Governmet overseas/Delta and Aeroflot

[NYGirl 0]

Today my friend was supposed to arrive from Moscow for a 10 day visit. She's very very afraid of flying and looses her sleep for weeks ahead of time because she's that nervous of flying and scared.

She's an american citizen but few years ago she moved back to Russia and decided to come now to take care of the few stuff. When we spoke on the phone, I suggested make sure she books her flight with Delta and NOT Aeroflot. She listened to me and did just that. ( the price was the same she said). Today in the morning I checked the website and it told me that the flight took off and she'll arive to NY about half an hour earlier. Few hours later I decided to check delta's site again and it said "CANCELED" so then i went to a different site where you can tract international flights and it told me that the flight is in the air. That got me worried and confused. I called Delta and the automated system told me that that flight was cancelled due to the mechanical problems.

I called her home right away and she picked up crying hysterically. When I asked her to tell me what happened she said that they were in the air for about 1 hour when the pilot said they are re routing and going back to Moscow. They were having some mechanical problems. That being said they landed back in Moscow. Aeroflot was leaving to NY as well and refused to take the Delta's passengers even though their flight was almost empty. They said that they are not responsible for Delta and don't want to make 1 hour delay to their customers by registering all the Delta's customer to the Aeroflot. The way my friend described it, it sounded horrible especially since Aeroflot was almost empty.

Now, even though there are no direct flights from Moscow ti Ny on tuesdays, i think they are making an exceptional flight tomorrow and will be flying tomorrow with the direct flight. Even their flight departure will be different than what it should of been. My friend also said that all the passengers left without their luggages and they were stamped something in their passport that said they never left and due to leave next day.

My friend is pissed off that she lost a day since she needs to take care of few things. So i called Delta pretending to be her and asked what kind of compensations can they offer for all that trouble and I was told that goverment overseas DO NOT COMPENSATE their customers, even if it's an american airline they are flying with.

I just wonder why?????

Also, they were told that if they wouldn't turn back to Moscow, they could of been swimming in the water dead now

My friend also told me that a lot of people in the airport kept complaining how bad Delta is and how everyone usually has problems with them.

I hate delta, but I would take Delta over Aeroflot any time of the day.

I am not surprised by Aeroflot's response and the service they provided....because let's face it, it is RUSSIAN SERVICE and it's horrible. But why wouldn't they want to delay their flight and make some money on it if they had so many available seats?????? Is Aeroflot such a stable company financially that maybe another 20-50K is not that much to them?

[eekee 182]

Why does she have to take a direct flight from Moscow->NY? Usually, in similar situations, Delta would just put you on the next flight that would get you to a connecting flight instead of wasting a day.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Why does she have to take a direct flight from Moscow->NY? Usually, in similar situations, Delta would just put you on the next flight that would get you to a connecting flight instead of wasting a day.

Good point. Also, have her file a complaint in the US when she touches down. I think that telling a person who is already afraid to fly that she might have died on the flight that turned back is cause by itself for compensation.

[Neonred 3,609]

Just a few points. The government never provides compensation, that is up to the airline which is usually limited to a nights lodging and food in a case like this. Aeroflot has a responsibility to their passengers to take off on time and no responsibility to Delta although I'm surprised they didn't try to help out.

I've flown Delta to Moscow and back 10 time without any problems. Guess I'm very lucky.

Oh, tell your friend to get some meds before her next flight....sounds like she needs them!

[NYGirl 0]

Why does she have to take a direct flight from Moscow->NY? Usually, in similar situations, Delta would just put you on the next flight that would get you to a connecting flight instead of wasting a day.

If it happened in USA then I am sure they would put them on the next available flight but since it happened in Russia then there is probably just 1 delta plane that makes only moscow-ny flights. I believe they don't fly out of Moscow on Tuesdays and that's why they made an exceptional flight today to bring the crew back and the passengers to their destination.

