Posts about Delta Air Lines
Airlines Aren't Pulling In As Much Dough Off Checked Bags Fees As They Used To
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 18, 2012 1:00 PM
53 Comments
You might already have suspected that the reason why you engage in a fierce, almost Hunger Gamesesque competition to stow your carry-on is because no one wants to pay to check bags. That free-for-all has resulted in U.S. airlines making less money off baggage fees for the first time since they started assessing them. More »
Survey Finds Best & Worst Airlines For Redeeming Rewards Miles
By Chris Morran on May 17, 2012 11:15 AM
23 Comments
It's incredibly easy to pile up airline miles. I think I just earned 400 miles for merely mentioning this fact. But as you may have already discovered, it's not always so simple to actually redeem those miles. A new survey looked at dozens of domestic and international carriers to find which ones were more likely to have seats available for rewards travel. More »
(Pylon757)
Three Delta Employees Charged With Smuggling At Least $600K In Drugs
By Chris Morran on May 3, 2012 11:15 AM
7 Comments
Even though it could result in a life sentence and millions of dollars in fines, airline and airport staff continue to think that smuggling drugs is a good way to earn a few extra bucks on the side. More »
Delta Cuts Out Pesky Fuel Middleman, Buys Itself An Oil Refinery
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 1, 2012 10:35 AM
53 Comments
Delta Air Lines has been battling rising jet fuel prices with all the other airlines, trying to institute prices hikes — some successful, some not — and do what it can to cope. And now that everything else hasn't worked, it's decided hey, why not just cut to the heart of the problem and buy an oil refinery? More »
Delta Passengers Quarantined Following Medical Scare (Which Turned Out To Be Bug Bites)
By Chris Morran on April 26, 2012 7:34 PM
28 Comments
Passengers on board a Delta flight from Detroit to Chicago were quarantined on the tarmac for several hours this afternoon over concerns about one traveler with what appeared to be a mysterious rash. More »
Delta Flight Forced To Make Emergency Landing After Bird Strike At JFK
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 20, 2012 11:00 AM
42 Comments
Plane engines make a lot of noise, but then there's the awful noise it reportedly makes when a bunch of birds hit. Passengers on a Delta flight yesterday had a bit of a scare, after their plane was likely hit by a bird strike on the way to L.A. The crew made a successful emergency landing at JFK. More »
American & United Do What We Didn't Want Them To, Join Delta In Fare Hike
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 19, 2012 10:00 AM
27 Comments
Remember yesterday when we were like, yeah, it would stink if other airlines joined with Delta in attempting to hike fares by $10 to $20? Guess what, everyone? Some went ahead and did that. American Airlines and United Airlines threw their pricey hats in the ring. More »
Delta Air Lines Trying Its Best To Raise Domestic Fares By $10-20
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 18, 2012 10:00 AM
29 Comments
Whatever you do, other airlines, please don't follow the leader. Delta Air Lines just pushed through an airfare hike for domestic flights, and if their plan works, other airlines will follow suit and that increase will go into effect across the board. Sort of like when the popular girl tells everyone else they have to wear the right scrunchies or be ostracized. More »
(SA_Steve)
Don't Leave Your Phone In The Airplane Bathroom Or Someone Will Think It's A Bomb
By Chris Morran on April 16, 2012 4:40 PM
30 Comments
There once was a time when the worst thing that could happen if you accidentally left your phone in an airplane bathroom was that it might be stolen by a sticky-fingered passenger or crew member. But now, a phone in the loo could be a bomb, which means your plane is making an emergency landing and everyone on board will arrive late to their destination. More »
Worst Company In America Round One: Spirit Airlines Vs. Delta
March 19, 2012 9:30 AM
35 Comments
The final day of Round One competition is waiting on the tarmac, ready to take off. Unfortunately, these two airlines would like to charge you for the privilege of voting on which one is worse. More »
Here It Is, Your Lineup For Worst Company In America 2012!
March 12, 2012 12:00 PM
120 Comments
Welcome to Consumerist's 7th Annual Worst Company In America tournament, where the businesses you nominated face off for a title that none of them will publicly admit to wanting — but which all of them try their hardest to earn. So it's time to fill in the brackets and start another office pool. That is, unless you work at one of the 32 companies competing in the tournament. More »
(jendubin)
Some Airlines Starting To Get It, Installing Roomier Overhead Bins
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 12, 2012 10:00 AM
67 Comments
After seeing countless passengers refusing to believe that their wheelie bag isn't going to fit in closed bins, while others just will not listen to flight attendants' pleas of "please don't put your coat in the overhead bin," some airlines are actually expanding the size of their overhead bins. More »
(YouTube)
Penguins Waddling Around On Delta Flight Elicit Squees Of Joy From Everyone Onboard
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 9, 2012 5:00 PM
53 Comments
We're a bit batty over airline news today, but this one just had to be posted: If anyone ever told you something unlikely would happen "when penguins fly," you take this story and shove it right in that person's face. Two penguins not only flew, but they traveled first class on the way to a premiere. Sure, they're still technically flightless birds, but at least they got to see how the other species live. More »
Wireless Is Free On Delta As Long You're Buying Stuff From Amazon
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 5, 2012 5:00 PM
34 Comments
There's some good news for Delta Airlines passengers is that they're offering free in-flight WiFi. Score! Oh but there's a catch — it's only free to view Amazon.com sites so you can buy stuff mid-air. Yay...? More »
Airlines Hike Up Fares Yet Again, Blaming Higher Fuel Costs
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 27, 2012 11:00 AM
21 Comments
Airlines aren't just good at lifting planes into the air, but with yet another hike on round-trip fares, they're showing how great they are at sending prices skyward as well. Zing! This latest increase is the third already this year. More »
35 Pets Died On Airplanes Last Year, Over Half On Delta
By Laura Northrup on February 17, 2012 8:00 AM
39 Comments
Animal lovers were justifiably critical of Delta Airlines after sixteen pets died in 2010 during or after flights in the cargo hold. But even after banning frequently-overheating short-muzzled breeds like bulldogs from the skies, nineteen pets passed away during or shortly after Delta flights in 2011. That's out of a total of 35 pets that died on U.S. carriers last year. In addition, nine pets sustained major or minor injuries, and two were lost. More »
Runway Slide Forces Passengers To Sit In Cabin For More Than 2 Hours
By Phil Villarreal on January 31, 2012 8:30 AM
38 Comments
Passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight from Las Vegas to Detroit suffered an awful two-fer after a muffed landing Sunday. After they survived the fright of sitting in the plane as it careened off the runway and into the grass, they were stuck in there for two and a half hours as crews towed the plane back to where it belonged. More »
(dooley)
Report: Delta, U.S. Airways Among Those With An Eye To Buy American Airlines Parent Company
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 13, 2012 12:00 PM
16 Comments
As American Airlines parent company AMR tries to sort itself out during bankruptcy proceedings, there are already a few vultures circling it. A report says Delta Air Lines and U.S. Airways are considering buying AMR, along with a buyout firm called TPG Capital. More »
(Cathy_c)
Packing Valuable Items In Your Luggage? Check Your Bags Before You Leave The Airport
By Chris Morran on November 11, 2011 3:30 PM
34 Comments
If you've got to take something valuable — especially something fragile and valuable — on a plane, it's best to try to carry it on. And as Consumerist reader Cathy learned, if you must check those items, be sure to look at your bags before you leave the baggage claim area, just in case that item has gotten damaged or disappeared. More »
Man Arrested After Trying To Bail Out Of Mid-Air Flight
By Phil Villarreal on October 26, 2011 9:15 AM
41 Comments
Although some flights are uncomfortable, that's no excuse to try to bust open an emergency exit and take a leap. Authorities arrested a Delta Airlines passenger who allegedly tried to to just that Sunday. More »
Courtesy Delta
There Are About To Be Even Fewer Cheap Seats On Delta Flights
By Chris Morran on October 20, 2011 1:20 PM
32 Comments
Earlier this year, Delta introduced Economy Comfort seats that offer more legroom but which come at a higher price. Well it looks like enough people are interested in this option that the airline is adding them on most of its planes. More »
Is In-Flight Advertising Getting Out Of Control?
