Comments

1. Maybe Bastian should instead fly up to Detroit and fix the catering mess.

2. @ Gary — He should just retire. Haunenstein, too.

3. Actually, I could imagine the private check-in would be something I’d consider, given the low price. I could easily imagine one reserving it for, say, their parents 50th anniversary trip or their kid’s honeymoon.

4. CEO Ed Bastian = Premium! No other airline even comes close to Delta. Our 30 year old, I mean their 30 year old 757s and 767s are the best in the sky.

5. we all realize that Gary is trying desperately to stay relevant but Delta has been at CES for years including in a major sponsoring role.

   And regarding aircraft, DAL’s fleet will be getting younger in 2025 because it is using new deliveries to retire older aircraft including some 757s and 767s.
   in contrast, UAL retired about 10 aircraft in the first half of the year and still might not get as many new aircraft as Delta so its fleet will not only age – it was already older than Delta’s – but there comes a point, not many years from now, when United has to use whatever Boeing can deliver to United for fleet replacement.
   Southwest now has a shrinking fleet because Boeing cannot deliver enough aircraft including the MAX 7 and WN has to retire aircraft due to age.

   DAL is receiving 14 new Airbus widebodies, UAL was supposed to receive 8 in 2024 but MIGHT receive 3.

   Gary loves to generate page clicks but only rarely takes the time to focus on real industry issues even though, when he does, he does well.

   btw, AAL did “well” on its earnings but generated much less revenue than leader DAL or even second place UAL while LUV settled with Elliott… a far bigger deal than a recurring role at CES

6. Wow, Bastion did 3 events in 6 months?!? Shocking. Yeah that’s really dereliction of duty. I don’t like the guy, but come on.

7. Agreed…clickbait and I fell for it. Yes, Ed flew to Paris for the opening of the Olympics. Delta is the prime carrier for the USA Olympic team. He’s not only the CEO but an “ambassador” for the company. As CEO, he has spoken at CES before. Nothing new here. Glen Hauenstein (get the spelling correct if you’re gonna condemn him too) is also a great executive. He’s the “route guru” and has been very successful at this. He and his team continually “massage” the schedules and routes for optimum RSM and…they are pretty good at it, too. The bad news is, yeah…Delta had a massive meltdown caused by numerous issues BUT…I guarantee you, the company learned and will try to prevent something like that from happening again. As for the food in Detroit, please name any US carrier that doesn’t use an outside vendor for foodservice. Companies must rely on their vendors to follow all protocols. As SOON as the contamination issue came to light, the company immediately stopped all foodservice (what should they have done otherwise?) and made a hasty switch of vendors. Better that than finding mold, a mouse or other stuff later on.

8. Wait til your see the premium interior seating upgrades, starting with our 35 year old 757 fleet with breathable seats!

   You’ll wish every flight in the future will be delayed for days with zero communications, no automatic flight rebooking with hotel accommodations and meal vouchers, 81 hour wait times on the phone and no automatic cash refunds or compensation for flight cancellations until ordered by the DOT or the DOJ!

9. Clickbait never fails to attract the Troll in Chief, “Tim”.

   7 paragraph response to something he calls page clicks…

10. “Clickbait never fails to attract the Troll in Chief, “Tim”.

    7 paragraph response to something he calls page clicks…”

    He’s usually the first to click when sees the magic word. And he does like to hear himself talk.

11. Finnair award pricing is a joke whether on their metal, where you pay a bunch to fly practically to Russia, or on partners.

12. I think that I have lifetime OW sapphire with my Accor stock ownership and partnership with QR. And I don’t even have to hazard a flight with JN, as I much prefer NH (*A) . At least it never seems to expire on my app.

13. facts that a few really don’t want to admit are real so they trash the person that highlights them.

    DL and Bastian have been at CES for years. Gary just figured this out?

    Boeing is having a larger impact on the airline industry than many want to admit.

    AA is flooding the industry w/ cheaper seats than DL or UA – and still making far less money.

    AA and DL are comparable from a cost perspective; UA is dodging a financial bullet by not settling w/ its FAs. UA’s results will fall when they settle with their FAs.

