FINALLY Complimentary Y Meals Long Haul HNL
Aug 24, 2016, 6:37 pm
#61
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
MSP-HNL service and food was good (e.g. in bus class, actual dessert choice and not just the ice cream, not even sundae, as now), but then it was Deltified and dramatically downgraded around 2009 (brought down to the abysmally low Dullta "standards').
Aug 24, 2016, 9:09 pm
#62
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,201
Aug 24, 2016, 9:27 pm
#63
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 210
I can't speak to the changes specific to this route during the merger, but your opinion on Delta lowering the standard is definitely out of alignment from the reality that most of us knew. At the time of the merger, as a general rule, Northwest was offering the bare minimum of any kind of service, in filthy cabins on an archaic fleet (ok fine, they had a few newer 330s), staffed by some of the most disgruntled employees in the industry. It's funny how you think that making it Deltafied would make it worse... At least it means they had to put the blue laminate covering over the former poorly maintained cloth seats that were full of years of who knows what.
Aug 24, 2016, 9:50 pm
#64
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: DL PM/1MM, BW DE (lifetime), HH DE, Marriott PE (lifetime), National Emerald Executive
Posts: 7,205
I can't speak to the changes specific to this route during the merger, but your opinion on Delta lowering the standard is definitely out of alignment from the reality that most of us knew. At the time of the merger, as a general rule, Northwest was offering the bare minimum of any kind of service, in filthy cabins on an archaic fleet (ok fine, they had a few newer 330s), staffed by some of the most disgruntled employees in the industry. It's funny how you think that making it Deltafied would make it worse... At least it means they had to put the blue laminate covering over the former poorly maintained cloth seats that were full of years of who knows what.
And thanks for mentioning the seats. The DL laminated seats are disgusting and so hot and uncomfortable. No more of the higher quality, breathable fabric NW seats. I had almost forgotten about that (lI hate the faux leather/hot and uncomfrotable seats).
Aug 25, 2016, 6:56 am
#65
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Boston, MA (BOS)
Programs: AA PLT Pro 2MM, DL Gold, UA Silver, Marriott Ambassador + LT Plat, COFC Venture X, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 5,587
I can't speak to the changes specific to this route during the merger, but your opinion on Delta lowering the standard is definitely out of alignment from the reality that most of us knew. At the time of the merger, as a general rule, Northwest was offering the bare minimum of any kind of service, in filthy cabins on an archaic fleet (ok fine, they had a few newer 330s), staffed by some of the most disgruntled employees in the industry. It's funny how you think that making it Deltafied would make it worse... At least it means they had to put the blue laminate covering over the former poorly maintained cloth seats that were full of years of who knows what.
NWs "network" and "product" were a joke! And now the Crown Jewel NRT hub is effectively worthless. And NW had virtually no MX personnel or capabilities, and worse yet (for hardcore labor people) the SCABS got to to come and get permanent DL jobs when. AMFA voluntarily decertified.
Aug 25, 2016, 7:59 am
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still a Hilton Diamond & Club Cholula™ R.I.P. Super Plats
Posts: 25,415
I can't speak to the changes specific to this route during the merger, but your opinion on Delta lowering the standard is definitely out of alignment from the reality that most of us knew. At the time of the merger, as a general rule, Northwest was offering the bare minimum of any kind of service, in filthy cabins on an archaic fleet (ok fine, they had a few newer 330s), staffed by some of the most disgruntled employees in the industry. It's funny how you think that making it Deltafied would make it worse... At least it means they had to put the blue laminate covering over the former poorly maintained cloth seats that were full of years of who knows what.
Aug 25, 2016, 8:52 am
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,053
I can't speak to the changes specific to this route during the merger, but your opinion on Delta lowering the standard is definitely out of alignment from the reality that most of us knew. At the time of the merger, as a general rule, Northwest was offering the bare minimum of any kind of service, in filthy cabins on an archaic fleet (ok fine, they had a few newer 330s), staffed by some of the most disgruntled employees in the industry. It's funny how you think that making it Deltafied would make it worse... At least it means they had to put the blue laminate covering over the former poorly maintained cloth seats that were full of years of who knows what.
They certainly had more than a "few" A330's at the time of merger (I believe around 32 of them). DC-10's had been retired in 2006. 744's had been refurbed. The 753's and a good chunk of the A319 fleet were delivered in the 2000's.
Aug 25, 2016, 9:28 am
#68
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
NW was a pitiful excuse for a full service carrier. Mind you I came to Dl as pmnw World perks. The planes sucked, the people were surly, and the service was abysmal. They HAD to give away so much in benefits just to stay remotely competitive. I think those that wax nostalgic about NW are those that couldn't afford premium service and were granted NWs version of it through World Perks. So glad that airline went into the history books. Ghetto air
Aug 25, 2016, 1:32 pm
#69
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Boston, MA (BOS)
Programs: AA PLT Pro 2MM, DL Gold, UA Silver, Marriott Ambassador + LT Plat, COFC Venture X, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 5,587
NW was a pitiful excuse for a full service carrier. Mind you I came to Dl as pmnw World perks. The planes sucked, the people were surly, and the service was abysmal. They HAD to give away so much in benefits just to stay remotely competitive. I think those that wax nostalgic about NW are those that couldn't afford premium service and were granted NWs version of it through World Perks. So glad that airline went into the history books. Ghetto air
The early 2009 metal swaps made for some funny reading of DL MD/73H to NW 319/320. Almost makes the complaining about the pitiful LUS fleet and service look like a joke. DL service was always more polished, likely a function of southern hospitality and unorganized culture/mentality that emphasizes services.
NW employees owe a huge debt and gratitude to DL (and KL decades ago) who rescued them twice. I firmly believe absent Mckaskill Bond amendment DALPA would have tried to pursue a staple (and DL would in-turn follow for the unorganized groups-like AA did to the TW IAM-represented agents who merged into the then unorganized AA group).
Aug 25, 2016, 1:42 pm
#70
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: Fallen Plats, ex-WN CP, DYKWIW; still a Hilton Diamond & Club Cholula™ R.I.P. Super Plats
Posts: 25,415
There were a few relief flights using 9xxx flight numbers to pick up stranded passengers after a winter storm mixed things up at AMS. These were done mostly (if not entirely) by DC-10's returning empty from the Middle East.
Aug 25, 2016, 8:43 pm
#74
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Yes and they always have. Any first class flight over 900 miles gets a meal except for red-eye flights. The issues is coach meals. In general there are no meals in coach on domestic routes, but now the long haul HNL routes are an exception.