Delta across the atlantic in a 767 in coach
Aug 7, 2006, 7:29 am
#16
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Originally Posted by ClipperDelta
While BA may have PTVs to distract you, their Y (WorldTraveler) seat pitch on the 744s is one of the tightest/worst in the business...31" throughout. At least on DL's 767s, the middle block seats generally have 32" seat pitch. And then with BA, there is the problem with the wonderfully "generous"
FF program and accreditation of miles, especially when one is stuck in Y. After you factor in everything, we're virtually back to square one...Please....
Originally Posted by ClipperDelta
Well, guess what? Many of those Euro butts will be back in those Yankee seats the minute they see a lower fare on AA or DL or UA or CO, and especially when they find out they can cross the pond nonstop instead of schlepping their bags and waiting in long lines at CDG, LHR, FRA, etc.
Suddenly, those free drinks and PTVs may not be that attractive anymore.... As the US airlines continue to gain a unit cost advantage over the Europeans (which quite a few already do - look up a recent edition of AviationWeekly which compares the unit costs of US vs. Euro carriers), they will be able to increasingly sustain those lower fare offerings without losing their shirts....
If you ask me, they can fly two daily 777`s as long as they dump tix like they do at the moment...
Under the bottom line, you get what you pay for and flying DL you should be aware that the carrier is bankrupt and from the US, which should reduce your level of expectations...if it is worth it you pay a premium to fly a good European carrier in Y across the pond is worth another discussion, especially if you do not need a PTV and you know a good deli for some midflight snacks...
Aug 7, 2006, 7:39 am
#17
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Perhaps the OP should find out if it's possible to standby for the triple 7 service?
If not I am sure the OP will find ways to survive the flight.
And to those who compare Delta to BA... don't. Delta has good people but that's it.
If not I am sure the OP will find ways to survive the flight.
And to those who compare Delta to BA... don't. Delta has good people but that's it.
Aug 7, 2006, 8:37 am
#18
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Originally Posted by Threy
Are we comparing a world class carrier with an average profit margin of close to 10 % over the last quarters, IIRC with a bankrupt US airline that lost more than 15 billion over the last years...
Please....
.
Please....
.
Aug 7, 2006, 8:56 am
#19
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Location: DUS
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Originally Posted by ClipperDelta
Yes, I'm sure many travellers this summer across the pond asked their travel agents what the profit margin was for BA vs. DL before making their booking decisions....
A good travel agent might also know that aside from the risk to fly a bankrupt carrier ( even with the laws we have today ) the US carriers are not known to be able to invest a lot of money into product improvements in the last years.
Thumbs up for your constant support of DL, but at some point you have to realise that other carriers play in other leagues. If it is worth it to pay a huge premium to fly a major league carrier vs. a minor league carrier , as pointed out, is worth another discussion.
Aug 7, 2006, 9:09 am
#20
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Posts: 795
a little OT but still...
when i am on a AF nightflight i usually cannot sleap. when i am on a DL nightflight in Y i always get 4 hours Friday i will be on KL and would love to report on that.
when i am on a AF nightflight i usually cannot sleap. when i am on a DL nightflight in Y i always get 4 hours Friday i will be on KL and would love to report on that.
Aug 7, 2006, 9:18 am
#21
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it's bad, but it's not as bad as some charter airlines that shoehorn 8 across in coach.
sit in the middle and take a book. you're gonna sleep on the flight over anyway so the lack of PTV won't matter.
sit in the middle and take a book. you're gonna sleep on the flight over anyway so the lack of PTV won't matter.
Aug 7, 2006, 9:38 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: West of CLE
Programs: Delta DM/3 MM; Hertz PC; National EE; Amtrak GR; Bonvoy Silver; Via Rail Préférence
Posts: 5,384
You Get What You Pay For . . .
with DL coach, you get basic transportation, generally delivered by experienced, usually pleasant people. If you want a sure thing as to enjoyable food or pleasing entertainment, bring your own. If you want to drink, drink in the Crown Room before the flight.
I've flown twice in Y round trip between CVG and LGW. I knew that getting a filling, edible dinner was iffy, so I went and bought my dinner in Concourse B (the first time, at Gold Star Chili; the second time at Outback). I have a combination CD player and AM/FM radio, so I brought my own music. On CVG to LGW in January, I had two seats to myself on the right side of the airplane, so I was able to sit on an angle, sleep maybe 4 hours, and be relatively comfortable. On the return, there were maybe 50 in Y, so I was able to get a row of 3 seats in the middle, where I sacked out for 6 of the 8 hours.
On the trip in March, there were maybe 8 empty seats CVG-LGW, and on the return there were possibly 2 empty seats in Y (they told me that no one got an op-up on that flight). It was not the most comfortable arrangement.
