This past week I flew US FC to SJU on 767's. Sad excuse for a meal/snack, one side of the audio did not work, no pre-flight drink, dirty plane. But it got me there and it was a DM award trip so no cost. Today I flew DL FC for the first time since I met the GM match this year. Same length flight and same aircraft. Nice warm meal, good beverage service before takeoff and during flight, clean plane and stuff worked. While ATL is not heaven and DL has a lor of ff's, I feel validated in switching my business to DL.

This past week I flew US FC to SJU on 767's. Sad excuse for a meal/snack, one side of the audio did not work, no pre-flight drink, dirty plane. But it got me there and it was a DM award trip so no cost. Today I flew DL FC for the first time since I met the GM match this year. Same length flight and same aircraft. Nice warm meal, good beverage service before takeoff and during flight, clean plane and stuff worked. While ATL is not heaven and DL has a lor of ff's, I feel validated in switching my business to DL.

Thanks for the report. It is pretty telling about how pathetic US's FC product has become in many markets when people are saying it's bad compared to DL's first class --- which is itself a far inferior product to the FC product offered by UA, CO and AA -- in my opinion.

I recently flew US FC to SJU too and endured the disgusting half-sandwich routine on the way down and the even worse (if you can imagine that) half wrap thing on the way back. :td: I was thanking myself for eating pizza in the terminal in PHL before leaving. The FA, on the other hand, was excellent (as they usually are on US).

Delta reports 4th quarter loss of $1.2 billion (http://yahoo.reuters.com/stocks/QuoteCompanyNewsArticle.aspx?storyID=urn:newsml:re uters.com:20060215:MTFH09246_2006-02-15_00-40-08_N1411618&symbol=DALRQ.PK)

Oh yeah they'll have meal service for a long time to come. :rolleyes:

I think a lot of the legacies are living in dreamland. Go ahead and criticize US all you want, but they made cutbacks that were desperately needed. It seems clear that the loss of some flyers to other airlines are less of a worry than just trying to break even. It just took them a lot less time to realize it.

Imagine my suprise when I flew on an ERJ CO from IAH-MCI and not only was there a meal (small sandwich - turkey or tuna, chips and a chocolate piece of candy), but the flight attendant offered the meal twice and did 2 drink runs, and 2 snack runs (peanuts and pretzels).

duplicate..

Great meals must = bankruptcy.

Great meals must = bankruptcy.

LOL :D

It is all perspective isn't it?
I lived in Atlanta and can tell you that most people there hate Delta with a passion. It is an airline paradox, you hate the airline you know best! Go read any of these boards and the complaint/situtation could and has happened at them all. I will give US kudos for the snow storm by all accounts they seemed to have handled it better than most and it hit right in their hubs! I love how now United is the VFF choice of good carriers when 3-4 years ago they where without a doubt the worst in the industry, good for them to improve but I think the airline FF programs have somehow created a wellfare class that most bussiness do not have to deal with! That is MHO, I think the topic would make a great business majors thesis!

It is all perspective isn't it?
I lived in Atlanta and can tell you that most people there hate Delta with a passion. It is an airline paradox, you hate the airline you know best! Go read any of these boards and the complaint/situtation could and has happened at them all. I will give US kudos for the snow storm by all accounts they seemed to have handled it better than most and it hit right in their hubs! I love how now United is the VFF choice of good carriers when 3-4 years ago they where without a doubt the worst in the industry, good for them to improve but I think the airline FF programs have somehow created a wellfare class that most bussiness do not have to deal with! That is MHO, I think the topic would make a great business majors thesis!

Careful, very few frequent fliers hate to hear that their free upgrade is hurting the airline's bottom line. If anything I have been an advocate of linking frequent flyer status to amount paid, like Air New Zealand. Only the flyers who pay big bucks, not mileage runners, sorry, make it to the top.

This past week I flew US FC to SJU on 767's. Sad excuse for a meal/snack, one side of the audio did not work, no pre-flight drink, dirty plane. But it got me there and it was a DM award trip so no cost. Today I flew DL FC for the first time since I met the GM match this year. Same length flight and same aircraft. Nice warm meal, good beverage service before takeoff and during flight, clean plane and stuff worked. While ATL is not heaven and DL has a lor of ff's, I feel validated in switching my business to DL.

Delta's F meals on transcon flights are significantly inferior to US Airways'. On some LAX - ATL flights, I have only gotten one choice of entree, in First Class! In terms of leg room, I would much rather take a US Airways A319/320/321 or even B737 over Delta's uncomfortable MD-80s and 737-200s. Moreover, Delta has some 767s that are falling apart. Thanks God that with the merger, US Airways is getting rid of a good number of 737s.

Careful, very few frequent fliers hate to hear that their free upgrade is hurting the airline's bottom line. If anything I have been an advocate of linking frequent flyer status to amount paid, like Air New Zealand. Only the flyers who pay big bucks, not mileage runners, sorry, make it to the top.

This would make perfect sense, but can you imagine the rebellion that it would cause among US travelers (who have lots of other options)? Especially bad for people who manage to fly often on transcon flights for cheap, since one can often get 5,000 miles that way for the same price that other itineraries might yield 1,000 miles.

