Delta has staked out a position of being the ‘premium airline’ among U.S. carriers. United has been nipping at its heels. And while Delta has the branding, the reality is that its long haul business class still has way too many Boeing 767s with seats that are among the worst of major players in the industry, and their inflight meals lag those of American Airlines.
Review: Delta 767-300 Business Class Los Angeles To New York – https://t.co/QUxTKYlM8p pic.twitter.com/Mlf3RRiybM
— Matthew Klint – Live And Let's Fly (@LiveandLetsFly) December 4, 2019
Three years ago they went with cheaper amenity kits. Their bedding isn’t as nice as United’s.
It sounds like they’re planning to address food and beverage deficiencies, though, in a really serious way. According to aviation watchdog JonNYC who has been sharing details on Twitter and on Bluesky, Delta is launching “pretty ambitious upgrades to several aspects of on board food and drink” along with servingware and service flow.
rumor says that DL has pretty ambitious upgrades to several aspects of on board food and drink (and all that goes along with it, how it's served, on/in what, etc) starting next year, all in coordination with DO&CO.
— JonNYC (@xJonNYC) November 18, 2024
one person's take:
"looks like delta is really comparing itself to the EU carriers, even it's own partners. as meme'd as it is, they sound like they're really serious about the whole "premium" "best in class" thing"Calling it "Distinctly Delta" onboard experience
— JonNYC (@xjonnyc.bsky.social) November 18, 2024 at 10:05 AM
What they appear to be planning for is an elevated onboard dining experience dubbed “Distinctly Delta,” leaning into their claim to premium and its happening over the coming months. Elements will no longer include pieces that don’t roll out for several quarters. However it should include both improvements to food offerings (like dessert cart) as well as to servingware and service flow.
The ‘Distinctly Delta’ branding made its debut earlier this year with the roll out of the airline’s new uniforms:
Get a first look at prototypes of an all-new, modern and “distinctly @Delta” uniform collection – one created with feedback from the airline’s 70,000 uniformed employees.https://t.co/XsZlySddBN
— Delta News Hub (@DeltaNewsHub) March 20, 2024
One of the things that United eliminated before the pandemic was having a flight attendant plate entrees in the galley. Things came out pre-plated, and that meant they could save work for the crew in the air and reduce business class staffing as a result. A premium offering from Delta would almost certainly include having entrees plated in the air (probably with their current crew complement). Better food also seems likely to mean more of an investment ($) in what’s being served, from higher quality ingredients to more frequent menu changes and even a better wine program (which is currently an area where they lag).
Before the pandemic Delta really was on a path towards premium, rolling out coursed meals, welcome drinks, and hot towels in economy.
Hmmm, being worse than AA at anything really takes some doing…
Wouldn’t be surprised if they rolled this out with unbundling the first class experience.
So I’m assuming any dictionary published after say Jan 1 will include the words Delta Airline when looking up the definition of Premium. God help us.
As I have said for years, Delta is about ready to take on significant growth in the international arena.
They are the most profitable US airline including on international routes so they clearly see the basis for dramatically expanding their footprint and upping their quality – and leaving more distance between DL and both AA and UA is part of the formula.
DL’s investor day is in a few days; this stuff will come out.
Delta needs to add a flight attendant back to domestic first-class. Planes like the 757 and A321 are too big for one flight attend to handle meals and drinks. Sometimes a second flight is drafted to help the service but often it’s just one flight attendant. They also need to mandate that flight attendants take food and drink orders on the ground before departure so that 10 minutes isn’t wasted once at cruising. Delta also needs to bring back pillows and blankets. If Aeromexico can do it, so can Delta. I would also like to see better quality wine.
Will put pressure on United to step up the food service
Last flight I was on was a 757 from LAS to ATL. The arm of the tray fell off. No one even came to help w spilled drinks over the person next to me as well as myself. Broken planes amd 40 year old equipment with a bag of 5 pretzels in premium is not premium. The CEO needs to clean up his act
C’mon United, PLEASE take the hint!!!
I flew first class on United from ABQ – ORD last week and they served mixed warm nuts before the main course and offered a hot towel before the meal. Food was fine. I was impressed with the service.
Fear not everyone, I will check on Daddy to see if he’s covered in Ed Bastian’s ectoplasm…back in a minute.
@ Tim — Let’s see how that goes after Jan 20th. The US and its airlines will become despised globally. Delta will pay a price for that. Maybe Delta can start nonstop flights to N Korea and Russia if they are seeking new markets where they will be welcome. Electing/appointing treasonist, rapists and child molesters to office comes with consequences.
How about Delta starts by bringing back meals in U.S. Business Class after 9:00 PM, like United offers? Would be nice to have a meal offered on a connecting red-eye flight when coming from Asia, or even a connecting flight when crossing the U.S. in the late evening.
Too bad your candidate didn’t win Gene. We dodged a bullet there. Airlines will always want to fly here. Our market is huge and will continue to grow after Jan. 20.
Just having drinkable wine would be a start…..
Ok Gene.
Show me all this doll where the bad orange man hurt you.