DL web woes in National media
Oct 28, 2008, 7:17 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ATL
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 998
DL web woes in National media
Nice job Chris Elliott to expose Delta's problems
"Allen, who works for an electronics company in Lowell, Massachusetts, was trying to book a ticket from Manchester, New Hampshire, to Little Rock, Arkansas, on Delta Air Lines' site. He found a great deal -- $251 round trip -- and then clicked the "buy" button.
Complaints about these bait-and-switch fares are becoming increasingly common, but Delta's site gets more than its fair share, according to Phoenix-based aviation consultant Roy Rosales. "Delta's site seems like the worst," he says. "After entering all information and credit card numbers, sometimes you'll get the, 'Oh, it just sold out!' message. Seems to be a limitation with its reservation system."
(I asked Delta about its reservations system. Although it acknowledged my e-mail, it did not answer my question.)"
"Allen, who works for an electronics company in Lowell, Massachusetts, was trying to book a ticket from Manchester, New Hampshire, to Little Rock, Arkansas, on Delta Air Lines' site. He found a great deal -- $251 round trip -- and then clicked the "buy" button.
Complaints about these bait-and-switch fares are becoming increasingly common, but Delta's site gets more than its fair share, according to Phoenix-based aviation consultant Roy Rosales. "Delta's site seems like the worst," he says. "After entering all information and credit card numbers, sometimes you'll get the, 'Oh, it just sold out!' message. Seems to be a limitation with its reservation system."
(I asked Delta about its reservations system. Although it acknowledged my e-mail, it did not answer my question.)"
Oct 28, 2008, 9:00 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: FLL
Programs: UA 1K, B6 Mosaic
Posts: 824
This has happened to me to, on several international flights. Between the 1 minute it took me to find the flights and try to purchase them (all details were save under my account), the fare bucket had disappeared!
A call to SMS, which somehow went to India resulted in telling me "Sorry, no more inventory in that fare bucket". As a long-time AA Executive Plat (Delta Plat), a call to AA would usually get them to honor the fare. No so, with Delta.
Delta should at least pull the fare category during the time you are trying to purchase the ticket. Put a timer on it (a la Ticketmaster). If you do not consumate the purchase in say, 3 minutes, release back for all to access.
A call to SMS, which somehow went to India resulted in telling me "Sorry, no more inventory in that fare bucket". As a long-time AA Executive Plat (Delta Plat), a call to AA would usually get them to honor the fare. No so, with Delta.
Delta should at least pull the fare category during the time you are trying to purchase the ticket. Put a timer on it (a la Ticketmaster). If you do not consumate the purchase in say, 3 minutes, release back for all to access.
Oct 28, 2008, 9:40 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,630
This has happened to me to, on several international flights. Between the 1 minute it took me to find the flights and try to purchase them (all details were save under my account), the fare bucket had disappeared!
A call to SMS, which somehow went to India resulted in telling me "Sorry, no more inventory in that fare bucket". As a long-time AA Executive Plat (Delta Plat), a call to AA would usually get them to honor the fare. No so, with Delta.
Delta should at least pull the fare category during the time you are trying to purchase the ticket. Put a timer on it (a la Ticketmaster). If you do not consumate the purchase in say, 3 minutes, release back for all to access.
A call to SMS, which somehow went to India resulted in telling me "Sorry, no more inventory in that fare bucket". As a long-time AA Executive Plat (Delta Plat), a call to AA would usually get them to honor the fare. No so, with Delta.
Delta should at least pull the fare category during the time you are trying to purchase the ticket. Put a timer on it (a la Ticketmaster). If you do not consumate the purchase in say, 3 minutes, release back for all to access.
Oct 28, 2008, 11:07 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: DL MM, Marriott LT Titanium, AA EXP, Avis Chairmans
Posts: 1,399
Oct 29, 2008, 5:41 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: Now just a lowly DL PM/1MM. This industry needs some competition. It's just not enjoyable anymore.
Posts: 3,543
I have had this problem as well, except when I check back a couple hours later it still says the lower fare is available. I try to buy it and it gives me the "just sold out" message again. 