Bumpertunites, weather and your Delta options (and what NOT to do)

Bumpertunites, weather and your Delta options (and what NOT to do) – Part 1
Airport Express SFO stood me up (a service to avoid) & UBER saves the day – Part 2
Delta Air Lines DeltaONE 757 seats and service SFO to NYC (and back) review – Part 3
The Radisson Blu Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco review – Part 4
Delta Same day change, regional upgrade certificates and open space – Part 5
Are Delta Mileage Runs still worth it anymore? (a hard look at the numbers) – Part 6

The above is the jet I did not want to get on. Not that there was anything wrong with it other than the fact that some of the initial enthusiasm I had for the 1 of soon 100 new 737-900s Delta will fly has lost some of it’s luster to me. No there was another good reason for not wanting to fly. A shot at a good bumpertunity.

However, things did not work out as planned due to weather. Now they did NOT work out as bad as they did for my fellow blogger MJ on Travel nor would they EVER work out that way but more on that in a little bit.

When it comes to weather you can be really stuck when it comes to Delta Air Lines. There was, get this, a “paid” first class passenger trying to get on our flight who had miss-connected on the earlier flight but was now just stand by for anything she could get. But our flight was VERY oversold and Delta was not about to bump anyone from 1st class for a stand by passenger from another flight when they were already oversold with confirmed passengers on this flight. It is good to know the rules when it comes to weather.

But back to my situation. They were really oversold and begging for folks to give up their seats. I love it when this happens as the price tends to go up up up and everyone who offers and is used gets the highest amount Delta offers to anyone in the group. Make sure you stick to that and press them if they try to say no. You can confirm before they close the aircraft door and if they say no just let them know you will board then (and they will change their tune).

Folks were literally RUNNING to make the door and Delta kept calling over and over last call as they put volunteers on the plane one by one. I made it clear to the gate agent that if I was not going to be needed I wanted to keep my 1st class seat, not just the cabin, but the seat I had if I was not going to be used. I always make this clear up front and if for some reason they say they are not going to need me and try to do what they did to MJ I let them know that is not OK and they can either bump and pay me or give me my seat back. If it is gone, they have bumped me and pay me the money! It is NOT OK to try to help a gate agent and suffer for your kindness. Make this clear to them. For me, my consolation prize was a nice ride out to SFO and braised beef short ribs in business class. Again, Delta food in business really is very good (as you can see above)!

Speaking of food you may have noticed a new cheese puff snack in the snack baskets. They are quite good but I still miss the salted caramel candies. One reader told me they will be back next winter. I sure hope so as they are the best!

Lastly, I really have such a love / hate relationship with Delta bumps. Officially you can not combine vouchers anymore and depending on how you spend a larger voucher you may end up with a tiny one left over that may be more or less worthless unless you often buy Delta tickets. I love vouchers for really cheap mileage runs and can use other points like FlexPerks to position if needed so I find a way to burn all of mine, but it’s still a worthwhile warning.

Next up is my experience with Airport Express shuttle service from SFO to my hotel. I had never used them and they are a prepaid service. Normally I just rely on UBER but wanted, due to my early next day departure, to have a confirmed pickup time. Things did not go well from the start! – René
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