AA vs DL / Delta Dimestic First comparison
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: msp
Programs: AA PLT 3MM, DL PM 2MM
Posts: 1,142
AA vs DL / Delta Dimestic First comparison
Flying both in Paid F (but always cheapest F available). I am favoring DL more and more. A prefer the seats on AA with better pitch but the overall product including FA morale and professionalism just shine through more and more on DL. I'm almost to 3MM on AA and will push toward getting there this year or early next yet a just have a feel of continuing short-comings like service and even the OneWorld Alliance. I recently flew to CDG and had broken business class seat. Full flight so stuck. Its the little things that are adding up. Hope AA can strike the right direction as I've always been a fan but not sure anymore.
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: msp
Programs: AA PLT 3MM, DL PM 2MM
Posts: 1,142
Flying both in Paid F (but always cheapest F available). I am favoring DL more and more. A prefer the seats on AA with better pitch but the overall product including FA morale and professionalism just shine through more and more on DL. I'm almost to 3MM on AA and will push toward getting there this year or early next yet a just have a feel of continuing short-comings like service and even the OneWorld Alliance. I recently flew to CDG and had broken business class seat. Full flight so stuck. Its the little things that are adding up. Hope AA can strike the right direction as I've always been a fan but not sure anymore.
#3
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: EGGX <-> CZQX
Programs: AA CK, UA GS, DL 360, B6 Mosaic
Posts: 413
Flying both in Paid F (but always cheapest F available). I am favoring DL more and more. A prefer the seats on AA with better pitch but the overall product including FA morale and professionalism just shine through more and more on DL. I'm almost to 3MM on AA and will push toward getting there this year or early next yet a just have a feel of continuing short-comings like service and even the OneWorld Alliance. I recently flew to CDG and had broken business class seat. Full flight so stuck. Its the little things that are adding up. Hope AA can strike the right direction as I've always been a fan but not sure anymore.
#4
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Rolling Lakes Yacht Club
Posts: 4,967
I am a ratio of about 2.8:1 DL to AA in terms of miles flown YTD. Ive good and bad crews on both. DL is ahead but IME its not this massive difference that FT conventional wisdom portrays. Ill give DL a nod for bananas in the snack basket and my kids like when I bring home the Tumi boxes from the amenity kit
Last edited by DataPlumber; Jun 21, 2018 at 3:54 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
I go back and forth on this a lot and give the edge to AA these days.....all my crews on AA have been great and DL keeps devaluing their domestic FC experience (in addition to still not offering nuts or anything with the pre-meal beverage service if you even get a pre-meal beverage, everything plopped on one tray (even D1 now). I'm also getting tired of DL's cocky attitude like their s&^( doesn't stink.
I can and do book away from garbage LUS equipment though so that probably has a factor into it too.
I can and do book away from garbage LUS equipment though so that probably has a factor into it too.
Last edited by AANYC1981; Jun 21, 2018 at 5:55 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: DL Silver, Avis President's Club, Hertz President's Circle, Global Entry (Former AA Plt/Gold)
Posts: 4,417
Coming from a LUS hub (Phoenix), where planes don't doesn't always have in-seat power, let alone IFE, even in First, I'm probably swapping to DL for a year to try the other side even though it will mean connections. I like MSP, for example, the few times I've been through there. I do think the AA 787 J is much nicer hard product than DL's A330 though.
#7
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
Programs: AA CK MM, AC SE100K, UA 1K, DL Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,985
Coming from a LUS hub (Phoenix), where planes don't doesn't always have in-seat power, let alone IFE, even in First, I'm probably swapping to DL for a year to try the other side even though it will mean connections. I like MSP, for example, the few times I've been through there.
I also have both Sky Club and Admirals Club memberships, and while the club food selections are better with DL, the seemingly perpetual overcrowding and lack of international business/first lounges are really big negatives.
The biggest thing DL has going right now to me is competitively priced premium cabin fares, so I'll fly them when the price/schedule is right, but otherwise AA will probably continue to get most of my business.
#8
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: DL Silver, Avis President's Club, Hertz President's Circle, Global Entry (Former AA Plt/Gold)
Posts: 4,417
Every time I consider flying DL more regularly, I think about what it would be like connecting at DL hubs and, in my mind, it's not pretty. I dislike connecting in ATL and MSP, and the DL JFK terminal is a downright embarrassment. They also wanted me to connect at CVG on regional equipment in IROPS a few months ago, and I declined. Also, I haven't been through LAX with them recently, but T2/T3 seems like a downgrade from T5. Granted, PHX is a weak link for AA and is desperately in need of renovation, and CLT isn't a great experience either (note the negative LUS trend here), but I generally don't mind AA's hubs overall.
I also have both Sky Club and Admirals Club memberships, and while the club food selections are better with DL, the seemingly perpetual overcrowding and lack of international business/first lounges are really big negatives.
The biggest thing DL has going right now to me is competitively priced premium cabin fares, so I'll fly them when the price/schedule is right, but otherwise AA will probably continue to get most of my business.
I also have both Sky Club and Admirals Club memberships, and while the club food selections are better with DL, the seemingly perpetual overcrowding and lack of international business/first lounges are really big negatives.
The biggest thing DL has going right now to me is competitively priced premium cabin fares, so I'll fly them when the price/schedule is right, but otherwise AA will probably continue to get most of my business.
I hear that Skyclubs are overcrowded often, and figure it's because there are so many options to gain entry compared to AA. I'll have access myself with an Amex Plat when not flying international J. I also prefer the OW lounges at LAX (AA Flagship is especially grand), and comparing LHR to AMS. But LHR is a worse airport to transit.