Change is an airline having a conversation with you instead of at or against you. Help redifine what the travel experience is by contributing to Delta's new on-line community they launched today:

www.delta.com/change

In addition, new print and TV advertising hit the air today in select markets (ATL/NYC) with more to come.

[Edited 2007-05-07 16:53:01]

Until the table linens and real glasses are returned to first, edible meals to econ, on time departures from Atlanta, and spotlessly clean interiors (no duct tape visible, ANYWHERE), the only thing that has changed for me, the paying customer, is the paint job.

I've seen the ad, it's slick, but it ain't real. Domestically, I'll pay more, with greater inconvenience, but I'm still flying Continental.

Quoting GeorgiaAME (Reply 1): Until the table linens and real glasses are returned to first, edible meals to econ, on time departures from Atlanta, and spotlessly clean interiors (no duct tape visible, ANYWHERE), the only thing that has changed for me, the paying customer, is the paint job.

can anybody help out on the timeline when these things as mentioned above will start to happen? Six months? Nine months down the road??

heres the ad court. of the NY Times:



Delta Change

Quoting GeorgiaAME (Reply 1): Until the table linens and real glasses are returned to first, edible meals to econ, on time departures from Atlanta, and spotlessly clean interiors (no duct tape visible, ANYWHERE), the only thing that has changed for me, the paying customer, is the paint job. I've seen the ad, it's slick, but it ain't real. Domestically, I'll pay more, with greater inconvenience, but I'm still flying Continental.

Hey, GeorgiaAME:

Quoting Alitalia744 (Thread starter): Help redefine what the travel experience is by contributing to Delta's new on-line community they launched today: www.delta.com/change

Quoting GeorgiaAME (Reply 1): Until the table linens and real glasses are returned to first, edible meals to econ, on time departures from Atlanta, and spotlessly clean interiors (no duct tape visible, ANYWHERE), the only thing that has changed for me, the paying customer, is the paint job. I've seen the ad, it's slick, but it ain't real. Domestically, I'll pay more, with greater inconvenience, but I'm still flying Continental.

Well done! It only took a certified Delta Hater until the first response to get their shot in.

Good work.

[Edited 2007-05-07 17:39:41]

How ironic.

I try to type in a suggestion, and the scroll button in the selection will not let me both move down AND see what I'm typing. You move it down to see you seventh or eighth line, then put the cursor back, and it jumps back up to the top.

I have had numerous complaints about their computer system. Now their suggestion box doesn't function well.

What a joke.

Quoting PanAm747 (Reply 6): How ironic. I try to type in a suggestion, and the scroll button in the selection will not let me both move down AND see what I'm typing. You move it down to see you seventh or eighth line, then put the cursor back, and it jumps back up to the top. I have had numerous complaints about their computer system. Now their suggestion box doesn't function well. What a joke.

Funny. I went to the site clicked on "Tell us Your Ideas", and submitted a suggestion rather easily. No problems here.

Quoting Alitalia744 (Thread starter): Delta Launches "Change"

Good. They should start by changing the tail to something that actually resembles a Widget, upon nothing more than a quick glance.

This is, after all, about brand recognition, no?

Quote: Funny. I went to the site clicked on "Tell us Your Ideas", and submitted a suggestion rather easily. No problems here.

Oh, I could type and send - I just couldn't see what I was typing!! If the cursor was in the box, I couldn't scroll down. And if I moved the scroll bar down, when I went to put the cursor back on, the box jumped back to the top.

Now I have to call them - again - to verify that since there was a three-minute time change to my itinerary, the computer hasn't lost my seats. Again. And probably another twenty minutes on hold.

Quoting GeorgiaAME (Reply 1): on time departures from Atlanta

Hmm...haven't had a late flight in or out of ATL in months. Someone must not like you if you're always delayed as much as you claim.

Quoting KFLLCFII (Reply 8): Good. They should start by changing the tail to something that actually resembles a Widget, upon nothing more than a quick glance. This is, after all, about brand recognition, no?

Yes, but the executives have said repeatedly, "this is not your grandmother's Delta." It's a new travel experience for a new airline. Get the old stuff out of your head, Allen ruined the original job and Mullin ruined the second job. The old Delta is dead, this is a new start for a different, more customer-oriented powerhouse. The family spirit has returned to be better than ever!

Speaking of the re-branding, and changes, I was just through both ATL and SLC, and the new branding looks absolutely incredible in the airports. I'm still not crazy about the paint job on the planes, but boy, those ticket-counter backsplashes look sharp!

I see this as a start for Delta, I just hope they listen. Once thing I woudl liek to see if more flights out of CVG and teh return of DFW for Delta. You fly from any where and with Delta you have to go into ATL and tehy wait and suffer. you will be number 80 for take off. Why do they flood that airport and not use others?

I'll be flying them TPA-LAX. It'll be interesting to see if anything has changed other than the paint and kiosks.

Quoting PanAm747 (Reply 9): Now I have to call them - again - to verify that since there was a three-minute time change to my itinerary, the computer hasn't lost my seats. Again. And probably another twenty minutes on hold.

You do not have to call them. You have not lost your seat assignment. It is only a web site glitch. Your seat assignment is still intact in the reservation computer. Wait a week until the computer does the weekly housecleaning update, and your seat assignment will reappear when you check your reservation on the web site.

While some pro- and anti-Delta folks appear to have strong feelings, I tend to think "We'll see..." on things like this. Marketing is one thing. Follow through is another. I'm sure Delta is capable, but time will tell if they mean it.

