DL vs AS
 

I live in Portland, Oregon and have been a loyal Delta Platinum Medallion for years. I never thought about switching airlines, but with Delta’s recent changes and the AS status match I’m strongly considering AS now as my main carrier. It seems like AS is usually cheaper than DL and obviously has way more nonstops out of PDX.

How does DL compare to AS in terms of on-time performance, updated planes, crew, and lounges in the PNW. I have never flown AS before so this is all new to me. Thank you!

AS will get you where you need to go, that’s about it. The SEA N lounge is fabulous though. The hard product onboard is not as good as DL. AS customer service has always been really good, but so has DL’s from my experience. They both have terrible IT. The PNW route network is probably better for AS. And finally, Mileage Plan is much better than SkyMiles.

Do partners matter to you? I personally like OneWorld better than Skyteam, and AS has a lot of other partners, too.

And domestically they partner with AA, as you probably know.

No frequent flyer program is going to be all things to all people, but as a fellow PDX-based traveler, AS Mileage Plan is hands-down better than Delta's program (and in my opinion UA, WN, etc.). It sounds like you fly enough that you'd earn OW Emerald status which will make any international travel you way more comfortable in terms of lounge access. PDX also has two AS lounges (the "regular" one and the mini-one). I know you're a DL Platinum Medallion, but I'm not sure how you've never been on an AS plane before being PDX-based....interesting :)

I think the strengths for AS include:
-Breadth of route network and schedule frequency in PNW
-Good reliability (probably equal to DL)
-Better legroom in F and Y+. Even in regular Y I generally feel just a little less cramped than on AA/DL/UA.
-Generally high-quality catering in F and I think AS buy-on-board options are superior to DL.
-Generally friendly and helpful customer service.
-Lots of new planes at the moment, though some of the older planes can look a bit tired.

Weaknesses for AS:
-Inconsistent cabin crew service
-Persistent IT bugs such as with upgrade processing and flight status.
-Communication/rebooking during irr ops, though such instances are less common compared to many carriers.
-No seatback screens, although this doesn’t bother me as the streaming usually works well. But it would be nice if they would retrofit more of the fleet to have tablet holders.

I like both airlines, but fly AS way more often because I find it better suited to my needs and much easier to get upgraded to F.

AS still has biz class TATL and TPAC at "saver" award pricing on partners. DL - nada. That seals the deal for me.

AS out of PDX sucks.... don't even consider it :) :)

If my opening statement isn't obvious, I don't want another elite to fight for upgrades. In all seriousness, AS out of PDX is likely better than Delta for most people in terms of routes but I suppose a lot depends on what's on the other end of PDX for most times. For me it's OGG (Maui) and I'm pretty happy. The FF program is generous, FC upgrades as a 75K or better are generally well above 50%, the crews are pleasant, the food is decent and the overall experience is good. The lounges are also quite nice with the SEA North being pretty far above the others so if you connect through or travel to SEA much that's a nice perk. All this being said, prior to moving from Portland to Maui a few years ago I only traveled a few times of year and it was usually to Vegas on WN so I don't have a lot to compare to.

To me, 75%+ of my airline choice comes down to routes/times so I'd start there. All the other stuff is just fluff and icing on the cake, IMO.

Another PDX flier here. I was AS MVPG for years as I had clients that lined up really well with the AS network. Then a change in work trips had me shift over to DL for a few years where I was Platinum too. The pandemic also reduced the AS nonstop options for me, so for some time it was a choice of do I want to connect in SEA or ATL, and heading east, ATL was fine for me. Others have shared good points here on how much better the mileage program is on AS (I have scored JAL F via miles). Some other things I’d add:

Comparing status between two programs is tough. Platinum maps over to 75K, but I found Platinum very easy to earn compared to 75K thanks to non-flying options. On DL this meant I was in C+ all the time, but as I head back to AS I might only be in Premium Class if there is space closer to check in since I assume Gold is more realistic. Upgrades are another hard one to compare, I don’t know about you but I can count on one hand the number of FC upgrades I’ve had in the past couple years on DL. DL is selling upgrades to FC far more aggressively, AS has not gone all in on FCM like DL. For me there is a bit of a downside, on DL I can score a FC seat for 19K SkyPesos, which is fine since the miles are sort of throw away to me. But on AS I’d need to refare if I want to pay for a change from what my employer will provide.

Other items: The companion fare on AS is FAR better. It actually works so long as there are seats and you are not limited to the lower 48. But no FC companions on AS. Not a big loss to me, but some really value that. And companions on AS earn miles unlike DL.

Upgrade certificates are easier to use on DL IMO. GGUs require both space and a higher fare class to work. Can be good for close in bookings or high demand routes. But I had pretty good luck with RUCs on DL, but usually just to treat the family once a year so I wouldn’t change all my choices for that perk. And others might chime in - GGUs can be used on Companion Cert trips so it makes those higher fare class calculations “easier” to justify potentially.

Lounges on DL are some of the best, but that’s a value that varies based on how much time you want to spend in the airport in life. I will admit being able to shower and have breakfast after a 5am flight connecting in ATL or SLC is nice. But nice enough to deal with the new requirements is a whole other question. I find Alaska Lounges to be just fine for most of my uses, I am not looking for sit down dining.

