Money Beat

Delta just recently tried to charge my brother $1200 to change 1 segment of his flight!

He was flying from SF to Jax, but we had a change in plans and i bought him a flight on Delta from ATL to Savannah. We forgot to cancel his flight to Jax, so when he tried to check in at SF, they told him he couldnt board until he cancelled the flight from ATL to Jax. And that he needed to pay $1200 to cancel it. What a load of carp!

We told them to stick it where the sun dont shine and we'll just book a last minute flight on another airline. They then miraculously found a new "policy" that allowed them to reduce the fee to their standard change fee.

Goodbye Delta, have fun hanging out with TWA and Eastern Airlines :bye:

Five million dollars? Delta told him to go to the airport to rebook a flight. Granted they should have made it easier to rebook but "stranded in Paris for 4 days?" For 5 million I would have grumbled and gone to the airport. Was he stranded for 4 days because no flights were available? Why was this Delta's fault? Five million dollars???

Seven figures? Come on... I do feel the compensation is warrented but I doubt that a 4 day delay should recieve this kind of consideration.

I've been a Delta Skymiles flier for over 10 years and have only had one minor incident with them about an award ticket and upgrade. Other than that I've not had one problem, delay or luggage issue and have changed flights and travel days for just a small fee at the last minute. I always fly Delta or Frontier. I did have a major problem on United to Austria once and have never flown them since. But I guess with so many millions of people flying every day a few are bound to get the raw deal and I'm sure I'll get mine one day. But I don't think I'd be petty enough to file a multi-million law suit. S*** happens, people, deal with it. Not everything in life can run the way you want it to and sometimes you just have to take the inconvenience.

Delta s*cks. Period.

Why $5 million, you ask? Easy: He's a lawyer! ...and he didn't make enough on his last case to buy his new Hummer.

While these suits sound petty, I am one flier who's absolutely sick of the contempt with which the major airlines treat their customers.

I've flown most US-based airlines, domestically and internationally, and have experienced increasingly poor service, overworked and hostile agents and cabin attendants, increasingly useless frequent-flier programs, constantly lost luggage, etc.

Maybe these suits aren't the ideal examples behind which to rally for customer respect, but I have to say, "go get 'em!"

At one time I had almost 200,000 miles flown on Delta. Although I had a lot of uneventful flights in the beginning, as time went on the number of issues kept rising. It finally got to the point where everytime I flew Delta, they screwed me over somehow. So, when the last time happened I asked them to cancel my skymiles account because I would fly anyone else before them. THey don't even make that easy. You have to send a certified letter to some office in Georgia to get it cancelled. Well, I still did it. Their attitude is what has bothered me the most. They used to be very sorry for anything that went wrong. Now, it's more , "too bad for you buddy. Who's next?" Well, I won't have to deal with that anymore at least not from Delta.

Delta does the wrong thing, so I'm going to be excessively greedy and show them. No wonder the world hates lawyers.

The airlines have opted to use 9/11 as a license to treat customers as if they were lucky to use their services. Customer service is all but gone and the consumer is the one who suffers. Waitresses in the sky act as if they have the same power as the police without any of the training, they exploit the fear instilled by the Bush regime to manipulate the public. One cannot even look at one of those unskilled laborers (flight attendants) with a cross expression without getting kicked off the flight. The airlines have to regain a hold on the notion that they are subject to the whim of the customer, not the reverse!

Delta is the same airline that kicked a mother off a flight because her discrete nursing of her child offended a flight attendant, and kicked a man off a flight because he "failed" to stow his iPod in an overhead compartment for take-off. I think Delta has been getting a bit drunk on "Kick-off-poo" joy juice! Maybe they need to be taken down a notch or two.

I recently flew delta round-trip from the west to east coast with a stop in JFK airport. Total fiasco at JFK on both legs. flights late, long waits in too hot planes on the Tarmac, repair delays, scheduling delays, over-booked flights, loading planes away from the gates via un-airconditioned buses in 90+ degree weather. Total disregtard for passengers. Sue the pants off em !