14. Now 12 paragraphs from the Troll in chief in response to a “page clicks” article. He really can’t help himself.

    Along with the usual way of consoling himself that his intense paranoia is justified… “others don’t like to admit…” lol

15. you aren’t smart enough to figure out that, the more you belly ache, the more I write.

    If you want to see less of what I write, stop your obsession with what I write.

    and you still can’t accept that Bastian has been at CES for years and Boeing is screwing up a whole of AA, UA and WN’s plans. The fact that you can’t stand that reality and throw stones at the messenger shows how little YOU are.

16. lol. “Tim”, I’m just curious how many paragraphs you’ll write in response to something you claim to be a page click article.
    15 and counting! Keep it up! You’re making sure people see Gary’s words!

17. I not only am happy to interact but I want him to succeed. As others have noted, Bastian has been at CES for years.

    You, on the other hand, are obsessed with what I write and could care less about the issue.

    You have problems and the more you write, the more obvious it is for all the world to see

18. Tim what is obvious is that you have problems. And apparently lots of them.

19. Diarrhea Delta. Ed Bastian is a loser with a capital “L” on his elongated forehead. From food contamination, to purple FA uniforms, to DIARRHEA up and down the aisles, Diarrhea Delta’s CEO needs to be put out to pasture back in ol’ Metairie, LA where this crop duster started.

    If Ed Bastian can’t sit in his office and figure out to provide better service, then he has failed as a CEO and Diarrhea Delta’s board should have the gonadal fortitude to fire him without severance or a parachute.

20. 18 Paragraphs, “Tim”!!

    Keep those page clicks coming!

21. And yes, “Tim”, I’m aware Ed has gone to CES before. I’m still waiting for his Avatar-inspired human exoskeleton robots to come to life. 😉

    Ed does live to spin a tale and sound cool

22. Max,
    I am happy to do my part to make sure Gary’s site succeeds.

    You are fixated on what other people do and throw in a side comment about the topic just to act like you really care – when it is clear your obsessive need to control what and you comments is the issue.

    you and you alone do more to reveal who you are with every word you type.

    of course, Bastian has been to CES before – you make at least the 3rd person to say that in the comments section.
    try to be a least a tad faster in focusing on the topic and not other users next time

23. Here is my pro tip for United Airlines Polaris class passengers who receive a frozen or cold meal. Wrap your food in the air sickness bag and warm up your meal by holding it in your armpit for 15 minutes. Bon appétit.

24. Bastian is pathetic as a CEO. He should anoint himself the PR Czar so he can be paid to schmooze instead of running an airline. Kinda like now except it would be official.

25. 23 Paragraphs! Keep those clicks up! The refresh button on your browser must be exhausted with the number of times you keep looking for comments from me

    “try to be a least a tad faster in focusing on the topic and not other users next time”

    There’s that sweet sensitive side of Tim coming out when his intense paranoia forces him to respond. 😉

    “we all realize that Gary is trying desperately to stay relevant”
    “Gary loves to generate page clicks but only rarely takes the time to focus”
    “I am happy to do my part to make sure Gary’s site succeeds.”

    It’s so tough to keep track of your many feelings for Gary. You need to take more bipolar meds but whew. For a guy that started off today whining about this article only being here for page clicks, you sure are helping out the page clicks.

26. C’mon Tim you can hit 30 or 35. Nobody will read them but we can count ’em.

27. not only do some people read them but they cut and paste them because they can’t stand if someone else posts and they don’t.

28. And he just can’t shut the fk up can he….

    Keep ’em coming Tim. No one can respond to clickbait the way you do……

29. Again, year-to-date:
    DAL up 38%
    UAL up 80%
    As the Metallica song goes: “nothing else matters”

30. If the guy doesn’t want to do his job,then he should step aside and let someone better to come in and replace his Pathetic ass

31. Marco,
    and yet UAL is still worth just 2/3 of what DAL is worth as a company.

    Everyone knew that UAL and AAL were mismanaged. UAL just decided to do something about it but have come nowhere close to closing the gap highlighted by UAL’s net income was hundreds of millions of dollars less than DAL’s in the MRQ.

