OK, I’m done apologizing for it. I love flying Delta. Heck, I’d expect most people would at least like Delta if it weren’t for their less than stellar (OK, paltry) SkyMiles award availability, and questionable Delta.com award booking calendar. But let’s forget about awards programs for a minute. Let’s talk about transportation between points on a map, mostly personable employees, clean planes, comfortable accommodations, a certain amount of consistency, and oh yeah….inflight wi-fi almost everywhere domestically. Yeah, that’s Delta, and I love it.
The fact that Delta is adding “Economy Comfort” seating to their entire domestic fleet is just one more reason to love flying them. So now that we’ve established that, let’s delve a little deeper. Today, I flew from DCA to ATL aboard a Delta 757. Yes, my Medallion upgrade cleared and I know that always makes things nicer, but still. I was greeted at the doorway by pleasant people and the first class flight attendants were second to none. Personable, pleasant, and attentive without being annoying. Really, they were good. And did I mention that I had wi-fi access?
Somehow, I’m going to find a way to make SkyMiles work for me, starting with frequent reads of Delta Points right here on Boardingarea.com. Who else loves flying Delta? I know you’re out there!
I’m certainly satisfied with Delta, overall. As an MSP-based flyer, I don’t really have a choice (89% of the gates in the main terminal are Delta) but I don’t have too many complaints. As a mid-tier elite (GM and PM) I’ve been treated well. Upgrades have been pretty consistent, other than elite-heavy routes. The plane interiors are consistently clean and fresh-looking, and coach is a better experience than I get on other airlines, when I’m in the back. I enjoy being able to have a tasty Woodford as my PDB of choice, as well. Skyclubs also seem to be the nicest domestic lounges, by a hair. Heck, even redemptions have gone well for me this year, as I had minimal difficulty turning 240k skypesos into a pair of biz tickets that’d cost I think 17-20k each to buy.
I’m a Delta Diamond and am quite unabashed in loving Delta. I don’t do awards much, preferring to use my miles for upgrades on int’l flights, so the problems with DL awards are not too much of an issue in my world. The rising costs of an upgradable fare coupled with shrinking upgrade (Z) inventory are growing concerns though, but, for now, Delta is my airline and I’m fine with that.
I am a Diamond Medallion and have not convinced myself that any US airline would be better for me. For AF’s comment about JFK, I agree, but I also have never had an experience at JFK (outside of the Oasis Lounge in Terminal 4) or LGA or EWR, for that matter, that would be judged good anywhere else in the world, and I fly out of those every week. I recently flew Lan out of JFK and it was a totally different airline than Lan anywhere else: strict weighing of carry-ons at both check-in and gate to try to collect more fees, rude staff, etc. http://boardingarea.com/rapidtravelchai/2011/11/23/candidate-for-least-useful-moving-map-and-only-20-pounds-of-carry-on-lan-from-jfk/
I also love Delta airlines. I’m about to be PM this year from GM. The only problem for me (Tampa based ) is that there are so many diamonds in tampa that complimentary upgrades are hard to come by, unless i specifically avoid Atlanta or never fly on mondays, thursdays and fridays. The Crown room staff here in Tampa are all wonderful!
Being PM and located in ATL, Delta is MY airline. I love having so many non-stop flight choices from ATL, the PM benefits and the award travel ain’t too bad either.
Unless delta has gotten its act together sine I last flew out of JFK, I will continue to avoid all Delta flights out of that airport. Regardless of how good the service in the air may be, it cannot make up for your experience on the ground.
I love Delta and would love to fly them. Living in CLT makes it very hard, however, to add a connection everywhere I need to go! USAIR…sigh….(i am gold)
I love Delta too….so why do I feel so ashamed to admit it? 🙂
Maybe we need a secret handshake.
I’m a diamond medallion on delta. I always enjoy flying them. My only complaint is that my friend who is 1k on united gets more complimentary international upgrades.But yes, Delta’s service and care is excellent and the flight crews really seem to enjoy their work.
Putting Skymiles aside… The things I love about DL are the Wifi, still serve free small snack packs in economy [peanuts and biscoffs], better offerings in the SkyClub compared to other legacies [snacks and booze], online rebooking engine for IRROPs, direct-aisle access with all flat bed BE seats, Alaska partnership, woodford reserve, blankets and pillows in Y on redeyes, and some other things.
But there are many things I don’t like about DL… Many domestic planes do not have 110V power ports [PMCO does on almost all domestic mainline birds except the 735/753], no headrests in F or Y, often the PMNW birds’ F seat does not hold its position and would just slowly recline by itself and I have had an issue with people thinking I reclined on purpose during take off when the seat is the problem, domestic F meals blow and I am tired of the BBQ Chicken that they serve on pretty much almost all domestic F dinner flights along with a pasta dish, sucky website, etc.
If we factor in the SkyMiles program, for me, there are more cons than pros with the program unless 90%+ of travel is domestic.
I’m a big fan of Delta: friendly staff, clean planes, wifi on every flight, Coke Zero, Biscoff cookies, and some great fares (from DFW). I’m flying them this week and excited about it.
If only their SkyMiles program wasn’t so lame…
Oh yeah I missed it on the 2 trips i took on non delta flights this year. One was an international trip in AF business class and the food sucked so much I missed the personal pizza they serve in first class on Delta flights. Even after special ordering the food they could not provide the food to my wife because of some strike on the return trip. The second was AS first class to HNL and serving the 3 course dinner was soo slow, I could take couple of naps between each course.
I flew about 30 RT on delta this year and I like them. My experience has been 90% positive. They really need to upgrade some of those old flights with CRT tvs.
My past two Delta trips have involved long sprints through big hubs, including B1 to C47 in 10 minutes at ATL tonight, which is keeping me from loving them. But in flight, they’re great.
How easy (hard) is it to book KE J reward space? Now that KE has the A380, I was thinking of flying Delta a bit more and putting my unused SkyPesos to work.
Delta is awesome, they are by far the best US Domestic. United/CO are great too, and American is alright, but they just don’t compare to the level of service and amenities that Delta has to offer it’s customers.
-A proud new Silver Medallion…