-Dave

Quoting USPIT10L (Reply 11): Quoting KFLLCFII: Good. They should start by changing the tail to something that actually resembles a Widget, upon nothing more than a quick glance. This is, after all, about brand recognition, no? Yes, but the executives have said repeatedly, "this is not your grandmother's Delta." It's a new travel experience for a new airline. Get the old stuff out of your head, Allen ruined the original job and Mullin ruined the second job. The old Delta is dead, this is a new start for a different, more customer-oriented powerhouse.

Then tell me... Why is the Widget still splashed across every piece of advertisement, every individual page on the website, and every other PR notification to date since emerging from bankruptcy?

If their goal is truly to get people into thinking "this is not your grandmother's Delta", then in the context of brand recognition, surely they would have already done away with any rendition of the easily-recognized, easily-associated-with-Delta Widget, no?

It's pretty clear that the new PR push is an attempt to ride the coattails of old tradition...Especially since they decided to bring the Widget back to the tail, for all the world to see.

Problem was, in terms of brand recognition, they only did it half-assed.

Have to wonder how many people had the same attitudes about CO when Bethune took over. Let's at least be fair and give them a chance.

....in regards the old, and old old Delta. I am hoping that the old, old , old Delta will return. By this I mean the Delta of the '70's and '80's where the employees were empowered to make decisions to fix problems that always crop up in air travel. In these years...and the early 90's...Delta was held in very high regard by the elite flyers. I was one of them and Delta did some favors for me that earned them my total business for 20 years...or more.

Then the later managements decided to alter the rules and degrade the FF program. The result was that many elites moved some or all their travel to other airlines. This cuts at the very base that drives the bottom line profit. If you want a frequent flyer to pay 3 to 4 times what the "leisure" rate is, you had better keep him/her happy. I would venture to guess that most of the business travelers are not paying for their own tickets and their choice of airlines is based on the level of service and the FF program.....cost is not the real factor.

What I have noticed is that even in the recent past, the Delta front line employees....for the most part...have managed to maintain their service and good humor. It can only get better now with the exit from bankruptcy. It seems that the present management is trying hard to make up for past sins. Lets hope that this continues.

Delta was the first airline I flew....in 1966..on a DC-7. It can return to its prior glory!  

Jim

The billboards behind the FTO's are indeed gorgious at IAD. The Skycap podium looks just as good sporting a brand-new unit. Also, I like the white-on-blue signage that displays above the people's heads as they're standing in front of the podium that may block the signage on the unit. Thus, you can see the word "Delta" from a drive-by. Its a bold and corporate-ish looking and yes my friends....it is a new Delta.....lets just move on and stop being in rebellion. I feel the new livery ain't gonna change!

Quoting KFLLCFII (Reply 8): Good. They should start by changing the tail to something that actually resembles a Widget, upon nothing more than a quick glance. This is, after all, about brand recognition, no?

Well said....you beat me to it. Already time to CHANGE the paint scheme. Hopefully back to the 80's design.  

Anyone recognize the mock-up hangar with the new livery jet? Looks a bit familiar.  

Quoting PlanesNTrains (Reply 16): While some pro- and anti-Delta folks appear to have strong feelings, I tend to think "We'll see..." on things like this. Marketing is one thing. Follow through is another. I'm sure Delta is capable, but time will tell if they mean it.

Or, to put it another way... "The road to (service) hell is paved with good intentions". I certainly hope DL regains their "spirit" and can move forward with a more customer friendly approach. But - it remains to be seen if this is merely window dressing, or if there is going to be a fundamental shift towards a kinder and gentler airline.

Quoting GeorgiaAME (Reply 1): Until the table linens and real glasses are returned to first, edible meals to econ, on time departures from Atlanta, and spotlessly clean interiors (no duct tape visible, ANYWHERE), the only thing that has changed for me, the paying customer, is the paint job. I've seen the ad, it's slick, but it ain't real. Domestically, I'll pay more, with greater inconvenience, but I'm still flying Continental.

You won't know what you're missing!

Delta will have to do a lot to get me to fly with them in the future. A fast crappy paint job and the changing of uniforms will not make me want to fly with them. Throwing some salad out of a bag will do nothing for me either... Come on Delta, be an irresistible hot babe for us all.

Hey i thought it was funny that basically all of the shots of the "old " broken down airport scenes were in Bos. The first one was terminal B The gate area was what is now air canadas gates used to be delta shuttle back in the day . And the little baggage claim belt is still here in terminal C. Nobody uses it which air canada used to use until the early 80's . Just thought that was funny  

That's a nice and fun feature to play with! I suggested that they provide amenity kits similar to JetBlue on overnight flights. Make customers comfortable  

Scott

A cri d'cor:

Hey you yutzehs: I'm married to that friggen airline! I live in Atlanta. I treat their FAs and pilots, as well as their ground crew. I have a personal, vested interest in that airline, the single largest employer in Atlanta, to succeed. They go belly up, I won't go out of business, but believe me, I will hurt, as will a great many other people here and in other cities. I want that lousy airline to suceed.

You keep your customers by providing service to make them want to come back to you, plain and simple. Basic rule of thumb when it comes to business: for every individual you piss off, you lose 10 future customers. Second rule: It is a hell of a lot cheaper to retain a single customer than to recruit a new one. Repainting the plane don't cut it! Pretending to "change" don't cut it! Providing a service that your customers WANT, and expects, does. So a simple proposal: raise your fees $1. per ticket, not a penny more. Now, who out there has waited in the Hartsfield security line at 4PM on any weekday? Multiply those unwashed, sandeled shod, (or barefooted) sweating, hairy armpitted hoards by that figure, and tell me how much cold cash could be pumped into this neo-bankrupt airline's coffers on a daily basis to improve service? I know, the truth hurts.

