I am headed to Windhoek Thursday. Schedule looks like this:
DAL to ATL--Delta
ATL-JNB--Delta 200

Here's the rub. In light of Delta's computer shutdown Mondy, there have been numerous cancellations and delays at Delta. I am concerned about the DAL to ATL leg,as they cancelled that flight on today's schedule for some reason. Obviously if I miss that one, no connection for ATL to JNB is possible.

Question: If I have to take a Southwest flight from Dal to ATL to make the connection, instead of the Delta flight from DAL to ATL, will my reservation for flight 200 ATL-JNB still be valid, even though I'm not on the DAL-ATL leg?

Just trying to consider options at this point.

You need to call them. Generally speaking if you miss the first leg of a ticket then the rest is void. They are likely to issue you a credit for the first leg if you want to fly another airline. Never hurts to ask but they should be back to normal by Thursday. They cancelled less than 25% of the flights today compared to yesterday. And from what I saw they still flew 75-80% of flights yesterday. Doesn't help if you were one of the ones affected.

Having said all that I go back to sentence 1. Call them. I still get surprised by what you can and can't do when using an airline. I'd never fly another airline without asking and risk getting to Atlanta and have no ticket to Africa.

Best of luck and enjoy Namibia.

Don

According to the latest today, Delta canceled a few flights but is getting caught up. The ATL to JNB flight still has seats today, tomorrow and Thursday so you should be OK on the international portion you just need to get to ATL...

Yeah, call Delta.

Anything else here or elsewhere is just speculation that may leave you stranded, broke.....or both.

Why would your Joburg flt have anything thing to do with DAL to ATL? As long as you get a boarding pass!!?

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
Why would your Joburg flt have anything thing to do with DAL to ATL? As long as you get a boarding pass!!?

Because of what DonW28 said:
"You need to call them. Generally speaking if you miss the first leg of a ticket then the rest is void."

Which is why I asked the question in the first place.

I am headed to Australia Thursday, so I called Steve, Travel With Guns, who I made the arrangements through. They are watching the situation closely and should make a decision tomorrow. I plan on calling Delta tomorrow morning as well.

From looking at Delta's website all their flights from DAL (Dallas Love Field) are scheduled to fly today and Thursday. Delta's flights from DFW (Dallas Fort Worth) to Atlanta has one cancellation today but all scheduled to fly tomorrow.

I would expect that you will have no problems. When there is mass disruption of an airlines schedule it normally takes a couple of days for them to get back to normal due to rebooking of stranded passengers and aircraft repositioning.

One option would be to book a fully refundable business select ticket on Southwest so if your Delta flight to Atlanta is cancelled you have a plan B in place. If the Delta flight is cancelled you can always fly Southwest to Atlanta, if the Delta flight goes as scheduled just call Southwest before the flight and cancel the ticket for a full refund.

American also has a number of flights from DFW to ATL and you could use the same strategy depending on which Dallas airport you're flying from.

As mentioned previously make sure Delta knows you will take another flight to connect to the JNB flight or they will probably cancel your reservation if you don't take the first flight.

Also, leave plenty of time to pick up your guns and baggage and recheck them in Atlanta as either Southwest or American will not check them through to JNB for you and Delta will not help if you miss your flight due to a delayed flight on another airline.

All that being said I expect that you'll have no problems with the original Delta flights on Thursday.

I'd check the flights today and see if they are flying as scheduled and it is probably worth calling Delta no matter what to make sure that they haven't rebooked you.

Finally, I'd be inclined to check in online as soon as possible (later today) rather than waiting to get to the airport.

Good hunting!

Thank you guys very much. Keeping my fingers crossed......

I flew on Delta every week for about 12 years for work. In the normal course of operations I can assure you if you did not take the first flight of a multi-flight itinerary Delta would for sure cancel your seat on the second flight.

Delta still reporting flight delays today (Wednesday).

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PSmith:
I flew on Delta every week for about 12 years for work. In the normal course of operations I can assure you if you did not take the first flight of a multi-flight itinerary Delta would for sure cancel your seat on the second flight.[/

QUOTE]

Been there and done that. This guy is correct.

Looks like the Delta 2055 Dal-ATL went off on time today, and Delta 200 ATL-JNB has been fine the past couple of days, and is showing on time today. Maybe the worst is behind now.

Best of luck to you on the flights!

Hope you made it out. My flights for tomorrow are still showing on time. I have my fingers crossed