    DAL also pays its FAs industry leading wages including profit sharing while UAL continues to play games even though Kirby said he would settle with his employees when the other 3 of the big 4 settled. AA, DL and WN have adopted new FA wage rates = but not UA.

    and let’s not forget that UA has the oldest fleet among US airlines and the oldest and least fuel efficient fleet among major global airlines – and UA is getting THREE 787s from Boeing in 2024, if UA is lucky.
    In contrast, DL is getting 14 new A350s and 330s and will get a dozen more in 2025.

    It isn’t hard to see that UA’s only strategic advantage – its large international network size esp. across the Pacific will quickly fall due to UA’s unhealthy reliance on Boeing.

32. Changing the subject for Tim Dunn

    Is there an engine shortage about to emerge once Boeing ramps 737 back up? Spirit, Breeze and others have parked Airbus birds for lack of the new GTF engines and parts.

33. 30 paragraphs by “tim” on the page click article!!!!
    Ding ding ding!

    Somebody can’t control his desperate need to defend delta no matter what

    “ It isn’t hard to see that UA’s only strategic advantage – its large international network size esp. across the Pacific will quickly fall due to UA’s unhealthy reliance on Boeing.”

    What you write is just so stupid lol. You don’t even seem to understand anything about total widebodies currently or on order. Much less the United a350 order

    Or this:
    “ and let’s not forget that UA has the oldest fleet among US airlines and the oldest and least fuel efficient fleet among major global airlines – and UA is getting THREE 787s from Boeing in 2024, if UA is lucky.
    In contrast, DL is getting 14 new A350s and 330s and will get a dozen more in 2025.”
    Just ignoring the rest of the order book, huh? Or how that plays into United’s future fleet age? Or that delta has 100 max10 on order while United has an active plan to covert to max9, if necessary.

    I don’t even get how you come up with some nonsensical spin

34. Your problem, Timmyboy, is that you seem to believe that you can influence stock prices by ranting on websites. That’s really stupid. That’s why you come up with the stupid things you say.
    United is already bigger than Delta and will grow faster than Delta in the years to come.
    The only reason Delta looks more profitable is the games they play with the refinery. This quarter they even left the refinery with a loss to avoid missing their guidance.
    You don’t fool people who know how to read financials, so don’t waste your time. The market has been figuring out Delta´s gimmicks.

35. you are beyond foolish if you think I participate in airline social media in order to influence stock prices.

    I participate because I provide facts you don’t want to hear.

    UA burns more fuel flying more seat miles – but ends up w less revenue and less profits than DL.

    You can’t accept that fact so invent your own reality which is contrary to what actual facts show.

    The refinery is contributing virtually nothing for Delta right now.

    and then when you have the balls to tell people they don’t know how to read financials when you clearly cannot is what is unbelievable.

    on a true apples to apples basis, DL generates more revenue and profits FOR THE SAME TYPES OF BUSINESS that DL and UA both operate – excluding the refinery.

    and on a true apples to apples comparison, UA would have to pay their FAs industry comparable wage rates – but UA doesn’t do that.

    Quit telling us what we don’t know when we clearly understand far more than you will ever hope to understand.

    And, DL will still receive more than 4X more widebodies in 2024 than UA which means UA’s “leadership” in the international arena will fall.

36. “on a true apples to apples basis, DL generates more revenue and profits FOR THE SAME TYPES OF BUSINESS that DL and UA both operate – excluding the refinery.”

    Facts and only facts, not your ranting and lies.

    Excluding the refinery, DAL total revenue 14.6 billion and UAL 14.8 billion.
    If you want an indication of what will happen next quarter, look at the account Air Traffic Liability if you know what that is, which I doubt. DAL 8.3 billion and UAL 8.5 billion.
    UAL is bigger. End of story.
    DAL pre-tax income 1.3 billion and UAL the same amount in spite of having 300 million more in fuel expenses. And the only reason UAL has 300 million more in fuel expenses comes from the fact that DAL always reports lower fuel prices because of the games they play with the refinery.
    UAL is more profitable without the refinery gimmick. End of story.