Delta's F meals on transcon flights are significantly inferior to US Airways'. On some LAX - ATL flights, I have only gotten one choice of entree, in First Class! In terms of leg room, I would much rather take a US Airways A319/320/321 or even B737 over Delta's uncomfortable MD-80s and 737-200s. Moreover, Delta has some 767s that are falling apart. Thanks God that with the merger, US Airways is getting rid of a good number of 737s.

Delta dumped/is in the process of dumping its 737-200s (and 737-300s, 767-200s), and runs a good number of 738s. But I'm with you on the anti-MD-80 family vibe.

This would make perfect sense, but can you imagine the rebellion that it would cause among US travelers (who have lots of other options)? Especially bad for people who manage to fly often on transcon flights for cheap, since one can often get 5,000 miles that way for the same price that other itineraries might yield 1,000 miles.

That is an excellent point. How many other options do flyers out of New Zealand have? It is simply the rules of competition which make US carriers construct their FF programs in the way they do. You cannot compare the massive US market to a small nation with little international competition. It's not comparing like with like, totally different scenario.

Delta's F meals on transcon flights are significantly inferior to US Airways'. On some LAX - ATL flights, I have only gotten one choice of entree, in First Class! In terms of leg room, I would much rather take a US Airways A319/320/321 or even B737 over Delta's uncomfortable MD-80s and 737-200s. Moreover, Delta has some 767s that are falling apart. Thanks God that with the merger, US Airways is getting rid of a good number of 737s.

i agree. Having flown DL recently and had a cling-wrapped ham sandwich thrown at me by a scowling FA in F, I was pleasantly surprised when I was unexpectedly upgraded to F on US, we received a lovely warm croissant, coffee, and fresh fruit salad. It was a nice, clean A319. And the FA's were delightful.

sign me up for the $-based mileage/upgrade policy. Who's a more valuable customer, the one that flies 100 segs/year at $150 per seg, or the one who flies 50 segs/year at $400 per seg?

Of course, I live in Charlotte....so I'm clearly the second guy. :D

This past week I flew US FC to SJU on 767's. Sad excuse for a meal/snack, one side of the audio did not work, no pre-flight drink, dirty plane. But it got me there and it was a DM award trip so no cost. Today I flew DL FC for the first time since I met the GM match this year. Same length flight and same aircraft. Nice warm meal, good beverage service before takeoff and during flight, clean plane and stuff worked. While ATL is not heaven and DL has a lor of ff's, I feel validated in switching my business to DL.

Of all US carriers, why DL? If you are looking for quality, DL is certainly not anywhere near the top. Depending on where you fly mostly, UA & CO are certainly better choices, JMHO.

LAX

Of all US carriers, why DL? If you are looking for quality, DL is certainly not anywhere near the top. Depending on where you fly mostly, UA & CO are certainly better choices, JMHO.

LAX


And I can tell you, since I do not drink and take alot of short hops, that I am leaning more and more toward E+ on United.. where I have a guaranteed comfortable seat (sans a really large person next to me.. :) ) but it is some consistentcy. I think their product is great for business travelers. You can upgrade sometimes and if you do not get an upgrade, you still get some great legroom to work/stretch out. I am wondering if the rush to cram more seats vs better customer experience is going to win.

(also I prefer UA and AA first domestically.. better product!!!)

DL has yet to pay the piper on a lot of things. I personally love the 764's they have...but DL managed to ruin the seating arrangements on such a nice plane. Any bets on how much longer free booze will be around in the Crown Rooms??

I live in Eastern NC and the choices are US or DL without having to drive 2.5 hours to RDU. Frankly, I wish I did not have to fly on any airline; I think we all know they all have warts. I just returned in FC on DL and again a nice meal and beverage service. Chicken breast, manicotti, roll, salad, chocolate cake and an Argentinian red with some body(no merlot!). So far, I am quite satisfied with my move to DL, particularly after the quality of in-flight services on my trip last week to SJU on US in FC.

i agree. Having flown DL recently and had a cling-wrapped ham sandwich thrown at me by a scowling FA in F, I was pleasantly surprised when I was unexpectedly upgraded to F on US, we received a lovely warm croissant, coffee, and fresh fruit salad. It was a nice, clean A319. And the FA's were delightful.


Make sure to try out a US Airways A330 if you can, they fly one daily from PHL to SJU and back, it is nicer than any plane in Delta's fleet.

Make sure to try out a US Airways A330 if you can, they fly one daily from PHL to SJU and back, it is nicer than any plane in Delta's fleet.


Yes, it's a wonderful plane. Not the choice if you want to be on time.
Friday's flight was delayed then rerouted to CLT. An all too often occurrance.
:rolleyes: :mad: :D

Yes, it's a wonderful plane. Not the choice if you want to be on time.
Friday's flight was delayed then rerouted to CLT. An all too often occurrance.
:rolleyes: :mad: :D

True enough. The PHL-SJU A330 flight is frequently delayed for 2+ hours. I've spent a lot of time in the A-West terminal or A-West Club owing to the delays on this flight.

I prefer DL's forward cabins over UA's forward cabins. Still, other carriers do it better than both of them.

I prefer DL's forward cabins over UA's forward cabins..

All I can say is "why"? UA's seats are more comfortable and UA's F amenities are better than DL across the board on EVERY flight.

[/QUOTE]
Still, other carriers do it better than both of them.[/QUOTE]

Except for perhaps CO (arguable), what US-based carrier does better than UA?