Delta Precancels Flights

[robbedagain]

Hard to imagine you could not get where you were going on half m/t a/c's....

[post="308944"][/post]​

Well I had absolutely no problems because I flew on the express carriers of both and never had a problem.

 

[jimntx]

Does anyone know for sure if it is illegal for an airline to cancel due to low loads? I tried "googling" the FARs on the dot.gov/faa website. Nothing came up. I could find all kinds of regulations about what the airline has to do IF they cancel a flight, but nothing on what constitutes a valid reason for cancellation.

 

[FWAAA]

Does anyone know for sure if it is illegal for an airline to cancel due to low loads? I tried "googling" the FARs on the dot.gov/faa website. Nothing came up. I could find all kinds of regulations about what the airline has to do IF they cancel a flight, but nothing on what constitutes a valid reason for cancellation.

[post="309034"][/post]​

As much as some indignant passengers might insist otherwise, as far as I know there are no federal rules restricting or prohibiting airlines from cancelling flights, even due to low loads.

DL is gonna be castigated by the frequent flying "experts" in the press (Chris Elliott, et al) for this move, but in reality, all airlines have been doing this for many years on routes with very frequent service where the airplane/crew don't absolutely have to fly to the next city - like ORD-LGA-ORD. Some cancellations are due to true mechanicals, some are due to crew issues, some are due to weather, and amazingly enough, some are due to low loads.

I've been on lots of airplanes with 5, 10, 15 or so pax, so I know that airlines don't always cancel lightly loaded flights, but it happens. The odd part about this story is that DL is admitting that it plans to do it. B)

 

[luv2fly]

They are doing it to conserve fuel as well. Nothing illegal or inappropiate about that in light of current fuel costs and reduced supply. I would get used to it until airlines figure out a way to increase ticket prices.
Didn't AA announce flight cancellations out of ORD as well?

 

[Ch. 12]

First off...this is a sort-of flame bait b/c SkyFly obviously doesn't work for DL so would have no idea what the actual loads are. Her original post was just a plug for FL b/c she has definitely not come back to this thread since then. Secondly...flyhigh is right...there are plenty of other DL flights that could have been offered so skyflyr is full of BS. From NY you could have had a N/S to many destinations.

skyfly- I sure am glad that FL doesn't ever have a mechanical and NEVER cancels a flight! You sure are right...I'm never going on an airline that sometimes XLs a flight due to a mechanical!

 

[jimntx]

Didn't AA announce flight cancellations out of ORD as well?

[post="309115"][/post]​

Out of ORD and DFW. However, we announced well in advance and it is the same flights every day that have been cancelled--i.e., just taken completely off the schedule. DL is saying that they will let you know "at least 2 days in advance" if your flight is cancelling. Business people who take those early morning flights do so in order to be back home that same night. If you leave your origination city at 1000 instead of 0630, it throws off your schedule for the day completely.

 

[skyguy25]

D-E-L-T-A Doesn't ever leave the airport!!!!!! What a JOKE...BYE BYE DELTA!

 

[luv2fly]

Out of ORD and DFW. However, we announced well in advance and it is the same flights every day that have been cancelled--i.e., just taken completely off the schedule. DL is saying that they will let you know "at least 2 days in advance" if your flight is cancelling. Business people who take those early morning flights do so in order to be back home that same night. If you leave your origination city at 1000 instead of 0630, it throws off your schedule for the day completely.

[post="309123"][/post]​

Two days notice seems like it should be enough to rearrange a schedule. I would be curious to know what percentage of AA's pre-cancelled flights could be characterized as "early morning flights."

 

[coolflyingfool]

AA is cancelling a total of 15 roundtrips everyday, so 30 flights total. DL is saying they will cancel "a few dozen". What is a few? My definition of a few might not be yours. I think "a few" can count up to 8, so in my book that is 96 flights. DL doesn't say there will be a cap on the number of flights either. A little scary if you book on Delta right now. Just my thoughts.....................