By Chris Morran on October 19, 2011 4:15 PM
47 Comments
Depending on the airline you choose, everything from the exterior of your jet to the overhead compartments to your tray table and the back of your seat to your airplane safety video can be sponsored by an advertiser. And considering the amount of revenue being generated by these ads, they probably aren't going anywhere anytime soon. More »
Report: Whitney Houston Almost Booted From Delta Flight For Refusing To Buckle Up
By Chris Morran on October 13, 2011 2:15 PM
49 Comments
Yet another non-Kevin-Smith famous person reportedly came oh-so-close to being kicked off a flight. This time, it's apparently singer Whitney Houston who was almost given the heave-ho from a Delta flight for refusing to buckle her seatbelt. More »
Delta Air Lines & Disabled Passengers Settle 3-Year-Old Discrimination Suit
By Mary Beth Quirk on October 1, 2011 11:00 AM
13 Comments
Five disabled passengers have finally reached a settlement with Delta Airlines after a three-year battle against the carriers claiming discrimination at the Detroit airport. More »
It Could Now Cost You Over $400 To Check A Bag On Some Flights
By Chris Morran on September 20, 2011 10:30 AM
85 Comments
Fees for checked bags vary wildly, from absolutely nothing to arm-and-a-leg-and-an-ear. And according to a new round-up of fees from the various carriers, you might need to throw another limb in there if you're checking an oversize bag on your international flight. More »
Can You Get Booted From Frequent Flier Program For Being A Frequent Complainer?
By Chris Morran on September 19, 2011 11:15 AM
57 Comments
In 2008, after nine years of membership in Northwest's WorldPerks frequent flier program — three of those years with Platinum Elite status — a Minnesota man was given some bad news from airline: He had been removed from the program and had lost hundreds of thousands of miles. Why? Because his numerous complaints apparently constituted "abuse" of the program. More »
(Kimaroo)
If You Don't 'Look' Disabled, Expect Shoddy Treatment From Delta
By Laura Northrup on August 30, 2011 10:45 AM
256 Comments
Alauna is disabled, unable to walk or stand for long periods of time. But she's in her 20s and there is nothing obviously physically wrong with her at first glance. This meant that her requests for assistance during her recent Delta flight delay nightmare were met with resistance or eye-rolling. More »
Airlines Waiving Re-Booking Fees With Hurricane Irene On The Way
By Chris Morran on August 25, 2011 4:15 PM
24 Comments
A really nasty woman named Irene is about to swoop in from the tropics and potentially screw up air travel for everyone. So in advance of the hurricane, many airlines are playing nice with their re-booking fees and policies for flights to and from destinations affected by the storm. More »
Delta's Inability To Properly Schedule Plane Maintenance Leads To 24-Hour Ordeal For Passenger
By Chris Morran on August 19, 2011 1:30 PM
84 Comments
Consumerist reader Joan already had quite a bit of flying in front of her when she boarded a recent Delta flight from Anchorage to Minneapolis, where she would be connecting to another flight to Washington, DC. But her day got significantly longer when Delta waited until the very last minute to perform a required maintenance check on the plane. More »
Breastfeeding Delta Passenger: Flight Attendant Publicly Humiliated Me
By Chris Morran on August 16, 2011 9:00 AM
416 Comments
Earlier this week, a traveling mom who had just boarded a Delta flight from Indianapolis to Raleigh, NC, decided it was a good time to nurse her 8-month-old. A flight attendant didn't agree. You can imagine how this one goes from here. More »
Bat Ejected For Refusing To Sit Down On Airplane
By Ben Popken on August 10, 2011 12:00 PM
53 Comments
On Friday, a Delta pilot was forced to return to the airport when a bat began flying around the cabin 15 minutes after takeoff and ignored instructions from the crew and his fellow passengers. More »
Frequent-Flying, And Complaining, Rabbi Can Sue Delta
By Ben Popken on August 8, 2011 4:00 PM
66 Comments
A lawsuit by a rabbi, who says that Northwest Airlines booted him from its frequent flyer program for complaining too much, can go forward. The case had initially been dismissed by a lower court that said federal deregulation law pre-empted the man's claim, but the 9th circuit reversed that decision on Friday. More »
40 Of 100 Most-Delayed Flights Take Off Or Land In Newark
By Chris Morran on August 4, 2011 1:15 PM
29 Comments
If you're reading this story on your laptop or smartphone while waiting for a flight to or from Newark International Airport, we have some good and bad news. On one hand, there's a decent chance your flight will be delayed. On the other, you'll have plenty of time to file a complaint with the airline, airport and FAA. More »
(gurms)
10.5% Of Spirit's Revenue Comes From Baggage Fees
By Ben Popken on August 4, 2011 12:00 PM
21 Comments
Recently Delta caught attention because in 2010 it earned the most revenue from baggage fees, $952 million, of all the airlines. But when you compare it to their total revenue, they're in the low-middle of the pack, with Spirit coming out on top. Let's look at a chart! More »
Senate Unable To End FAA Shutdown; Inspectors Working Without Pay
By Chris Morran on August 3, 2011 8:15 AM
55 Comments
Around 4,000 Federal Aviation Administration staffers remain on unpaid furlough this morning and dozens of airport inspectors have been asked to continue working without pay while their employer loses out on millions of tax dollars it lacks authority to collect, after the Senate was unable to end the stalemate behind the FAA's partial shutdown. More »
Delta And US Airways Will Refund "Taxes" Collected During FAA Shutdown
By Ben Popken on August 2, 2011 3:00 PM
18 Comments
Delta was the first airline to start giving out refunds for the extra money they've been scalping from passengers while the FAA remains shut down. After the airline made the announcement Monday, US Airways on Tuesday said they would follow suit. More »
Delta, Continental, Others Jack Up Fares After Federal Tax Takes Vacation
By Chris Morran on July 25, 2011 7:30 AM
56 Comments
As we reported last week, the inability for Congress to come to terms on a bill that would extend the FAA's operating authority means that airlines are not currently charging federal taxes on airfares. But if you're not seeing any difference in the final price of your ticket, that's because most airlines have increased their fares since Saturday. More »
