My friend DeltaPoints wrote a post today on some of his recent experiences with Delta Air Lines, #FAIL! – Is it just me or is Delta slipping a little this year? I haven’t flown in three weeks, a problem that is about to resolve itself, but I have to say that my Delta flights this year have all been just fine. In his post, DeltaPoints notes a deterioration in service from Delta including disappointment with Delta’s Android App, @DeltaAssist, IT, Dirty Planes, Pre-Flight Service, and Food. I can’t speak to the Android App, and there’s no real need for me to talk about IT, but I do want to speak to a few of his points, specifically pre-flight service and dirty planes.
I’ve only flown one roundtrip in July and it was a perfectly fine flight experience. Pre-departure beverages were offered in both directions, service was pleasant, and my flights were on time. Maybe I got lucky. Or maybe I was just lucky to spend most of July off the road? My three week break from flying happens to coincide with three of the worst weather weeks I’ve seen. Seriously, my Atlanta backyard is beginning to take on the characteristics of a mud pit. Each day it seems that it rains…..and storms….. and well…. aside from cooler temps, this summer in Atlanta has pretty much sucked. Something tells me that if I had not been basically off the road for the month of July, I might have a different opinion on Delta’s reliability as an Atlanta flyer this month.
As Delta’s largest hub, Atlanta is huge in Delta’s world. I have to wonder if that, in combination with poor weather and typically maxed out summer schedules is not impacting the Delta experience in some way? Things that happen in Atlanta will ultimately impact the rest of the system. Maxed out planes and people make it more difficult to deliver standard services when things hit the fan. Boarding fast and behind schedule makes for a more hectic boarding process, and can make it slightly less likely that normal pre-departure services are delivered. Airplanes scheduled for maximum flying hours coupled with off schedule operations may make it more difficult to meet aircraft cleaning plans. This is all rampant speculation on my part, but I thought it was interesting to ponder. Summers like this one make it easy to not miss my airline days.
-MJ, July 29, 2013
Atlanta is the worst city to connect and I avoid that ghetto like the plague. Thank goodness I dont fly Deltacrap and I dont read that blog.
I do a DL commute, Friday JAN/ATL/LGA, and I reverse it on MOndays. July was miserable for on time performance but other than one flight it was all weather.
As for pre flight drinks, on the JAN/ATL run and back, they probably miss drink service 1 time out of 4.
As far as the app on my iPhone, I agree that is getting worse. I no longer get updates that the plane is bpoarding, but I do get delay notices.
The food is no better or worse in 1st, but man, they need to change it. Dinner flights ATL to LGA havent changed since 2012, and while the food may be OK, it won’t do much if you are hungry.
CB
I’ve had most of my problems while flying Delta this year, but I’ve also flown delta 2/3 flights this year so of course they are going to give me more problems statistically speaking.
The planes seem clean enough and my upgrade percentage is starting to tick back up, but overall it is still night and day better than US Airways!
Flights were diverted from ATL Sat and Sun weekend before last due to storms. I was flying late afternoon Sun and ended up being diverted to AGS. Storm just sat over the airport. We were delayed about 3 hrs. Pilot did a great job of keeping us informed. This was my 4th diversion in the 12 yrs I’ve lived in Atlanta and always with late afternoon or early evening flights. It’s the chance you take in the summer. Really out of Delta’s control. I contacted customer service to complement the pilot and crew. Was pleasantly surprised when the gave me miles for the inconvenience.
There was no pre-departure beverage service in F on my delayed flight SFO-ATL on Friday night. It was annoying (especially after the poorly-communicated delay), but if it saved us 10 minutes of ground time, so be it. This is one of the reasons I favor 757s over 767s and 737s…I never have to see the Kettles. 😉
Let DL know. And do I ever agree with you on those 757s. Love that L2 boarding!