I'm not one to complain much. I've learned to expect bumps while travelling. But when a bunch of little things don't work, it quickly adds up.

I called SMS in the morning to SDC a later flight. The call lasted 2 minutes 4 seconds from "Send" to "End". SMS worked wonderfully.

Online Check-in
I go to DL.com to check-in & print my BPs. As mentioned in a previous thread, the system didn't give me my preferred seats. The first flight, I had no choice. The second flight had Exit Row Aisle available & I selected that seat. Click through the questions, No-No-No-Yes. Click submit, original seat assignment remained. Try again, same result. No big deal, flight has 7 open seats in F & I'm a PM, I'll get the upgrade.

Crown Room Club
I noticed that my CRC membership was missing from my BP. How is that possible when I took advatage of an offer last Summer and should have memership through March 2009? CRC agents can't figure it out.

Automatic Medallion Upgrades
DL heralded the new system where upgrades were automatically requested for Medallions. I arrive to the gate to find my name absent from the cleared list & upgrade list. I check with the Gate Agent, who wasn't very nice (I've come to expect some warmth if not Southern Hospitality from GAs in ATL), tells me that I declined the upgrade request. I asked her how that is possible. She just shrugged and turned away. The SMS agent never asked about the upgrade, it was never asked online either.

Delta's Customer Committment
I'm now number 1 on the list in front of a FO as all othee Medallions have cleared. I wait to see if the F boards full as the weather should delay flights and people miss their connections. I ask during Zone 6 & was told by the gate supervisor, without checking the computer, that F boarded full. I wait until Zone 9 (how many of you knew there were zones after Zone 3?) and I ask the other GA (same cold GA I had initial contact with) if F had all been seated, she too did not check the computer and said yes, F was full. I board, take my seat in the back of the plane, non-exit row. While boarding, I noticed that F had a seat open and later, while airborne, asked an FA if F was full. He replied no. And therein lies the problem, whether laziness or lack of the honesty. The GAs in ATL manage to p*ss off a customer that, while has traveled less with DL, still gives a fair amount of business via flights, AMEX, partners, etc to Delta. I was one of the last persons to board, the GA could have easily walked down the jetway & given me the upgrade instead of letting the F seat fo empty. A little effort goes a long way. It was a short flight, but the blatant lack of customer service skills was disappointing.

Breezeway
The overly hyped Breezeway boarding has worked for me on one occasionn, early in inception. With my Zone 9 boarding, I was able to observe how poorly implemented it is.. Zone 1 should be F only. Zone 2 & 3 for Medallion, Skyteam, exit, bulkhead. Breezeway should begin after that. The mass cattle call that initially occurs is no better than WN's system. DL: Get it right before you implement it systemwide (such a poor and stupid implementation).

The FAs on my recent flights have all been exceptional as one comes to expect from DL. Too bad much of the rest of DL isn't working as well.

Like I said, the little things I can let go. But when there are a bunch, it adds up & isn't as easy to overlook.

What used to diffentiate DL from other domestic, the technology and the people, aren't as good as before. It is a shame. Especially since a merger would undoubtedly cause further strain on the new airline's systems. Maybe DL should get itself together before attempting to merge (don't use US/HP as an template).

I & some others, have the fortune of having options as to what airline & alliance we fly. DL is making it easier to look elsewhere.