Because to me, it sounds like they definately tried to make up for the mistake that was made. Also, do you know what "regular Joe" on the standby list is? Inconvienienced passengers do get "priority."
Peter
Pony,#6Consumer Comment
Tue, October 07, 2008
By your own admission they offered you a full refund. How is any of this a rip off? It is not Delta's fault that you chose to decline their offer of rectifying the situation.
Karl
Clovis,#7Consumer Suggestion
Tue, October 07, 2008
The board says that there was a gate change to D31 so you went to C48 to see if they were telling the truth. That was a rather stupid move for someone who travels frequently. When the board says D31 that means that the plane is at D31. I don't really feel sorry for you.