Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
10-28-2014 | 08:27 AM
Line Holder
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 2
From: Hates Commuting
Timely post, as I'm considering how best to handle my retirement accounts. Have any of the prior mil types on here broken the code on how best to handle the TSP?
Option 1: leave it alone; low fees, grows tax deferred, limited investment options
Option 2: roll it over; potentially higher fees, still grows tax deferred, expanded investment options, potential issues with tax exempt portion
I'm trying to figure out if the DPSP will accept the rollover and treat the tax exempt portion appropriately. The gal on the phone from Fidelity had no clue. I'm ultimately looking for a way to get the tax exempt portion (~21%) into a Roth account, without paying a ton of taxes on the non-exempt portion--will this method work with the DPSP (synopsis: put it all into a traditional IRA, then roll it into the 401(k) [leaving the tax exempt portion behind], then roll the IRA into a Roth IRA--I'm guessing this article may be dated, since I think the DPSP can handle after-tax rollover money)?
If the tax advantage of the Roth plus the expanded investment options outside the TSP add up to more than the amount of increased fees, it's a no-brainer for Option 2; if I'm going to get taxed on the whole amount, Option 1 is a non-brainer. I suspect the real answer is more complicated than either of those, though....
Opinions? Pitfalls?
Option 1: leave it alone; low fees, grows tax deferred, limited investment options
Option 2: roll it over; potentially higher fees, still grows tax deferred, expanded investment options, potential issues with tax exempt portion
I'm trying to figure out if the DPSP will accept the rollover and treat the tax exempt portion appropriately. The gal on the phone from Fidelity had no clue. I'm ultimately looking for a way to get the tax exempt portion (~21%) into a Roth account, without paying a ton of taxes on the non-exempt portion--will this method work with the DPSP (synopsis: put it all into a traditional IRA, then roll it into the 401(k) [leaving the tax exempt portion behind], then roll the IRA into a Roth IRA--I'm guessing this article may be dated, since I think the DPSP can handle after-tax rollover money)?
If the tax advantage of the Roth plus the expanded investment options outside the TSP add up to more than the amount of increased fees, it's a no-brainer for Option 2; if I'm going to get taxed on the whole amount, Option 1 is a non-brainer. I suspect the real answer is more complicated than either of those, though....
Opinions? Pitfalls?
10-28-2014 | 08:43 AM
meh
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 828
Likes: 0
Don't believe these things can actually ever be refunded, no matter what the fine print leads you to believe. The written rules say these are refundable if the ticket rules say so, when buying the "Fly for Less"-- (NOT the "Fly for Even Less", always non-refundable). HOWEVER...
- you must work through special non-rev agents on the tickets, not normal Delta reservationists
- I bought one of these after 20 minutes on phone with agent looking at the fare rules to be ABSOLUTELY SURE it was refundable. When I later needed to refund it, the special agent refused to even look at the fare rules, told me flat out it was non-refundable within 5 seconds. When I pressed her about it, trying to ask her to actually LOOK at the fare rules, she said she had already told me the answer, and she then threatened me, stating that she would have my non-rev privileges revoked if I continued to argue and disagree with her.
- I ended up losing the $$ for the entire family's vacation, 5 tickets, around $2400, because I had 3 kids sick unable to fly and had to cancel ahead of time.
- After months and months of working through the system with all my paperwork proof of original refundable fare rules (printed right non the receipts!), I finally was able to get a "refund" like 6 months later... MINUS THE $150 change fees each way per ticket, $300 per person X 5-- that's right, the "refund" was shortened by $1500 because I "changed the ticket" by NOT FLYING IT even though I cancelled early so Delta could sell the seats!!
- You WILL NOT be treated as a paying customer. You WILL NOT be treated under the published rules. You WILL NOT be treated fairly. These are not normal agents, these are folks who only work with employees and don't see you as a paying customer with rights.
- I have never been treated so rudely and unfairly by a company as I was by my own company in this situation, as if I had no expectation of them having to follow the published rules because I could be threatened as an employee. It remains my primary data point on how I can expect to be treated as a Delta customer, unfortunately.
- Someone will get on here and say "I bought them and flew them, great deal no problem!"... fine, as non-refundable tickets they're ok. But it's like saying "I played russian roulette and it worked out totally fine, do it!"
DO NOT PURCHASE a "Fly For Less" ticket if you have any possibility whatsoever of actually having to try to refund it. If you treat it as a throwaway non-refundable (so get the fly for Even Less ones) they're ok, but not really much cheaper than what you might find elsewhere.