(afagen)
Delta To Cut Service To Up To 24 Smaller Markets
By Chris Morran on July 18, 2011 5:15 PM
55 Comments
Citing financial losses and empty seats, Delta Airlines has announced that it will soon be cutting service to up to 24 smaller markets in eight states, mostly in the north-central region of the country. More »
TSA To Test Trusted Traveler Program With Certain Delta & American Airlines Frequent Fliers
By Chris Morran on July 14, 2011 2:41 PM
35 Comments
In May, TSA chief John Pistole said the agency was considering a program that would allow pre-vetted "trusted travelers" to get through airport security faster. Today, the TSA announced actual details of the program it will begin testing on a small group of fliers. More »
(syhaze)
Delta Traveler Says He Got Bag Back Reeking Of Urine
By Ben Popken on June 22, 2011 12:00 PM
43 Comments
Sy has vowed to never fly Delta again after a colossal followup left his bag bouncing back and forth between three cities and two continents, and once he finally got his bag back, it stank of urine. More »
Delta & McDonald's Are Big Losers In Customer Satisfaction Survey
By Chris Morran on June 21, 2011 9:15 AM
29 Comments
Earlier today, the lovely folks at the American Customer Satisfaction Index released their latest data for airlines and fast food restaurants. And judging by the companies that came in last in each category, being the biggest doesn't make you any better. More »
(.nutter)
Atlantic Southeast Airlines Fined $425K For Not Inspecting Planes Following Lightning Strikes
By Phil Villarreal on June 17, 2011 2:30 PM
19 Comments
Atlantic Southeast Airlines, a regional carrier for Delta, was fined $425,000 by the Federal Aviation Administration for neglecting to inspect two of its jets after they were struck by lightning in July 2008. The FAA says the airline operated 13 flights before the planes were inspected. More »
Delta's $952 Million In Baggage Fees Is More Than United And Continental Combined
By Chris Morran on June 13, 2011 4:31 PM
49 Comments
The Department of Transportation released its final numbers for airline baggage fee revenue from 2010 and Delta has sent a very loud message to the rest of the industry: Y'all got a lot of catching up to do. More »
Delta Changes Bag Policy For Armed Forces Members
By Chris Morran on June 9, 2011 1:25 PM
57 Comments
Earlier this week, a group of U.S. soldiers returning from Afghanistan made headlines when they posted a YouTube video to voice their displeasure with Delta Airlines over the carrier's checked baggage policy for active duty members of the armed forces. More »
Delta Admits They Have Your Jacket, Won't Give It Back
By Laura Northrup on June 9, 2011 9:00 AM
42 Comments
Justin left his jacket behind on a Delta flight during a short connection in Atlanta. He might be prepared to just let it go, but Delta told him that they have the jacket. He was instructed to pick it up at Delta's lost and found during the Atlanta connection of his return trip. How convenient! The catch is that the lost and found office is outside of the security zone, and he didn't have a long enough layover to fetch the coat, then be sure he could get through security again in time to make his flight. So Delta still has his jacket. And they're not answering his calls. Or his tweets. More »
Delta Charging Returning U.S. Troops $2800 In Extra Baggage Fees Not Really A Big Deal
By Ben Popken on June 8, 2011 2:00 PM
114 Comments
A video is burning up the interwebs where a couple of Army soldiers tell how Delta charged 14 guys in their unit $200 a pop for checking a fourth bag, running up $2800 in fees. The soldiers are upset because even though standard Delta policy is to allow the military up to three bags for free, their orders said they were allowed four bags. Now they have to submit receipts to get their fees waived. At first it sounds like a slap in the face but other soldiers have chimed to say it's really not the drama it's been made out to be and it happens all the time. More »
Delta To Bring Outsourced Calls Back To U.S. But Not Add Any New Jobs
By Chris Morran on June 7, 2011 12:43 PM
34 Comments
Delta Airlines recently announced that it had decided to move some of its outsourced call center operations out of South Africa and back to the U.S. But before anyone goes looking for a gig at Delta's phone operations base in Dallas, the airline says it should be just fine with the staff it already has on hand. More »
(KFreon)
Delta Discontinues Discount For Paying Bag Fees Online
By Chris Morran on June 2, 2011 4:15 PM
50 Comments
Since Delta began charging fees for checked bags — $25 for the initial piece on domestic flights; $35 for a second — the airline has been offering $2-3 discounts to travelers who prepaid those fees online instead of at the airport. Not anymore. More »
(Evelyn)
Delta Offers Refund, Explanation For Dog Cargo Confusion
By Laura Northrup on May 27, 2011 8:00 AM
40 Comments
This is Scruffy the dog. Last week his human, Evelyn, wrote to us about her problems with Delta shipping Scruffy as cargo instead of baggage, not letting her know where he was, and charging an extra $391 at the airport to fly 50-pound Scruffy from New York to Los Angeles. In her letter to Delta, Evelyn said that she would be informing everyone she knows not to use Delta, since it is "most certainly neither a safe nor convenient carrier for pets." Now, at least, Delta has explained to Evelyn what went wrong, and she'll be receiving a refund for the full $591 in dog-shipping fees. It doesn't sound like Evelyn and Scruffy are in a hurry to fly Delta again soon, though. More »
(Evelyn)
Delta Charges Extra $391 To Fly Your Dog, Then Misplaces Him
By Laura Northrup on May 19, 2011 9:00 AM
94 Comments
Evelyn's father booked a ticket for her and her dog to fly from New York to Los Angeles on Delta Airlines. Being a regular Consumerist reader, she was nervous about trusting Delta with her beloved pet, but notes that "[she] thought the horror stories must be rare enough that we should take the trip." Delta staff told her that her dog, who weighs about 50 pounds, needed to fly as cargo at a cost of $591, instead of the quoted $200. The ostensible reason was severe weather on the ground in Los Angeles. What this extra $391 got Evelyn was a missing pet for an hour, then an upset and dehydrated dog. More »
Delta Passengers Forced To Land & Ride Bus For 5 Hours. Is $100 Coupon Enough?
