delta air lines

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Wow: Delta Eliminates Mileage-Earning On Its Cheapest Tickets

by Gary Leff on December 9, 2021

Dec 09 2021

Delta devalued SkyMiles awards twice during the pandemic and now calls it a sale when they offer 350,000 and even 400,000 mile-plus business class roundtrips to Europe. They’ve also gutted international upgrades with top elites getting confirmed from coach to premium economy only and no longer business class.

The other shoe has dropped at the reverse end of the spectrum, mileage-earning on the cheapest fares. For new tickets purchased (as of December 9, 2021) and travel starting January 1, 2022, Delta’s basic economy fares will no longer earn miles or elite status credit. Period.

Delta Guts International Upgrades, Top Elites Only Get Confirmed Into Premium Economy

by Gary Leff on November 4, 2021

Nov 04 2021

Delta is gutting confirmed international upgrades awarded to top elite customers. Top tier SkyMiles Diamond members can select confirmed global upgrades as a ‘choice benefit’. These have moved a customer on a coach ticket to business class on any Delta flight where upgrade space is available.

However starting February 1, 2022 that’s changing.

Delta’s CEO: People Won’t Lose Their Jobs Due To Vaccine Mandate

by Gary Leff on October 13, 2021

Oct 13 2021

I’ve actually expected that the December 8 deadline will push, but not until we get close, because if major airlines are far off from compliance the Biden administration won’t want to be blamed for ruining holiday travel due to mass cancellations.

They’ll need a reason for the delay, of course, that isn’t this. They will want to declare victory, or offer an extension on technical grounds. This will be especially tough to avoid if Covid-19 prevalence in the U.S. is low overall as the end of November approaches.

Delta Airlines Launching New Flights That Prove American-JetBlue Partnership Increases Competition

by Gary Leff on October 2, 2021

Oct 02 2021

The American Airlines-JetBlue codeshares cover New York and Boston. American’s new New York – Tel Aviv and Athens routes are both served by Delta. Now Delta is retaliating against that new service by adding the same destinations from Boston.

Is Delta doing anything here other than proving that the American Airlines-JetBlue partnership spurs competition in the Northeast?

Delta Proposes Banning Accused Mask Non-Compliant Passengers From All Air Travel

by Gary Leff on September 23, 2021

Sep 23 2021

You might say that airlines, as private businesses, should be allowed to choose not to transport anyone they wish. But this shouldn’t be viewed as private action, it is state action. The proposal comes in response to an FAA threat that airlines had one week to come up with a solution to unruly passengers.

There is a federal regulation in place on masking. That has a fine as a maximum penalty. Pressuring airlines to impose a more significant penalty than provided for in regulation or law is highly problematic.

Delta Flight Left The Gate With More Passengers Than Seats

by Gary Leff on September 12, 2021

Sep 12 2021

Early this morning Delta flight 1732 from Charleston, South Carolina to Atlanta pushed back from the gate – with more passengers on board than seats. The Boeing 737-900 has 180 passenger seats, but there were 182 passengers on board.

The aircraft returned to the gate quickly to offload the extra passengers, but this is uncommon enough I tried to find out how this happened and why the aircraft was moving back from the gate without everyone on board being seated.

Delta Imposing New Fees, Restrictions On Unvaccinated Employees

by Gary Leff on August 25, 2021

United Airlines has told employees they must get vaccinated if they want to keep their jobs. There are certain legally-mandated exceptions, but flight attendants were told that their union wouldn’t help them obtain these exemptions.

No other major U.S. airline has gone as far as United. Delta had required vaccination for new hires. Now they’re doing a lot more.

Rudy Giuliani Shaving While Eating Soup Inside New York JFK Delta Lounge

by Gary Leff on August 24, 2021

Aug 24 2021

Rudy Giuliani was caught shaving while eating at a table inside a Delta Air Lines lounge at New York JFK. Despite having rather nice restrooms – the normal place you’d shave in an airport – he chose to use the selfie camera on his iPad as a mirror and take breaks between soup and snacks to clean up his face. No one got close enough to verify whether his shavings got into the soup.

How Much Do Passengers Value Extra Space On A Plane During The Pandemic?

by Gary Leff on August 22, 2021

Aug 22 2021

Two professors from Northwestern University attempt to determine “the value of space during a pandemic” by looking at the revenue premium earned by Delta Air Lines for blocked middle seats. They put it at $23.

Delta Planning Improved Business Class Check-in, Dedicated Lounge At LAX

by Gary Leff on August 14, 2021

Aug 14 2021

An executive was talking a little too loudly in a Delta Air Lines Sky Club in Detroit. It sounds like Delta has terminated Sodexho contracts for running some clubs, and that Los Angeles is getting its differentiated business class lounge soon along with improvements to the Delta One check-in experience.