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Delta Appears to Raise Europe Business Class Awards to 105,000 Miles Each Way (50% Increase in a Year)

by Gary Leff on March 13, 2019

Mar 13 2019

It appears that SkyMiles is now charging 105,000 miles each way for transatlantic business class awards, up from 86,000 miles. That’s a 22% devaluation without notice on top of Delta’s already most-expensive saver awards compared to competitors, and a 50% increase in a year.

When Delta raised transatlantic prices to 86,000 miles just over a year ago they rolled back the increase briefly, before bumping it up again to 82,000 miles in June. So we don’t know if this new highest price will hold in the immediate term.

Free Inflight Wifi Coming to Delta

by Gary Leff on March 12, 2019

Mar 12 2019

For seven years I’ve been saying that inflight internet will eventually be free. Since I started making that prediction JetBlue introduced free inflight internet and Aer Lingus has announced usage-capped free wifi. Southwest, Delta and Alaska now offer free inflight messaging.

My 2012 prediction was that inflight wifi would be free in 10 years (so by 2022). Delta CEO Ed Bastian says they’ll do it in a year or two so by 2021.

Watch Out: Delta Now Gives You Basic Economy When You Redeem Miles on Many Routes

by Gary Leff on March 7, 2019

Mar 07 2019

In December I wrote that Delta has added basic economy restrictions to the lowest award prices for some routes. This was limited to just a few cities.

Now the travesty has spread.

Delta Quietly Ends Fixed Price Mileage Upgrades

by Gary Leff on February 16, 2019

Feb 16 2019

Back in December Delta introduced the ability to upgrade with miles any time — from purchase leading up to travel. Your miles are worth only about a penny apiece and they charge you the difference in fare between what you bought and the price of the more premium option.

At the time, and leading up to when this was launched, I suggested that this could replace traditional mileage awards — where there are capacity controls, the airline makes seats available for upgrade they don’t expect to sell, and you pay a fixed (discounted) mileage price for those seats.

Crazy Turbulence and Injuries as Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Reno

by Gary Leff on February 13, 2019

Feb 13 2019

Here’s video from Delta flight DL5763 from Orange County to Seattle, an Embraer ERJ 175 operated by Compass Airlines.

The aircraft, with 59 passengers and 4 crew on board, made an emergency landing in Reno after five of the passengers on board were injured due to severe turbulence.

Delta Calls Cops on Downgraded Law Professor Who Claims He Was Assaulted By Pilot

by Gary Leff on February 12, 2019

Feb 12 2019

University of Arkansas Law School professor Khaled Beydoun is claiming he was assaulted by a Delta Connection regional jet pilot after flying from Atlanta to Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport on Delta flight DL5325 operated by Endeavor Air, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Airlines.

The man was upgraded to first class based on his Platinum status but then downgraded to extra legroom coach. He says it’s because of his race. He then had words with the captain, whom he claims proceeded to ‘grab him by the neck’ and call the police on him.

Delta Apologizes For Creepy Inflight Napkins

by Gary Leff on February 6, 2019

Feb 06 2019

Delta serves Coke products because Atlanta, and their napkins advertise Coke products because money. Ads try to be clever to get your attention so they aren’t ignored, in order to get better value for that money.

However the napkins Delta was boarding last month didn’t go over well. They encouraged passengers to give fellow travelers unsolicited phone numbers in hopes of… well, you know what it’s in hopes of.

Delta’s ‘Revolutionary Rewards’ in Boston and Perks You Can Get With Your Boarding Pass

by Gary Leff on February 3, 2019

Feb 03 2019

A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.

The FAA Signed Off on New Southwest Planes During the Shutdown – But Not New Delta Planes

by Gary Leff on February 1, 2019

Feb 01 2019

The FAA did work for Southwest Airlines during the government shutdown and some other airlines are furious about it.

Delta’s New Color Coded Boarding is Live, Internal Memo Admits They’re Trying to Upsell You

by Gary Leff on January 28, 2019

Jan 28 2019

When Delta announced a new boarding process last month I gave it only a minor note since there’s very little actual change despite the hype about colors, simplicity and a better experience.

In an internal memo to employees Delta explains the strategy of their new boarding process — including making it clear to customers what they’re buying when they spend more.