I resent the $5. charge for swill served in Y class. I resent shelling out $500 to fly to California in F, and being served a "pizza" or piece of chicken on a plastic "table cloth", with my "free" drink served in a plastic cup. I will make allowances for the god awful management that Mullins and his ilk provided, and even put up with it ( a few times) as Grinstein has tried (desperately, I suspect), to pull them out of bankruptcy. But they are out, we now have the weird "circumcised" widget as someone wrote a few days ago back on the tail, and if you want to tell me that you are "changing" and better, well, prove it! Other than raising some hackles, I fail to see it. Convince me, because, dammit, I want to be convinced!

I need to go to San Jose next month. DL Will get me there on a non stop, 8PM departure. However, after my last Delta trip to PBI last week, I am willing to pay more (foolish me), for an earlier flight (so much for my work ethic, the office closes early), with an IAH connection (what is an additional 2 hours of travel time among friends) and a later arrival (my poor brother), for the service CO offers. (Skyteam miles/elite status). It shouldn't be that way. Don't you poor sods see, I want to be a Delta customer! But the competition offers a superior product. And as I said, a paint job don't cut it.

Enough kvetching, already.

Quoting GeorgiaAME (Reply 28): I need to go to San Jose next month. DL Will get me there on a non stop, 8PM departure. However, after my last Delta trip to PBI last week, I am willing to pay more (foolish me), for an earlier flight (so much for my work ethic, the office closes early), with an IAH connection (what is an additional 2 hours of travel time among friends) and a later arrival (my poor brother), for the service CO offers. (Skyteam miles/elite status). It shouldn't be that way. Don't you poor sods see, I want to be a Delta customer! But the competition offers a superior product.

It all depends on what you find important. For me, I don't care about what kind of cup my drink is in, or if the table cloth is really made of paper.

CO is OK. The PC has free WiFi and better snacks.

DL has much better FA's and better free drinks in the CRCs

The food in international is about the same to me, but I'm not a "foodie".

The first big difference to me is with CO I am stuck in an RJ for a minimum of 90 minutes per trip to connect through either IAH or EWR (Southeast USA).

The second big difference for me is with CO I have to go through the hell hole called EWR to connect with Europe. ATL beats that option hands down (from experience of being overnighted in Newark at CO's expense),

This is why I am still a DL PM.

it's all a waste of money too me . i mean resaurant style buzzers? come on. if you ain't resposible enough to be at your gate for boarding then you should get left. they sure aren't acting like an airline that just came out of bk. i think delta is way to carried away. i cannot belive that their board of directors approved all this . i smell another trip to bk. i really hope i am wrong cause the deta employees are great. i just think managemnt is going overboard with all these enhancements. i hope i get proven wrong. it's ok to enhance your product but it's another think to go overboard and find your self in financial trouble again.

Quoting Etops1 (Reply 30): it's all a waste of money too me . i mean resaurant style buzzers? come on. if you ain't resposible enough to be at your gate for boarding then you should get left. they sure aren't acting like an airline that just came out of bk. i think delta is way to carried away. i cannot belive that their board of directors approved all this .

Those are not all changes being implemented by DL. Some of them, such as the restaurant buzzer idea, were submitted by customers.

So let me get this straight:

Quoting USPIT10L (Reply 11): The old Delta is dead

And yet...

Quoting USPIT10L (Reply 11): The family spirit has returned to be better than ever!

You mean the family spirit that was around back when DL had great service? Back when I looked forward to flying them on transcon flights because their breakfasts were so good? I'm not talking about the Delta Air Lines Delta, or the Deltaflot Delta. I'm talking about the old old Delta, the one with the widget on the tail (and the front door). That's the Delta they should be trying to go back to. I'm not sure how ruining their trademark is supposed to evoke memories of the past.

-Mir

Quoting XJETFlyer (Reply 25): Come on Delta, be an irresistible hot babe for us all.

You know what they say about hot babes? Some guy is tired of hittin it.

The big problem with irresistable hot babes is that most of us cannot afford them.

Quoting GeorgiaAME (Reply 28): I resent the $5. charge for swill served in Y class. I resent shelling out $500 to fly to California in F, and being served a "pizza" or piece of chicken on a plastic "table cloth", with my "free" drink served in a plastic cup

Quoting GeorgiaAME (Reply 28): I need to go to San Jose next month. DL Will get me there on a non stop, 8PM departure. However, after my last Delta trip to PBI last week, I am willing to pay more (foolish me), for an earlier flight (so much for my work ethic, the office closes early), with an IAH connection (what is an additional 2 hours of travel time among friends) and a later arrival (my poor brother), for the service CO offers. (Skyteam miles/elite status). It shouldn't be that way.

So we've heard what you are not getting on DL but please explain to me what exactly CO is giving you that will make you pay more for a longer trip in smaller aircraft?

DL757Md

Quoting GeorgiaAME (Reply 28): I resent the $5. charge for swill served in Y class.

Do you think any of your other options here in the States are better? You're sorely mistaken.

Quoting GeorgiaAME (Reply 28): I resent shelling out $500 to fly to California in F, and being served a "pizza" or piece of chicken on a plastic "table cloth", with my "free" drink served in a plastic cup.

