I realize the financial constraints that Delta faces are real, but my only question is why not go ahead and make the changeover on the 777 fleet NOW. There are only 8 aircraft in the fleet, it's off peak travel season now, and once the newest longhaul destinations being announced this Thursday get fully operational, there simply won't be time available to take a 777 out of service to do the changeover.

At $2.3 Million per aircraft, we're talking $18.4 Million to do the changeover now in one fell swoop on the 8 current 777 frames and then start marketing the hell out of it. It would beat out AA's conversion of its 777 fleet to the new angled-lie-flat seats.

It would also eliminate a year or two of asterisks in adverts and apologies to customers who thought they were getting the new seat but didn't.

I just would like to see the carrier be a bit more nimble in rolling this out. As it is, they're talking Jan 08 for the new 777-200LR to debut with the seats and then no further installations until fall of 08, meaning that from January to October 08, there will be a grand total of only 2 aircraft in the entire fleet with the new seats.

I would bite the bullet and do the changeover now. At that point, you could immediately market the entire Delta 777 fleet as sporting the new bed . . . er, seat. (Just as AA starts to spend millions on a new J seat that will already be non-competitive).

"Available now throughout our 777 Fleet: It's the Delta SkyBed!" screams the headline, superimposed over a map of the world showing the 777 destinations [TLV, BOM, NRT, ??? (DXB), ??? (ICN)].