 

[B.O.B.]

AA is cancelling a total of 15 roundtrips everyday, so 30 flights total. DL is saying they will cancel "a few dozen". What is a few? My definition of a few might not be yours. I think "a few" can count up to 8, so in my book that is 96 flights. DL doesn't say there will be a cap on the number of flights either. A little scary if you book on Delta right now. Just my thoughts.....................

[post="309179"][/post]​

AA's are only temporary. Delta's are permanent.

 

[luv2fly]

AA's are only temporary. Delta's are permanent.

[post="309186"][/post]​

When are AA's flights going to be reinstated?

 

[Ch. 12]

AA's are only temporary. Delta's are permanent.

[post="309186"][/post]​

AA also "temporarily" got rid of the RNO hub after Reno aquisition, "temporarily" left DAL after putting Legend out of business, and "temporarily" scaled back STL after TW aquisition. I won't be surprised if many of their cuts are not so "temporary". And DL's may be permanent in some markets (badly timed flights) but don't forget that they are adding cap in many markets (i.e. international).

 

[jimntx]

AA also "temporarily" got rid of the RNO hub after Reno aquisition, "temporarily" left DAL after putting Legend out of business, and "temporarily" scaled back STL after TW aquisition. I won't be surprised if many of their cuts are not so "temporary". And DL's may be permanent in some markets (badly timed flights) but don't forget that they are adding cap in many markets (i.e. international).

[post="309198"][/post]​

Oh for chrissakes! It's one thing to say "Flights A, B, C, and D will not operate between 02OCT and 29OCT--and yes, those cancellations might become permanent, so what? People can plan ahead for that kind of schedule change.

It's another thing entirely to call your frequent flyer at home on Saturday (remember DL is promising 2 days notice) and saying, "We're so sorry. You're 6am flight to LGA on Monday has been cancelled due to a light load. We have reaccommodated you on our 7am flight. Please try to contact the President of your client company today and reschedule your 10am meeting in Manhattan on Monday to a later time."

 

[jimntx]

Two days notice seems like it should be enough to rearrange a schedule. I would be curious to know what percentage of AA's pre-cancelled flights could be characterized as "early morning flights."

[post="309145"][/post]​

If you know well in advance that the flight is not going to operate, what difference does it make whether or not it is an early morning flight? But, to paraphrase Pres. Clinton, "Define early."

As of today, there are 19 DFW-ORD flights per day--first at 0600, last at 2100. There are 19 ORD-DFW flights per day--first at 0630, last at 2130.

I don't know which flights were cancelled, but the announcement wasn't clear. Those are the two origination stations, but not necessarily the only destination stations.

For instance, one of the cancelled flights is an ORD-YYZ flight--which leaves only 1 morning departure for YYZ and 4 afternoon/evening departures. Two of the DFW cancellations are on DFW-MCI route which leaves "only" 11 daily departures that route.

 

[Ch. 12]

Oh for chrissakes! It's one thing to say "Flights A, B, C, and D will not operate between 02OCT and 29OCT--and yes, those cancellations might become permanent, so what? People can plan ahead for that kind of schedule change.

It's another thing entirely to call your frequent flyer at home on Saturday (remember DL is promising 2 days notice) and saying, "We're so sorry. You're 6am flight to LGA on Monday has been cancelled due to a light load. We have reaccommodated you on our 7am flight. Please try to contact the President of your client company today and reschedule your 10am meeting in Manhattan on Monday to a later time."

[post="309214"][/post]​

Funny thing is that it was a Mx issue...not a "light load". Just b/c skyflyr said it was a light load, don't believe everything. So I bet NOBODY got a call b/c you don't predict MX issues. Sorry...that just doesn't fly. And don't think that flights don't get xl'd w/o notice at all airlines. It's really a pretty basic issue that affects all carriers, don't you think? BUT...isn't it so much more exciting if we can spin it into something like what you and skyflyr have?