Delta-CE Mess Denies Passenger Boarding at Gate

A traveller recently shared a stressful experience involving China Eastern and Delta. You booked a multi airline ticket months in advance, expecting a smooth journey. Instead, system errors and poor coordination left you stranded, confused, and forced to spend extra money.

Multi airline booking turns problematic

You bought the ticket five months earlier, with China Eastern operating the international flight and Delta managing the domestic leg. The booking looked confirmed across both airlines, and you expected standard coordination between them.

Denied boarding despite boarding pass

After checking in with Delta, you received boarding passes without any issue. At the gate, Delta staff suddenly denied you boarding, citing a system error. They claimed your ticket did not appear in their system.

Confusing explanation from Delta staff

Delta staff told you that a boarding pass only showed a reservation, not a confirmed ticket. This explanation came as a shock, especially since you had already checked in and handed over your baggage.

Baggage sent without the passenger

While you tried to resolve the issue, your checked bag was sent to the destination without you. Repeated attempts to contact China Eastern failed, adding to your frustration and leaving you without immediate support.

Forced to buy a new ticket

After nearly two hours of stress, you purchased a new domestic ticket to continue your journey. Soon after, China Eastern informed you that your international flight had been cancelled due to a no show status.

Error traced back to flight change

After further discussion, China Eastern restored your international ticket, allowing you to complete the trip. Later, the airline admitted the ticket had shown an error since August 30, the same day Delta changed the flight number.

Accountability concerns raised

This incident exposes a clear lack of accountability from both China Eastern and Delta. You followed the process correctly, yet system failures and poor coordination left you bearing the consequences.