Oh boo fricking hoo. Heaven forbid you have to eat a pizza or piece of chicken and oh lord how dare someone insult you with a paper tablecloth and a plastic cup. As much as those changes sucked compared to the older service they are part of what kept them flying. Perhaps you should give them more than a couple of weeks out of bankruptcy before you start your incessant bitching and moaning about service levels.

Quoting GeorgiaAME (Reply 28): Don't you poor sods see, I want to be a Delta customer!

No you don't. You want to be a grumpy ass. You've been that way for ever on here. Delta would be better served without some ass like you bothering them. If you want the nonstop flights then just STFU or go fly your beloved Continental. I've flown CO a few times over the past couple of years when DL couldn't get me where I wanted or for the price and times I wanted and honestly they were pretty much an even proposition for me. Other than a real glass for my drink and a plate for the bagged salad with a piece of rubbery chicken on it they were the same as Delta other than the fact I had to make a connection. If those are what makes a flight and airline for you then so be it.

let's roll back the timeline just a bit and set a few things straight....

DL had a reputation for excellent service that last for most of the first 70 years it flew..... CO was for the most part considered an also ran when it came to service.

CO emerged from its 2nd BK more than a decade ago. it took years after that before its product was industry leading.

DL emerged from BK..... LAST WEEK!

Do you not think a company that has a very strong reputation for service and already knows what it has to do to restore its product to industry leading levels (and spent tens of millions of dollars in BK to get a good head start) will not deliver a industry leading product that is at least as good as CO's?

And before you answer too quickly, remember that CO bested DL in the JD Power survey for last year by less than 1/4 of 1%. And DL's future for the 1st half of last year was anything but assured. If DL's employees managed to deliver service that was within a fraction of a percent when they were under the gun and unsure of their survival, do you not think they will do even better now that the cash and stock has been readily spread around?

They have been saturating the public market and its been what a couple days if that? The only other time i see this much advertising is for Geico (thats a car insurance company for all the non-US folks out there). But i will have to give the ole pat on the back for not destroying the company and reemerging with some pride and thought to the consumer and hopefully is employees

You know I think this is probably the smartest thing DL has done in a long time....

What i've said to them...is go and look at BA's eurotraveller and QF's cityflyer... come up with something
similar to that, charge slightly more...and you've got my business.

"Those are not all changes being implemented by DL. Some of them, such as the restaurant buzzer idea, were submitted by customers."


yeah , and i can't beleive delta went with it. it must be costing them a fortune. it's one of those things delta does not need to survive. they are not fixing the house . you got to gut it before you improve it. the icing sure looks good on top but the cake tastes horrible. they are trying to be the best . which there is nothing wrong with that. just don't be so cocky about it because they are not out of the woods yet by a long shot.

Quoting Alitalia744 (Thread starter): www.delta.com/change

so Delta is going through the "change" or menapause?

In all seriousness, I like their new commercial, looks like they might be heading in the right direction 

Quoting Etops1 (Reply 38): yeah , and i can't beleive delta went with it. it must be costing them a fortune.

It is at this point merely a suggestion. Delta is not going with it. Lighten up a little.

this is my first post..i have been following the forum for about four years now and have just signed up..
i find delta's whole 'new brand image' to be a bit bizarre..i still can't get over the new livery thing. at this point, i doubt they'll get them all painted before there is another one out.
that said, i have been partially impressed by delta's service lately. i flew with them in march to CPH and the outbound flight was amazing--absolutely on par with BA, AF, or SK in terms of service--very nice experience. it seemed to fit perfectly with their wavy gravy livery and branding--don't know why they have to change it. it just throws me off for some reason.

however the inbound to ATL was such a blast from the past. old seats, dirty planes, seemingly redneck FAs who admitted they didn't know the difference between danish and dutch. reminded me of my first DL 763 flight so many years ago when I first traveled to LGW from CVG. DL is on the right path, but they have so much work to do. Just wish they would keep up the good work and not worry about re-branding or [terrible and boring] new liveries.

anyway, pardon my rambling, but delta.com/change bothers me for some reason. seems like a bunch of corporate pep-rally type noise that is hurting them rather than helping.

hollandmonsoon

Quoting USPIT10L (Reply 11): Yes, but the executives have said repeatedly, "this is not your grandmother's Delta." It's a new travel experience for a new airline.

Quoting USPIT10L (Reply 11): The family spirit has returned to be better than ever!

I thought my grandmother's DL was the DL with the remarkable family spirit. I miss the airline that, until not all that long ago, still had its shareholders' meetings in Monroe, La.  

I wish the best of luck to DL, and I hope they do well. I just wish their new image paid more homage to their heritage.

Wow some of you are making DL sound like the worst Legacy airline I get that. I also understand that some of you are very upset about the new livery as well.

As a customer that has never flown DL as far as i can remember I will give them a fair shot. I have flown a lot lot of carriers in my life, but I hear that the DL FA's are one of the best so I am looking forward to experiencing the new DL.

One question I am flying this summer RNO-SLC, SLC-DCA then DCA-ATL, ATL-LAX, LAX-RNO. I understand that ATL-LAX will be serving coach meals, or any flight 1750 or so mile radius domestically. Does SLC-DCA fall in to this category? I assume its not quite the distance but I had to ask.

There are three types of people in this world.

1. Those that make things happen

2. Those that watch things happen

and...

3. Those that say, "Gee, what happened."

Well, something along those lines.

Have you ever figured out that nobody likes hanging around somebody thats got the Triple C disease. Complain, critisize and condemn. DL is not the devil nor the ValuJet of the skies. Get over it or move on.

The Delta bashing here is not necessary...(no, I do not work for Delta).