Because I'm PM, I got to use the arrivals facility at the LGW Sofitel, where I got a continental breakfast and a refreshing shower and change of clothes. I got to use CRCs in DCA, CVG and LGW for the departures. I also got upgraded on the DCA-CVG and return legs.
I paid roughly $525 for my trip in January and $550 for my trip in March (both of which originated at DCA), and I got something like 8900 MQMs for each of the trips.
There isn't much doubt that BA has a better Y product to London if you are an occasional TATL flyer not involved in a frequent flyer program (I found the seats to be more comfortable, with slightly more leg room, and free alcohol in Y), but, so long as DL offers decent benefits to its top tier flyers, I'm going to stick with DL.
I've flown twice in Y round trip between CVG and LGW. I knew that getting a filling, edible dinner was iffy, so I went and bought my dinner in Concourse B (the first time, at Gold Star Chili; the second time at Outback). I have a combination CD player and AM/FM radio, so I brought my own music. On CVG to LGW in January, I had two seats to myself on the right side of the airplane, so I was able to sit on an angle, sleep maybe 4 hours, and be relatively comfortable. On the return, there were maybe 50 in Y, so I was able to get a row of 3 seats in the middle, where I sacked out for 6 of the 8 hours.
On the trip in March, there were maybe 8 empty seats CVG-LGW, and on the return there were possibly 2 empty seats in Y (they told me that no one got an op-up on that flight). It was not the most comfortable arrangement.
Because I'm PM, I got to use the arrivals facility at the LGW Sofitel, where I got a continental breakfast and a refreshing shower and change of clothes. I got to use CRCs in DCA, CVG and LGW for the departures. I also got upgraded on the DCA-CVG and return legs.
I paid roughly $525 for my trip in January and $550 for my trip in March (both of which originated at DCA), and I got something like 8900 MQMs for each of the trips.
There isn't much doubt that BA has a better Y product to London if you are an occasional TATL flyer not involved in a frequent flyer program (I found the seats to be more comfortable, with slightly more leg room, and free alcohol in Y), but, so long as DL offers decent benefits to its top tier flyers, I'm going to stick with DL.
Aug 7, 2006, 11:00 am
#23
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 32
Originally Posted by Threy
It is a bankrupt airline from the US after all..., but you will survive and it will also strengthen your loyalty to BA afterwards
The best thing for European carriers these days is to lose a pax to the US competition for a flight or two, because everybody will come back asap...
The best thing for European carriers these days is to lose a pax to the US competition for a flight or two, because everybody will come back asap...
Aug 7, 2006, 11:11 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 399
Hello evreyone thanks for the responses.
Sorry for not explaining the reason for the trip earlier. I am going on my 15 year olds "europe trip" and was crossing my fingers they would pick BA (as it is relativley the same price) but alas they picked Delta. I think the reason was that on a 4 class 777 on BA there are not that many economy seats and with a group of 100 there just wasent enough room left (with the passengers already booked).... plus they booked a block of seats, so very little chance the seat next to me is going empty. But alas I guess I will have my hands full anyways.
What gets me is that at alot of points during the year, BA and DL are the same price. And with BA you get 777, decent food, PTV (even if its no9t AVOD) and the ability to upgrade to economy plus (world traveller plus). I guess many have there reasons for DL including frequent flyer program.
I guess if I was flying a DL 777 i would feel diffrent but a 767, i think its a no-brainer.... alas, such is life. I am going to Europe, who am i to complain
Sorry for not explaining the reason for the trip earlier. I am going on my 15 year olds "europe trip" and was crossing my fingers they would pick BA (as it is relativley the same price) but alas they picked Delta. I think the reason was that on a 4 class 777 on BA there are not that many economy seats and with a group of 100 there just wasent enough room left (with the passengers already booked).... plus they booked a block of seats, so very little chance the seat next to me is going empty. But alas I guess I will have my hands full anyways.
What gets me is that at alot of points during the year, BA and DL are the same price. And with BA you get 777, decent food, PTV (even if its no9t AVOD) and the ability to upgrade to economy plus (world traveller plus). I guess many have there reasons for DL including frequent flyer program.
I guess if I was flying a DL 777 i would feel diffrent but a 767, i think its a no-brainer.... alas, such is life. I am going to Europe, who am i to complain
Aug 7, 2006, 11:49 am
#25
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Originally Posted by faithwins
I am going to Europe, who am i to complain
Not sure if you'll get much sleep or see anything during the whole trip. Of course, the 15-year-olds won't sleep or see much either, they'll be too busy gossiping and playing with their gameboys and ipods to look up and see where they are. <sigh>
Aug 7, 2006, 12:06 pm
#26
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Originally Posted by faithwins
I guess if I was flying a DL 777 i would feel diffrent but a 767, i think its a no-brainer.... alas, such is life. I am going to Europe, who am i to complain
Aug 7, 2006, 2:25 pm
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 399
Originally Posted by Gargoyle
Going to Europe with 100 15-year-olds is not the same as going to Europe.