The airlines have afflicted their customers with senseless bureaucracy for too long. For bargain fares the public will put up with their contempt, but at the prices they’re charging it’s not worth the hassle and insult. Domestically, I can take a car or train in far less time, less frustration, and for much less cost. Trans oceanic, I can take the international carriers that still value their customers. The domestic carriers have put themselves at deaths door by ignoring the number one rule of business – appreciate the customer! F--- them!

These days no consumer lawsuit not accompanied by a plea for rediculous sums of money as "compensation" gets looked at. I think the main point here is what we see more and more these days. Companies who take your money, and then once thay have it toss customer service out the window. When airlines do it people often find themselves stuck in strange places and experience considerable difficulty getting back home. Last minute bookings are more expensive, not less so.

I got a ticket for my son using my frequent flyer miles with American Airlines. Of course what used to be fee is no longer so. Now they charge $99.00 to get you your ticket. Well American Airlines canceled flights to our destination. They will no longer service that route. Guess what? They have told me that they are still keeping $15.00 ticketing fee. When I complained that I did not cancel, they stopped the service and now they say they have a license to steal my money. I am not stopping here and I have let them know it. It is the most outrageous thing I have ever heard of. Rip off artists? I would say so.

Since he paid for tickets and delta is almost refusing to serve him, delta should re-imburse him for the tickets and some money for the inconvenience factor. But seriously, $5 million is way over the top. Delta is going through some pretty hard times right now (the same can be said for almost any airliner) and it is these outrageous lawsuits that put these companies down the drain. If I were a judge, I would award him with $100,000 at the very most.

FOR THESE REASONS ARE WHY BUYING TRAVEL INSURANCE IS SOOOOOO IMPORTANT! I work for a large travel insurance agency and I recieve calls in everyday for either medical problems or issues concerning Trip delays or trip interruptions. With fuel prices raising, prices of tickets raising, strikes, bankrupt airline it is almost foolish now not to protect your trip investments.

I think it starts with society. People lack manners these days and they take it out on service industry workers. Clean up your attitudes and have a little respect when you call the reservation offices, perhaps, you will get further. I have been flying for years. Who's fault is it when you take a 30 minute connection. Use your brains. Realize that crap happens and you should be prepared for it. I bring a carry on. I've never had an issue. Sue the airlines and guess what? There will be no one else to fly.

I fly fairly frequently, and find that any delays are almost always due to weather or other circumstances beyond the airlines control. Do we really want the airlines to fly in unsafe weather conditions? No. As for this moronic lawyer, if he had any knowledge whatsoever of the French, he would understand that striking is a national sport there, and that the French government simply won't stand up to unions at all. This was not a problem the airline could have solved. Geez, 5 days in Paris at the airlines expense, what a sacrifice! How horrible to have to spend that much time visiting museums, cafes, and shopping in one of the world's most beautiful cities. Poor little lost lawyer.

I just took a Delta flight for the first time and I never will take one again. First an eleven hour flight then a five hour wait in the airport then we got in the plane and sat in it for more than four hours on the runway. we even had to shut off the plane to make sure to have enough fuel to come back home. Then after we finally took off I had another four hours untill we arrived! I'm a young adult and I was afraid I'd never see my mother again! To leave a mother waiting for that long to pick up her young daughter is not to be tollerated.

My son was flying home for the Christmas this year while on leave from the Air Force. His flight was late leaving New Orleans and he knew he would miss his connection in Chicago. The American agent in New Orleans told him they would fix it in Chicago. When he got to Chicago he was told all flights were sold out and it would be 2 days before they could get him on a flight, but there was a snowstorm due that day so chances were he would not get home then. We live in Pittsburgh and the closest they could get him to home was WASHINGTON, DC. (a 10 hour roundtrip drive) We had no choice if we wanted him home so we did the drive. When I contacted American for some type of reimbursement they told me it was a VOLUNTARY change and they would not even give him a meal voucher for the hours he spent in the airport. Then they lost his luggage for 2 days. The worst part of this is I am a Travel Agent for the past 25 years and I see these things happen with my clients constantly. There is no such thing as customer service with the airlines. Have you called one lately. More than likely your call will be rerouted overseas to someone who does not speak english and probably has never been on an airplane in their life.