DL is trying to do something new and different, to provide a product that people will CHOOSE to fly. They have a ways to go, but what I see, I like (ok, the paint job needs to grow on me). They certainly are coming out of bankruptcy in a much better position than UA did when they came out.

I do think that the BE seat upgrade needs to happen sooner rather than later. Making the change only on the 777LR is creating a different product within the product. Not a great thing. IF AC can get the same seat into their 767s, DL should be able to do the same thing. It certainly would up the ante in terms of their product positioning, especially for the high yield customer.

For now, as others have mentioned, I will take a wait and see attitude. But...I do like what I see.
baw716

I just watched the ad and its brillaint! DL's firm in NY taking car of its ads really needs to be commended... a lot of good American companies that have stale images could learn a lot from these guys. This is every bit as good as what's coming out of Europe and Asia.

Problem: While the images painted by this campaign look great...and inviting enough to get me to at least give it at try... im a bit worried that DL won't deliver. You see, nothing will piss customers off more then being presented one thing and given another. Think of it like this. I just went and bought what I thought was a BMW or an Audi... only to discover I had a Hyundai waiting for me. Yes...I might not have paid BMW prices...but that's not the point... the point is somebody promised me something that looked like a BMW and I got all excited about it. I'm not gonna be in a hurry to do it again am I?

SO DELTA.... my advice to you is this. Deliver! Because if you don't this is going to cost you big time. If you do... it should be an outstanding success. One of the big problems with the US industry as it is today is nobody makes a real effort to promote themselves as something better and ACTUALLY DO IT. Airlines like BA, QF and SAA have succeeded with this. They're all from Anglo countries too, so I see no reason why given the cultural similarities Americans won't always respond warmly and DL's marketing efforts seem to be right on track. BUT THE ONBOARD EXPERIENCE better be more...and that's not just having a PTV on a 757. It means little things...like an attractive snack...such as a piece of cake (not some processed crap) or a flan (something that looks Gourmet! this part is important..it must LOOK the part) or real meals for econ passengers on longer flights. Give the passengers a glass of wine after 4pm... and KEEP UP THAT GOOD STYLING. The people who fly the most will appreciate it. Those that fly once a year are probably going to go to Southwest or American anyway.

Here is the thing...now that the state of US domestic flying has got so bad, there is a real opportunity for a single airline to emerge itself as "a cut above the rest". BA does this. Qantas does this. And Delta can too! And if you experience REAL difference on board (not just small ones) you may be rewarded not just with passenger loyalty but with passengers actually paying more. And for those who don't believe me.... Why then is any real 5 star hotel still in Business? Super 8 didn't put them out of business now did it? There's definately room... Good luck Delta..Please just do this properly...no empty promises.

Quoting Floridaflyboy (Reply 12): peaking of the re-branding, and changes, I was just through both ATL and SLC, and the new branding looks absolutely incredible in the airports. I'm still not crazy about the paint job on the planes, but boy, those ticket-counter backsplashes look sharp!

very true.. I was around ATL on 30APR with the whole new branding and it looks great. The new DL counters are really amazing, modern, clean looking, looks good and feels good. The thing is that they have a full red 3-d widget behind the counters and on the signs, BUT THE PLANE HAS A HALF-WIDGET!!!! and that is what upsets me... it does make sense and it is recognizable after you go through the airport and get used to the new branding, but still, the plane is their flying billboard and looks incomplete!

Let me just say a Livery does not define what DL is made of (Or other carriers) . The plane could look good on the outside and have the worst FA's, food service, and attitude, or vica versa . While DL is attempting huge strides right here and now some things will probably take more time fo PAX to see the benefits.

So maybe a couple of years down the road you will see a dominant DL, or not. Regardless the fact remains that higher ups want changes while we may not agree with everything we see and hear at least they are doing something.

KFLLCFII.....

regarding the tail...

agreed,agreed,agreed!

With that repaint you did....I immediately added you to my respected users list!

BBTRTW (bring back the real tail widget)

RIK


no more "tartan tail"!!!!

[Edited 2007-05-08 07:49:36]

Quoting Positiverate (Reply 5): Well done! It only took a certified Delta Hater until the first response to get their shot in. Good work.

There could be a reason for that, u know?

Quoting USPIT10L (Reply 11): The family spirit has returned to be better than ever!

That remains to be seen

Quoting XJETFlyer (Reply 25): Delta will have to do a lot to get me to fly with them in the future. A fast crappy paint job and the changing of uniforms will not make me want to fly with them. Throwing some salad out of a bag will do nothing for me either....

Ditto that.

Quoting Baw716 (Reply 45): The Delta bashing here is not necessary...(no, I do not work for Delta).

I disagree. Delta bashing is necessary if the airline is to know just how unsatisfied some of its ex-passengers are. I was unfortunately one such passenger who had a bad experience with Delta, and I have never flown with them again. To me, to see this glitzy PR campaign is very hollow and will not gloss over the bad quality of service and other problems this airline is having. IMHO, DL has a very long way to go to learn what it takes to be a world class carrier, and no matter how many restaurant buzzers they have they will never be a VS, EK, QF, or SQ.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

SparkingWave ~~~

Why cant people just congratulate the airline on TRYING to do something different??

People in this world condemn way too much!

My advice to you, take a hard, close look at yourself in the mirror, and think to yourself..."today could be your last"... maybe life will be put into perspective for you...such as 'live life to the fullest'... instead of complaining, do something proactive and if you want to bitch and moan about something, do it towards the right channels....ie what this airline is doing...asking for YOUR input into what can make it better!