    “And, DL will still receive more than 4X more widebodies in 2024 than UA which means UA’s “leadership” in the international arena will fall.”

    According to their own filings, UAL is expected to end the year with 223 wide-bodies and DAL 151. So, by the end of the year UAL will have 72 more wide-bodies than DAL.
    UAL is bigger in international flying than the rest of the American carriers combined, and they have just announced their biggest international expansion for the coming winter.

    In a nutshell Timmyboy, you’re a liar.

37. 40 paragraphs for “Tim”!

    All on an article he views as Clickbait!
    Your paranoia does not disappoint

38. marco,
    you pick out one quarter and then make lifelong pronouncements.

    UA is bigger at best for one quarter.

    and, as much as you hate the refinery, UA tried to buy one too but failed. How quickly you forget.

    UA’s 777-200/ER fleet is the only reason why UA’s widebody fleet is so much larger. Not only does it include a dedicated domestic fleet which isn’t international but even their 200ER fleet is about 8 years older than DL’s A330CEO fleet – the most direct comparison.

    You and others think that UA is going to use all of these new 787s to grow – and they might have had a window to do so IF Boeing delivered the 787s on time. but that isn’t happening.

    UA will have to use most of their 787 aircraft to replace older aircraft including the 767s and 777s; DL is retiring 767s but not UA.

    DL and UA will end the year with almost comparable numbers of new generation powered widebodies – 787s vs 330NEO/787s.
    UA already has the oldest and least fuel efficient fleet among US airlines and will either end up with a much less efficient global fleet for the long term or it will take many more of its 787s for replacement than DL.

    this huge widebody fleet advantage for UA simply does not exist and where it does it is based on operating a less efficient bunch of 777s.

    I tell you the facts that you and Max don’t want to hear and say you try to trash me but the facts don’t lie.

    DL has simply done a better job of managing its fleet through reliable suppliers and that is evident by the international schedule announcements for 2025 that all 3 US carriers just released.

39. 51 paragraphs from “Tim” on what he deemed a clickbait article! Keep it up, buddy!

    You really can’t help yourself, Tim. lol. So your new argument is that the wide body advantage for United no longer exists vs Delta? “Poof” lol

    “this huge widebody fleet advantage for UA simply does not exist and where it does it is based on operating a less efficient bunch of 777s.”
    1. It does exist.
    2. Delta operates quite a few old birds as well. And those “less efficient 777-200s” are in a very dense configuration flying to Hawaii, largely. While Delta is using widebodies to fly there as well.

    It’s Friday. Go enjoy your day, you’ve made a mockery of yourself enough for on week. 51 paragraphs in the comment section of an article where you started off by attacking Gary?

40. Max,
    You and marco prove precisely my point over and over again.
    You can’t stand the truth that I write so you mock me and hope desperately to shame me off of the internet so you don’t have to face the reality which I know and communicate. You, just like UA execs, love to cherrypick facts and data to cling to a sense of superiority about UA which only exists in your mind.
    UA has a more sprawling international network but it is not more profitable. You focus on size of revenue but fail to admit that UA’s actual bottom line results consistently fall short of DL’s on a full year basis.
    And UA is substantially smaller than AA or DL in the domestic market.
    UA’s widebody fleet is older and less efficient than DL’s by a substantial difference. UA intentionally chose to hold onto old aircraft during the pandemic while AA and DL retired widebody aircraft.
    In contrast to AA, DL is taking delivery of large numbers of new generation widebodies not just this year but for years to come.
    DL and UA’s 767 fleets are of similar age – but DL is using some of its new widebodies to replace 767s and still has more than enough new aircraft for widebody growth.
    The remainder of DL’s widebody fleet is substantially younger and more fuel efficient than UA’s. Regardless of the configuration, the 777 still burns far more fuel than anything in DL’s fleet – even 12-15% more than the 330CEO.
    And UA’s old fleet will need to be replaced or UA’s uncompetitiveness on costs will only grow. DL recognizes that they are competing against global airlines which have invested far more in their fleet than US airlines which is why DL’s fleet spending is much more focused on international aircraft right now.