Also a comment on Ellymae's suggestion to buy insurance. As a Travel Agent I also sell the insurance but many plans are a waste. Some do not cover cancellations because of mechanical reasons or if the flight crew is cancelled because they are past their allowable hours. Others do not cover weather delays/cancellations (otherwise known in the industry of "acts of God"). Many times you have to be a lawyer to find this stuff in the fine print of a policy. If you are buying insurance ask about those types of coverage first before you waste your money.

Next time you look at a blog like this think of the 100,000's of passangers who have NO complaint. The only Good Lawyer is ??????????

Delta stranded me 6 years ago and then treated my measured calm complaints as though I was a mad man! Businesses go under because they don't appreciate their customers. Delta's days are numbered for the very same reason. Unfortunately when they are wiped off of the map, I will smile knowingly!

Delta ruined my vacation this summer. I missed flights to my destination and lost a large amount of money which they refuse to refund. I blame there security who were discourtious and had no feeling whether you got you plane on time or not. If they are sued I am in agreement and I hope not to fly with them again.

I've flown all over the country and my first Delta flight was two weeks ago. We had to make an emergency landing in South Carolina because we didn't have enough fuel to make it from Norfolk, VA to Atlanta, GA. True story. As a result of this (and other delays), this 90-minute flight took almost four hours. On the trip back home, we flew a very aged MD-80 with a patch on the wing. I'm very, very disappointed in our domestic carriers and am gladdened to hear someone is finally taking action to make them accountable.

I am a frequent-flyer on American with over 2 million miles over 10 years. I have flown on numerous others in this time also, both domestically and internationally. People, you have to relax, stuff happens, weather happens, flights cancel. The airlines do a great job 99% of the time. Yes, things slip through the cracks, but they do with everything. If you don't like the way the airlines treat you, drive or take a train. Nobody will miss you or your complaining.

I work for a major airline in customer service/reservations... the one named BEST IN CUSTOMER SERVICE by JD Power and Associates for many years.
I won't comment on the majority of the posted comments simply because unless you know the ins and outs of the industry and primarily, the affects that the FAA and Air Traffic Control has over operations, I would be wasting my time.
I would like to state one observation though... The reason that America has become such a litigious society? Lawyers and their overall (to the few out there that genuinely care about justice, please forgive the next statement) "Holier Than Thou" attitude. Of all the customers I have dealt with over the years during all types of situations, the most contentious, disrespectful, noncomprehending, rude, demanding,pompous (I could continue with the adjectives but my point is made), customers I deal with are those who make it clear that they are lawyers --and I had a judge once-- and deserve "special treatment" or they will sue and "Have my job." When I (and my supervisors) make it clear that the same rules, guidelines and procedures apply to ALL of our passengers and not just those who don't threaten us, they take the next route as they see it and sue the company. I am quite sure this is exactly what happened to Delta.

The sad fact is that everybody
has a horror story (and more than
just 1) for all the airlines.
It's a pity, once flying was
wonderful, now it's a TRIAL.

I live in Atlanta, which means that I fly Delta frequently. Virtually every time, the flight is late, canceled, or moved to a different gate in another concourse. There will be no announcement and when we all realize the situation and run to the new gate or service counter, there is no attempt to make things run smoothly. Whoever fights to the front first may get a seat; everyone else is just out of luck. There must be an element of intent; it would be impossible to be this lacking in coordination and concern by accident. If that lawyer wants to make a name for himself, he should solicit Atlantans who have also been stuck by Delta with no reimbursement and no recourse. It would be the biggest class action in history.

These are examples of the reasons I haven't flown in years. I'm old enough to recall gracious handling..the feeling of being a welcome airline guest, not merely one more grimy dollar bill. Isn't it time the government cease funding airlines and toss big bucks into updating our railroads. The ones I've ridden in Europe make both ours and our current air fleets look like recycled trash. Surely we can do better...let's start by making ALL government officials use the same equipment we're relegated to. Im sure it wouldn't be long before money was suddenly found to upgrade our public gtransporation systems.