delta going on strike

[rjmc48]

We are going to Maui in Nov.2006
We booked with Delta.
How would this effect us if we have no flight?
Would Delta put us on another airline?

[KevJan]

We have flights into Boston on May 26 using ff miles and wonder how that would affect us, anyone know?

[Dave M]

Historically, most airlines have generally not been willing to put passengers on other airlines during a strike. There are no laws requiring other airlines to accommodate you - unless you pay for a ticket on one of those other airlines.

Although almost anything is possible, I believe this would be the most likely scenario:

If your flight is canceled by a strike, Delta would allow you your choice of

• a full credit (with no administrative charge) for the cost of your ticket against future travel,
• rebooking your flights for other future dates with no additional cost, even though the fare for those dates might be higher or
• a full refund for your ticket.

If your ticket was obtained with FF miles, the same options are likely to be available, including giving you your FF miles back with no cancellation charge.

In most cases, you will have at least 30 days notice before a strike starts because of the Federally mandated cooling off period. If such a strike appears imminent, it's still more likely than not (based on recent history) that the issues will be resolved and there will be no strike. However, there are steps you should take now or, at the latest, at the start of that 30-day period:

• 1. Take a look at all of your alternatives, including canceling your trip, making reservations on other airlines, taking a train, etc.
• 2. Decide whether you are willing to risk starting your trip in the face of an imminent strike. Such a threat is still quite a ways off at this point.
• 3. Consider buying travel insurance for your trip. If you decide to buy, be sure to read carefully the terms of the policy so that you don't get the insurance and then find out that you had no coverage because the strike was imminent. For some help with travel insurance, see this TUG link.
• 4. One "guaranteed" form of insurance is to buy a second set of tickets on another airline. If you do so, you can then use whichever set makes more sense at the time of your trip.
  
  If DL is on strike, for example, you fly on the other airline and get a refund of your DL tickets. If DL doesn't go on strike, use the tickets for the airline you would be least likely to fly in the next 12 months. You can exchange the other tickets for tickets for a future trip, generally within one year of the date you purchased the original tickets, although you'll likely pay an administrative fee of about $100 per ticket (more if you are flying internationally), plus or minus any difference in fares, to make the new reservations.
  
  Also, check with the airline before purchasing tickets to be sure that your nonrefundable tickets can be used for a future trip if you decide to cancel.
  
  Lastly, be sure to cancel with the airline your reservations for the set of tickets you won't be using for your trip. Some airlines have a policy that tickets become worthless if you fail to show up and fail to cancel your reservations.

Keep in mind that a strike is not likely. None of the five or six or more unions who threatened strikes against NW, US or UA while those airlines were/are in bankruptcy ultimately went on strike. There are too many bad things that can happen to both the DL's pilots' union and the airline considering the financial instability of DL's future. A strike could end DL's existence. However, planning for the possibility of a strike, as both of you have started to do with your questions, is the best insurance against disappointment.

[JBRES1]

If delta goes on strike , I wouldn't worry about your flight in November.
They will go on strike much before November, could be as soon as mid April.
If they go on strike for more than 48 hours the creditors have the option of calling in the $2 bil. in loans, and the airline will be done.
I am hopeful that all this strike talk is just that and the two sides can come to an comprimise and keep working.
I'm no expert on this topic, but if they do strike and Delta goes out of business do these pilots think that they will get new jobs soon ? The airlines are cutting back, not adding on , so where will all of these pilots land.
Jim breslin

[Dave M]

Originally Posted by JBRES1

I'm no expert on this topic, but if they do strike and Delta goes out of business do these pilots think that they will get new jobs soon ? The airlines are cutting back, not adding on , so where will all of these pilots land.

That's true. The pilots would have no jobs, which they don't want. But DL would be gone, which DL doesn't want. Neither wants that result.

Thus, it's the typical who-will-blink-first scenario with no clear answer. There are two sides to this skirmish and each side needs the other. As with most potential strikes, suggesting that one side or the other simply wake up and recognize the facts isn't the answer.

[bigeyes1]

We have ff tickets booked through Delta's partner in July. Will Alaska Airlines honor these ff tickets should Delta go on strike? Should we worry?

Thanks in advance.

[Carl D]

Actually, Jet Blue, Southwest, and Continental are all in pilot hiring mode. United and US Airways are calling back furloughed pilots. Not sure what's up with American and Northwest.

[SusanM]

Well now you have me worried. I leave for Cancun 4/23 on DL and was thinking I outbound was getting close to being safe - who cares if I get stuck once there. Now I'm not so sure. Thanks for the updates.

[GinLyn26]

I was over on flyertalk.com and one of the "experts" there said it was unlikely there would actually be a strike. I can't remember why I felt this person was in the know, but something about their email and their other general knowledge was reassuring. I then went to Google and checked out a few articles and the consensus seemed to be that a strike was unlikely for all the above stated reasons. I was worried b/c I have DL flights to Daytona scheduled for early May. I'll continue to keep an eye on this though.

[ejp]

I am hoping that they will not go on strike.. we are using FF miles via Northwest for two flight segment with Delta between Denver-San Diego and then Burbank-Denver in early May. Crossing my figures that they will not go that route. Thanks for all of the above information.

Evelyn