I truely hate Delta Airlines.  I had signed up for Delta Skymiles a long time ago, thinking that I was actually getting a deal by being a member of this “elite group,” boy was I wrong.  The only thing I got for being an “elite member” was bent over.

I purchased a Ticket to go one way to Seattle to visit my grandfather one last time (there are those who think he is getting ready for the next transition).  I use my Skymiles account to book the reservation.  I don’t have enough skymiles on my account to get a discount of any kind-you either have to have enough miles to cover the entire ticket cost or you can’t use your skymiles.  However, it is noted that by purchasing my ticket through my skymiles account online I will get the skymiles associated with flying to Seattle and back credited to my account.  “OK” I think “at least I’ll be able to fly out to Seattle, do what I need to do, and still get skymiles for the trip too.”

I fly out to Seattle, spend a week out there.  Have a great time with my Grandfather.  I brought my laptop computer, and I check my skymiles account.  It hasn’t changed since I left Virginia, “what gives?” I think.  “Maybe they aren’t going to credit the skymiles to my account until I get back home?  I better email customer service and ask to make sure.”  So  log into my account, email customer service.  The title of my email is “When do the skymiles for this flight get credited to my account?”  

I get a response back via email.  “Dear Mr. Stanford, due to a security issue with the name on the ticket, we cannot credit the skymiles to your skymiles account.  We need you to provide documentation that you purchased the ticket to Seattle Washington.  I print out the emailed Itinerary I got from Delta when I confirmed my reservation with a Credit card.  I look it over.  “Yeah, thats my name on the ticket.  Wonder what the security issue is?”  I email Delta Skymiles Customer Service Back.  “Attached to this email is a copy of the Itinerary that was emailed to me upon confirming my reservation with a credit card.  Complete with a barcode to scan at the Delta Kiosk at the airport.  Can you please have my skymiles credited to my account now, please?”

I recieve a response back, “due to a security issue with the name on the ticket, we decline to credit your skymiles account with the skymiles associated with this flight.”  Please mail in your Itinerary so that we can review all documents and make a determination as to what can be done.”  OK, so I go and buy postage, send them the printed copy of my emailed Itinerary, our emails where I’ve been going back and forth with them are also printed and enclosed.  “This should do it, I don’t see any reason for them not to credit me with my skymiles now.”

A week later I receive a letter, “after reviewing all documents with regards to the skymiles associated with the flight to Seattle Washington, Delta Airlines declines your request to credit skymiles to your account for this flight.  The name on the ticket does not match the name on the skymiles account.”  I check the name on the skymiles account, which includes my first name, middle initial, and last name.  I check the name on the ticket, which includes my first name and my last name only.  “Wait a second, I booked this reservation through my skymiles account, why would the names be different?”  I call customer service to ask.  After being on hold for about 45 minutes, someone finally picks up the phone and I explain the situation.  “Hold on just a second sir, let me get a manager…”  I’m put back on hold for about 5 minutes.  “…Click, dial tone.”  “They did not just hang up on me.”  I call right back.  “Oh yes, Mr. Stanford, hold on just a second, let me get the manager…”  “…click, dial tone.”  “They did it again.  What gives”  I call back a third time.  “Mr. Stanford, yes, let me get the manager…Hello, Mr. Stanford?  Yes, this is Maurice.  I understand that you need some help with your skymiles account.” “Yes, I want to get my skymiles account credited for the skymiles for this flight.” “Well Mr. Stanford, I see on here there are notes about a security issue with the name on the ticket versus the name on the skymiles account.”  “Yeah, the name on my skymiles account includes my middle initial, while the ticket only has my first and last name.”

“I don’t quite understand this because I booked the reservation through the skymiles website, while I was logged into my account, it took my credit card and obviously transposed my name onto the ticket as I didn’t type it in, just put in the Credit Card number.  I’ve also provided documentation of this when I mailed in my emailed Itinerary.”  “Yes, Mr. Stanford we’ve received your documentation, and we cannot credit your skymiles account for security reasons.  That is the determination that we have made.”  “Why not, I don’t like this, I don’t think I want to fly Delta any more anyway, but money is money and skymiles are money.”  “I’m sorry Mr. Stanford, there is nothing I can do.”  “Well, can’t I appeal this decision or something?  I mean this is totally unfair.”  “You can write to our corporate headquarters and they will review our decision, but they will only contact you if they make a change in the determination.”  I have written my letter, and to date have heard nothing back from Delta at all.  I just want to say, to everyone out there DON’T USE DELTA UNLESS YOU WANT TO GET RIPPED OFF.  THEY WILL TAKE YOUR MONEY AND BEND YOU OVER.