Originally Posted by
cmd320
Honestly, Delta offers the weakest overall product in the transcon market (other than AS of course). Seats are worse than B6, UA, and AA F, debatable on AA J depending on how much you value aisle access over seat comfort, service is worse than B6 and may or not be worse than AA/UA depending on the day. Food is worse than AA and far worse than B6. Lounge is considerably worse than an FL and laughable compared with FFD, though better than the UC. Then there’s the terminals on both ends, where let’s face it, Delta sucks in LAX and isn’t exceedingly better at JFK.
Overall I just don’t get DL for transcons. They should stick to what they know, premium service isn’t it.
I fly paid J transcons a lot and prefer AA and B6 to DL on those routes, but I have generally switched to DL (I focused on AA more a few years ago). Why?
1) Paid J transcons help me get status elsewhere, and I value DL routes and operations elsewhere from NYC; B6 doesn't really have a differentiated product outside of Mint and AA didn't fly to enough locations with the schedule I wanted (though this may change). UA hasn't really been on my radar as too many flights out of Newark
2) B6 doesn't have lounges in their terminals. AA Flagship Lounges are much better than SkyClubs admittedly
3) DL seat isn't that bad for a 5-6 hour flight. Food is decent.
I will still fly the odd B6 transcon when schedule permits (especially on a leisure trip), and AA when I have to, but most of these go to DL for me despite a slightly weaker product