Last edited by Roadkill; 10-28-2014 at 08:59 AM.
10-28-2014 | 08:58 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 20,876
Likes: 193
I have to disagree here, based on actual experience. The written stuff sounds good, I was even talked into buying some--worst mistake.
Don't believe these things can actually ever be refunded, no matter what the fine print leads you to believe. The written rules say these are refundable if the ticket rules say so, when buying the "Fly for Less"-- (NOT the "Fly for Even Less", always non-refundable). HOWEVER...
- you must work through special non-rev agents on the tickets, not normal Delta reservationists
- I bought one of these after 20 minutes on phone with agent looking at the fare rules to be ABSOLUTELY SURE it was refundable. When I later needed to refund it, the special agent refused to even look at the fare rules, told me flat out it was non-refundable within 5 seconds. When I pressed her about it, trying to ask her to actually LOOK at the fare rules, she said she had already told me the answer, and she then threatened me, stating that she would have my non-rev privileges revoked if I continued to argue and disagree with her.
- I ended up losing the $$ for the entire family's vacation, 5 tickets, around $2400, because I had 3 kids sick unable to fly and had to cancel ahead of time.
- After months and months of working through the system with all my paperwork proof of original refundable fare rules (printed right non the receipts!), I finally was able to get a "refund" like 6 months later... MINUS THE $150 change fees each way per ticket, $300 per person X 5-- that's right, the "refund" was shortened by $1500 because I "changed the ticket" by NOT FLYING IT even though I cancelled early so Delta could sell the seats!!
- You WILL NOT be treated as a paying customer. You WILL NOT be treated under the published rules. You WILL NOT be treated fairly. These are not normal agents, these are folks who only work with employees and don't see you as a paying customer with rights.
- I have never been treated so rudely and unfairly by a company as I was by my own company in this situation, as if I had no expectation of them having to follow the published rules because I could be threatened as an employee. It remains my primary data point on how I can expect to be treated as a Delta customer, unfortunately.
- Someone will get on here and say "I bought them and flew them, great deal no problem!"... fine, as non-refundable tickets they're ok. But it's like saying "I played russian roulette and it worked out totally fine, do it!"
DO NOT PURCHASE a "Fly For Less" ticket if you have any possibility whatsoever of actually having to try to refund it.
Don't believe these things can actually ever be refunded, no matter what the fine print leads you to believe. The written rules say these are refundable if the ticket rules say so, when buying the "Fly for Less"-- (NOT the "Fly for Even Less", always non-refundable). HOWEVER...
- you must work through special non-rev agents on the tickets, not normal Delta reservationists
- I bought one of these after 20 minutes on phone with agent looking at the fare rules to be ABSOLUTELY SURE it was refundable. When I later needed to refund it, the special agent refused to even look at the fare rules, told me flat out it was non-refundable within 5 seconds. When I pressed her about it, trying to ask her to actually LOOK at the fare rules, she said she had already told me the answer, and she then threatened me, stating that she would have my non-rev privileges revoked if I continued to argue and disagree with her.
- I ended up losing the $$ for the entire family's vacation, 5 tickets, around $2400, because I had 3 kids sick unable to fly and had to cancel ahead of time.
- After months and months of working through the system with all my paperwork proof of original refundable fare rules (printed right non the receipts!), I finally was able to get a "refund" like 6 months later... MINUS THE $150 change fees each way per ticket, $300 per person X 5-- that's right, the "refund" was shortened by $1500 because I "changed the ticket" by NOT FLYING IT even though I cancelled early so Delta could sell the seats!!
- You WILL NOT be treated as a paying customer. You WILL NOT be treated under the published rules. You WILL NOT be treated fairly. These are not normal agents, these are folks who only work with employees and don't see you as a paying customer with rights.
- I have never been treated so rudely and unfairly by a company as I was by my own company in this situation, as if I had no expectation of them having to follow the published rules because I could be threatened as an employee. It remains my primary data point on how I can expect to be treated as a Delta customer, unfortunately.
- Someone will get on here and say "I bought them and flew them, great deal no problem!"... fine, as non-refundable tickets they're ok. But it's like saying "I played russian roulette and it worked out totally fine, do it!"
DO NOT PURCHASE a "Fly For Less" ticket if you have any possibility whatsoever of actually having to try to refund it.
10-28-2014 | 09:01 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 0
From: Stay THIRSTY, my friends!
