I wrote a short post earlier today on Delta’s offering of sleep kits for international economy class passengers. The kit consists of an eye shade and ear plugs. Doesn’t sound like much on the face of it, and for those of us who fly with such in our bags at all times, it may not be.
I’ve posted before that nowadays I fly outside the U.S. about once per year, but my traveling life hasn’t always been so pedestrian. Once upon a time I spent 40+ weeks a year on the road, with half of that being international travel. I was fortunate to spend the majority of those international trips in a premium cabin, but certainly not all. I don’t recall receiving a “kit” of any kind from any U.S. based airline when flying coach.
As I look across the industry now, I don’t see any other domestic airline offering a sleep kit, or anything similar, on international flights though I’m sure I’ll hear about it here if I’m wrong. The moral of the story – this is just one more little thing that differentiates Delta Air Lines from the other big domestic airlines. It doesn’t make up for award availability or broken award booking engines, but if the airline really addresses that in the context of a more revenue based 2015 program, they may be on to something. I really believe they are running the best U.S. based airline from the perspective of things I care about most – product, people, reliability. Color me hopeful for the loyalty program.
-MJ, April 3, 2014
This is nice and all, but is this going to drive the purchasing behavior of the average consumer buying a Y ticket? I doubt it, by and large.
Couldn’t agree more with MJ and posters like Deltasegmentfly and DiscoPapa- those who visit BA only to extract miles from credit cards and only fly when the ticket is free are missing the point, and are too stubborn to engage in real dialogue. Without a healthy business model, airlines won’t be around to fly anyone anywhere, and Delta is a great example of an airline that has worked hard to improve in key areas that really matter to those who actually fly. I have lots of SkyPesos, and other miles, but Delta is my airline because I can count on them to get me there one time, and treat me well in the process, moe than any other large US carrier.
Um..it wasn’t all that long ago that Delta gave kits out in economy…I want to say it was around 2006 when my family flew them between JFK and IST and they had little brown “ecological” bags which contained all of this AND a pen (great for filling out arrival forms!) So YES…this is more than other domestic carriers do…but its like bragging about being the skinniest kid at fat camp…(if you know what I mean…and I suspect some of you do….)
Not to get on my soapbox, but this is a great example of how strong leadership, great employees, and smart business decisions have generated outstanding financial results, which in turn is then poured back not only into Delta employees (who all received a ~3% raise on April 1st), but also into product improvements. It’s a great, great cycle and I hope it continues.
JetBlue used to do this on their transcon redeyes. I haven’t flown one for a few years though so can’t confirm current practice.
Nice article MJ. @Robert if earning FF points is most important to you then yes fly someone else. If as a business traveller that is more concerned about the product and getting there with my flight being cancelled or delayed than I choose Delta which has consistently had the best on time performance of any major domestic carrier. Good article today on where they are spending thier resources. http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303987004579477412359027986?mobile=y. That is a big reason why I choose Delta. I want to get where I want to go on time.
Delta used to offer these on every flight JFK – SVO in economy, then stopped. Glad to see one can at least hope for a kit these days (not a guarantee they’ll have them in stock).
Nice apology piece for Delta, MJ, but I’d rather have airline miles with value than a $1 ear plug. Yet again it proves Delta is for the misinformed and vacation traveler, not those with airline frequent flyer knowledge.
Not an apology piece… just sayin’. Believe me, I have a cache of miles I value more than SkyMiles. I also value an airline that actually flies….
I was impressed by this. I think the only airline I remember doing anything like this was Turkish on a flight I had ORD-IST a few years ago. Not sure if they still do, and don’t recall any before or since.