Last, is price. I am increasingly seeing DL premiums on routes that have connections where AS is nonstop and $100 cheaper. I need to be mindful of costs (both time and money) so that increasingly tips the scales.

AS can have bigger meltdowns due to less back up options. I was caught in the 2021 winter storm that stranded me in Hawaii for three days. To AS’s credit they put me and my family up at the Outrigger and we just had to wait. DL has far more options to move people. But they are not immune if things get messy on the East Coast.

I find both flight crews to be diligent and kind. Bad days happen everywhere, but both phone agents and flight crews for the most part seem to be happy to help me most days.

That should be enough of a reason… if you have more directs flights and save money doing it….well..
Also your miles will be more useful with one world airlines and the AA partnership is meaningful beyond mileage sharing.

I prefer flying AS. DL is massively overrated IMO (both hard and soft product). The one clear DL advantage is the SkyClubs are generally much better than the AS lounges.

Don't forget the AS partnership with AA, which includes reciprocal elite benefits and can really come in handy.
??? It's not even as good as the SEA SkyClub or CL.

?????

DL is 36 or 37" pitch in F vs. 41" on AS. The new AS seat, with footrest is pretty good. The brand new DL F seat looks nice, but it's still just 37" pitch (and only very limited rollout thus far).

It depends on what you want from the lounge. I haven't been to the SEA skyclub, but I'd rather sit in the N lounge than the CL - less crowded, more comfortable, better views, and fine for light snacks. CL is better if you want a prepaid dinner. Even if the CL isn't crowded I'm more likely to just get food there and leave for the N lounge if I have a long connection.

It would be helpful to know the OP’s frequently flown destinations. If they are random spots that AS can’t easily get to, I would stick with DL.

I am PDX-based and stick with AS because they still offer the best nonstop selection from PDX, and they offer the best schedule to places I frequently go (ANC/FAI/JNU/ADQ/ENA/HOM in AK, BOI, AUS, California/Arizona/Nevada). The only other place I travel to frequently they can’t easily get me to nonstop from PDX is IAH, and I will usually just suck it up and fly UA nonstop.

I flirted with DL a bit (enough to get Silver Medallion, cue the laughter) over the last year when AS was going through a downturn, but have pivoted back to AS partly because of the aforementioned schedule, partly because 8.5/10 they treat me really well, and partly because as a PDX resident and traveler it is hard not to be really irritated at DL for holding PDX hostage on Tokyo/Seoul service, and then dumping it at the last minute.

Here are my honest opinions on AS vs DL as a PDX-based flier:

Schedule: AS wins, hands down. DL only operates to their hubs (and I include AMS in that statement)
Redemption: AS wins, especially if you are headed to Europe. AS partners with BA, FI, and DE, all of whom have nonstop European service from PDX.
First Class: DL mostly wins based on food and overall polish of flight attendants and service. The food on AS is ok, but the polish of the service is really hit or miss. AS wins on legroom, as others have noted.
Main cabin: AS wins, in my mind. I don’t really care about seat back TV…I have an iPad that has way better options and resolution. The main cabin food options on AS are better than what DL offers. C+ on Delta and Premium Class on AS are otherwise a wash to me.
Lounge: DL wins. Sky Clubs are just flat out better throughout the DL system, and anyone who crows about the N lounge at SEA hasn’t ever been to the SEA Sky Club. That said, AS lounge membership does get you in to AA Admirals Clubs along with a few others.

To me it is hard not to get frustrated with the continued AS schedule degradations at PDX, but I believe that is more a function of Portland’s slower-than-the-speed-of-smell recovery from the pandemic than it is anything else. Even with all of that they still have the best value prop for the majority of PDX-based frequent fliers, in my opinion.

I don’t get to use AS lounges very much since I don’t have a membership, so it’s basically when I fly overseas OW partner flights. A few weeks ago I was in the N lounge… and was surprised how worn and dirty some of the furniture and furnishings already look. Some of that is due to our fellow travelers behaving like they are in a pigsty. The lady in the reclined chair next to me managed to bring in a bag of Wendy’s and had ketchup smeared all over the side table.

I also got to experience the newly (?) refurbed C lounge, and it still looked pretty nice.

But by comparison the new CL and the DL SkyClub are a lot nicer. But that would not drive my airline choice for PDX.


If I don’t put my reading glasses on, I can probably ignore all the stuff marks and crumbs in the N lounge. We usually eat at one of the PP restaurants and use the lounge (AS or The Club) as a slightly more comfortable waiting room with free drinks.

As Gold I have actually never sat in a standard (i.e., non PC or exit row) seat on AS in the two years I've had status. Partially this is because I don't often see fares below N class on my usual BOS/SFO route, and partially because Gold can still select exit row at booking below N class. In any case, I do also see enough PC aisles/windows within T-72 that it's never a problem when booked below N class.

I would ask OP if there's any possibility they'll move away from the PNW in future. If they base anywhere else, they will quickly find AS has marginal / very limited utility. And the AA partnership is a pale shadow of its pre-pandemic self.