That story reminds me of the 'crew unaccommodations' I had to deal with recently. Used to be these were in house people. Not anymore. I called to ask for an airport hotel on an inbound deviation, as I had to fly an all nighter from that station. Since I didn't want to spend all day sitting in a hotel not sleeping, I figured an airport hotel would be perfect for a couple of hours nap before the flight.
In the past, I'd been told to hold on while they checked inventory at the airport hotel. Often it was no problem. This time, I was told flatly "no", that is against company policy. You MUST go to the downtown hotel, 45 minutes away. Which of course, by the contract, you are on your own dime getting there. Now, on the back side of a rotation, if you deviate, there is a template that allows you to select airport or downtown. But if you're on the front end... forget it!!
In the past, I'd been told to hold on while they checked inventory at the airport hotel. Often it was no problem. This time, I was told flatly "no", that is against company policy. You MUST go to the downtown hotel, 45 minutes away. Which of course, by the contract, you are on your own dime getting there. Now, on the back side of a rotation, if you deviate, there is a template that allows you to select airport or downtown. But if you're on the front end... forget it!!
10-28-2014 | 09:15 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,561
Likes: 311
From: Sitting SC at the Five Towns
10-28-2014 | 09:18 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 799
Likes: 0
I have to disagree here, based on actual experience. The written stuff sounds good, I was even talked into buying some--worst mistake.
Don't believe these things can actually ever be refunded, no matter what the fine print leads you to believe. The written rules say these are refundable if the ticket rules say so, when buying the "Fly for Less"-- (NOT the "Fly for Even Less", always non-refundable). HOWEVER...
- you must work through special non-rev agents on the tickets, not normal Delta reservationists
- I bought one of these after 20 minutes on phone with agent looking at the fare rules to be ABSOLUTELY SURE it was refundable. When I later needed to refund it, the special agent refused to even look at the fare rules, told me flat out it was non-refundable within 5 seconds. When I pressed her about it, trying to ask her to actually LOOK at the fare rules, she said she had already told me the answer, and she then threatened me, stating that she would have my non-rev privileges revoked if I continued to argue and disagree with her.
- I ended up losing the $$ for the entire family's vacation, 5 tickets, around $2400, because I had 3 kids sick unable to fly and had to cancel ahead of time.
- After months and months of working through the system with all my paperwork proof of original refundable fare rules (printed right non the receipts!), I finally was able to get a "refund" like 6 months later... MINUS THE $150 change fees each way per ticket, $300 per person X 5-- that's right, the "refund" was shortened by $1500 because I "changed the ticket" by NOT FLYING IT even though I cancelled early so Delta could sell the seats!!
- You WILL NOT be treated as a paying customer. You WILL NOT be treated under the published rules. You WILL NOT be treated fairly. These are not normal agents, these are folks who only work with employees and don't see you as a paying customer with rights.
- I have never been treated so rudely and unfairly by a company as I was by my own company in this situation, as if I had no expectation of them having to follow the published rules because I could be threatened as an employee. It remains my primary data point on how I can expect to be treated as a Delta customer, unfortunately.
- Someone will get on here and say "I bought them and flew them, great deal no problem!"... fine, as non-refundable tickets they're ok. But it's like saying "I played russian roulette and it worked out totally fine, do it!"
DO NOT PURCHASE a "Fly For Less" ticket if you have any possibility whatsoever of actually having to try to refund it. If you treat it as a throwaway non-refundable (so get the fly for Even Less ones) they're ok, but not really much cheaper than what you might find elsewhere.
Don't believe these things can actually ever be refunded, no matter what the fine print leads you to believe. The written rules say these are refundable if the ticket rules say so, when buying the "Fly for Less"-- (NOT the "Fly for Even Less", always non-refundable). HOWEVER...
- you must work through special non-rev agents on the tickets, not normal Delta reservationists
- I bought one of these after 20 minutes on phone with agent looking at the fare rules to be ABSOLUTELY SURE it was refundable. When I later needed to refund it, the special agent refused to even look at the fare rules, told me flat out it was non-refundable within 5 seconds. When I pressed her about it, trying to ask her to actually LOOK at the fare rules, she said she had already told me the answer, and she then threatened me, stating that she would have my non-rev privileges revoked if I continued to argue and disagree with her.
- I ended up losing the $$ for the entire family's vacation, 5 tickets, around $2400, because I had 3 kids sick unable to fly and had to cancel ahead of time.