By Chris Morran on May 5, 2011 3:30 PM
142 Comments
Earlier this week, a Delta flight from Atlanta to West Palm Beach, FL, was forced to land in Tampa after the cabin filled with smoke. Passengers were taken off the plane and put on a bus for the 5-hour trip to their final destination. They were also each given a $100 coupon for use toward a future Delta flight. To some passengers, it's not the size of the compensation that caused offense, but the apparent lack of give-a-damn demonstrated by Delta. More »
Delta Introduces Online Tracking For Baggage
By Chris Morran on April 22, 2011 12:45 PM
23 Comments
Next time you're getting off a Delta flight, you should have a better idea of how long you'll be waiting for your checked luggage at baggage claim. The airline has introduced a new tracking system that lets users plug in their luggage tag number for up-to-date tracking info. More »
Delta Warned About Mice Feces On Plane
By Ben Popken on April 21, 2011 10:00 AM
34 Comments
Most people are worried about a seatmate that takes up more than their fair share of the seats, but on one Delta plane they should be more concerned about a far tinier co-passenger. CNN reports the FDA has sent Delta a warning letter (read it here) about mouse droppings "too numerous to count" onboard one of its planes. More »
Delta Bans Bulldogs After Increase In Dog Deaths
By Chris Morran on April 7, 2011 3:30 PM
83 Comments
Delta Airlines took a lot of heat in 2010 for a string of incidents — like this one, this one or this one — involving dead and/or lost pets on its flights. So in an attempt to cut down on the number of animal deaths, the airline will no longer accept bulldogs in its planes' cargo holds. More »
Worst Company In America Sweet 16: Walmart Vs. Delta
By consumerist.com on March 28, 2011 12:00 PM
76 Comments
Two sultans of suck square off in today's Sweet 16 match-up that pits big box stores against jumbo jets. More »
Meet Your Worst Company In America Sweet 16!
By consumerist.com on March 25, 2011 12:00 PM
70 Comments
After eight days and 16 first round battles, the WCIA steel cage is littered with the bones of those companies not crappy enough to continue on in the tournament. But the thrill of victory is fleeting for the remaining combatants, all of whom must square off again if they hope of crowning themselves the Worst Company In America! More »
Delta Passenger Pretending To Be Air Marshal Is Detained By Actual Air Marshal
By Chris Morran on March 17, 2011 11:45 AM
37 Comments
If you're going to try to impress someone by claiming to be a federal air marshal, be sure the real deal isn't within earshot. More »
Worst Company In America Round One: United/Continental Vs. Delta
By consumerist.com on March 16, 2011 12:00 PM
45 Comments
Day Two of the WCIA 2011 tournament takes to the skies with this dogfight between the two biggest birds in the business! More »
Here's Your Lineup For Worst Company In America 2011!
By consumerist.com on March 14, 2011 12:00 PM
186 Comments
For the sixth year in a row, we asked Consumerist readers to send us their nominations for our Worst Company In America tournament. And this year's response was the greatest by far. More »
How Delta Made Enemies Of Standup Eugene Mirman
By Ben Popken on March 7, 2011 10:00 AM
10 Comments
I stumbled across this clip of standup comedian Eugene Mirman describing how Delta Airlines became his enemy. It all started when they lost his bag and at the counter they looked at his ticket and asked him if his name was "Barbara Riddle." He said no and then they proceeded to deliver Ms. Riddle's bag to his house, twice, before finally giving up and telling him he'd have to file a claim for his luggage. Fast-forward to 5:57 to hear him tell the tale and read aloud the hate letter he wrote them as a result. More »
80-Year-Old Woman Ends Up On Wrong Delta Flight After Getting Someone Else's Boarding Pass
By Chris Morran on February 23, 2011 3:20 PM
38 Comments
Finally, a Delta gaffe that doesn't end up with a dead pet. More »
Delta SkyMiles No Longer Have An Expiration Date
By Chris Morran on February 15, 2011 3:15 PM
27 Comments
In the latest move to combat the combined United/Continental Voltron, Delta has announced that the miles accrued on its SkyMiles frequent flier program will no longer vanish when they go unused for too long. More »
Courtesy Delta
Delta Installing More Comfortable (And More Expensive) Economy Seats
By Chris Morran on February 7, 2011 3:38 PM
84 Comments
For those who would be willing to pay a little more for a few inches of legroom but who don't want to pay for business- or first-class seats, Delta may have some good news for you. More »
Get Your Airline Ticket Changed For Free Because Of Massive Midwest Storm
By Ben Popken on January 31, 2011 9:26 PM
37 Comments
The Superbowl of storms is headed for the Midwest with 20" snow and 45 mph winds predicted for Chicago. Thankfully, a lot of airlines are waiving their usual ticket change fees for travelers who could be affected. 3,000 flights have already been canceled in advance of the potentially deadly weather. Don't go to the airport to see if you can make your flight, don't get stuck in an airport, stay home, stay over at your friend's house an extra day or two, and take advantage of this leniency. Here are links to the various airlines and their waiver and winter update pages and policies: More »
(Family photo)
Hairless Kitten Freezes To Death After Trip In Delta Cargo Hold
By Laura Northrup on January 27, 2011 9:00 AM
169 Comments
Snickers, an eleven-week-old hairless kitten, flew from from a breeder in Utah to her new home in Connecticut in the supposedly climate-controlled cargo hold of a Delta Airlines plane. Her new family paid the airline $70 extra so she would be removed immediately. Instead, she sat under the plane for about 50 minutes, on a 10 degree Fahrenheit evening. When she finally met her family, she showed symptoms of severe hypothermia. They tried to warm her up and rushed to a vet, but it was too late. More »
Delta Auctions Off Flight Bumps To Lowest Bidders
By Ben Popken on January 5, 2011 2:00 PM
72 Comments
A reader over at Marginal Revolution spotted Delta's new system where when you check in at the kiosk it asks you to bid on what it would cost to get you to volunteer your seat. Below the entry box it says, "Delta accepts lower bids first." Genius! More »
My Dog Died Under Delta's Care, And Airline Blows Me Off
By Phil Villarreal on January 5, 2011 1:30 PM
70 Comments
Deserved or not, Delta is garnering an unfavorable reputation in regards to pet care, most recently after a dog it lost in between flights in Atlanta was found dead. Before that, Delta lost a dog belonging to one of our readers in Mexico City. More »
Dog That Escaped From Delta Flight Found Dead
By Chris Morran on January 3, 2011 1:30 PM
100 Comments
Right before Christmas, we brought you the story of a dog that had escaped from its crate while being transferred between two Delta flights in Atlanta. Unfortunately, news reports say the dog was discovered dead near a highway over the weekend. More »
Delta Pulls Listings From Three Travel Sites
By Chris Morran on December 29, 2010 11:30 AM
43 Comments
Things are starting to get ugly in the battle between airlines and travel-booking websites. Less than one week after American Airlines pulled its listings from Orbitz.com, Delta has announced its flights will no longer be listed on three other sites. More »
(Alisa)
Delta Lost My Dog, Too
By Phil Villarreal on December 23, 2010 3:45 PM
82 Comments
Alisa tried to fly two dogs from San Diego to Atlanta, with the intent of continuing on to Germany, where she's moving with her husband. She says Nala, a German Shepherd who is pictured here, is on the loose thanks to Delta's mistakes in corralling the pooch. The airline says it's in touch with Alisa and is doing "everything we can" to help her find the dog. More »
Delta CEO Listens To This Frequent Flyer's Plea
By Laura Northrup on December 8, 2010 9:00 AM
32 Comments
Chris didn't really have a serious consumer "problem," but he had an issue that regular customer service channels couldn't help him with. He's a very frequent flyer, but had been accumulating miles through Alaska Airlines, even though he now does all of his flying with Delta. He sent off concise and businesslike executive e-mail carpet bomb explaining his dilemma, and promising Delta all of his business if they'd match his l33t MVP Gold status. More »
"Disturbed" Passenger Gets Naked On Delta Flight
By Meg Marco on November 29, 2010 12:45 PM
40 Comments
With all the TSA controversy lately, you might assume that a passenger who strips naked on a flight from Chicago to New York would be making some sort of statement about the 4th amendment. Nope. More »
Delta Offering Free In-Flight WiFi During Holiday Travel Season
By Chris Morran on November 8, 2010 12:22 PM
30 Comments
Let's face it — traveling during the holidays kinda sucks. We know this because they have made movies about it. So in an attempt to convince fliers it's not the suckiest airline — even if they do publicly lie about their baggage policies — Delta is offering free in-flight WiFi for folks who have to fly hundreds or thousands of miles to deal with passive-aggressive in-laws. More »
American And Delta Too Busy To Tag Your Bags, Want You To Do It Yourself
By Chris Morran on November 3, 2010 11:40 AM
50 Comments
Thought there wasn't much more the airlines could fob off on the customer? You were wrong. Apparently, the employees at American and Delta are so slow at tagging your checked bags that the airlines think you'd do it better yourself. More »
Delta Fined $100,000 For Lying To Passengers About Lost Luggage Liability
By Chris Morran on November 1, 2010 4:30 PM
25 Comments
According to federal regulations, airlines "shall not limit its liability for provable direct or consequential damages" to less than $3,300 per passenger. Someone should have told that to Delta, which was recently slapped with a $100,000 fine by the Dept. of Transportation for distributing pamphlets telling customers something very different. More »
Reader Sues Delta Over Bungled Baggage -- And Wins!