Be an OPTIMISTIC not a PESSIMISTIC...and who knows, maybe you will live a happier life???

Cheers

Quoting SparkingWave (Reply 50): how many restaurant buzzers they have

For the last time, there are no friggin' restaurant buzzers. It was a suggestion by some poster at the website. Period.

Quoting SparkingWave (Reply 50): I was unfortunately one such passenger who had a bad experience with Delta, and I have never flown with them again.

And yet you can so definitively say...

Quoting SparkingWave (Reply 50): Quoting USPIT10L (Reply 11): The family spirit has returned to be better than ever! That remains to be seen

As one who has been flying Delta a lot since the Pan Am days and approaching 4 million lifetime DL miles soon (hence I would have a much higher probability of running into bad situations at DL than most of you), I can assure you that the improvements are real, particularly those at Mainline.
Is DL perfect? Of course not - the domestic F product and baggage handling still need work, for example. But for an airline that has thousands of flights a day and more than 45,000 employees worldwide, DL has done pretty damn well.

Morale is way up and it's quite evident on almost every Mainline flight I've taken in the past two months; even some of the most cynical employees I know are much happier these days...The planes are much cleaner than before, and 90% of the planes I've been on in the past few months have been refurbished. All but one of the 777s have been redone; all 8 764s being converted to international are now all done; and at least 60-70% of the 763ER international fleet have the new entertainment systems in Business and leather seats, etc. In terms of domestic on-time performance, DL has been #1 of all the legacy network carriers for the past three months or more. JFK is being refurbished, and while the former Pan Am Worldport will never be the prettiest terminal at JFK, it's looking much better than just two months ago all carpets have been replaced, the new branding looks good throughout the terminals; the new Premium check-in at Terminal 2 is easily one of the best in the U.S. with hardly any lines at either check-in or TSA security......the HBO programming on the AVOD PTVs is a very nice addition to the AVOD PTVs, etc.

Quoting SparkingWave (Reply 50): I was unfortunately one such passenger who had a bad experience with Delta, and I have never flown with them again.

So you judged them off of one bad experience? What if I or anyone else did the same to you and never gave you another chance? I will fully admit that Delta has their issues and they are working on them just like every other airline out there. I'm not an employee but rather someone who flies them as my hometown airline because they get me where they ned to get me at the times I want for a decent price and they take ccare of me when they screw up.

Do you care to give an example of what your problem with them was or do you just want to throw stones over the fence? If you've only flown them once you shouldn't be passing judgement on a product that you have no clue about.

Quoting GeorgiaAME (Reply 1): Until the table linens and real glasses are returned to first, edible meals to econ, on time departures from Atlanta, and spotlessly clean interiors (no duct tape visible, ANYWHERE), the only thing that has changed for me, the paying customer, is the paint job. I've seen the ad, it's slick, but it ain't real. Domestically, I'll pay more, with greater inconvenience, but I'm still flying Continental.

   It sure would be nice to see an airline put the money into something other than advertising.

Quoting Airtechy (Reply 19): It can return to its prior glory!

Not in this maket. Too many travelers want CHEAP and safe airtravel. The Legend airlines of yesterday are long gone. Say a few words, throw the flowers on the casket, and move on. LCC's have changed the scope of the airline industry. It's not going to change anytime soon.

717

Quoting GlobalATL (Reply 44): DL is not the devil nor the ValuJet of the skies

What precisely does that comment mean? What about ValuJet?

717

KFLLCFII,
I just spend the past 4 years studying marketing and what they are doing is what you are supposed to do when rebranding. If they were to have kept the same design, then there would still be the same thoughts as old times. If they were to have created something totally different, then consumers would be confussed and move away from the product because they are not used to that big of a change. Their strategy is the ideal strategy because it simplifies the old "widget" while still keeping the Delta logo intact.
In my opinion, they are doing everything right. Like any repositioning strategy, who knows how long it will last, but I wish the best of luck to Delta. I will be flying with Delta to London next week on the renovated 764ER and am very excited to see the changes in ATL.

Quoting GeorgiaAME (Reply 1): Until the table linens and real glasses are returned to first, edible meals to econ, on time departures from Atlanta, and spotlessly clean interiors (no duct tape visible, ANYWHERE), the only thing that has changed for me, the paying customer, is the paint job. I've seen the ad, it's slick, but it ain't real. Domestically, I'll pay more, with greater inconvenience, but I'm still flying Continental.

I haven't had a delayed departure out of ATL on DL metal in many months, maybe over a year even.
As for the interiors... I must say that the seats are definitely more comfortable and seem to have an extra inch or two since before the upgrade. Oh and the interiors were spotless!
Pretty impressive.

Maybe if you didn't stick with CO you'd know this?

Quoting ComairGuyCVG (Reply 21): Already time to CHANGE the paint scheme. Hopefully back to the 80's design.

You took the words right out of my mouth (or keyboard, rather)! Sadly, we will probably only ever see it again in pictures.

Quoting DeltaGator (Reply 53): So you judged them off of one bad experience?

No. I used to be a DL frequent flyer. My dissatisfaction accumulated over several experiences.

Quoting DeltaGator (Reply 53): Do you care to give an example of what your problem with them

Most of my experiences involved dealing with very rude FAs. I don't want to discuss this on this thread because it is off topic. I'll just say that when FAs treat u badly, it can ruin what would otherwise be a nice flight. It's happened to me on DL between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland, as well as the U.S. to Europe. I'm the kind of passenger that's as accomodating as possible and tries to mind his own business but the sad thing is, DL didn't care about my business.