Not sure if you'll get much sleep or see anything during the whole trip. Of course, the 15-year-olds won't sleep or see much either, they'll be too busy gossiping and playing with their gameboys and ipods to look up and see where they are. <sigh>
Not sure if you'll get much sleep or see anything during the whole trip. Of course, the 15-year-olds won't sleep or see much either, they'll be too busy gossiping and playing with their gameboys and ipods to look up and see where they are. <sigh>
Aug 7, 2006, 3:20 pm
#28
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: New York
Posts: 293
Originally Posted by Threy
A good traffic agent might recommend BA though, because they are constantly profitable and were able to invest the money in product enhancements.
A good travel agent might also know that aside from the risk to fly a bankrupt carrier ( even with the laws we have today ) the US carriers are not known to be able to invest a lot of money into product improvements in the last years.
Thumbs up for your constant support of DL, but at some point you have to realise that other carriers play in other leagues. If it is worth it to pay a huge premium to fly a major league carrier vs. a minor league carrier , as pointed out, is worth another discussion.
A good travel agent might also know that aside from the risk to fly a bankrupt carrier ( even with the laws we have today ) the US carriers are not known to be able to invest a lot of money into product improvements in the last years.
Thumbs up for your constant support of DL, but at some point you have to realise that other carriers play in other leagues. If it is worth it to pay a huge premium to fly a major league carrier vs. a minor league carrier , as pointed out, is worth another discussion.
Delta is improving their product, so why don’t you shut the **** up.
I know people have become accustom to PTV's but we are talking about a 6hr flight. If you need a PTV, the world is on a down fall.
Read a book, bring some games, cards, talk. We are talking about 6hr's not a 14hr flight.
(By the way, you don’t spell realize realise.)
Aug 7, 2006, 4:28 pm
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 399
Originally Posted by deltajfk
(In a British accent) Has you face been up your ... for a long time?
Delta is improving their product, so why don’t you shut the **** up.
I know people have become accustom to PTV's but we are talking about a 6hr flight. If you need a PTV, the world is on a down fall.
Read a book, bring some games, cards, talk. We are talking about 6hr's not a 14hr flight.
(By the way, you don’t spell realize realise.)
Delta is improving their product, so why don’t you shut the **** up.
I know people have become accustom to PTV's but we are talking about a 6hr flight. If you need a PTV, the world is on a down fall.
Read a book, bring some games, cards, talk. We are talking about 6hr's not a 14hr flight.
(By the way, you don’t spell realize realise.)
Aug 7, 2006, 4:48 pm
#30
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Westport Co Mayo Ireland
Programs: Delta. Silver
Posts: 111
Oh dear. I don't expect to make many friends with this one.
I realise that this forum is primarily used by and directed at Business Class travel. However the vast majority of people that fly, use coach class. We do that largely due to financial considerations. I am quite sure that life in front of the curtain is wonderful, but not available to me. Personally I would prefer to travel from home to the U.S. 6 times in economy, than once in business.
The original question in this post seems a perfectly reasonable one to me. To be answered with expresions such as. "Cows to the slaughterhouse", Terrible product" & "Unless you've got a really good reason to do it, DONT"., I don't think is terribly helpful, apart from the fact that it is totally untrue.
We are not all elite, platinum, concerneed about lounge access, special check in lines etc. We do however look forward to our trips on Delta in coach class.
A previous poster stated that you get what you pay for. Absolutely true, and what you get is a perfectly good flight at an affordable price
I realise that this forum is primarily used by and directed at Business Class travel. However the vast majority of people that fly, use coach class. We do that largely due to financial considerations. I am quite sure that life in front of the curtain is wonderful, but not available to me. Personally I would prefer to travel from home to the U.S. 6 times in economy, than once in business.
The original question in this post seems a perfectly reasonable one to me. To be answered with expresions such as. "Cows to the slaughterhouse", Terrible product" & "Unless you've got a really good reason to do it, DONT"., I don't think is terribly helpful, apart from the fact that it is totally untrue.
We are not all elite, platinum, concerneed about lounge access, special check in lines etc. We do however look forward to our trips on Delta in coach class.
A previous poster stated that you get what you pay for. Absolutely true, and what you get is a perfectly good flight at an affordable price