[NYGirl 0]

Just a few points. The government never provides compensation, that is up to the airline which is usually limited to a nights lodging and food in a case like this. Aeroflot has a responsibility to their passengers to take off on time and no responsibility to Delta although I'm surprised they didn't try to help out.

I've flown Delta to Moscow and back 10 time without any problems. Guess I'm very lucky.

Oh, tell your friend to get some meds before her next flight....sounds like she needs them!

I think what they tried to tell me on the phone yesterday is that government overseas doesn't allow for airlines to give out any compensations. When i called and told them "my" flight number and that we got turned back she started reading to me something from her computer that said " it's not transferabloe, not refundbale and no compensations are due"

I agree that Aeroflot has a responsibility to their passengers but if something went wrong with Delta's plane, and Aeroflot was flying empty why not help out and make some money on it? I would understand if Delta was just being late and passengers were complaining, but when something mechanically went wrong I don't think that was right how Aeroflot behaved. Just my opinion.

Oh well, i checked the status of her flight today and looks like everything is fine. Just hoping everything will be OK during the whole flight.

[eekee 182]

Flying from Zurich to New York the whole crew got food poisoning. Swissair gave us vouchers and I got them to send me on the next flight to Miami instead after some haggling. International or no, delta is generally obligated to provide SOMETHING, if they want to keep customers, at least.

Again, don't understand why only a direct flight to New York would suffice. Had I been in your friend's position, I would have requested a transfer to a European hub and then a flight to NYC from there. I don't think it's Russia either, as I've had flights cancelled in Russia and the airline just sent me to a different European city to connect.

[payxibka 10,047]

I agree that Aeroflot has a responsibility to their passengers but if something went wrong with Delta's plane, and Aeroflot was flying empty why not help out and make some money on it? I would understand if Delta was just being late and passengers were complaining, but when something mechanically went wrong I don't think that was right how Aeroflot behaved. Just my opinion.

Aeroflot does not have a responsibility, but should have extended the courtesy, if able. Aeroflot would have collected the value of the tickets for any passengers that they flew (collecting the fare from Delta). This is common practice in the airline industry... I also know that most airlines (not just Aeroflot), would not delay there own aircraft to accomodate another carrier's passengers unless you were working for the carrier I did and since we were so cash hungry, we would have done it.

Edited November 11, 2008 by payxibka

[slim 1,530]

Ever heard of Rule 240?

Delta still honors it.

[mox 298]

Rule 240.

[NYGirl 0]

Rule 240.

My friend arrived safely yesterday, thankgod!

She said half of the passenger went with Aeroflot yesterday instead of Delta.

I don't know, i was told by delta representative that no compensations are due to any of the passengers....only if they want to change a flight to a different day ( and i've been told i could only do it the day the incident happened, if i'll call later they will charge the fees and the whole 9 yards )

[mox 298]

Rule 240.

My friend arrived safely yesterday, thankgod!

She said half of the passenger went with Aeroflot yesterday instead of Delta.

I don't know, i was told by delta representative that no compensations are due to any of the passengers....only if they want to change a flight to a different day ( and i've been told i could only do it the day the incident happened, if i'll call later they will charge the fees and the whole 9 yards )

So happy to hear she made it! Unfortunately the airlines are in complete disarray right now. It's not uncommon for them to violate their own policies. They are scrambling to stay in business, cutting costs everywhere they can. The combination of high fuel prices and the global economy crisis has really shaken the airline industry. Bad news if you are a passenger.

Edited November 12, 2008 by mox

[Lyuba 0]

American Airlines now fly directly to the US from Moscow. Delta now has a competitor. Delta's food sucks!

[NYGirl 0]

American Airlines now fly directly to the US from Moscow. Delta now has a competitor. Delta's food sucks!

Oh wow, i didn't know AA flies to Russia. Nice to know!

Oh, i think they are not flying directly from NY to Moscow, there is a layover.

Edited November 12, 2008 by NYGirl

[Lyuba 0]

They fly directly to Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia. I am not sure about New York but it is worth checking on their web site.