SparkingWave  

Quoting GeorgiaAME (Reply 28): A cri d'cor:

These posts would all mean something if it wasn;t the same old same old from the traditional Delta haters. AME, we know you hate Delta. You've made no bones about it. It's old, and it's tired. Fortunately, you have a chouce when you fly out of ATL and that includes AirTran. Maybe they'll serve you a 5 star 3 course meal on linens with china...  

Quoting SparkingWave (Reply 60): No. I used to be a DL frequent flyer. My dissatisfaction accumulated over several experiences.

Well your words were as follows..."I was unfortunately one such passenger who had a bad experience with Delta, and I have never flown with them again." You can see where one might get the impression that you only flew them once and then never again.

I think you might be pleasantly surprised by them if you flew them again. I will say one thing though and it does bother me about Delta (though I'm sure it would bug me about any carrier.) They do take very good care of their frequent fliers but can be a pain in the ass for non-frequent folks. I had a coworker with me once that had no status on Delta. He couldn't get a seat assignment to save his life and was told, not rudely at least, that he would have to wait until later in the boarding process until a seat could be assigned. I went up to the same gate agent and explained he was traveling with me and could they please take care of them. I was only a lowly Gold Medallion at that point but she jumped right on it and got him a seat, and an exit row aisle no less.

The thing with DL is that it can be so inconsistent, maybe more so than any other carrier. I've had some of the worst service experiences of my life on DL and some of the best. That's frustrating, but unfortunately it doesn't build customer loyalty. One of DL's biggest problems IMO is that so many of its customers have another carrier at their fingertips. ATL people can fly FL. Most people in the southeast can just as easily connect through CLT. DEN (F9 and UA) competes with SLC. There are a plethora of choices in NYC. In that environment, DL needs to provide a product people can count on, and they fail to do that.

On time performance has improved a ton lately, but at what price? The price is that if the weather in ATL is going to be bad, they pare flights the day before. It could mean 3 hours more of travel time, 2 RJs, and a trip to Kentucky. It has for me more than once. Inconsistency again...

Perhaps a bit off topic, but good chance for a vox pop:

Flying Delta to Atlanta from LGW on Friday; overnight in Atlanta at a hotel airport then on to Puerto Vallarta on Saturday morning.

Two weeks in the Mexican sun......  

Then back to LGW, same route but in reverse, and no stopover. All in Economy.

I used to fly a lot on BA between LHR and the US (World Traveller, boo to company travel policy!); now travel loads domestically in the UK on low-cost airlines (BMI Baby, EasyJet, FlyBE).

How's it going to compare? Will my vacation get off to a good start, or will my better half be cursing me for not choosing AA?

All opinions welcome! (other than those criticising my choice of vacation location!)

Cheers

F'bat

Quoting Fruitbat (Reply 64): How's it going to compare? Will my vacation get off to a good start, or will my better half be cursing me for not choosing AA?

International widebody crews are generally great, unless the flying gods really hate you. And ATL FIS can move a heck of a lot of people through very quickly. Should be a pleasant experience.

Quoting Fruitbat (Reply 64): How's it going to compare? Will my vacation get off to a good start, or will my better half be cursing me for not choosing AA?

Well, DL's international Y has improved over the past year - you will at least get an amenity kit (eyeshades, earplugs) and a free alcoholic beverage with your meal - both of which you won't get on AA. If you're on DL11 LGW-ATL, then you'll be on one of the very nice refurbished 767-400ERs which will have AVOD PTVs at every Y seat; if on DL59, then you're on a regular 763ER which doesn't have PTVs (just overhead monitors). On the return, DL12 is the 764ER while DL58 is the 763ER.

Meal service-wise, westbound will be a hot lunch (choice of a meat or pasta dish), a mid-flight snack of a Haagen-Daas ice cream, and a pretty decent cheese pizza snack before landing. On AA, there is no mid-flight ice-cream, and the snack before landing is a junk-food box of mini-Pringles, candy, etc. Eastbound will be a hot dinner (again, choice of meat or pasta), and a continental breakfast (I think it's a banana, a croissant, and I can't remember whether there's a yogurt as well).

Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 63): On time performance has improved a ton lately, but at what price? The price is that if the weather in ATL is going to be bad, they pare flights the day before. It could mean 3 hours more of travel time, 2 RJs, and a trip to Kentucky

Would you rather be sitting on the plane in ATL with a few hour delay/gate hold?

Quoting Panamair (Reply 66): Would you rather be sitting on the plane in ATL with a few hour delay/gate hold?

Depends how bad the alternative in CVG is.

I'm not pointing it out because it's a bad thing, but it's important to see the rest of the picture when making assertions about DL's on-time record.

Quoting Panamair (Reply 66): If you're on DL11 LGW-ATL, then you'll be on one of the very nice refurbished 767-400ERs which will have AVOD PTVs at every Y seat; if on DL59, then you're on a regular 763ER which doesn't have PTVs (just overhead monitors). On the return, DL12 is the 764ER while DL58 is the 763ER.

Bu&&er - we're on the 59 and 58! Looks like it's a choice between the Nintendo DS and a cricked neck!

Panamair - many thanks for the info - cheers!

Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 67): I'm not pointing it out because it's a bad thing, but it's important to see the rest of the picture when making assertions about DL's on-time record.

Frankly, since the B6 fiasco at JFK in Feb, (and probably even before that), many airlines have been taking the 'safer' option of cancelling flights the day before so as not to replicate the B6 experience....even B6 has taken to doing that.

