Thanks for your quick responses Gromit and Jim. Just to clarify, Delta does not dispute that the Salt Lake City agent was in error in canceling the onward confirm seats to Atlanta and San Francisco - hence the $300 travel voucher and Johannesburg hotel reimbursement. What Delta does dispute at this stage is whether or not Delta Flight 201 JNB-ATL on 6/22 was in fact oversold. Delta Corporate Customer Care claims the flight was not oversold, no involuntary denied boarding compensation was issued to any passengers, and therefore none can be issued to me.
However, this assertion directly conflicts with my experience of being told by the Delta ground staff in Johannesburg on 6/22 that, "I'm sorry this flight is oversold, and there's no way we can get you back on." I also waited with my three fellow involuntarily denied boarding passengers as the Delta ground staff attempted (to no avail - all seats taken) that evening to re-book us on a South African Airways flight to JFK. As noted above, I've also shared with Delta Corporate Customer Care the names of the three fellow passengers, as well as the ticket number and $650 Delta-issued check receipt for one of them, which reads: "Involuntary DBC, Flight #DL 201, Date Jun 12, From JNB to ATL, DL."
So, I think the happiest resolution at this point would be to get an additional Delta official to review the Delta 201 flight records for 6/22, as well as the records for involuntary denied boarding compensation issued to my fellow passengers that evening. I do believe that if that research is appropriately conducted, Delta will agree to issue me the compensation that is due. However, if I can't get that to happen, my only option appears to be the unhappy one - for all parties involved - of taking Delta to Small Claims Court.
Any additional thoughts on how to resolve this, say on how to get another Delta official to review the evidence, would be warmly appreciated. I may also need guidance on best practices for initiating the Small Claims process. Thanks again for all your helpful comments - this is proving to be an invaluable forum.
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