By Chris Morran on October 22, 2010 4:30 PM
115 Comments
Even though we're paying oft-ridiculous fees for checked bags on airplanes, none of that ancillary revenue seems to be going toward improving the actual checking in or tracking of said bags. That's why it's refreshing to hear a story where a screwed-over passenger stands up to this general ineptitude and comes out victorious. More »
VIDEO: Watch Sparks Fly During Emergency Landing At JFK
By Chris Morran on September 27, 2010 12:45 PM
53 Comments
Over the weekend, a Delta flight en route from White Plains, NY, to Atlanta was forced to make an emergency landing that had the plane's wing dragging on the runway in a shower of sparks. Luckily, the whole thing ended safely for all on board — and it was caught on video. More »
How Do Airlines Compare On Fees?
By Chris Walters on September 27, 2010 9:00 AM
7 Comments
It's hard to keep track of all the extra fees airlines have invented to pad a ticket purchase, especially since they keep introducing new ones; USA TODAY says revenue from added fees have jumped nearly 16% from a year ago. The newspaper reviewed fees from 13 airlines in the U.S. and compiled this handy reference chart of current fee schedules, to make comparison shopping a little bit easier. As expected, Southwest continues to be one of the best values. More »
I Don't Care Who Screwed Up My Flight Plans, I Just Want My Money Back
By Laura Northrup on September 16, 2010 12:30 PM
48 Comments
Rick writes that he booked flights for a family trip using Expedia. Due to an apparent mistake at Delta Airlines, his ticket and his wife's were canceled out from under them for the first leg of their trip, but their daughter's wasn't. Rick has been pursuing a refund for the last-minute tickets he had to buy, but no one seems to know who should be issuing that refund. More »
Expedia, Delta, And Bank Of America Team Up, Form Bad Customer Service Voltron
By Laura Northrup on August 13, 2010 8:00 AM
31 Comments
Paul tells Consumerist that he has a few problems. First, Expedia and Delta Airlines failed to correctly undo and reschedule a flight that his family took from Michigan to Florida. Second, his wife and children have gained the ability to bilocate. Or teleport. At least according to Delta and Expedia. Neither company seems fazed that the family flew the same route twice in a row both times. Sure, this trip might be physically possible, but it's also completely insane. More »
Know How Much Your Bag Weighs Before Flying
By Chris Walters on August 9, 2010 8:00 AM
19 Comments
Delta tried to charge "Frustrated Traveler" an illegitimate bag fee yesterday by claiming it was over the weight limit. He knew, however, that unless the bag had been eating tubs of frosting throughout the flight, it was still the same 47 pounds it was when he weighed it himself before boarding. More »
(JohnKit)
A Pilot's Perspective On Woman Removed From Plane For Asking If Captain Had Been Drinking
By Chris Morran on August 5, 2010 11:15 AM
464 Comments
Yesterday, we brought you the story of a woman who had been kicked off a Delta flight after asking the flight crew if the flight's captain had been drinking. This story drew the attention of a Consumerist reader who also happens to be a pilot. More »
Delta Passenger Kicked Off Flight For Asking If Pilot Had Been Drinking
By Chris Morran on August 4, 2010 11:15 AM
158 Comments
Here's a lesson from Delta Airlines: If you think you smell alcohol on a pilot's breath, don't dare ask the flight crew if he'd been drinking; you'll just end up being kicked off the flight. That's what happened to a woman from California, who recently found herself booted from a Delta flight. More »
Being Stuck On Tarmac In Phoenix Without Water Makes For Sweatiest YouTube Video Ever
By Chris Morran on July 26, 2010 11:15 AM
87 Comments
If you haven't yet had the pleasure of being trapped — without water — on a delayed Delta flight that's been waiting on the tarmac in 112-degree Arizona heat, one passenger has chronicled his ordeal in a series of quick videos from yesterday. The best — or perhaps worst — part comes at the end of the first clip when he squeegees about a gallon of sweat from his forehead. More »
Your Complete Big-Ass Guide To Annoying Airline Fees
By Chris Morran on July 14, 2010 4:25 PM
45 Comments
As reported earlier today, the Government Accountability Office thinks airlines could do a lot more to be transparent about the fees they charge. And buried about 45 pages deep in the GAO's report are two very helpful tables detailing fees for checked bags and other items that U.S.-based airlines charge extra for. More »
(Aaron)
Delta Randomly Sent Me My Personal Identification Number
By Phil Villarreal on June 25, 2010 3:30 PM
26 Comments
Delta promptly emailed Aaron the PIN from his SkyMiles account. Which is nice and all, except for the fact that Aaron never lost his number and didn't request the email. The announcement showed up with no prompt whatsoever. More »
Does Delta Have The Rudest Flight Attendants?