Quoting Panamair (Reply 69): Frankly, since the B6 fiasco at JFK in Feb, (and probably even before that), many airlines have been taking the 'safer' option of cancelling flights the day before so as not to replicate the B6 experience....even B6 has taken to doing that.

True, but it's also worth noting that DL will often cancel flights due to light loads as well. It's not just about w/x.

Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 70): True, but it's also worth noting that DL will often cancel flights due to light loads as well. It's not just about w/x.

Do you know for a fact that they cancel flights due to light loads? It is not as easy as it sounds since this will have a domino effect on aircraft rotation schedules. DL's completion factors are pretty comparable to other carriers - e.g., DL's completion factor for March was 98.1% vs. CO's of 97.6%; B6 was 96.8%. April, DL's was 99.3% while CO's was 99.8%; B6's was 98.3%

FWIW, I've been on a few DL flights where loads were less than stellar - flights still went. A CVG-LGA 757 on a winter Sat afternoon with 25-30 people; a SFO-JFK red-eye in February with 26F and about 30Y....

[Edited 2007-05-09 01:01:56]

Quoting Airnewzealand (Reply 51): Why cant people just congratulate the airline on TRYING to do something different??

It sounds like DL is heading in the right direction!!

I do wonder though how many of these changes will take place and at what cost (for the customer)? Its good that they're becoming smarter in running their business but I think a lot of people (this site included) are sipping the Kool aid...

Quoting Panamair (Reply 71): Do you know for a fact that they cancel flights due to light loads?

Let's put it this way. When they cancel 2 days ahead of time and rebook you on a flight that is still less than 50% full (and the last time was on Jan 1 no less), it's awfully suggestive.

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

Just an update to delta.com/change:

Today, I went back, and the "suggestion box" has been fixed. It now automatically scrolls down to let you see ALL that you have typed.

I put in two suggestions: One, get rid of that "glitch" that shows a passenger's seat as "unassigned" whenever there's a schedule change (yes, I know it usually fixes itself), and two, send an e-mail or give a phone call if there's been a schedule change. I pointed out that my original reservation SLC-MSP was on a CRJ-700, seat 4C (aisle, front). When it was changed to a SkyWest CRJ-200, it had me "window" back - last row, next to the engine!!

Oh, H***, no!!

The planes were changed again, now to a -700 SLC-MSP, and -900 MSP-SLC. I'm still aisle, front, on both - but I will hold my breath until my boarding passes are printed.

Quoting SparkingWave (Reply 50): Quoting USPIT10L (Reply 11): The family spirit has returned to be better than ever! That remains to be seen

I'm no DL chearleader by any stetch but the 'spirit' was definitely seen on my last few trips on DL metal.

Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 73): Let's put it this way. When they cancel 2 days ahead of time and rebook you on a flight that is still less than 50% full (and the last time was on Jan 1 no less), it's awfully suggestive. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...

I've received an email from someone purporting to be a DL employee who assures me that DL does not do this. Though I am unable to email him/her back for some reason, I thought I'd share this claim for the sake of completeness.

Nevertheless, "weather" cancellations that clearly have nothing to do with weather remain suspicious in my book.

Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 76): Nevertheless, "weather" cancellations that clearly have nothing to do with weather remain suspicious in my book.

Weather cancellations don't just happen in cities with bad weather or just to flights departing/arriving in a city with bad weather. Weather problems create delay/cancellation ripples throughout the system. So a flight that may appear to have no relation to the weather problems is affected due to scheduling problems created by the weather IROPS.

DL757Md

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Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 70): True, but it's also worth noting that DL will often cancel flights due to light loads as well. It's not just about w/x.

DL will not cancel simply because of a light load. If there is a mechanical problem and an aircraft is needed, they will sometimes find that aircraft replacement by consolidating lightly loaded flights, thus cancelling a flight. They are essentially making a decision to inconvience the fewest people, and that means "stealing" a spare aircraft from a flight that is either lightly loaded or whose passengers can be reaccomodated elsewhere on other flights.

This is far different than simply cancelling a flight because the load is light.

Quoting Dl757md (Reply 77): Weather cancellations don't just happen in cities with bad weather or just to flights departing/arriving in a city with bad weather. Weather problems create delay/cancellation ripples throughout the system. So a flight that may appear to have no relation to the weather problems is affected due to scheduling problems created by the weather IROPS.

Weather IROPs require bad weather somewhere. The past few times I've had these suspicious 'w/x' cancellations, they've been on those winter days when literally the whole country is VFR. I'm well aware that w/x in one part of the country can have a cascade effect. I'm from Chicago. I know what ORD delays do to everyone.

Quoting RobertS975 (Reply 78): If there is a mechanical problem and an aircraft is needed, they will sometimes find that aircraft replacement by consolidating lightly loaded flights, thus cancelling a flight.

I have no problem with operational cancellations for reasons related to aircraft rotation, maintenance, crew scheduling, and the like. But DL should call them what they are, rather than w/x cancellations.

Quoting Mir (Reply 32): You mean the family spirit that was around back when DL had great service? Back when I looked forward to flying them on transcon flights because their breakfasts were so good? I'm not talking about the Delta Air Lines Delta, or the Deltaflot Delta. I'm talking about the old old Delta, the one with the widget on the tail (and the front door). That's the Delta they should be trying to go back to. I'm not sure how ruining their trademark is supposed to evoke memories of the past.

Yes, that spirit is the best part of DL, especially the employees. But you can't bring back the old livery, as has been stated by other posts. The point is to DIFFERENTIATE yourself from the pack, not look just like it.