- After months and months of working through the system with all my paperwork proof of original refundable fare rules (printed right non the receipts!), I finally was able to get a "refund" like 6 months later... MINUS THE $150 change fees each way per ticket, $300 per person X 5-- that's right, the "refund" was shortened by $1500 because I "changed the ticket" by NOT FLYING IT even though I cancelled early so Delta could sell the seats!!
- You WILL NOT be treated as a paying customer. You WILL NOT be treated under the published rules. You WILL NOT be treated fairly. These are not normal agents, these are folks who only work with employees and don't see you as a paying customer with rights.
- I have never been treated so rudely and unfairly by a company as I was by my own company in this situation, as if I had no expectation of them having to follow the published rules because I could be threatened as an employee. It remains my primary data point on how I can expect to be treated as a Delta customer, unfortunately.
- Someone will get on here and say "I bought them and flew them, great deal no problem!"... fine, as non-refundable tickets they're ok. But it's like saying "I played russian roulette and it worked out totally fine, do it!"
DO NOT PURCHASE a "Fly For Less" ticket if you have any possibility whatsoever of actually having to try to refund it. If you treat it as a throwaway non-refundable (so get the fly for Even Less ones) they're ok, but not really much cheaper than what you might find elsewhere.
10-28-2014 | 09:26 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 20,876
Likes: 193
That story reminds me of the 'crew unaccommodations' I had to deal with recently. Used to be these were in house people. Not anymore. I called to ask for an airport hotel on an inbound deviation, as I had to fly an all nighter from that station. Since I didn't want to spend all day sitting in a hotel not sleeping, I figured an airport hotel would be perfect for a couple of hours nap before the flight.
In the past, I'd been told to hold on while they checked inventory at the airport hotel. Often it was no problem. This time, I was told flatly "no", that is against company policy. You MUST go to the downtown hotel, 45 minutes away. Which of course, by the contract, you are on your own dime getting there. Now, on the back side of a rotation, if you deviate, there is a template that allows you to select airport or downtown. But if you're on the front end... forget it!!
In the past, I'd been told to hold on while they checked inventory at the airport hotel. Often it was no problem. This time, I was told flatly "no", that is against company policy. You MUST go to the downtown hotel, 45 minutes away. Which of course, by the contract, you are on your own dime getting there. Now, on the back side of a rotation, if you deviate, there is a template that allows you to select airport or downtown. But if you're on the front end... forget it!!
10-28-2014 | 09:30 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 0
From: Stay THIRSTY, my friends!
If the hotel is already booked they are not going to change it. If it's unhooked I have not had issues getting a airport hotel. Did it 10 days ago and got the exact hotel I requested as did the copilot. It may be in your case they had cancelled flights that freed up rooms downtown. I try and fly trips with front end DH's and so far am batting 1000 on airport hotels with the exception of Boston. For reasons I don't understand they book the Park Plaza in advance on the BOS trips and will not change it. No one uses the room since most guys live there bidding those trips.
10-28-2014 | 09:49 AM
meh
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 828
Likes: 0
sailing, you said "if it was unbooked"...I almost never see that, the hotel seems to always be booked as part of the original bidpack. Is this something you see more in international or ER stuff? When would it be unbooked on a front end DH? I'm considering bidding some, and don't want to get stuck at SEA with no trans downtown and unable to use airport hotel pre-redeye.
Thx
10-28-2014 | 09:56 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 0
From: Stay THIRSTY, my friends!
Had the same thing happen last month. Got into DTW way late, had less than the normal 12 hrs for contract to go downtown, which we were scheduled for. Called crew accommodations, she wouldn't even look at openings, just immediately said flat out "No, we're not supposed to do that." When I mentioned that in the past if there were unfilled bookings we were already paying for anyways, so it wouldn't cost the company any $$, we were able to switch when flights got in late, she just said "Not anymore, not allowed".
sailing, you said "if it was unbooked"...I almost never see that, the hotel seems to always be booked as part of the original bidpack. Is this something you see more in international or ER stuff? When would it be unbooked on a front end DH? I'm considering bidding some, and don't want to get stuck at SEA with no trans downtown and unable to use airport hotel pre-redeye.
Thx
sailing, you said "if it was unbooked"...I almost never see that, the hotel seems to always be booked as part of the original bidpack. Is this something you see more in international or ER stuff? When would it be unbooked on a front end DH? I'm considering bidding some, and don't want to get stuck at SEA with no trans downtown and unable to use airport hotel pre-redeye.
Thx
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