By Meg Marco on June 22, 2010 2:45 PM
75 Comments
Airfarewatchdog polled its readers and found that "by a large margin" Delta has the rudest flight attendants, followed by United. Southwest, on the other hand, was the nicest. More »
(kalleboo)
Frequent Flier Miles Easier To Earn, Harder To Use
By Chris Morran on June 21, 2010 4:30 PM
22 Comments
For anyone wanting to earn reward miles on their favorite airline, the options are many. Your credit and debit cards can earn miles, so can taking online surveys or taking part in experimental drug trials (okay, not that last one). But while it's becoming increasingly easy to accrue miles, it's becoming more difficult to actually cash them in. More »
Continental Takes Three Days And Counting To Fly Passenger From Texas to New Hampshire
By Carey Alexander on June 20, 2010 7:00 PM
125 Comments
Poor Ashley, all she wanted was to fly from Houston to Manchester to visit her friend for the weekend. She planned to leave on Thursday, but Continental apparently overbooked a whole mess of flights and could only get her to Detroit the next day. From there Continental planned to send her onto Manchester with Delta, but that didn't work out either. After spending a night stuck in Detroit, Ashley made it to Atlanta, where Delta figured she would manage to catch one of their many flights to New England. Nope! Instead, things got much, much worse. More »
Is The Dominican Republic An International Destination? Airlines Disagree
By Carey Alexander on June 19, 2010 2:00 PM
130 Comments
American Airlines told Bill that he couldn't acces their international lounge because his flight from the Dominican Republic to Houston, which required a passport and a customs form, didn't count as an international flight. Bill's wife had paid $300 to upgrade Bill's ticket to first class expressly so he could access the lounge, and Bill wasn't sure what part of "international" American didn't seem to understand. Yet it turns out American might be right. More »
Delta Plays Airport Roulette When Flying Into D.C.
By Chris Walters on June 15, 2010 1:14 PM
39 Comments
On Sunday, Andy emailed us from his seat on Delta Flight 2744 from Minneapolis to Washington, D.C., to let us know that he had no idea where his flight was going to land. The ticket he purchased said he was flying to Ronald Reagan National Airport, but Delta said it would all depend on whether they could beat their scheduled 10:19 arrival time and get there before the ten o'clock airport curfew—otherwise they'd have to land at Dulles. Strangely, they didn't mention this 10 p.m. curfew to Andy before he bought the ticket. More »
Delta Sends Boston-Bound Child to Cleveland And Vice-Versa
By Laura Northrup on June 10, 2010 10:06 AM
102 Comments
Not content to just lose business clothes and cute little dogs and smash bikes, Delta took two children flying as unaccompanied minors and put them on the wrong planes, according to Cleveland's WOIO. More »
Delta Smashed My Bike And Won't Refund The Baggage Fee
By Meg Marco on June 9, 2010 1:53 PM
85 Comments
This guy is trying to raise money to build dams in Africa by doing 20 half Ironman races. Consequently, he has to travel with his bike a lot. He says that during a recent trip back from Hawaii Delta smashed his bike and won't even refund the $200 fee he paid them to transport it. This makes him sad. More »
Airlines' Approval Ratings Rise
By Chris Walters on June 8, 2010 12:56 PM
10 Comments
You love the airlines now! Or at least, you don't hate them any worse than you did back in 2007, according to a new survey released by J.D. Power & Associates. More »
Delta Made Me Miss My Flight, Only Refunded $18
By Phil Villarreal on June 7, 2010 9:00 AM
71 Comments
A layover on a three-leg flight forced Jon to rent a car in order to get to his destination on time. Delta promised him a refund on the part of his itinerary it botched, but it only gave him $18 because it based the refund on mileage rather than the cost of his ticket. More »
Delta Flight Attendant Caught With Gun At Airport
By Chris Morran on June 5, 2010 1:27 PM
57 Comments
It's not just celebrities who get caught trying to bring firearms onto planes — it also happens to airline employees! Yesterday, a Delta flight attendant was arrested after a scan of her bag turned up a loaded handgun. More »
Huff Post Ranks Airlines On Safety Records
By Chris Walters on May 25, 2010 12:07 PM
21 Comments
Even the Huffington Post admits that their Safest U.S. Airlines list is a bit unnecessary, considering the excellent safety records of everyone on the list. Still, it's fun to rank things, so that's what they did. U.S. Airways and JetBlue came in near the top, while Delta, United and Continental came in at the bottom. Regardless, you're likely to remain alive after a flight on any of them. More »
(cowbite)
Delta Leaves Man On Two Week Business Trip Without Work Clothes
By Chris Walters on May 25, 2010 11:39 AM
69 Comments
Bryan is stuck in San Francisco for two weeks on a business trip without his business clothes, which is what Delta loses when it doesn't have a dog nearby. More »
Delta Paid $2,800 For Lost Dog Valued At $20,000
By Ben Popken on May 10, 2010 5:33 PM
70 Comments
Paco wasn't the only dog lost in transit before it was loaded onto a Delta aircraft. Four years ago, Vivi, a whippet who won the Award of Merit in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, escaped from her kennel as it was being loaded onto a Delta flight and was reportedly seen running across the tarmac before escaping into the marshy marsh. A media frenzy ensued....