    UA has a SIZE advantage. right now. It cannot turn that into a profit advantage and even its size advantage will shrink as DL takes delivery of more and more new generation, more capable aircraft than UA. and UA will still be substantially smaller than AA and DL in the domestic market – a subject you two clowns love to ignore.

41. 61 paragraphs now on a “clickbait” article. Tim, apparently, you’re just about the easiest fish in the pond to catch with Clickbait.

    You don’t seem to know much about United’s domestic or international strategy from your VERY limited knowledge in your reply. Go learn something first about the narrowbody and widebody order book at United before you chat with us about how small is internationally or domestically (in the future).
    And you’d have to be the biggest Delta blowhard to ignore United’s massive improvement in margin relative to Delta. But, you are the biggest Delta blowhard and you do ignore anything that doesn’t fit in your delta-centric world so there isn’t much reason to talk to you or explain the simplest concepts.

    But wow!!! 61 paragraphs for you in this one article you deem clickbait. You truly are the most easily lured fish in the pond.

42. and you still are counting because you can’t respond to the actual facts of what I write.

    NOBODY including me has denied how far UAL has come.

    I do take great exception to the blow hard bragging that comes not just from UA’s C Suite but also from its fans including you two

    Despite the progress, you and they have acted like UA has an untouchable inheritance to its positions in the market – while it is clear that if UA can make money, other airlines can and will grow to serve those markets.

    Boeing is simply not delivering the aircraft UA promised. Airbus is delivering for DL. DL can and will expand. UA will have to deal w its aged and inefficient international fleet or see its margins continue to trail other airlines’ including DL
    UA trails AA AND DL in domestic revenue by billions of dollars per year. UA’s international strength DOES NOT offset its domestic weakness.

    DL could well take delivery of more new aircraft in 2024 than UA.

    and UA has not settled w/ its FAs – regardless of who is at fault. UA’s labor expenses will continue to grow faster than other airlines that have settled w/ their labor groups.

43. Tim
    You’re an idiot and you aren’t smart enough to read what others write. When you’re proven wrong, you change the subject or just go weirdly vicious attacking the other person. There’s no point responding to you when you live in an alternate reality. You don’t even live in a real data universe so there’s no point responding to you beyond what I have. But I will count how paranoid you are about bringing clicks to an article you say is clickbait.

    Why do you think so many sites either ban you or consider banning you?

    68 paragraphs from the troll that called this article clickbait and tried to attack Gary before getting lost in the comment section !!! Well done!
    You do have a purpose in life!

44. you’re still counting paragraphs and calling other people idiots because you can’t accept the facts which you don’t want to hear.

    United has made improvements but it is still number 2 behind Delta in every metric except the old age of its aircraft and the amount of CO2 spewed into the atmosphere.

    Further, because of UA’s overdependence on Boeing, Delta is closing the gap in the international market because DL is getting new widebodies delivered from Airbus while it is Airbus that is and will save any remnants of UA’s aggressive narrowbody fleet expansion plan.

    the only person that is paranoid is you -well that marco guy is too – because you are deathly afraid that all of the praise you try to heap on UA isn’t working
    while you desperately try to silence me – which is precisely why I keep saying more.

    YOU are the one that isn’t smart enough to realize that you would do well to simply accept what other people say and walk away rather than trying to shut them down and tell everyone they are wrong when it is clear that YOU are the one that is wrong on easily verifiable facts and data.

    take your own advise and go find something else to do, Max.

45. 74 paragraphs from the troll!

    You can’t help yourself lol

    It must be maddening to know everyone thinks you’re an idiot.

    But delta did fire you…

46. YOU are the troll and you can’t stand the truth that I bring.

    Delta is STILL the most profitable US airline, United can’t get the airplanes it said it would use to aggressively grow, Delta’s FAs are being paid industry leading rates while United’s FAs are stuck w/ a union AND management that are happy to keep passing the buck – and not to FA bank accounts.

    The only idiot is anyone that thinks that you aren’t squirming in your pants every time I post the facts you don’t want to hear.

47. Between the click bait and allowing Tim to to keep vomiting on the site, I’m out. This place is a stupid joke.

48. 77