LAX-DCA,BOS-SFO become Delta One flights
#32
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,709
#33
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
I would think that with so many carriers operating BOS-SFO, yields would go down a lot. Why do you think DL can command a premium and actually make more money than simply flying those DeltaOne planes e.g. internationally?
#34
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,709
The 757s can only be used for a limited number of TATL destinations. If they're available in the rotation, why not try to poach some business from the competition? Lie-flat seats and D1 service should be able to command a premium if advertised properly. I would also add that DL's operation at SFO is designed to cater to the premium cabin traveler. If someone flies SFO-JFK a lot in D1, DL can now get those same passengers to BOS as well, with the same type of experience.
#35
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, Delta Reserve, Amex Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold ;)
Posts: 1,762
I was looking at the DCA-LAX flight for May a couple of weeks ago and the F cabin fares were around $900. Now they're starting around $1400. Well played Delta.
Anyways, I think it's nice to see the premium product come to DCA. I think D1 will do very well on this route and this really turns up the pressure on AS and AA which also operate this route.
I just want to confirm, it appears Regional Upgrade Certificates do work on the DL JFK-LAX/SFO D1 upgrades, but they haven't upgraded the chart on DL.com to indicate DCA. I'm assuming it will be the same.
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...tificates.html
Anyways, I think it's nice to see the premium product come to DCA. I think D1 will do very well on this route and this really turns up the pressure on AS and AA which also operate this route.
I just want to confirm, it appears Regional Upgrade Certificates do work on the DL JFK-LAX/SFO D1 upgrades, but they haven't upgraded the chart on DL.com to indicate DCA. I'm assuming it will be the same.
http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...tificates.html
#36
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
The 757s can only be used for a limited number of TATL destinations. If they're available in the rotation, why not try to poach some business from the competition? Lie-flat seats and D1 service should be able to command a premium if advertised properly. I would also add that DL's operation at SFO is designed to cater to the premium cabin traveler. If someone flies SFO-JFK a lot in D1, DL can now get those same passengers to BOS as well, with the same type of experience.
But DL is not trying to make SFO a focus city or hub, correct?
#37
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,411
Really glad to see that DL is continuing to pay attention to the SFO market. They have been leaving money---real money--- on the table here for years. The Bay Area is now one of the wealthiest regions in the world, and DL is the premium US carrier, it's a natural fit.
Perhaps they are hoping to really tap the transcon premium market and add even more routes. When people with the kind of money people here have are looking at 6 hours in the air, I suspect many are willing to pay to not sit in coach.
This also helps explain why they made such a big investment in the Sky Club here (showers, enhanced food, high end decor, etc).
Perhaps they are hoping to really tap the transcon premium market and add even more routes. When people with the kind of money people here have are looking at 6 hours in the air, I suspect many are willing to pay to not sit in coach.
This also helps explain why they made such a big investment in the Sky Club here (showers, enhanced food, high end decor, etc).
#38
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,709
Correct, but DL has repeatedly shown that it can make the right O/D routes work. SFO probably has enough long-haul F/J demand to go around, especially since UA is now running an inferior product on this route.
#40
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: DL PM MM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 3,276
Plus, BOS - SFO is longer than BOS - LAX.
#42
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: WN, AA, UA, DL
Posts: 1,313
No need to keep up with the Joneses with LAX-BOS. Nobody is making a move. With UA scheduling all flat-bed service this summer on SFO-BOS, DL would be hoeing a hard row with the lowest frequency and neither their F or Y product standing out compared to UA/B6/VX.
UA hasn't downgraded anything in NYC-SFO/LAX. Not sure what you're talking about. The domestic 777s that are scheduled for SFO-BOS are a minority of the flights and are comparable to preferable to any narrowbody in back if you can live without the PTV. The fact that DL is doing this to SFO-BOS and not LAX-BOS indicates to me that they are playing catchup to UA before they even launch their route.
Hardly. Their aircraft configurations are decidedly less premium-heavy. And from my experiences, their product isn't premium either. This is about BOS and trying to grow a focus city. SFO-BOS would be in trouble before it starts without DL upping their product.
not sure i really agree, considering UA has actually downgraded SFO-NYC to "united business" rather than slotting it in with "united polaris" and the e.g. lounge benefits thereof. UA is also deploying its high density 772s (10-across in Y and 8 across in C) which, while lie front upfront, are definitively pieces of garbage.
Hardly. Their aircraft configurations are decidedly less premium-heavy. And from my experiences, their product isn't premium either. This is about BOS and trying to grow a focus city. SFO-BOS would be in trouble before it starts without DL upping their product.
#43
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
I would think that BOS-SFO sees a markedly higher proportion of business travelers than BOS-LAX.
#44
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,411
Perhaps you don't like their product, but many of us do, especially in C+/F/D1 and many of us are looking forward to PE being rolled out this week. And the soft product of DL, from on board service to the whole customer service experience is without question leaps and bounds ahead of the other legacy carriers.
I flew UA for the first time in years recently and the product was disgusting. Dirty old cloth seats on a 757 with "screens" that were the size of a smart phone and looked like something straight out of the 80's.
#45
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,446
UA hasn't downgraded anything in NYC-SFO/LAX. Not sure what you're talking about. The domestic 777s that are scheduled for SFO-BOS are a minority of the flights and are comparable to preferable to any narrowbody in back if you can live without the PTV. The fact that DL is doing this to SFO-BOS and not LAX-BOS indicates to me that they are playing catchup to UA before they even launch their route.
Second, the 777s are strictly worse than every narrowbody in the back given the 10-across squeeze.