Delta Offers More Money For Pooch Lost In Transit, Apologizes
By Ben Popken on May 7, 2010 5:14 PM
118 Comments
Paco is still missing, but after we contacted them, Delta reached out to Josiah and said sorry, along with offering to reimburse him for all the costs he put into the dog and two additional $200 vouchers for future travel on their airline. Josiah says that's unnecessary, as he still probably won't be flying Delta ever again after this experience. More »
Delta Waives Fee For First Checked Bag If You Use Their AmEx Card
By Chris Morran on May 7, 2010 2:16 PM
32 Comments
In a world where fees for checked baggage top the list of annoying things about air travel, it's a small victory to learn that Delta has decided to offer an incentive to travelers with the airline's co-branded American Express card — no fees for the first checked bag for you and up to eight other members of your party. More »
Entire Dog Lost, Delta Offers $200 Credit
By Ben Popken on May 7, 2010 11:00 AM
214 Comments
Where's Paco? Josiah doesn't know, his girlfriend doesn't know, someone at Delta might know. After all, Delta was supposed to load Josiah's new dog on the same plane that Josiah got on. Paco didn't land with them. Frantic, Josiah called around desperately before being told that Paco was safe and sound, being taken care of by Delta employees, who would put him on the next flight out. Paco wasn't on that one either. More harried calls and Delta told Josiah Paco had "escaped" and the best they could do is refund his $200.00 pet transportation fee, but only as a "credit" for future Delta travel. That doesn't do Josiah any good, as he's vowed to never fly Delta again. Here's his story, and more adorable/sad puppy pictures: More »
Delta Passenger Fights Satan, Sprays Others With Water
By Chris Walters on April 26, 2010 9:37 AM
60 Comments
A Delta flight from L.A. to Florida had to make an emergency landing in Albuquerque, NM on Friday, after a first class passenger sprayed people with a water bottle from the beverage cart, threatened to "bring down" the plane, and shouted, "Get behind me Satan," apparently referring to a flight attendant. More »
(nfarley)
DOT: No Exemptions For New Tarmac Rules
By Chris Morran on April 22, 2010 5:00 PM
38 Comments
Remember a few weeks back when a bunch of airlines asked the FAA for a temporary exemption to the new rules about how long planes can wait on a tarmac? Earlier today DOT secretary Ray LaHood told them to go take a flying leap. More »
Icelandic Volcano Dashes Trips, Dreams
By Ben Popken on April 19, 2010 12:01 PM
87 Comments
A number of Consumerist readers have had their European travel plans ruined thanks to this volcano in Iceland that decided to start spewing ash into the atmosphere. Flights were turned around mid-way across the Atlantic. A visit to Paris vacation that a struggling single mother saved up for 8 months could be squandered. And American Airlines wants a newlywed couple to pony up 30,000 more frequent flier miles to reschedule their trip. Here are their Tales From The Volcano: More »
Senator Schumer: 5 Airlines Commit To No Carry-On Fees
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 18, 2010 2:56 PM
46 Comments
In the aftermath of Spirit Airlines' announcement that they'll be charging up to $45 for carry-on bags, five airlines have pledged that they won't jump on the fee bandwagon. New York Sen. Charles Schumer said today that American, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, US Airways and JetBlue have told him they won't start charging for carry-ons. More »
(Pylon757)
Unevenly Packed Bags Results In $1500 Delta Disaster
By Meg Marco on April 14, 2010 4:45 PM
175 Comments
Reader Ariel writes in after Delta refused to let her check her bags curbside because one was 5lbs too heavy, despite the fact that her other one 10lbs under. She says she was told it was Delta's policy that she couldn't move 5lbs of her crap to the other bag. This set off a chain of events that cost her $1500. More »
(opacity)
Hawaiian Airlines Tops Quality Study, American Eagle Falls Flat
By Chris Morran on April 13, 2010 5:28 PM
39 Comments
For the second year in a row, Hawaiian Airlines has topped a study that ranks 18 commercial carriers according to a formula that accounts for everything from on-time arrivals/departures to baggage handling to customer complaints. On the bottom end of the rankings was American Eagle. More »
JetBlue & American Trade Landing Rights To Expand Routes
By Chris Morran on March 31, 2010 11:22 AM
18 Comments
American Airlines announced a deal with JetBlue today that would significantly increase their presence at JFK Airport in New York. Meanwhile, JetBlue will now have the ability to offer service to and from Washington D.C.'s Reagan National Airport. More »
Worst Company In America: Delta VS US Airways
By Meg Marco on March 30, 2010 3:32 PM
53 Comments
Delta merged with Northwest Airlines and has been having some trouble with little details like "landing in the state of Minnesota without missing it." US Airways has a stinky plane that sends you to the hospital. More »
(Pylon757)
Delta Apologizes For Threatening To Cancel Flight
By Phil Villarreal on March 30, 2010 8:30 AM
60 Comments
Coincidentally, Delta emailed Teresa an apology the same day we posted her complaint that the airline threatened to cancel its flight if enough passengers didn't take its offer to bump them to a later flight. This after Delta had changed her itinerary without notice. More »
Delta Threatens Flight Cancellation If Passengers Refuse Bumpage
By Phil Villarreal on March 29, 2010 10:10 AM
79 Comments
Teresa says Delta did an excellent job of driving her into the arms of other airlines by not only changing her itinerary without notice, but overbooking the changed flight and demanding passengers take their bump offer, otherwise they'd cancel the flight. More »
(saaby)
Always Keep Your Boarding Pass
By Chris Walters on March 29, 2010 6:13 AM
16 Comments
Over on his travel blog, Christopher Elliott writes that if you want to ensure you'll get the reward program miles you deserve, you should hold on to your boarding pass. In his example, a frequent flyer with Air France couldn't get his Delta miles credited even though the airlines codeshare, because Air France demanded the original Delta boarding pass, which the customer had thrown away. Elliot managed to get the airline to cave on this instance, but he points out that it's easier (and better in case of an IRS audit) to hold on to them "just in case." More »
Delta Erroneously Charged My Credit Card, Won't Give Me Refund
By Phil Villarreal on March 25, 2010 9:31 AM
45 Comments
John tried to use travel vouchers to pay for a flight, but the airline only accepted one of them and charged the rest to his credit card. Now he can't get his money back no matter what he tries. More »
(Photo: Abeeeer)
American Airlines, Jet Blue, Delta Seek To Delay Tarmac Imprisonment Rule
By Chris Walters on March 17, 2010 10:37 AM
30 Comments
You know that new rule that says airlines have to let passengers off the plane if it's stuck on the tarmac for more than 3 hours? It's supposed to go into effect in April, but at least three airlines are hoping to delay it because they say runway repairs at JFK Airport will interfere with schedules. More »
Pilots Who Missed Minnesota Will Not Appeal License Revocation
By Chris Morran on March 15, 2010 5:33 PM
40 Comments
Remember those Northwest Airlines pilots who were too busy looking at their laptops to bother landing in Minneapolis? They have made a deal with the FAA to drop their appeal to have their licenses reinstated. More »
What's The Best Airline For Bringing My Bike?
By Chris Morran on March 5, 2010 4:18 PM
19 Comments
After yesterday's story about cyclists being unhappy with United's exorbitant fee to check bikes on their planes, the folks over at Bicycling wrote to share their breakdown of the best and worst airlines for when you're taking your wheels with you. More »
Delta Sent My Kid Off Plane With A Stranger, Gave Me $300 To Make Up For It
By Phil Villarreal on March 3, 2010 10:30 AM
167 Comments
Christina says she paid $200 for Delta to keep an eye on her son on a round trip flight, but inexplicably allowed him to walk off the flight with a man the flight attendants thought was his uncle. She spotted her son with the man, but worries about what might have happened had she not been there at the right time. More »
Delta Flight Canceled Because Of Flight Attendants Fighting
By Meg Marco on February 26, 2010 2:10 PM
36 Comments
There seems to be some disagreement about whether or not actual punches were thrown, but it seems that some sort of fight between two flight attendants caused a Delta Connection flight to be canceled. More »
Delta Won't Let Me Use The $55 Change On My Travel Voucher
By Phil Villarreal on February 25, 2010 8:45 AM
43 Comments
Delta Airlines gave Treat a $400 voucher when it bumped him from a flight, but it turned out to be something of a trick. When he used $345 of that to buy another flight, Delta's computer system wouldn't let him access that final $55. More »
Why Is Delta's "Bereavement Fare" $290 More Than A Regular One?
By Chris Morran on February 16, 2010 3:27 PM
31 Comments
Consumerist reader Brian recently had a death in his family and needed to fly from Rochester, NY, to Boston.When he attempted to book a flight with a bereavement discount with Delta, he was told that there was a direct, non-bereavement fare available for almost half the cost. Brian's complaint is a common one among air travelers, and it springs from a general misconception of exactly what the airlines mean by "bereavement fare." More »
(nateOne)
Landing Gear Not Good Place For Discount Airfare, Dead Man Finds
By Ben Popken on February 8, 2010 11:29 AM
49 Comments
A man was found dead inside the landing gear of Delta airplane landing in Tokyo enroute from New York. Doctors speculated that he froze to death and had a shortage of oxygen when the plane reached over 30,000 feet. Sheesh, we know the seats are cramped but this is ridiculous. What happens when you climb into an airplane's fuselage and it takes off? This clip from "1000 Ways To Die" explains: More »
Delta Gives $50 To Apologize For Overcharging By $700
By Ben Popken on February 2, 2010 2:12 PM
57 Comments
A young girl, trying to make it to her dying father's bedside. An old airline that can't find your reservation. A $1200 ticket that is now a $2000 ticket. A prefabricated apology for only $50. These, are the Delta chronicles...
(Photo: MartinRottler)
Delta Hikes Bag Fees: $23 For 1st, $32 for 2nd
By Ben Popken on January 12, 2010 9:37 AM
94 Comments
Delta has increased its checked baggage fees, effective today. Your first bag now costs $23 and your second, $32, up from $15 and $25, respectively. More »
(Photo: ernop)
Fight At Delta JFK Among Passengers, Not Directed At Airline?
By Ben Popken on December 30, 2009 12:15 PM
14 Comments
Remember that passenger fight at Delta JFK last week? According to an airport employee who witnessed the fight, it wasn't passengers venting on airport employees. Rather, the travelers (described as "the entire nation of Haiti"), who, yes, had been waiting for their flight to Haiti for four days, started to "brawl" amongst themselves. When a few TSA employees tried to break it up, "they got thrown around." More »
(Photo: joelrclare)
Delta Responds To JFK Clusterfracas
By Ben Popken on December 22, 2009 2:44 PM
82 Comments
Reached for comment about the big mess I and others observed at their JFK terminal today, Delta said they are working hard to add capacity and find flights home for the stranded passengers whose outpouring of anger at yet further delays required police intervention: More »
JFK Delta Terminal A Living Hellhole, Cops Called To Quell Crowds
By Ben Popken on December 22, 2009 1:29 PM
84 Comments
Around 9:30 this morning, NYPD descended on the JFK Delta Terminal to calm an unruly mob of holiday travelers. I myself escaped the same terminal 2 hours earlier, and I could already tell at that point that something was going to go terribly wrong. More »
(Photo: quatre mains)
Yeah, It's Pretty Much Chaos At Delta/Northwest Right Now
By Laura Northrup on December 20, 2009 10:00 PM
52 Comments
Adding to the problems caused by snowstorms, travel delays, and a general lack of communication in the skies today, readers report that Delta's and Northwest's computer systems are still not integrated, resulting in some completely un-hilarious travel snafus. More »
(Photo: Robert S. Donovan)
Delta Cancels Flights Due To Storm, Plays "Let it Snow" For Customers On Hold
By Laura Northrup on December 20, 2009 7:25 AM
95 Comments
The massive snowstorm on the East Coast this weekend has led to canceled and delayed flights—and a lot of aggravation on the part of Delta Air Lines customers. Because the only thing better than waiting for hours on hold to learn your flight's status or reschedule a flight canceled due to snow is listening to "Let it Snow." On a loop. More »
(Photo: tjriley82)
10 Things To Know To Keep Your Luggage From Getting Lost
By Ben Popken on December 18, 2009 12:31 PM
84 Comments
It's late night at the airport and you're the only one left standing at the baggage couresel, waiting for your luggage to arrive. The same blue duffel passes you like a broken record. Reality sinks in. Your baggage is lost. Tears form. Then, a rustling of rubber flaps. A form begins to emerge from the wall. Could it be, your lost bag? No, it is a man, a baggage handler man, covered in dust. He pats himself off and plants himself before you and begins a soliloquy. He is here to tell you you the 10 ten things you need to know to keep your bags from getting lost:
Craig Ferguson Badmouths Continental Airlines
By Chris Walters on December 16, 2009 1:21 PM
101 Comments
I just assume that celebrities get better treatment from airlines, but this story from Craig Ferguson proves otherwise. Here's a tip for gate agents: if you've just told a TV personality who volunteered to get off a flight that his reward is a 6 hour layover, it's probably not a good idea to add, "Don't badmouth us on TV!" More »
(Photo: Mzelle Biscotte)
Delta Offers Gold Status To Victims Of Pyschotic American Airlines Stewardess
By Ben Popken on December 14, 2009 10:35 AM
81 Comments
Delta has offered Gold status to anyone who was on the ill-fated American Airlines flight where a stewardess screamed at a first class passenger who had the gall to ask for orange juice, and had him given a written warning by the captain. More »
Prepare Your Delta Air Lines EECB For Takeoff
By Laura Northrup on November 29, 2009 9:00 AM
11 Comments
After reading Martin's unaccompanied minor air travel horror story yesterday, Aaron sent us this updated list of Delta Air Lines executive contact information from Elliott.org. More »
Delta Air Lines: You Need To Pay A Fee To Pay This Fee
By Laura Northrup on November 28, 2009 1:00 PM
84 Comments
Update: Delta representatives are in touch with Martin and his family, and we'll let you know when they work something out.
Martin's 5-year-old stepdaughter has had a very eventful holiday week. So has her family. Flying as an unaccompanied minor, she had to miss her original flight on AirTran and her family booked another at the last minute. The first reasonably priced flight available was on NWA/Delta, but her parents tell us that communication between different departments seems to have shut down—resulting in fees, hours of delays, and the child ultimately missing her flight because the airline didn't mark down that the unaccompanied minor fee had already been paid. More »
AirTran Wins, Midwest Loses in Fastest Telephone Customer Service
By consumerist.com on April 17, 2006 11:03 PM
4 Comments
Here's the results of our week-long investigation into how fast it took airlines to pick up the phone. More »
Time to Human, Airlines, Day 5
By consumerist.com on April 14, 2006 6:25 PM
1 Comment
All week we've been calling the airlines to see how long it takes their customer service reps to answer the phone. Here's today's rankings: More »
Time to Human, Airlines, Day 4
By consumerist.com on April 13, 2006 5:46 PM
1 Comment
Midwest, while once again the loser, performed slightly better today. More »
Time to Human, Airlines, Day 3
By consumerist.com on April 12, 2006 5:46 PM
0 Comments
Nothing can stop us from calling up all the airlines and comparing how fast it takes a carbon-based life form to pick up the phone. Not even the tinkly pianissimo of Midwest's hold line. We foil all the automated response system's attempts to pry out more information about an actual ticket using the short circuit shortcuts provided by GetHuman. More »
Time to Human, Airlines, Day 2
By consumerist.com on April 11, 2006 5:44 PM
0 Comments
We're calling the major airlines this week to see how long it takes them to pick up. More »
Time to Human, Airlines, Day 1
By consumerist.com on April 10, 2006 7:53 PM
2 Comments
The statistics train keeps on rolling. We called up many major airlines this afternoon and here's how long it took for them to pick up. More »
